[center][H1]James & Alex[/H1]

I

[i]Aboard OSN Galahad's Glare[/i][/center]

The unnatural calm of space travel was unnerving to some, but to James Cross it was the last moment of silence and serenity before emerging into unknown situations when dropping out of hyperspeed. There wasn't much to see as he gazed out of the bridge's main observation deck at the black void, but there was something about the absence of anything there that allowed Cross to think, like an artist looking at a blank canvas and wondering what could be created with it. Keeping his hands clasped firmly behind his back, the captain suppressed the gnawing anxiety in him as he looked at his console and saw the digital timer ticking down, knowing there was only a short time before the Galahad's Glare emerged out of hyperspace, along with the rest of the fleet, into the enemy occupied orbit of Outremer. Reports had been coming in for days that the Outremer army and fleet had been taking losses and losing territory, and communication had been increasingly desperate. Cross knew that Galahad's Glare and the rest of the fleet were the final chance for thousands of Outremer's people, both military and civilian. He also knew they would not be able to save them all.
	“[B]Captain,[/B]” came the voice of a young ensign, saluting as she came to attention. “[B]Commander 317 reports he and the Salient Blue Team are ready for immediate deployment when we exit hyperspace, sir.[/B]” The captain nodded and thanked the ensign for her report, then turned back to the observation window.
	“[B]Have him come up to the observation deck, ensign.[/B]” he said, briefly turning back to face her. She saluted again and left the deck expediently to fetch the Salient commander. Orders and instructions had already been issued to every soldier, marine, sailor, crewman and civilian onboard every ship in the fleet, but the captain intended to confer with some of the senior officers aboard nevertheless, including 317.
	It took no more than five minutes before the main door to the observation deck opened with an audible [i]shhh[/i] and the metal floor echoed a [i]clank[/i], distinct from the dull thud of service boots. The captain felt an imposing shadow behind him and turned to see a colossal figure in blue, white-trimmed powered armour.
	“[B]Sir,[/B]” began the commander. He did not salute, but inclined his head and stood rigidly to attention. He towered over the captain by almost two feet and had to tilt his head downwards to meet his gaze. Captain Cross looked at his reflection in the commander's visor. “[B]My team is ready,[/B]” added the commander. “[B]We'll deploy in the strike pods before the marines and ground forces arrive planetside like we discussed. Everything is in order.[/B]”
	“[B]Good. We may only have moments to make our opening strike. Once we emerge from hyperspace we'll have minutes at most to manoeuvre the fleet and disembark our complement. We need the ground as secure as possible for the drop ships to land,[/B]” said the captain, observing the digital representations of the fleet, Outremer and the enemy fleet displayed on a large console. What he said was not hyperbole, they would likely be outnumbered and overpowered, but they had surprise on their side for a few moments, during which they would need to unload thousands of soldiers and marines on to the ground whilst the battlecruisers and other capital ships held position in orbit above the landing zones. Galahad's Glare's complement of salients and marines, as well as the soldiers and vehicles they were transporting would be deployed to one major landing zone near a major city where an extremely high profile asset had been located and tagged for extraction. Galahad's Glare was a large and powerful ship, but substantially swifter and lighter than a capital ship. She had been chosen as the primary carrier of the asset, and Captain Cross held responsibility for its extraction.