The Armada
Sector Date 5115.64
Situation Room A

[hr]

Serrano sighed as the situation in the briefing room began to disintegrate into... well, it could charitably be called a debate, but could also, more accurately, be referred to as "bickering." He understood why- the mission was a hard sell. It came across as impatient at best, and Meryl wasn't precisely wrong that it had risks involved. Still, there was a chain of command to consider, and Meryl was definitely overstepping said line.

[color=9e0039]"[i]Enough,[/i]"[/color] growled Serrano, cutting off any further "conversation" before it could get even more out of hand. He breathed deeply for a moment, in order to compose himself. He stared Meryl down as he continued.

[color=9e0039]"I understand your trepidation. That does not, however, permit you to speak so out of turn, Pilot. Any further outbursts will be grounds for discipline. Are we understood?"[/color] He turned back to the group at large. [color=9e0039]"Make no mistake- I know we're asking a lot of you. We have, since the very start. But we ask it because it needs to be done. Because this is our best hope of endin this constant grind, chewing up our best and brightest and spitting out its bones. We've been on the back foot for too long; this is our chance to finally step forward.

"To alleviate your concerns, the primary objective of the Operation is not just dependent on a single strike. Our greatest strength against the Shard has been maneuverability- for all of their advancement, they act slower, more methodical than we are capable of. Reestablishing the Phase Gate on Sundowner gives us the logistical advantage- with it, we could even more easily pull reinforcement, support, supplies, and anything else we might need from even the Origin itself. It's why you, our best and brightest, are being charged with its defense. And it's why we have our secret weapon along for the ride,"[/color] he finished, inclining his head toward King.

Before he could elaborate, however...

[color=00aeef]ALERT

PROXIMITY WARNING

SHARD WAVEFORMS DETECTED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY[/color]

And then, as if to punctuate this statement, the ship suddenly began to shudder, as something began to batter their exterior.

[color=00aeef]SUSTAINED ATTACK IN PROGRESS[/color]

[color=9e0039]"Yes, thank you, Vi!"[/color] Serrano growled, then turned to the rest of the squadron. [color=9e0039]"The rest of this meeting will have to wait until later. For now, you heard the alarm: all hands to battle stations, NOW!!"[/color]