[right][h3]a̧̞̦̭̲̪k͈͟k͏͔̩͈͓̳d̠͚͔0̥̖̣̦̟̖̀g͉̰͎̯͜_̥̮͈̬͜[/h3]Stationed aboard the ███ █████████. ██:██ local time. Galactic coordinates ██████-██████, ████████ system, ████ sector. ██:██ local time.[hr][/right]One of the first things akkd0g_ did after skulking into the back corner of the ship was integrate herself with the ship's critical alerts. It took some finetuning to filter the relevant alerts from the not-so-relevant alerts, but it mostly came through. Even then, almost all of the alerts that akkd0g_ got filtered through to her headset could be written off after having a quick look. That's why when the first alert came through of a local spatial anomaly, she didn't bother to stop chewing. The ongoing all-source intelligence feed didn't come up with anything, so it was almost definitely an isolated incident. But then there was another isolated incident, then [i]another[/i], before all of her warning feeds [i]screamed[/i].

Spatial anomalies and power surges hardly covered the tip of the iceberg of the chaos that erupted outside of the hull. akkd0g_ almost choked in her panic to throw her food aside and pull up a keyboard. External camera footage only confirmed her worst fears: the Empire had found them. The frantic transmission on the captain's line was only more to the pile. She thought back to all of her precautions - her feeds, her encryption, everything she used and abused to make sure their voyage would be the Republics' best-kept secret. The nagging thought very quickly moved into the back of her head, a gnawing doubt and a sense of dread: how? Everything was as close to perfect as it could be. If she had time to think about it she probably would have. 

With a beat of hesitation, akkd0g_ sent the message on the RSIS line: MANEUVER COMPROMISED. SUBJECT AT RISK. IMPERIAL FORCES, TREATY BROKEN. SOS. With what she had written, as much as she loathed to use it, the message would be sent every 90 seconds. As much as she loathed the thought of the cold war going hot, she only hoped that the message might make it through.

Beyond her solitary station, the Republic warships had lurched into action. As the power held in reserve during low-emissions travel started to come through, shields began to glow and point defense batteries groaned to life. Through a wall of flak and turbolasers, Republic fighters scrambled to meet the Imperial offensive. Interceptors followed shortly after as organisation came to the Republic efforts, starting their way after bomber squadrons and Imperial aces. But as akkd0g_ quickly came to notice, it wouldn't be enough.

In the opening exchange of turbolaser fire, a select set of components of the main vessel were crippled; functional, sure, but limping and lame. There was little doubt to anybody that it was a calculated maneuver, the cost of letting the Imperials seize the initiative. In the midst of all the batteries and the battle, there was a cone of unprotected space, just wide enough to fit a tightly packed squadron all the way to the starboard auxiliary hangar. [i]Just wide enough to fit a cunning Imperial boarding party.[/i] It wouldn't be that simple though: the point defense batteries were only crippled and they were fighting to turn the guns to cover the gap, and the Republic fighters had already scrambled to secure it. For a prospective Imperial boarding party, it would be a daring maneuver that needs great support, but it may well be the only one - as well as the only one they need. 

From her damp corner of the ship, akkd0g_ almost flew about the room on her four octopi limbs. She jacked in and out from electronic ports almost erratically and hammered at several keyboards in a panic. With the repair process streamlined, she could put her attention where she wanted it to be: how did that information get out? If she had a lucky break, she might even have the time to find out.