“The Deployment of the Bastion led to a number of quick victories, but that was short-lived. As the Collective was beginning to understand our armor technology. They began to develop weapons that could more reliably inflict damage. Forcing a shift in the conflict. Three months after that battle, we were forced to switch to a more limited raiding campaign. However, despite that shift, we remained effective at inflicting considerable damage to the Collective for decades. Always one step ahead of them, thanks to our superior stealth technology. Technology we capitalized on and continuously improved. That was, until a certain fateful battle. One that surprised us.”

April 13th, 113 SDE; Starship Enterprise, sector 33117, 277 lightyears from the Galactic edge, galactic quadrant three:

Countryman stared at the latest reports. They had suffered a number of defeats lately. Resources were running low in a number of key areas, and as such the main fleet was currently on the move again looking for a region rich with the materials needed to reinforce. The fleet was in desperate need of new ships, especially those outfitted with Adamantium laced armor. While expensive, the Adamantium lacing greatly enhanced the resilience of any ship equipped with it. To the point that they went ahead and enhanced both cityships with the plating scheme. They were the only ships they could not afford to lose in this conflict.

Kirk’s recent raid on E-257 Gamma however did provide them with much-needed fuel and supplies however. As such it wasn’t all bad on the reports. The medical department had another update on the Pheromone problem. Even after all these years they had not yet solved the problem. They did have a promising lead though. In the meantime, the stopgap measures were proving effective at keeping things under control, so the lack of a permanent solution wasn’t problematic yet. They had more pressing problems to worry about.

He glanced at a fleet readiness report. Across the fleet most ships were running low on torpedoes. Most of the carriers were running low on fighter munitions, and were operating at half capacity. A number of cruisers, and destroyers had returned from their last missions with damage that had not yet been fully repaired.

Discounting ships that were too badly damaged to fight. They had seven Kingdom class carriers, and twelve of the newer Empire class carrier. The Empire class had been designed to replace the Kingdom class carriers. While effective, the Kingdom carriers had proven too vulnerable, and lacked direct ship to ship weaponry. The Empire class was slightly larger, but sported a significantly improved armor layout, and her internal structure had been greatly enhanced compared to the Kingdom class. Empire class carriers also supported several more anti-ship batteries than her predecessor. All done without significantly impacting fighter capacity. In fact it was actually increased, by about eight hundred fighters. Since they were first deployed fourteen years, ago the Empire class carriers had performed admirably

The Fleet currently had nearly sixty Battlehawk class cruisers available. Fourteen of which sported Neutronium laced Overlord Hull Plating (configuration D). The Class hadn’t changed much since the Bastion refit in 082, but improvements had been made over the years. The last refit to the class had been two years ago in 111 SDE, which included improvements to the beam shields that were added to the class in the Bastion Refit. Right now in addition to those fourteen configuration D Battlehawks, he also had thirty configuration A Battlehawks, six Configuration C, and ten configuration B battlehawks.

Approximately twenty Star Knight class light cruisers were on vanguard deployment missions, but ten of the class remained with the fleet available for missions. Right now there were also two hundred and twelve Saber class Destroyers. The Saber Class had undergone a major refit in 084, updating the class to what was now called the Bastion spec. Two variants of the destroyer class now existed, configurations A, and B.

Configuration A was just the general combat update, featuring enhanced beam weapons, improved launcher configurations, updated armor, and improvements to the engines. While Configuration B was the heavy combat variant featuring Adamantium Lattice armor. Only thirty Saber class destroyers were available in configuration B. The most notable improvement to the class however was the ship’s hanger. In both configurations, the designers of the refit were able to enlarge the main shuttlebay. The refit allowed both Saber class configurations to dock two LPC corvettes, and a squadron of 1204 starfighters. A feature that added quite a bit of flexibility to the class.

Also on the list were the Firebird class Birds of Prey. They were specialized stealth attack frigates at their core, and served as skirmish ships in the general line of battle. Outfitting them with adamantium was not worth the cost, as it was with larger ship classes. They were however, subject to a major refit in 084, and the last refit was in 112 SDE. A little over a thousand Firebirds were combat ready.

It sounded extensive, but it wasn’t the entirety of the fleet. He only hoped the Avenger and her battlegroup were in better shape. They had lost contact a month ago, after the Avenger broke off to lead a group deep into a sector that seemed promising for resupplying the fleet. They did find a few worlds, but were cut off from the rest of the fleet by advancing Cylovan forces. They escaped, but not long after that they lost contact. Countryman did know that they had managed at least a partial resupply before the Cylovans stumbled upon their fleet group.

Suddenly the lights turned red, and alarms sounded. “All hands to Battlestations.” came over the speakers.

He set aside the reports, and made his way to the bridge. Hopefully this was just a patrol that stumbled upon them. To this day, the Collective had been unable to detect their ships at long-range. Only when they got close were they able to penetrate their stealth fields. There were quite a few Collective vessels patrolling this region, and that came as little surprise given they were deep within Collective space. It was why they were flying such an erratic course. To avoid patrols, and it usually worked, but every once in a while a patrol would successfully locate them.

Countryman stepped onto the bridge, and Greyman immediately reported, “Sir, we have detected multiple incoming Cylovan Battlegroups on long-range sensors. Based on their course they will intercept us in twelve minutes.”

“Alter course,”

“We already tried, and before you ask. I had engineering remodulate the stealth fields three times already. It has had no effect. Somehow, the Cylovans can see us.”

He cursed. Then he ordered, “as soon as they get into range, run an extensive scan of their sensor arrays. We will keep an eye out for boarding opportunities, as well. Any information we get will be useful.”

Greyman remarked, “On the flipside, the incoming fleet does represent a chance to resupply.”

“That it does, but we should be cautious.”

“What followed was the first of many battles that would be fought over the next few years. After each battle we would remodulate, and be invisible for a period. However it would not take the collective long to adapt, and another battle would ensue. Having lost our ability to pick and choose our battles, the Collective steadily wore us down. We began to lose more and more ships.

“The Collective however, could not bring us down in one engagement, and we would ultimately elude them. Both the Avenger, and the Enterprise took separate routes, and escaped Collective space. The First to escape would be the Enterprise and her group. Despite having fewer resources, and being deeper in Collective space.”

“How did that happen?”

“By doing something with hyperwarp technology that the Collective could not. Although what we did, did not go unnoticed. We were detected, and a battle ensued. One of the most important battles in our history. A battle that was fought at the edge of the galaxy.”