WfR15: Falling Dominos

A second heavy cruiser 'flamed out,' the result of fire and explosive decompression, with a second volley from the pirate battle-carrier. Escape bins and pods drifted clear of the wreck as the rest of 5th Group passed by, attempting to clear the pirates' firing range and rejoin the other part of the task force.

Return fire on the battle-carrier was ineffective. Commander D'Iræ could see it absorb hits like a heavyweight fighter and screamed in frustration as a light cruiser exploded into three ugly chunks. One of those chunks hit a support carrier, which the pirates then dispatched as it reeled from the impact.

The scout group had fared better, but no pirate vessel larger than a gunship had gone down. The scout group had vectored towards the Deus Iræ to make a half-hearted counter attack, but the Commander knew it was little more than a way to pass time while they recovered their fighters. The battle was a loss, she reflected, as a fifth cruiser flamed out and cracked in half.