Swirling, shaking, ever downward, ever spiraling. Gravity pulling at their very essences as the fall they undertook gained speed upon them. The world below growing at an incredible pace as the skies swept past them.

The three Implicatorian battleships. Hulls gleaming in the morning glow, innumerable little turrets rolling forwards towards their foe, formed together in a triangle. Their bellies faced towards each other, each one spiraling with the other.

The Uppington Crush was an old strategic form, that was often only viable when the odds of survival were equal to the amount of innocent people in the universe.

In short, zero.

The collateral explosions that echoed through the flagship Implicatorian, sent message to the Superior Captain, of someone fleeing with the Admiral's transport.

Maybe the Rebel Battalion truly had planted instigators in their midst.

But regardless, her target was clear. And the burning city all to bright.

An officer hailed her, and pointed out the three lumbering craft that surged upward through the atmosphere with determined might. Star-Charter Transport ships. No doubt ladened with refugees...

Her prime defensive objective now.

But, the only way to defend them. Was to Uppington Crush this damnable fleet.

Of whom's Ferolder, was already flaring it's Galzion Mega Cannons towards her force.

Four huge barrels of Steel-Titanium alloy, mixed with refined lead mesh. A stadium in length, a city's worth of fire. All too opposing, even for her gall.

Regardless, the order was sound. GO.

The one Dementer class warship to its east, along with it's full complement of Sintinators and Rippers, began to tilt onto their sides. Rotating their craft in, towards the great Ferolder.
Almost perpendicular to the ground below.

Splinter Refraction...

This captain was trained. Well trained...

Her reformed strategy called for an Upington Cover.

The cry rang out across the fleet. Formation updated.

The entire force now expanded, rapidly. Their goal to form a circle of diameter large enough to cover the enemy, with the three Implicatorians still staying close together in a similar triangular formula. The vast complement of Dalkon Corvettes and Ripper cruisers spreading across the sky like a cloud.

Like clockwork, the fleet below began to rotate and swerve, the Ferolder itself maintaining it's course as its fleet curved over to cover it.

Sorien Flush.

She took it back.
This captain was excellent.

Ysabell Formallion!
Was the new fresh formation update.

The whole force reforming itself into a heptagonal triangle mesh. Each Implicatorian splitting off into their cloud of respective ships.

But the atmospheric gap between the two forces had closed.

This would be the final form.

...

Silence...

Nothing but silence as the two forces approached the last seconds before being within Practical Range.

And as the faint and rejected VaID communication request began to blare.

Could she say no to this any longer?

Surely it was good courtesy to give your enemy a last word.
Like civilized people.

Her soft sigh rolled through the room.

"Slow decent to 12!" She said, the Order of Operations officer relaying the command to the whole fleet.

A single hand raised itself, and stroked her hair from her face.

"Laneel. Authorize VaID."

The man saluted, and gave gruff "Emel".

The connection formed.

Two commanders in time, between space, in a battle of form rhyme.

"Established!"

The face of a roughly shaved steel cored man arose upon the projector. Hair short, badly cut, eyes cold and flamed.
Features of a hardened complexion...

...

Redforest lay eyes on this woman. On this adversarial captain.

Her looks struck him.

Deep brown hair like a fresh breath of familiarity.
Those blue eyes like a saw into the steel of is heart.

The two captains, their fleets surging through the skies, were stuck in place and in expression.

Old flames still burning from a courtship long overdue.

Frantic whispered words darted from Redforests mouth.
"Superior Captain Ellaria..."

Her frozen slack jaw, quickly clamped shut. Her nod confirming such basic truths.

A soft and broken response echoed from her lips as her jaw slacked again.
"Superior Captain Redforest..."

Shock and awe clearly taking root between the two.

Unanimously "Your!..."

Redforest lead the charge.
"What on Terminal are you here for Ellaria?"

She was taken aback by this. Clearly the purpose would be self-explanatory had he truely done this himself.

...his voice...

She replied. Broken, horrified.
"Your... oh dear Creator... what are you doing Cornelius?!?"

Her voice...
Confused.

Frantic. A reply of strength.
"I... "
BREATH. Cornelius.
"Purging of Taraven was approved by high-regional I assure you Yarsana"

The vast forces still on intercept course for each other, albeit, slower now. Hung in the midst of the golden dawn.

"Dear god Cornelius! How could this be you? Gersanto? Rebellion?"

The red of the forest flared.
His voice crushing itself to a steely husk.
"My orders are, and were, clear Superior Ellara. Reform, and retreat now..."

Then oh so softly.
"Please..."

Her shout split the ears of all.
"NO! Under whose ungoddened authority was this ordered?"

His eyes grew cold again.
"Superior Admiral Revanna. Of Albanda Sectoral Command. Cleared by our High-Admiral, Olivares Tonant."

Her breath stopped. Her chest frozen in place. Eyes glazing over with a frantic fractured image.

Impossible realities were colliding at every turn.

Redforest an RB.
Now Tonant a genosidian.

Throat clenched, she replied.
"Denyed Redforest! I received no notification! I also wish to inform you that Revanna is present on-board with me!

For the Creators sake please stop!"

Redforests' eyes lit up. A wretched and incalculable rage erupting like a frothing volcano.
"WHY ISN'T SHE SPEAKING?"

Like a shock wave, personnel on either side of the com link bent backward slightly as if mentally struck.

Ellaria however brushed off the anger with a resilient stance.
Her boots set upon the coarse plate-metal flooring. Eyes hot with a fury all their own.

His glare melted.
Lips curling and teeth gritting into a face that was a mixture of pain and debilitating rage.
"Where is she then?"

Ellaria waved a controlled hand to the security squad that sat at the back of the bridge. Whom rose to attention, began a hastened march through the exit doors.

"I will have her here shortly."

Redforests' eyes locked onto hers. A contorted look of broken trust, horror, and resentment all firaled up into a sour lipped grimace that made Ellarias' heart squeak in empathy.

Redforest was crumbling in front of her. His salty tears just cracking the seal of his eyes.

This had broken him.

This could not of been him.

...

Revanna.

As if by clock work, the security Operation Officer reported that she was not in her quarters.

...was it her that took her own transport from hanger Alkula B3?

...What an indignant wretch she truly was.

Redforests' voice, cracked and hot with tempered fury, cried out.
"WHERE IS SHE?"

Ellaria held her breath, eyes closed. Waiting for the officer to repeat himself.

The admiral was nowhere.