"An advance party of chaldarian agents somehow managed to infiltrate the Bydanian and take control of the life switch, the power source on which all life on Byda. I suspect the Bydanian starships which attacked us on arrival were under chaldarian control", said captain Maguire.
"I am immediately redeploying, Deep space fleet to Byda to give support. Admiral Gwangwa out".
The live footage of admiral Gwangwa was promptly displaced by the scene of the battle. An apocalyptic scene of starships jostling to out manouvre each other and firing, constantly firing presented itself.Explosions were taking place all over across the sky, creating the impression of a lake of fire in the sky.
Burning starships shot out of the sky crashed to the surface below, igniting the vegetation and setting of huge flames. Creating a scene of desolation with raging fire everywhere as the fighting continued.
Princess Elantra telepathic control of the Bydanian starships split the Bydanian starships into two, forces as Drachalian starships entered the scene of fighting. Starships poured forward en mass into the planet's atmosphere in an unmistakable display of hostile intent. The Bydanian starships were already engaged with chaldarian vessels in ship to ship battles in a furious exchange of lasers and missiles.
Princess Elantra's telepathic control initially gave the Bydanian starships a marked edge over the chaldarian starships. As the sky was filled with starships, discharging lasers or exploding in spectacular display after being hit.
Princess Elantra was aware of the starships crossing over from Drachalian space.
The Sandawana was holding position aloof from the fighting. Princess Elantra had asked him to disengage to avoid being hit in the fierce Bydanian counter attack. But watching as the Drachalian fleet intervened on the side of that chaldarians, captain Maguire was getting worried that the tide of battle was swinging away from the Bydanian starships. He felt that if they could be re-inforced in time, the battle might yet be won.
"If only Deep space fleet would arrive", he mused to himself watching the tide in the battle begin to swing, on the giant computer monitor's big screen.
"Admiral Gwangwa to Deep space fleet", came the urgent transmission across the communications console of the Mwenezi as it led the pursuit of the alien vessels.
"Admiral, there is an urgent transmission from Space command", the communications officer reported.
"On screen", ordered vice admiral Nyathi.
The image of admiral Gwangwa sitting behind his desk at Space command appeared on the bridge big screen.
"You are to break off from present pursuit and proceed to Byda where a combined chaldarian and Drachalian has launched a joint attack on the planet. Your present pursuit is a diversion that was meant to keep you from the invasion taking place on Byda. The Sandawana is already on the planet and awaiting your arrival for a co-ordinated counter attack. Admiral Gwangwa out".
"This is vice Admiral Nyathi, all starships break off pursuit and set course for Byda". He said Addressing all the starships of the Deep space fleet as they were chasing the alien ships. The starships broke off from the pursuit and set on a new setting heading for planet Byda in the Ketona system.
Controlling the starships of the Bydanian fleets as they were fighting to wipe out the chaldarian starships from the sky was taking all her concerntration.
The entry of the Drachalian fleet was an unforeseen dimension which threatend to complicate matters. In a campaign where the battle plan had been going very well. It was all she could do to keep the Bydanian starships from being shot out of the sky by the new entrants to the conflict who seemed too eager to make their mark on the tide of battle. The new comers sudden and unexpected arrival made it difficult to shoot the chaldarian starships which having recovered from the initial setbacks were moving very fast, and zig zaggingbacross the sky to making it almost impossible for the Bydanian starships to lock on to them. The situation was worsened by the sudden arrival of the Drachalian ships hot on their heels firing which kept firing a constant stream of lasers forcing the Bydanian to take evasive action. That way the tide of battle swung from the Bydanian starships. The combination of chaldarian starships and Drachalian ships threatened to tip the battle in favour of the invaders.
Bydanian, chaldarian and Drachalian starships squared up against each firing lasers and missiles in a rapid and sustained exchange of fire with neither side having a clear advantage. As fiery explosions seemed to set the sky its self on her. Burning hulls from the sky set the surface alight in a fiery lake of fire.
"Captain, there is an urgent transmission from the Mwenezi", reported lieutenant Tanaka at the communications console.
"At last", captain Maguire thought to himself with a sense of relief. "On screen", he ordered and the hellish scene of fire in the sky and fire on the surface with starships facing off in between, was immediately displaced the image of vice-admiral Nyathi sitting on the bridge of the Mwenezi flanked by the starship's officers.
"Captain, we shall shortly be emerging out of Deep space", said vice-admiral Nyathi. "Transmit live foot of the situation on the planet so we can come up with a plan to counter the invading vessels. Vice-admiral Nyathi out.
"Com, send footage of the battle to the Mwenezi", captain Maguire ordered lieutenant Tanaka at the communications post.
"Captain I thought princess Elantra asked us not to give involved", said captain Lucinda.
"I know what princess Elantra said, the situation has changed. With the the entry of the Drachalian fleet all bets are off. It's no longer a question of whether we intervene or not.
"I hope you are saying I think you are saying", captain Lucinda.
"We are getting into this fight so you better buckle up and get ready", said captain Maguire.
"Princess Elantra won't like this at", said captain.
"She 'll be ecstatic, said captain Maguire with a subtle hint of sarcasm.
"How can you tell?", asked captain Lucinda.