25mm shells rip through the Imperious's bridge, killing half the officers inside and wounding the rest. Captain Melkiv is badly wounded, with a long piece of metal scrap lodged in his left shoulder blade and although not initially lethal it partially inhibits his movement due to the pain. Sparks fly around the room, small fires breaking out on several of the command consoles. Connection had been lost to the rudder and turbines and the link between the console and the main gun has developed a glitch.

For a while there was a deathly silence between the boats

"****! Agh, ****!" the captain cursed as he felt the shrapnel in his shoulder "Ensign? You still with us?"
"Yes .... sir...."
"Good, now be a man and control the gun, aim at that cannon and rip it a new one. Could I trouble someone for a report?"
"We've lost manoeuvrability and engine power sir, around 12 dead and another dozen injured. The main cannon, although it appears to work, isn't properly functioning and we may have also lost telecommunications. Sir.... hang on, we've also lost contact with the silo relays. Sir"
"Hrmph... Get those shots off ensign, and make sure they're good ones, and then cease fire, I think we should try to talk about our problems."
The captain smiled to himself at that, reminding himself of his ex-wife, and began to focus on the Vendemiaires.

Meanwhile, the three frigates were getting closer to the fight.