Bridge, Norris

        "Can you confirm that, Miriam? They definitely said 'Igneous' and not something else?"
        "Signal lost, Sir. The interference is increasing. What's an 'Igneous'?"
        Harris and Giles exchanged grim looks before the XO turned to answer her question. "I'll have to do more research to get the details, but that's what the Federation calls a class of robotic attackers, sort of like a very, very large suicide shuttle that impacts on immobile targets. It also has polymorphing weapons arrays spread to cover various angles around itself. If we can't stop it, Xanadu will be crushed."
        "Estimating arriving at Xanadu in four minutes, Captain," stated Pryce.
        "All right. Giles, you've got two minutes to dig up every detail we've got about Igneous. Shuttle bay! Get a scatter-pack loaded yesterday, and be ready if I need a suicide shuttle. We will need all the firepower we can muster for this thing."
         Pulling his head from the data stream he was scanning, Giles threw a warning look at his Captain. "Suggest readying the other shuttle as a weasel, Sir. Igneous has a high propensity for seeking weapons as well as some kind of close-in defense system; I very much doubt if a suicide shuttle could get through. Even drones are doubtful."
"Understood, and thanks, Giles. I'm not fully up on that enemy. Prepare a weasel down there, and let me know when the photons are fully overloaded." His orders flew to various crewmen as the ship prepared for heavy combat.

Sensor Room, Xanadu

        "Sir, computer response time is slowing drastically! Some sort of energy field is intensifying as that Igneous thing gets closer," stammered Dawn.
        Clyde clenched his fists in impotent anger. With the ground defenses still not ready, there wasn't really much effect that would have on them, but it would seriously hamper the Norris. "Be ready to support Norris with level-one electronic counter-counter measures; at least we can eliminate the jamming effect the dust clouds around us will have on their systems. Keep trying to interfere with Igneous's systems; just because no one has ever succeeded in doing that before doesn't mean we can't be the first!"

Bridge, Norris

        "Coming out of warp now, Captain. Sensor field effect on our systems is as Giles briefed us. Xanadu is loaning us enough ECCM to clear the dust effects. It looks like you will indeed have to give orders well in advance to have them be effective, Sir."
        "Noted," replied Harris. "Straight past the planetoid, accelerate to warp 2.46 after the photons are fully overloaded. Confirm weasel and scatter-pack are ready, Giles."
        "Confirmed, Sir. I am monitoring sensors to identify Igneous's malleable weapons configurations. First set starting to form; it's responding to our arrival. Facing arcs showing drone-like missile-racks, a disruptor, and a photon torpedo launcher forming on the number six shield arc of Igneous."
        "Take us down the starboard approach, Helm. One thing about this monster, it's predictable in many ways, if it acts like all the other ones the Federation has encountered or gotten data on. Stay alert in case we drew an anomalous one! Launch scatter-pack, set to disperse at 150 thousand kilometers."
        A light flashed on Giles's board. "Drone launch, Captain! A pair, a second drone rack must have formed on the backside of Igneous. Incredible speed, past warp three! G-racks report ready, fully loaded with anti-drones as you ordered, Sir."
Harris smiled tightly. "Well, here's hoping the plan works. If we do enough damage to wreck its close-in defense system, the scatter-pack drones might finish it off. And that faster speed at least means their drones will take more dust damage than ours will."
        Giles was encouraged by his captain's confident demeanor. The crew appeared to be calming down as well, pre-battle nerves settling. "If it follows the pattern all the battle stations have shown, should be two more drones emerging . . . Now!"

        "Confirmed!" uttered the executive officer. "A third set should be coming soon, Captain. First pair is showing dust damage, point defense crews signal ready." He noted that at least one system on the ship seemed to be working almost normally. "Sir, the fire control computers seem to be working at near usual speeds for seeking weapon-defense. I hypothesize that aspect should be functioning adequately."
        "Excellent, G-man. Main phaser banks, prepare to down-fire as threes against first drones when they reach twenty thousand kilometers." Giles cocked an eyebrow. "Not firing as full phasers against the station, Captain?"
        Harris didn't even look at him as he replied. "At this range, in this firing cycle, we won't do much, and I want to conserve every possible scrap of power. When we hit 40 thousand kilometers, I want to hit it hard and be ready to move at high speed if that thing creates a big plasma or two."
        The higher whine of point defense phasers rang out as if to emphasize his authority. "Both drones destroyed, Sir," noted Giles. "Second and third sets showing dust damage. Firing cycle nearly complete, the middle set of drones will reach 60 thousand kilometers at that point, Captain."
        "Fire a single phaser-1 normally at each drone then. With some luck, we weaken them enough that the point defense weapons take them out next cycle."
        "Igneous is firing a standard disruptor at us, Sir. Miss! We destroyed one of the drones, missed the other."
        As the phasers recharged, Captain Harris began a new set of orders. "Slow to warp 2.2, hold the overloads, ready tractors."
        Giles sidled up to him briefly before returning to the main sensors. "Shouldn't we move faster, Sir? Our time to destroy that thing is limited as it approaches Xanadu."
        "We're a more powerful ship than a standard cutter, but we're not exactly over-engined, as you know. Besides, slower speed lets those drones take more damage before we have to deal with them. When we hit, we hit hard. After our first shot, we will come to a full stop there," as he pointed to the tactical display, "and start moving at warp one in reverse. Kaufman would be proud. That will give us more power to rearm, and maybe a little bit of reinforcement as well."
        "As you wish, Captain. I am only offering alternatives, which
is part of my duties."
        "Understood, and keep it up. I need your experience if you think of something I don't." Harris clapped Giles on the shoulder as his XO returned to the sensors. "So, what fun is that monster making for us this time?"