The Coyote quickly attenuated all the optics and CIC began relaying data up to the bridge as it came in. It was difficult to make out what was being said over the local net since all ships appeared to be broadcasting in a panic all at once. A few agonizing minutes crawled by before CIC was able to get in contact with a Fleet ship that had been close enough to see what happened.

"Sir, this is Lieutenant McCallum," the CIC OIC broke in over the bridge speakers. "From the accounts of the ships near the planet, there were six antimatter charges that were detonated in an airburst configuration over New Sierra. There was also at least one more device that was set off within the New Sierra Platform.

"Sir, the platform is a total loss. It was practically vaporized, and debris was ejected from orbit with such force it's damaged most of the ships in close vicinity. There is no response from the planet. At all. The power grid has completely failed, and from what the optics of the observing ships have picked up, the blasts likely erased the major cities from the surface." McCallum paused, and they could hear someone else in CIC softly crying in the background.

"Anything else you can tell me, Lieutenant?" Accari asked gently.

"It's pure chaos down by the planet, sir," McCallum said. "We'll keep— Standby, sir." Accari could hear his officer conferring with someone away from the microphone. He took a moment to look at the tactical board and, as he suspected, the Alliance ship was already gone.

"Captain, this wasn't the only planet attacked. We've received word over Bluebird that similar attacks happened on Columbiana, New London, and Arcadia."

"Dear God," Marcum said, sounding like he was in shock. "That's over two billion people wiped out."

"Lieutenant McCallum, please continue to monitor the situation and inform OPS of any updates. We need to know who might be coordinating rescue efforts for anybody who can be saved," Accari said.

"Aye-aye, sir. CIC out."

New Sierra was the capital of the Federation. Columbiana and New London were the capitals of New America and Britannia respectively. Together, they represented the political and financial powerbase of the Federation. The New Sierra Platform, a repurposed shipyard facility, was CENTCOM HQ and was home to most of the command and control infrastructure of Starfleet. This single attack was a crippling hit. Beyond the staggering loss of life, it was also hard to imagine how the Federation continued on.

"Sir, we have a picture," OPS said.

"Put it up."

The image from the long-range optics was grim. New Sierra, normally a beautiful blue and green marble, was a gray and brown ball of swirling debris. The colliding high-speed air masses from multiple antimatter detonations caused secondary damage to the surface as they fed off each other and tore across the globe. As the computers analyzed the imagery and filled in the data for atmospheric temperature, wind speed, and gas composition, it was clear that, even if they had ships capable of getting down to the surface, it was doubtful anyone was alive unless they'd been in a bunker.