A CIS Prowler wasn't designed to be a tactical asset. It was armed so it could defend itself, but the ships were meant to be silent observers and reconnaissance platforms. Admiral Wright had signed off on a series of missions that had Prowler Fleet working with Starfleet directly in engagements. She'd briefed her crews this was something unique and not going to be the norm, but Ross was afraid she was simply too indoctrinated as a Fleet officer to fully understand what her new role was.

"We still need to try and do the extraction." Ross sighed. "Without the threat of the Nemesis's firepower, getting Xiao to surrender will be a bit more—"

"That cruiser is underway, sir! She's coming about and moving off away from us," Steger said.

"Commander Easton, shut her down," Ross ordered calmly.

"Sending command now, sir."

The Moray-Type mines Captain Ross had seeded the jump point with weren't just carrying a fusion warhead. They also had a secondary attack protocol that could disable a ship instead of destroy it. When Easton transmitted the proper command, the mine used a thermite compound to burn through the outer hull. Once the outer hull was compromised, a powerful EMP pulse was fired into the ship. Since the nasty little machine liked to attach itself near engines and engineering spaces, the typical result was a full powerplant shutdown.

They didn't have long to wait once the command was sent. Less than five minutes after Easton transmitted, there was a massive thermal plume from the old cruiser as the magnetic containment in her reactors failed and plasma was vented from her stacks into space. Her running lights winked out, and Ross watched on his display as the ship drifted away on a ballistic trajectory.

"Message their flagship and ask Xiao if he'd like to come to an arrangement before I start shutting down the rest of his fleet," Ross said. "Tell him he is not permitted to send ships to aide his cruiser until we come to an understanding."

"Sending message, sir," Easton said, her voice sounding strained. Ross understood what was bothering her. They'd just shut down propulsion, heat, and air on a ship with a couple hundred spacers on it. While the mainline fleet may have been accustomed to inflicting casualties, his Prowler crews were not. They were highly skilled operators who sat far outside the fray and observed. If his crews were squeamish about shutting down power on a ship, they really weren't going to like what could come next.

"Admiral Xiao said he is willing to discuss terms," Easton said after a moment.

"No discussion. Here is the offer. He and his senior staff board a lifeboat and depart their ship. We will collect it, bring them aboard, and then turn them over to CIS. This is a time sensitive deal," Ross said.

"Interesting turn of events now that the Nemesis isn't coming." The voice from behind Ross made him jump as he hadn't heard anybody come onto the bridge. When he turned, he saw his unwelcome guest standing in the hatchway wearing casual street clothes. The man was part of a group that was half-legend, half-boogeyman for everyone in the intelligence service: an Agent.