After escorting the quarantine ship USS Thaddeus E. Bradley and the container ship USS Medusa back to Warburg the SWS Ashdown and SWS Carisbrooke turned for home. However roughly half way back the SWS Ashdown detected a pair of vessels 60 miles to port. The ship's RSD.1 Nemesis was sent to ID the vessels.
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What appeared on the screens were a heavy cruiser and a destroyer, both flying the BoC flag. The SWS Ashdown fired six missiles at the destroyer, scoring four hits and splitting it in two. The cruiser fired back with eight missiles. One crashed into the superstructure of the SWS Carisbrooke, destroying the engineering department and officer's mess. Another missile struck the SWS Ashdown, destroying the ship's Black Hawk helicopter and the portside 40mm cannon. The ensuing fire also destroyed the portside torpedo launcher, which was hastily unloaded to prevent an explosion.
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The Ashdown's Nemesis drone fired its four missiles into the cruiser, driving it onto the guns of the Carisbrooke. The Brotherhood ship fired a salvo at the dreadnought, knocking out 'B' turret. However the Carisbrooke's reply was swift and accurate, with two salvos striking the cruiser's hull. Then the Ashdown charged, pounding the cruiser with 5" cannon fire. The ship then made a 180° turn, firing off five torpedoes and a round of rockets. Ten minutes later the cruiser rolled over and sank.
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The SWS Carisbrooke took the Ashdown under tow and, under the Carisbrooke's protective electronic screen, made their way into the NovrdLisch Grand Harbour.
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Allied Losses:
One battleship damaged.
One frigate heavily damaged.
One RSD.1 Nemesis drone lost.
97 killed.
27 wounded.
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BoC Losses:
One heavy cruiser sunk.
One destroyer sunk.
Unknown number killed (estimated at 820).