Laying Foundations: Adrift and Damaged

[Sar Thal]

Space normally can play tricks on us. We see things out of the ordinary that suddenly disappear without a trace. Like a streak of light from a falling star as it disentigrates through a falling atmosphere.

Ships appear from hyperspace, then go back into it. Ships, large and small, civilian transports and military ships. Each going to a destination and a mission all of its own.

Which is why it's always different to see a ship simply adrift in space. Let alone two...

But there sat two ships, one an Imperial Star Destroyer...the other, something of alien origin, but definately formerly of Imperial design. Both had been in battle, that was certain, the space was littered with destroyed fighters.

The alien ship was destroyed, the hull still burning as it floated adrift. It wouldn't be long until the fire consumed the entire ship, in an explosion that would remove it from existance.

The exterior of the Star Destroyer was marred with chinks and chunks from the battle. A massive hole, from several torpedos, exposed the interior of the ship...stormtrooper bodies coming from the hole like ants from an anthill. Both bridge shield generators were destroyed, sparks coming from them as the shields tried to come back online.

The Imperial Star Destroyer Superior would not be moving for a very long time.

But on the inside of the Star Destroyer, beings still moved. Aliens...their skeleton-like forms moving from Imperial body to body, removing weapons and checking for survivors from the attack.

The Yevetha's attack had been almost perfect, attacking the Superior quickly, with multiple ships. They now had control of the ship, or what was left of it. It would be hours before reinforcements arrived, the attack was a bit out of their avenue of activity.

The sight of the Imperial destruction was art to Sar Thal. The Commander slipped his brown haired-headed body through the halls of the ship.

He turned towards his fellow Yevetha, "Is everyone accounted for?"

[Rathen Yeelak]

"Yes, sir." Rathen Yeelak followed close behind, bringing Sar Thal up to speed on their progress in containing the crew of the ISD Superior. "The remaining vermin have been placed in cargo holds until they can be sorted by strategic value." The fight had been rather quick, as far as Rathen was concerned. He lived for this... for war. He could hardly contain his excitement as he had helped to bring down the Star Destroyer's shields. Sloppy engineering had cost the crew of this ship their lives, and soon it would cost the Empire their remaining power.

"How pathetic..." Rathen and Sar came to a halt in the hall way, looking down into the eyes of an Imperial officer who was still breathing and obviously paralyzed. "He must have somehow survived the depressurization," said Rathen, turning his head to the side curiously. "How unfortunate, don't you think commander?" Rethan disposed of the human with a single shot from his weapon, green light blasting through the officer's skull and hollowing out his ugly human head.

The two aliens continued to walk, looking over every repair that was currently underway. They obviously wouldn't be going anywhere in their own ship, so for the time being their best option would be to transfer the remaining crew of their own vessel onto the Superior, and repair the damage to it.

[Taylor Millard]

But the Yevetha didn't have everyone.

He had been pushed in the inner tube by both Thomas and his apprentice, Sincere. He watched as the aliens sliced the latter apart with their claws, while Thomas was knocked down unconcious.

The man was no coward. But even he knew when to fight, and when to retreat.

The Grand Admiral had taken an Imperial Repeater Rifle from the dead hands of a stormtrooper, then killed one of the skeleton-like aliens who'd overrun the Superior.

His ship.

His cold blue eyes narrowed as he slid back into the engineering tubes of the Star Destroyer. It was time to see if any others had gotten away from the Yevetha attack...and rally their support.

He would fight to the death for his ship.

And Grand Admiral Taylor Millard planned to.

[Bette Davis]

Bette threw down the vibroblade into the thick body of the Yevethan which lay at her feet, and looked over to the rest of Shadow Squadron. People seemed to be alive, but there was blood all over the bunks, and the walls and the floor was slick with it.

She grabbed a flight suit and pulled it on over her bloodstained undershirt and unmentionables. The attack had come just hours after lights out, and caught the ship almost completely off guard. Rain shot another high energy blaster bolt between a Yevethan's eyes, and then wiped blood and sweat from her forehead. Bette threw a flightsuit at her, and grabbed a blaster rifle from Razor, who was already dressed.

"Whats the status of the rest of the ship?" She checked the power pack and slung the weapon over her shoulder.

Stiletto spoke up, "The other squadrons, wiped out. We're lucky Oddball is such a light sleeper." The younger member looked up from his bunk and might have made a remark about sabacc and lucky numbers, but Bette didn't catch it. Tamara continued, "These Yevethan are ruthless. We were lucky to get the warning before they entered our barracks."

"Yeah I know I know. But now what? What is the status of the Grand Admiral?" Shooter looked to Silus, their XO. "Presumed dead?" She took a step and slipped in the blood. Val caught her arm and steadied her. Bette noticed that her hands were shaking. She grabbed a bunk for support.

Todd and some of the other men were stacking the dead Yevethan's in the far corner of the room. Bette wrinkled her nose against the smell of the blood.

[Kam Dapp]

Not really taking anything anyone said in, Kam, still dressed in the shirt and shorts he slept in, allowed his head to drop heavily into his arms.

He was sure Tack and his team were safe. They had been reassigned to another ship for some vital repairs or something, and weren't due back for a week. He knew most of the Squadron was safe. But otherwise from a few hiding, fighting or otherwise, the rest were dead. There was no way they could have survived.

Twenty thousand plus, wiped out, just like that.

Deep down, Kam knew he wouldn't survive the day. They may last for a long time, maybe even make the enemy pay a huge toll for what they have done. But survival was as likely as a particularly unintellegent Gamorrean planning a strategy to take Coruscant.

Slowly slumping to the floor, Kam pulled himself to where he kept his things, and began to put them in a small holdall.

[Val Torre]

Luckily for Val, Tod gave him a shake when he jumped down from his bunk, had he not done so Val would've slept right through and probably slaughtered in his sleep. He jumped out of bed and threw a pair of boxer shorts on, being as he never wears them, especially in bed. The next thing he went for was his dual heavy blaster pistols, they were lightweight and streamline. When the second wave of attackers barged into the barracks he had taken a dive in order to avoid a blaster shot to find himself covered in blood.

After a brief skirmish, he took a look around not realising the harsh reality of their situation. How they had survived was a miracle, it's a shame the rest of the crew hadn't.

"A shower wouldn't go amiss right now." He said after going through two towels to clean himself up a little. After dressing he threw Bette a blaster rifle. "More will be on their way when they realise the others wont be returning. They're ugly, little mofos!"

He crouched down and looked at one of them. They were hideous and one thing was for certain, "Guys, do not engage in close combat with these things unless it is a last resort." He lifted up the hand of a Yevethan corpse and flicked it back to reveal the protruding claw.

With his weapons holstered he pulled out from under his bed a utility belt that not only went around his waist but over his shoulder and across his chest too. He would use it in times of emergency, suffice to say it was required.

"Ok. So we have to look for survivors now. If there are any we need to formulate some sort of strategy with what limited numbers we have to take this ship back. Hopefully our fighters are intact. Silus--" He called over to Shadow Leader, as much as he disliked him being their leader in the fighters, they were of equal rank which would keep Val's feelings towards him diluted for the time-being. Suffice to say, they hadn't got off on the right foot. Alcohol, the solution and creator of problems. Once he had his attention he continued.

"--think there's anyway we can find out if our hangar is accessable from this distance?"

[Taylor Millard]

Millard was moving slowly through the Jefferies tubes, trying to make his way towards the engines of the Superior. If he could get there, he could end this slaughter quickly, and kill everyone in the process. The Balmorran Empire would go on, Tomar was set to take command if anything ever happened to him.

He found a comlink, hanging next to a detatched limb of an Imperial officer. Further inspection said it was Captain Toshus, one of the bridge officers.

"Sorry Jimrick," Taylor said as he took the comlink from the hand.

A faint voice was coming from it.

"This is Thomas calling to any Imperial out there. Please come in...This is Thomas calling to any Imperial out there please come in."

"Thomas, it's Millard. Quite happy to see you're alive," Millard was indeed happy to see his bodyguard alive.

"Taylor it's good to hear your voice as well," the Imperial Guardsmen said, "Any ideas?"

"I'm in a Jefferies Tube on deck G row 1. See if you can't rendevous with Shadow Squadron and Ms. Kozkis. I think I might head towards my quarters and see who else I can find."

"Aye sir. Glad you're alive"

Taylor crouched by the corner as he heard sounds approaching. It was definately an alien sense he had...one of the Yevetha.

The Dark Jedi withdrew his lightsaber from the pouch behind his uniformed tunic and prepared to fight.

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus was still shaken from the attack. The expression on his face was almost inhuman. He had been caught off guard as the rest of his squadron, though he hadnt the pleasure of having a weapon at his side. An act of trust toward his crew, being their new commanding officer.

At his feet laid one of the aliens. Its skeletal body, beaten to a pulp. This was the last one of the aliens that Silus had encountered alone....His predecessors didnt lay far...

Silus heard Bette ask him about Taylor, and at this point, Silus really wasnt sure....

Then he heard Val, which snapped him out of his trance....

"Well we could ask one of them...." Silus said, motioning his head toward one of the dead aliens....

"But I dont think we'll get an adequate response....."

Silus looked back to Val with a smirk on his face....The two were almost at odds since Silus joined Shadow Squadron, but now didnt seem like a great time to argue....

"You're right though....there'll be more headed this way soon....Everyone get your weapons together...."

Silus knew this didnt have to be said, as everyone was already doing so, but it didnt hurt to reinforce....

"Im not banking on us finding many survivors, but I dont think any of us wants to leave anyone else behind....We stay close, and we stay quiet...."

Silus glanced back up to Bette, offering a late answer.....

"Oh and Bette....I have a feeling the Grand Admiral's still roaming around here somewhere......"

Silus lifted himself to a standing position and walked over to his locker, retrieving a light repeater rifle, two blasters, and his lightsaber, strapping them on in their various holsters, then covering them up with a long coat.....

"Everyone ready?"

[Kam Dapp]

Slowly zipping up his black flightsuit, Kam picked up a brown jacket and opened it up. He picked up his suprisingly light holdall and put it over his shoulders, before putting the jacket on over it.

He then sat down, and looked at his weapons. He had put most items away, but had left his DL-18 and slugthrower, both with many rounds. He put the Slugthrower in his jacket pocket, before distributing his reloads around his pockets.

Slowly standing up, Kam picked up his blaster, and walked over to where Silus, Val and Bettte were talking, not really paying attention. He went to say something, but then stopped. Oh come on, what would I say? "Bette, Val, we're going to all die. Thanks for helping me settle in. Lets go"? Best I just stay quiet. he mused, as he stopped next to Val, across from Silus and Bette.

[Bette Davis]

Bette grabbed the rifle Val threw at her, and handed it to Rain. Tamara tied her hair back and frowned. "We'd need to get to a computer terminal to see what parts of the ship are accessible. The closest one with the right capabilities is..."

Zephyr spoke up, "Its out there." He pointed through the walls in the general direction of the mess hall. Shooter grumbled as she followed Oddball's example and packed up a small holdall. She stuffed two extra powerpacks into her flightsuit pockets, and slung the holdall across her back.

"Well, if its out there...shouldn't we send a few to go access it? Pretty soon, whoever's in charge out there will realize that these guys" she gestured rudely to the dead aliens "never came home. We're going to have company. So whatever you decide, we'll have to decide fast." She looked at Silus pointedly.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A finger twitched, followed by the tensing of the hand it belonged to, and Lok s'Ilancy gripped the right control throttle just a little tighter as she slowly turned it to the side. Her left hand followed suit, turning the left throttle, and the view of space before her rotated accordingly. Intense metallic eyes scanned the open vastness displayed before her, seemingly searching for something; anything, as she planned her next vector. Out off to the side and ahead by a few metres, she could see another ship, a YT-2400 freighter also changing course with her. She smiled.

The Wolfsschanze and The Rascal King were making good time on their 'trip', and had scoured most of their intended search pattern that'd been planned for the day. It'd been a week-long project Hera and s'Il had decided to undertake, and so far, into day 3, they hadn't had much luck. Not that that'd been much of a problem, both were having a fun enough time as it was, stopping over on no-name planets to carouse threw the local bars and start fights whenever the fancy struck. It was a welcome distraction from her normal activities, and s'Il was enjoying it to no end.

An indicator went off then, and reaching up above her head, she depressed the small button. Almost instantly the stars in front of her blinked out as the visuals switched, magnifying a portion of the upper right corner.

s'Il whistled as she magnified the image more.

Her eyes took in the sight in front of her, and she leaned forward in her seat. A quick look at a side display showed that The Wolfsschanze had come to a halt as well, and s'Il guessed that Hera had noticed it too...

... two ships; one a star destroyer, and the other... s'Il scrutinized it before having to consult her databanks, after which she turned her gaze back to the magnified wreckage before her.

"Yevethan... ?" she spoke quietly to herself,

Well, in any case it was easy to see neither ship was going anywhere soon. It looked as though the Imperial ship had put up a good fight; good enough to nearly destroy its attacker. Unfortunately not good enough to at least limp away... and most definately not good enough to fend off the two hyenas that had taken an interest in it.

The two hyenas who were on the prowl, who had smelled the blood, and had now seen the carcass.

With a gentle push of the throttles, s'Il edged the King forward; she could see Hera doing the same... and then both kicked in their thrusters, and the two craft leapt forward, ready to claim their new prize. The closer they got the more damage was seen, and s'Il was surprised either was still, for the most part, in one piece.

The star destroyer was crippled; utterly, and as she grazed along its once bone-white underbelly, she grinned at the prospect of what she and Hera would find on this little 'salvage operation'. Fortunately the secondary hangar was largely undamaged, and s'Il headed in its direction. In one smooth motion she pulled up on the throttles, and the King lifted itself up into the hangar. The Wolf followed closely behind, and even before her ship had settled completely s'Il was jogging down the forward boarding ramp as it descend slowly to the debris - and body - ridden deck.

Normally in a pair of grey military trousers and a shirt much too big for her, s'Il'd opted for the more 'post-apocolyptic' look; leather, with an assortment of slugthrowers, bladed weapons, and her shockboxing gloves - set on max strength of course. She grinned, making sure her 'goodies' were secure, and waiting for Hera, cast her eyes at the carnage around her.

She kicked a stormtrooper helmet, sending it skittering across the bloody deck. "Lousy shots."

[Sar Thal]

"There are still bits of resistance out there, Yeelak," Thal purred as the two made it to the bridge.

The stench of the humans was everywhere. Thal knew the bone white ship would be cleansed, purified, then cleansed and purified again before any Yevetha crew would set foot on the Superior

Superior indeed...pah!

"Contact the Blessed and let him know we have the Imperial ship under our control. The humans will do well in our slave pits."

The Yevetha Primate (or military leader) moved his bony mouth into a smile, "We shall build a new fleet...and crush the remaining parts of the Empire...beginning with this Meellard."

He turned towards an one of his inferiors.

"Bring the Imperial Grand Admiral to me!"

The Yevetha bowed his head, then chatted in his communicator.

"Primate sir, we have a problem," he said after the discussion.

Thal narrowed his eyes, "Yes?"

The Yevetha Inferior was visibly nervous, "We can't find him. He's disappeared."

"WHAT?" The Yevethan Commander growled.

"We can't find him...he's...gone."

With a quick thrust of his arm, Thal drove his dewclaw into the Inferior's throat. With a gasp of air, the latter fell to the floor as the life sucked out of him.

"FIND MILLARD!"

The other Yevetha nodded and began turning towards the various instruments of the ISD bridge.

"Sir! We have two ships coming into the main hangar bay! Non-Yevethan!"

Thal smiled again, "Send a pack of siringana down to take care of the intruders. And then have a commando team come in afterwards to cleanse the area.

"Go...now!"

[DarthHERA]

Hera debarked from her ship, the ramp closing up again behind her. Much lighter in apparel than her counterpart. The heaviest thing about the Sith was her boots - which she loved dearly for some reason she couldn't really place. She just liked the way they felt, the firm grip on her feet and their solidness beneath her as she walked.

Her main weapons were her force ability and the lightsaber clipped at her side. The Morphal Crest wrapped around her waist looking more of an accessory than the versatile living weapon it was, her blaster and daggers almost as afterthoughts tucked in handy-easy-to-get-at niches in her clothing.

A low whistle was the only comment Hera voiced on the destruction that greeted the two women in the hangerbay. And a greedy smirk crept along her face.

s'Il kicked a hapless stormtrooper's helmet as Hera moved carefully about poking her nose around here and there.

"Nice of them to leave the keys in the door eh, s'Il? By the way, I gotta tell ya that hardware really works for you. You got "bustin-ass" style written all over you girl."

s'Il moved cautiously but steadily forward commenting that the readouts said there were still a fair amount of "affirmitive" locators going. Which meant the 'other' bad guys were still at large and not at all finished with this starcruiser.

"So, we strip this corpse for what we can carry, while letting this lot finish each other off. The Yevetha arent our problem. They are our...opportunity." Her grin was infectious and they both moved at a slow trott out of the hangar and down a short corridor - both with a mind to taking some Imperial Armaments for posterity.

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus mustered a heavy sigh, his eyes fixated on the wall, seemingly peering through to the nearest computer terminal...

"Well the settles it then....we're headed out to the terminal.....Everyone stay close....watch each others backs, and we'll all go home...."

Silus glanced around the room at the rest of the squadron....

"we'll improvise once we get to the terminal....."

Just then, Silus began feeling a bit less comfortable, and that feeling mixed with a strange presence. "Couldnt be", he thought to himself as he peered out the door and down the hallway....

"It's clear....lets move....."

[Taylor Millard]

The Siringanas were led by two Yevethan warrios as they ran through the Jefferies Tube. The tubes on the Star Destroyer were large enough for a man to walk upright in, as well as some small animals.

The raptor-like creatures raced towards the uniformed Grand Admiral, howling as they spied their non-Yevethan prey.

Millard attacked, igniting his blue-red lightsaber and slicing one of the heads off of the animal. Millard grabbed the nearest Yevethan Warrior and hurled him into the path of the nearest Siringanas. With a yell, the white alien was torn apart...his dewclaw slicing the leg off of the Siringana, sending it to the ground as well.

The final Yevethan stopped, then pulled out a communicator. He began speaking in a language Millard had a slight grasp of. When he heard his name...he knew he was in trouble.

The Dark Jedi suddenly felt as though something was pulsating through his arm...something prickly, much like a static shock.

He flung his arms forward, watching as blue lightning shot from it. As fast as it came from his arm, though, it stopped but the damage was done. The Yevethan had dropped his communicator and was now charging Millard.

Two hacks later, and the skeleton-like alien was dead, and Millard was on the move again.

Time to change clothes. And figure out how I was able to use lightning. That was sure interesting.

[Rathen Yeelak]

Rathen had heard Sar's orders clearly and only just begun to walk towards a squad of warriors when he heard his communication device activate. For only the briefest of moments he heard something, another Yevethan was shouting loudly, then a cloud crack, and silence.

He had heard "Meelard," shouted into the comm-link... "Repeat," shouted Rathen in response, but it was no use. There came no reply. He fed the channel through the ships computer quickly, barking orders in his alien tongue. Already a squad of thirty Yevethan warriors had fallen in line behind him.

"I have located him." Several of the lower ranking soldiers turned to look at him as he read the coordinates of his last position out loud. Most of the commanders instantly recognized the strategic advantage of his position. It had multiple pathways, all leading into the engine room. Any Yevethan worth his fur would already have pieced together what thoughts must be running through the Admiral's mind.

"Send reinforcements to the reactor chamber! NOW!" The thirty Yevethan Soldiers behind him dispatched quickly, leaving the commander alone. He began to play with the primitive ship's computer, making slight adjustments to the temperature controls inside the maintenance shafts where Millard now hid. In a matter of minutes it would become too cold for any human to survive within, and then Millard would be forced to come out of his hiding place...

[Tasha Kozkis]

"Nyevit teth ANNINITH!" A loud electrical sounding pop was followed by the sound of a body dropping to the floor. Tasha shot the thing again, and was very glad that she had the foresight to carry a Vitiku boarding-gun with the rest of her belongings, a weapon similar to a blaster optimized for short-range combat.

She sneered at the pair of smoking corpse on the deck. The feeling of triump was short-lived, though. She doubted anyone else was alive and her ankle was broken. To further worsen the situation, her quarters were in hard vacum, and she was stuck in a bra and pants.

Thomas was probably dead. That thought alone would drive her to kill every single one of these things one by one. A weapons locker was about fifty meters ahead--hopefully that would help her cause some.

Tasha turned the corner to the home stretch, 25 meters away. Sure enough, one of the vile things stood guard.

"FRELLNIK DREN SCUM!" She screamed as she rounded the corner.

[Thomas]

Thomas was bleeding and his robes were torn. A Yevethan dewclaw had almost comepletely destroyed his Imperial guardsman helmet, forcing him to discard it in a lift, along with his red cloak.

He still wore his red robes, but they were slashed and torn, blood coming from more than a few cuts on the skin. The worst injury was a hole in his thigh where a dewclaw had stabbed through the muscle behind the bone. The leg wasn't completly useless...but the Force Pike was more a walking stick than a weapon.

The heavy blaster rifle in his hand was weapon enough for him. Especially with the various vibroblades hidden in his tunic as well.

As Thomas moved towards where Shadow Squadron was bunked, he thought of Tasha Kozkis. The Vitiku was on the Superior during the attack, and he hoped she was still alive.

Even if she did die, he thought, We'd probably find the most collection of Yevetha bodies around her.

Tasha was a tough woman...one reason why Thomas found her most interesting...and wonderful to be around.

Turning his thoughts towards SS, Thomas hoped they were still alive. But the massacre in the halls of the Superior told him he might be wrong.

The muscle in his leg went out finally, and Thomas fell to the ground of the Star Destroyer's hall. As he rose to his feet he saw the head of Flight Command Silus Xilarian poke out from the bunk door.

"Commander Xilarian...over here!" he hissed.

[Silus Xilarian]

"What the hell....", Silus thought to himself as he peeked his head out the door once again...On the very edge of his peripheral, he saw......

"Thomas!?!"

Silus had only seen the Imperial Guard without his helmet once, so Thomas' face wsant familiar. Silus did however know Thomas' voice.....

Silus took off out of the bunker to aid Thomas. He lifted Thomas' arm over his shoulder and began to help him back to the bunk. The two had never spoken much, save for the occasional "hi how are you" or "The grand admiral's looking for you". Silus did however respect the man, and his abilities....

"man, if you look like this, then Id hate to see what you did to those aliens.....", Silus joked.

As they made their way through the door, Silus eased Thomas to the floor....

"Tamara grab a medpack, see what we can do about his leg..."

A thought dawned on Silus....He was happy to see someone else alive, but he thought Thomas would be off looking for Taylor....unless he had already found the Grand Admiral...which would mean......

"Thomas.......do you know where the Grand Admiral is......"

[Kam Dapp]

Kneeling down next to the Guardsman, Kam helped Tamara as she began placing Bacta patches on various cuts on the wounded man.

"He's going to need a Tank for that leg wound" he said to Tamara, as he squirted a liquid around it to stop infection. Although he was hardly a trained medic, he did know the basics. Reaching into the medipack, Kam pulled out a reel of bandage, and wrapped it round, to staunch the bleeding.

"Hey Bette, we're running out here. Care to tear some fabric off?" He said as he forced a smile, trying to ease the tension in the room.

[DarthHERA]

They found the Armory to be not quite as they had suspected. Its stores had only been a little depleted to aide in the hands-on battle that had preceded s'Ilancy and Hera's arrival to the Star Destroyer. The Imperials had armed themselves to the teeth to defend their ship, well, those that had enough time to make their way down here, which by the look of things, did not seem too many. This attack was obviously sudden and very unexpected - caught the Imps quite literally "asleep at the wheel."

"Lucky for us" Hera quipped as she rubbed two greedy hands together and looked over the military toys to be had. "s'Il give me a hand."

The two women maneuvered a hydrolic "hover-dolly" over to the rows of shelving abundant with weaponry and began quickly and methodically to load crates onto it. They began with E-11 blaster rifles, some crates of thermal detonators, blaster pistols, ascension guns. They even found some hyperspace probes and added those.

The sound of blaster fire echoed toward them from down the corridor and the two women both looked at each other and nodded. Now would be a good time to leave.

As they moved forward, the trolly between them, Hera stopped and added a crate of StormTrooper armor to the pile.
"I always wanted some of these.." s'Il grinned as if to say "me too!".

They looked out into the hallway where a Yevethan and an Imperial were in a life and death struggle. Hera shot them both and waved s'Il forward. She shot two more Imperials as they came running down the corridor, perhaps to the Armory to gain more weapons. They were dead before they realised anyone was in their way.

A sudden shift in the force and Hera knew beyond a doubt that there was a force-weilder on the ship. Atleast one, perhaps more.. She had sensed the imbalance as the force-lightening had been released. It was not something that could easily be over looked. She began a probe in her mind for the source of the expended power.

She looked over at s'Ilancy who was looking ahead to see if their way was clear.

"I know who's ship we are on s'Il."

A sinking feeling pitted in the art-theifs stomach as she waited to hear a name. Instead Hera said simply.

"We cant just leave. I owe it to him to help him."

[Bette Davis]

Shooter looked a little blankly at Oddball, and then, instead of the usual smart remark, turned away and poked her head out the door. There was a smeared trail of blood coming into the barracks. She hastily brought her head back in.

"I hate to break up Florence Nightingale over there, but we're gonig to have company in just a few minutes. Its best we evacuate to the mess hall. Stavit and Marr can carry the guardsman, but I really think we should move," Her hands were still shaking, and she clasped them around the blaster rifle that was slung in front of her.

Blood had dried a dark brown on her hand, but the movement of her arm re-opened a 'scratch' on her tricep, sending a fresh trickle of blood down her arm. She didn't notice her flightsuit sticking to her arm, but continued to look at Silus. "Sir. Please."

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus looked over as Bette spoke. She was still shaking as she began giving out "commands". Most Imperial Officers would take this as an insult. Silus however, agreed with her idea...

"Yeah, we'll get outta here...These guys seem to enjoy using those claws, the mess hall's a bit bigger, our blasters'll be more effective....STAVIT...MARR.....help Thomas out....."

Silus glanced back up to Bette as he stood back up.

"Think you can take care of Val....you know hes just a pretty face in a cockpit, right?

[Thomas]

"I can walk," Thomas waved off both Marr and Stavit. It wasn't the usual Army/Navy feud, but instead, Thomas indeed could walk. He just needed some...assistance.

"Hey, Stavit hand me those two rods over there," he pointed at two bent metal pieces from one of the damaged bunks, "Now the leather...that's it."

The Imperial Guardsman splinted his injured leg, then rose from where he sat.

"Let's go...Millard's alive, he said to meet us in the Jefferies Tube."

Without waiting for Silus to follow, Thomas made his way down the hallway towards the Jefferies Tube.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il had felt the ripple in the force as well, though her awareness of it was through a completely different medium, and a surprised look passed over her features as a small growl sounded from the back of her throat. Her eyes flashed a menacing tawny yellow for a brief moment before settling back to their normal metallic.

A few more seconds passed, and s'Il felt herself calming a little... the feelings were getting stronger. Ever since Diego had stung her she'd been feeling everything around her differently; her sense of smell and hearing jumping in sensitivity, her constant feeling of restlessness, and now the ability to sense when someone used the force.

Something was happening to her. But right now she had a job to do.

She crouched low then, looking back to her partner.

"Hera, whatever you do, don't use the force. Please."

Lifting her head a little, s'Il sniffed the air. It smelt of death and carnage... like a butcher's shop. It also smelled alien; utterly alien. Her ears were picking up faint blaster shots coming from down the corridor, and she let out a snort. The air smelled familiar, and she sniffed the air once more...

... and cursed. s'Il smelled him, catching his faint scent lingering throughout the entire ship.

"I think," she started, "I know who's this ship is too... "

[DarthHERA]

Hera was looking at s'Il as if she just grew a second head.

Not use the force??

She does realise we are stealing from and Imperial infested Star Destroyer with angry aliens running rampant didnt she??

Upon a better look at her partner, Hera coulda swore the womans eyes just got a distinctly ferral look in them.

"s'Il...did your" but she never got to finish. Moving into the corridor up ahead of them came another group of Imps.

"Damnit - how come these aliens havent killed them all yet?"

Hera fired off another round and her laser bolt skinned across the arm of a blond man who looked like the leader before one of his men who wore the red attire of an imperial guard pulled him back behind cover. The injured man just glimpsed her as she pulled the trigger and he had just enough time to register surprise as her mark found him. She saw it in his eyes, just as he would have seen the lack of emotion in hers as she shot him.

She and s'Il instantly took cover as Hera yelled "we got company."

[Tasha Kozkis]

An empty Stormtrooper helmut bounced around the corner, spinning to the Yevethan's feet. Silence filled the air until the trooper kicked the empty headgear away. Tasha slid out from around the corner, firing an E-11, catching the skeletal invader in the shoulder.

"Ai!" she cried out, her good leg taken out from under her in the return fire. Sprawled about the deck, she closed her eyes and gripped the boarding gun tightly, and waited for three seconds. The Vitiku rolled over, dodging a barrage of bolts before looking at the Yevethan for a milisecond before incenerating his head into oblivion.

The corpse dropped to the floor, baring a remarkable resemblance to a burnt match, completely blackend from the shoulders up. With the help of the wall, Tasha stumbled to the weapons locker and opened it. The walls were adorned with E-11, and at the back was four repeaters.

[Bette Davis]

Bette shrieked as Silus was yanked back into the room, and poked her head around the corner and returned fire with her blaster rifle. She didn't hit anything important, as the attackers ahd ducked behind a bulkhead. "Dammit! We're Shadow Squadron and we're not going to let you kill us like this!" She screamed at the Yevethan who were hiding, and nearly took one of their blond heads off with her next shot.

Wait...blond? She felt Val pulling her back into the barracks, and she said, "I think they're human!"

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus grit his teeth at the graze wound on his arm. Though it was, only a graze wound, it still hurt like hell. Silus watched Val as he pulled Bette back after she had begun firing on the woman, who Silus presumed was the presence he has sensed earlier...

"Yeah, shes a human alright.....damned pirates...."

Silus absently handed his rifle back, not paying attention to which SS member grabbed it. He once again began to step out from his cover, only this time igniting a red lightsaber as he did. There was another person there too. Their presence seemed familiar to a point, yet foriegn all together. This made Silus a bit more uncomfortable, but he still, essentially, ignored it. If that person decided to step out, then Silus would be ready. However, until that situation arrived, his agenda was to deal with the pirate who had shot him....

Silus stepped out with his saber drawn. His training, it seemed, was starting to become second nature, as he began to curb his anger, focusing it, and using it to fuel him, so to speak.....

"You picked the wrong ship..............."

His eyes staying fixated on Hera....

"Bitch"

[DarthHERA]

The sensation of the second force adept was clearer now..and a wicked grin spread across Hera's lips. Seems it was the cowboy she shot in the corridor

ahhh...Ive snagged me a fledgling..

She called over to s'Ilancy, "Tell me again why I shouldnt use the Force?"[/i]

[Kam Dapp]

Slowly easing past Val and Bette, Kam stepped out into the corridor, his DL-18 in a two handed grip. He swiftly sidestepped across to the other side of the corridor, and stopped so that a door would give him a little cover.


Slowly lining up the person who had fired at them, Kam got his first proper look. She was blonde, with her stunning medium height frame topped off with a head of hair that ended just past her shoulders. But there was something.....bad about her that soured her appearence. Not being able to put a finger on it, Kam tried to put it out his mind, as he carefully aimed at an area just above her breastbone, ready for the need to fire.

[Thomas]

"WAIT!" A voice called from the other side of the hall.

The formerly red cloaked Imperial Guardsman staggered from where he'd gotten cover, right near a Jefferies Tube. He saw the two women, and a smile came to his face.

"s'Il, rather surprised to see you here," he shifted his weight, putting it on his good leg, "And you are...Hera Drenkast correct? We had a run in with each other during 'The Festival of the Five Moons'.

"C'mon SS, coast is clear for now. You can come out..."

It was then the turbolift at the end of the hall sprung open and 30 Yevethan Warriors, along with 5 Raptor-like creatures came running down the hall, headed towards where the Imperials and smugglers were.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il looked to Hera briefly as the Yevetha started their charge, and throwing her weapons down she cast a glance at Thomas with a 'don't tell Taylor' look in her eyes.

And then she started to change.

As the Yevetha and their... creatures... bore down on them, she closed her eyes, feeling the change in musculature and skeletal structure; it was exquisite and agonizing at the same time, and she arched her back, expelling a long breath. Hair began to grow down her arms; a silvery grey pelt covering her body, and a popping could be heard as her joints dislocated to allow her new form to take shape. She fell to all fours, catching herself; not with her hands, but with paws, and a low gutteral growl sounded from her throat. Her head had narrowed, and she bared sharp canines with a vicious snap of her powerful jaws. A thick mane of silver fur had replaced her once dark blonde hair, covering her from her muzzle to the tip of a lush tail; also covering the deadly stinger housed within that tail.

Clothes now discarded, the vornskr stood tall, gave a snort, and her silver coat ruffled as she shook herself. s'Il growled at the oncoming attackers, and casting a now tawny gaze at the humans standing behind her, crouched low before launching herself at the Yevetha.

Her growl grew in viciousness as she tore down the corridor, her teeth bared and ready to tear flesh apart.

[Bette Davis]

"Holy shi- !" Bette felt like she was swimming in gelatin as she swung her blaster rifle around to bear on the approaching Yevethan. With effort she got it into position, and then squeezed the trigger, blowing a hole in the chest of one of the aliens.

She didn't have a chance to process the woman...the Admiral's mistress? What was this? Bette jerked as a beast took the woman's place, and leapt down the corridor. Her aim was thrown off, and her next shot put a black smoking hole in the bulkhead. "Frelling dren!"

[Taylor Millard]

The Yevethan had made a mistake.

There was no guard in front of Millard's quarters. Nor in, as the Grand Admiral slipped inside.

It was then he felt it.

Pain...then pleasure...then howling. And a presence familiar.

Hera...and s'Ilancy?

She was on the ship somewhere. Millard decided to let her be for the time being. She was a big girl and could take care of herself.

But if she gets herself surrounded by Yevethan Warrior...I will not hesitate to rescue her.

Millard pulled open his closet, staring at the black robes hidden in the back. He hadn't worn them for quite some time, but now was as good of time as ever.

He slowly carressed the light fabric, then the armor beneath. And then he himself began his own changing...

From Imperial Grand Admiral...to Dark Jedi.

[Silus Xilarian]

Everything was a blur to Silus. One big confusing blur. The only thing that stood out to him now was the fact that his best friend had just turned into a huge snarling beast and charged the Yevethian's....Silus did the only thing he could think to.....

"Well dont just stand there, lets give her some cover!"

Silus put his saber away, as he knew how Lok felt about them. It was replaced by two blasters, as he began to put a hail of fire on the aliens, though being careful not to hit his friend......

"Lok sure does have some explaining to do....."

[DarthHERA]

Hera's eyes practically started from her head.

s'Ilancy's metamorphis had come so completely unexpectedly, that Hera mistrusted her eyes. She pressed herself back against the hard surface of the wall in astonishment.


The timely zinging of blaster fire about her head made her shake herself into action as seemingly in one accord the Imperials begain shooting their weapons in a full scale attack on the Aliens.

She had seen the young darkhaired commando with his blaster trained on the center of her chest, spin and re-aim like his comrades. Hera thought abstractedly that he looked too young to be wearing that uniform. She swore she was getting old..

Hera traded her blaster to her more trusty weapon and activated her dual-bladed saber. She moved in a controlled yet quick and steady advance toward the Yevethans, sweeping her blade in a lethal criss-cross fashion before her and slicing through any aliens that came into contact with the brilliant blue energy blades. A torso here, a head there - the occassional limb.

Across her field of vision, Hera took in Thomas, whom she did indeed recall from Duvray, now that he had mentioned it, fighting along side a very capable looking woman, who had terrible aim.. There again was the darkhaired man that held her seconds before in his 'sights' sprinting forward to engage two of the Yevethens as they tried to flank the small group to the left. The blond she'd clipped earlier with her laser bolt had deactivated his light saber (why, Hera had no idea) and was moving to cover s'Ilancy as she ripped out an alien throat like she was born to it.

s'Ilancy - in wolf form...She tried to comprehend it all. It was in fact a form that Hera remembered seeing once before in Barnaby Wednesdaydales bar. He had called the creature Deigo and s'Il looked just like him. wth??. in a burst of agressive irritation at s'Il not telling her about this development, Hera drove her saber into the belly of one of the Raptor-type beings, a yeowling screech rang out to the Siths satisfaction. But before she could remove her weapon to seek another target, another of the Raptors had pounced, knocking the Sith to the floor, its claws extended to rip her back open.

[Bette Davis]

Bette got her nerves back, although her right arm was going numb, and shot another Yevethan straight through its right eye. She avoided the snarly beast with silver fur, and stood her groud, keeping the aliens off it and away from them. A blaster bolt whizzed by her ear, and she flinched away from it.

As her head turned she caught sight of the woman with the lightsaber going down. Now in the 'zone,' Shooter calmly shot the reptillian creature off the woman, and then returned to her target practice.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She moved quickly, her lithe body twisting in smooth, controlled, deadly movements.

The first Yevthan had been easy, his surprised at seeng her change gave her an advantage, and as she closed her jaws around his neck, she wrenched her muscles, snapping his vertebrae like a twig, and he fell lifeless to the deck. She stood over him, fur bristling in anger as a yellow glare stabbed into the rest of the aliens.

Blaster fire shot over her, sending even more of the attackers to the floor, gaping holes smoldering in their bodies wherever they'd been hit. She could also hear a saber being ignited in the background; most likely Hera; gods she'd have some explaining to do for her Sith partner...

s'Il didn't even have to look behind her to know that Thomas'party were holding their own; hell, they were even covering her as she'd dove into the fray... she'd have to thank them later.

s'Il lowered her head then, as another Yevethan came at her, and muscles tensing, she sprang at him, knocking him back before her jaws clamped around his arm, and with another powerful twist of her neck, pulled the appendage clear off, spraying blood all over the deck and walls. The alien screamed, feebly striking her sides with his remaining arm, but it did no good as she simply tore his face off... quite literally.

A claw raked her left haunch then scoring deep into the skin, but thankfully not deep enough to cause serious damage to the muscle within, and she yelped, whirling around to face one of the raptor creatures. Both stood stock still, staring eachother down. s'Il growled viciously, and the siringana produced its own form of growl.

The vornskr launched into the air, as did the creature, and both collided, crashing to the deck in a flurry of snapping jaws and slashing claws.

[Kam Dapp]

Slowly breaking into a walk, Kam, still holding his blaster two handed, took aim at one of the two aliens that was advancing on him, and fired at a steady rate. The first hit him in the centre of the chest, while the other shots all landed in a small area around the first, slowly rising. He knew one shot could have done the job, but doing that gives them time to do one last thing, or to get out the way and get treatment. No, keep firing until knowing they are dead is the way to go.

As the corpse dropped, Kam turned to aim at the other, who had picked up pace. Seeing he was a lot closer, the pilot stepped back and aimed for his adversaries head, which he ducked. Before Kam could react again the alien, Kam would have to find out their name later, launched into a dive, hitting the pilot in the chest, sending both back. Losing his grasp on his pistol, Kam tried to punch his opponent, but before he could a headbutt knocked him back.

As his eyes focussed again, Kam saw the enemy was on top of him, an arm raised, with something he hadn't seen before.

Is that a claw? Oh frell


Kam closed his eyes as the claw began it's descent to his head...





...Noticing he was still breathing, Kam slowly opened an eye, and looked at his opponent. It stayed where he had last seen it, slowly swaying. Hearing a loud noise, Kam watched as someone fired a second shot into the thing, to finish the job. Glancing across, the pilot saw Val, pistol still aimed at the head his opponent. Pushing the corpse off him, Kam stayed where he was, before smiling at Val.

"I suppose I owe you one now"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

ooc: Hera and I have decided to pick this thread back up and dust it off ^_^

ic:

She'd come out on top, the bleeding carcass of the alien creature lying unmoving on the deck beneath her. Chest heaving, and numerous claw marks littering her body, the vornskr cast a menacing yellow glare all around, taking in the carnage surrounding her. Her eyes fell on Hera shoving the raptor creature off her body, and muscles bunching, the animal bounded across the mass of bodies littering the grated floor, headed for the Sith.

[DarthHERA]

Everything was moving so rapidly about her. People yelling across the carnage to one another - shouting directives, heads-up's - blaster fire criss-crossing the whole place. Dang the Imperials and aliens both!

Her thoughts were unreasonable she knew, but she was p.o'd.

She should be grateful the little darkhaired woman had shot off her most recent attacker, but Hera wasnt big on such sentiment.

She shoved the ungainly, ugly alien from off herself, angry at the inconvenience of it all, and looked up just in time to see the wild and wolf-like creature that s'Il had become bounding toward her.

Scrambling backwards, and shutting her jaw that had droped open again, Hera prepared to defend herself.

"s'Il! wait! its me - Hera! stop, its me! Damnit, we're friends!"

The while time she was yelling, Hera was considering the best place to strike s'Ilancy in order to stop her while inflicting the least amount of harm.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Her pace slowed to a lazy jog, and the vorsnkr tilted her head at Hera's reaction. If she could have laughed, she would have. Her jog slowed to a halt, and sitting on her haunches, she whuffled at the Sith woman. As long as Hera didn't use the force, she'd be fine, and s'Il trusted her with her life.

Her whuffle turned into a low yowling grumble-purr, and with her tail whipping about, s'Il looked up at Hera, tawny yellow eyes searching, hoping that the other woman wouldn't turn away in disgust at the beast that now sat before her, blood from both the aliens and her own wounds.

[DarthHERA]

"s'Il......you're freaking me out."

Hera looked at the golden eyes of what was the new form of her friend and counterpart, and, quite amazingly, could see s'Ilancy within them.

Flicking her wrist upward, Hera deflected with her LS a wayward blaster bolt that was headed toward them and sent it careening off toward the roof of the ship with not so much as a blink.

Tilting her head, looking the vornskr over, Hera's lips twisted into a question and then she spoke slowly and with increased volume towards the animal.. "Can. You. Understand. Me?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

At Hera's question, the vornskr dipped her head, then proceeded to softly howl a tune they'd heard in the last bar they'd visited. Of course it was off key and grating to the ears, but it was the same song none-the-less, and lips curling back to reveal a bloody, toothfilled maw, the beast stood.

Life is a highway, she sang along mentally.

Still 'singing', she once more headed for Hera, stepping over dead bodies with ease.

[DarthHERA]

A low laugh began to shake Hera's frame as she couldnt beleive the song the vornskr...or rather s'Ilancy...was 'singing'

"Well, I could take this show on the road.."

Shaking her head, the Sith still looked incredulous at her friend.

Another close hit from a stray blaster shot, pulled Hera back to the reality of the situation. For the moment, the Imperials seemed to be gaining the upper hand of the melee.

Ducking back behind a door that had been bent off its hinges, Hera waved s'Ilancy to join her out of the line of fire.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

At Hera's beckon s'Il picked her pace up, and bounding through the doorway, she turned, peering from behind their temporary shielding for a moment before pulling back. Her yellow gaze turned to the other woman for a brief moment, then back out to where Silus and Thomas and the rest of the Imperials were taking care of the stragglers.

She watched as a Yevethen ran by, and quick as anything shot out, catching the alien by the ankle with powerful jaws. It screamed, flailing arms as it crashed to the ground, the beast's grip so strong it broke the alien's ankle. Muscles bunching, s'Il dragged the unfortunate Yevethan back into the small alcove where Hera waited.

[DarthHERA]

As the Yevethen thrashed about, vainly trying to fend off the wolf that was crushing its lower leg in her strong jaws, Hera too sprang forward.

Stamping violently with one booted foot, she pinned one arm to the ground and with a swift slice of her lightsaber, sliced off the other as it grabbed at her leg to free himself.

S'Ilancy moved up from the crushed ankle, now to stand over the alien and snarled her bloodied fangs within inches of the captive's face. Hera waved her saber around his head so he could feel the heat emanating from the exquisitely lethal weapon.

Looking down with pitiless eyes at the creature now at the women's mercy, Hera spoke in a quietly menacing tone.

"Millard - where is he?"

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus saw Hera duck back around the corner, with s'Il following closely behind, dragging one of the aliens with her. Silus still had a few words to say about Hera shooting him, but they had bigger fish to fry right now.

As he started around the corner, he heard Hera ask where Millard was. It seemed that she was asking on s'Il's behalf. And s'Il just happened to be the only reason Silus hadnt killed her yet...

A curious look spread across Silus' face as he came around the corner. The alien was being stubborn with his information...

"Your doing it wrong", Silus said, as he looked down at Hera's boot pinning the aliens arm...

"Watch..."

With his own boot, Silus stomped on the arm and twisted, causing the yevethan's dew claw to shoot out. With a quick swipe of his saber, Silus relieved the alien of its weapon.

"See?"

Silus then stepped away, turning the corner, into an empty room...

"Follow me....bring the alien..."

[DarthHERA]

If looks could kill......Well, everyone knows the ending to that line and what Silus' fate would be should the saying be true.

Hera screwed her face up at s'Ilancy.

"He's kidding right?"

The Yevethen squirmed on the ground and garbled something, which prompted Hera to smack it in the head with her saber hilt.

Grabbing the alien and dragging him by his remaining arm, Hera dumped him at Silus' feet, s'Ilancy padding along beside her.

Standing toe to toe with the blonde Imperial, Hera snarled into his face.

"Listen buddy, I dont know who you think you are...but you dont want to be pressin' my buttons, you got that."

[Silus Xilarian]

Silus eyes narrowed toward Hera.

"Your on thin ice already, lady....take your own advice"

Before she could reply, Silus turned away slightly and leaned down. With a hard tug, he jerked the Yevethan to its feet and slammed it back first into the wall. For the moment, Hera was forgotton...

"You never answered the question. Where's Millard?"

The alien said nothing, and attempted to push Silus away with the arm that was still attached. Silus could see the muscles in his arm contracting, as if he were trying to use his missing dew claw...

"Awwww, wishful thinking...."

In a flash, Silus' hand flew up, grasping the alien by the throat. He jerked the alien forward, then harshly slammed it against the wall again. The hit almost knocked the alien out. Its knees went weak for a moment. Had it not been for Silus holding it up by the throat, it would have crumpled to the floor....

"Stay with us now....answer me....Where's Millard?..."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il had followed silently, her paws hitting the deck while claws made a slight scraping as she strode forward. Watching Hera and Silus interact was amusing, and she turned golden eyes to first one then the other.

She watched as Silus had his way with the Yevethan, and rearing up in a controlled motion, placed her paws on the bulkhead near the alien's face. Snorting, she brought her bloodied teeth close to their prisoner's face, licking the red liquid with a lazy tongue. It was a somewhat awkward position, and she was pressed close up against Silus' side, both seemingly vying for the chance to torture the alien.

Silver neck fur brushed against Silus' cheek, her head lolling to the side as she pushed back a little from the wall to rub against his face; most likely the strangest form of 'hello' he'd ever recieved from her.

[DarthHERA]

Hera noticed s'Ilancy and her friendly greeting, but it did little to dissuage the annoyance the Sith felt against Silus.

Ramming her lightsaber side-wise through the pinned up alien, beginning at his leftside ribcage through and out his rightside ribcage, Hera dispatched the Yevethen with smouldering, sizzling finality. She was careful not to touch s'Il at all, not so much Silus, but neither felt the heat of the blade whatsoever.

Silus rounded on her, his angry eyes flashing, but Hera cut him off before he could speak.

"Millard isnt here. What more could this scum tell us?"

She withdrew the blade methodically.

"If you want to play pick-apart-the alien, then find your own. We're done here."

It was petty of her to rob Silus of the kill...but pettiness was only one of many antisocial personality traits Hera had in abundance.


She deactivated her lightsaber now and clipped it to her side.

"C'mon s'Il. Millard, like all good captains of their ship, will go to the helm and see what damage control if any is possible - and if there is any chance of counter-attack."

[Silus Xilarian]

"Counter-attack? Are you as blind as you are stupid? The battle is over. They won. If anything, Millard is out trying to find Thomas, who is conveniently with us right now...."

He kept his saber drawn and ignited, held low, but ready. S'Il wasnt right beside him anymore, and she seemed to be handling the situation pretty well, despite her fear of sabers.....

"Now if you want to rush to the helm, where a full brunt of these things are waiting, then fine...be my guest. I'll burn a candle for you later....But you arent taking her with you..."

Silus stepped forward slightly, putting himself between Hera and s'Il......

"But if you have trouble registering that upstairs, Miss, then I'd suggest you make any inquiries about it now"

[Bette Davis]

Bette's hands weren't shaking nearly as much now. Commander Xilarian had run off with the pirates in search of the Admiral, and she had twelve battered and bruised pilots engaged in a ground assault. They were not trained for this sort of thing, except in basic, and that had been more than a few years previously. Thomas, the Imperial Guard, was barking orders, establishing a perimeter around the computer terminal.

Rain was trying to get the status of the rest of the ship, and hopefully their TIEs. She turned to Bette. "Shooter, the power's out to this terminal. We need - "

Bette ejected the powercell to her blaster rifle and shoved it into her hands. "Rig something. And hurry." The pilot nodded grimly and wrenched off a panel, digging into the wires underneath.

Marr and Stavit came running down the hallway towards them. "There are too many!" Maniac turned, took a knee and covered Stavit's retreat as the younger pilot dashed for the saftey of their corner. Razor opened up one of the maintenance shafts, for their get away, helping Thomas get into it.

"Any day now, Rain..." Bette shot a Yevethan between the shoulders, and it fell, choking on its own blood.