Outside the ship, turbolaser bolts and missiles flashed by the bridge. Commander Ruane stood by impassively as crew rushed by, attempting to fight back against Zakuul’s forces. Computer stations exploded into sparks, and Ruane was peripherally aware that his own guards had jumped in to move injured crew from the burning computer stations and reroute control through some of the remaining terminals on the bridge. The captain manned the helm, and he worked feverishly over sparking controls.
“How long until the hyperdrive is ready?” Ruane’s calm did very little to reassure the rest of the crew. If anything, it set them more on edge. The former Imperial Guards on the bridge worked as if they were not just unafraid of dying, but completely oblivious that it was a very real possibility.
“Two minutes, maybe three. I’m having trouble keeping the navicomputer online, the power keeps cutting out.” The captain swore as the power on the terminal flickered again.
“Keller,” Ruane looked over his shoulder at the other Guard, who moved away from one of the other terminals. “See what you can do to stabilize the power. We need to move. They’ve been aiming to cripple, not kill, and I don’t think any of us want to sample Zakuul’s hospitality.”
“I’ll do what I can. Shields are down to forty percent and the forward turbolaser batteries are gone. We’ll be sitting ducks in a moment.” Keller grabbed a maintenance kit from one of the fallen crew and knelt beside the captain’s terminal, working feverishly at the station to reroute power.
“Sir…Commander, we’re receiving a transmission from the Zakuul ship.” An injured ensign leaned over the controls for the ship’s holoterminal. She looked between her captain and Ruane.
It was Ruane who responded first. “Put it through, ensign.”
The holoterminal sprang to life, and a shaky, ghostly blue image of a Knight of Zakuul appeared. Ruane stepped forward into the holoterminal’s view. The Knight reacted, tensing. “Commander Phelan Ruane, you and your men are wanted for the murder of Zakuul Knights, theft of items belonging to the Eternal Throne, the ritual murder of civilians on a colony world of the Eternal Empire, and conspiracy against the Eternal Throne. Surrender, and we will spare your ship and its crew.”
Ruane chuckled. “You Knights are persistent. We do not surrender. If you want to see any of those trinkets again, I’m afraid you’ll have to take them by force. And blowing up our ship won’t get you anywhere close to them.” Ruane paused, smiling, as Keller gave him a discreet thumbs up. “I’ll tell your brother you said hello, Tachash.” Ruane raised his hand, gesturing to the captain, and the battered transport jumped to hyperspace. He turned and gave the captain a grateful nod. “Good job, captain. Keller, take your men and sweep for any remaining skytroopers. I need to report to Darth Exedo. Captain, if you need me, I’ll be in my quarters.”
The captain gave a stiff nod and looked over his bridge. Already droids had arrived to start repairs and tend to the wounded. His second-in-command very visibly wouldn’t be needing medical droid attention. The captain took a deep breath, then turned back to the navicomputer, programming in the course back to Dromund Kaas.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-11-18 11:45 pm (UTC)Outside the ship, turbolaser bolts and missiles flashed by the bridge. Commander Ruane stood by impassively as crew rushed by, attempting to fight back against Zakuul’s forces. Computer stations exploded into sparks, and Ruane was peripherally aware that his own guards had jumped in to move injured crew from the burning computer stations and reroute control through some of the remaining terminals on the bridge. The captain manned the helm, and he worked feverishly over sparking controls.
“How long until the hyperdrive is ready?” Ruane’s calm did very little to reassure the rest of the crew. If anything, it set them more on edge. The former Imperial Guards on the bridge worked as if they were not just unafraid of dying, but completely oblivious that it was a very real possibility.
“Two minutes, maybe three. I’m having trouble keeping the navicomputer online, the power keeps cutting out.” The captain swore as the power on the terminal flickered again.
“Keller,” Ruane looked over his shoulder at the other Guard, who moved away from one of the other terminals. “See what you can do to stabilize the power. We need to move. They’ve been aiming to cripple, not kill, and I don’t think any of us want to sample Zakuul’s hospitality.”
“I’ll do what I can. Shields are down to forty percent and the forward turbolaser batteries are gone. We’ll be sitting ducks in a moment.” Keller grabbed a maintenance kit from one of the fallen crew and knelt beside the captain’s terminal, working feverishly at the station to reroute power.
“Sir…Commander, we’re receiving a transmission from the Zakuul ship.” An injured ensign leaned over the controls for the ship’s holoterminal. She looked between her captain and Ruane.
It was Ruane who responded first. “Put it through, ensign.”
The holoterminal sprang to life, and a shaky, ghostly blue image of a Knight of Zakuul appeared. Ruane stepped forward into the holoterminal’s view. The Knight reacted, tensing. “Commander Phelan Ruane, you and your men are wanted for the murder of Zakuul Knights, theft of items belonging to the Eternal Throne, the ritual murder of civilians on a colony world of the Eternal Empire, and conspiracy against the Eternal Throne. Surrender, and we will spare your ship and its crew.”
Ruane chuckled. “You Knights are persistent. We do not surrender. If you want to see any of those trinkets again, I’m afraid you’ll have to take them by force. And blowing up our ship won’t get you anywhere close to them.” Ruane paused, smiling, as Keller gave him a discreet thumbs up. “I’ll tell your brother you said hello, Tachash.” Ruane raised his hand, gesturing to the captain, and the battered transport jumped to hyperspace. He turned and gave the captain a grateful nod. “Good job, captain. Keller, take your men and sweep for any remaining skytroopers. I need to report to Darth Exedo. Captain, if you need me, I’ll be in my quarters.”
The captain gave a stiff nod and looked over his bridge. Already droids had arrived to start repairs and tend to the wounded. His second-in-command very visibly wouldn’t be needing medical droid attention. The captain took a deep breath, then turned back to the navicomputer, programming in the course back to Dromund Kaas.