Azula Amongst the Stars

Chapter 17

The four members of the bridge crew climbed into the tubular escape pod with their hands still raised as Lectro stood behind them with a blaster.

"Again, sorry we had to do this but thank you for cooperating."

After the door slid close he launched the pod from the wall terminal, holstering his blaster relieved that he didn't have to use it and returned to the bridge.

"Bridge crew has disembarked." He said taking the copilot seat.

"I still think we should have just shot them." Skeeve commented as he accessed the nav-computer.

"That's a little excessive, don't you think?"

"I just don't want any more surprises."

Lectro decided to change the subject to more pressing matters, "I hope the others are doing okay."

"I'm sure they're fine. If they weren't we wouldn't have the ship."

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to check on them." Lectro accessed the camera feed in and around the engineering room seeing what was left of the thugs and strike team in a firefight with Sev and Cetro.

*****

Sev continued to fire at the troopers as Cetro joined him.

The tactically equipped strike team members began tossing smoke grenades down the hall and into the engine room masking their presence.

"Close the door!" Cetro ordered.

Sev did so and made sure to smash the panel to lock it in place.

Now locked in the engine room Cetro contacted the bridge, "Engine room is secure, for now. How are things on your end?"

"Skeeve and I have successfully taken the bridge and sent the crew up here on their way." Lectro responded.

"Good, any trouble?"

"No it was fairly easy once Azula drew Slater and his men away."

"She's not with you? Where she at?"

"I'm going over the security footage now and... found her! She's back in the cargo bay with Slater, and by the looks of it she's got her bending back."

"Good, she'll make short work of him while we take care of the stragglers on board." As he said that, sparks began to shoot out from one of the exits on the upper platform, "Said stragglers are now trying to torch their way in now."

Lectro looked over the control console of the ship, "Is there anything we can do from here?"

"Maybe you can seal them in where they're at and cut off oxygen." Cetro suggested.

"Sorry to cut in but we've got a problem." Skeeve said.

"What is it?" Lectro asked, looking at the main viewing screen and seeing Gold Sun gunships appearing behind them. The very same ships accompanying Slater.

"Oh no.... No no no no!" Lectro began to panic.

"What's going on up there doc?"

"The other ships just showed up!"

"They must have traced our jump signature. I'll focus power on the shields and engines. You two focus on getting us out of their sights."

"How do we do that? We're in open space?"

"I don't know, figure something out!" Cetro shouted before logging off the coms.

Skeeve scoffed, "Figure it out he says! He's not the one flying this thing!"