[dcs_p]Before Dobs could call out to his Captain, a Gauss slug richocheted off the
corner wall and into his neck, shattering his spine. Barely a meter from the
hatchway, Dobs’ limp body fell into the doorway, leaking blood into the command
room. Michael reared back in horror while Xandar quickly removed the man’s
body, which would pose a problem in locking the hatchway. Joanna prepared her
firearm, an M and G auto flechette pistol (known as a needler). Looking up to
Xandar, she called to out to Steven…”Get your ass in this room now!”
Sprinting to the hatchway, Steven could now hear the footsteps of several men
running. Rounding the corner behind him, a fellow crewman ran into the corridor’s
metal wall. The man spared little time getting up, after crashing to the floor
because of the enormous impact. However, his arm was bleeding and he now
walked with a limp. His leg failing him, he crashed to the floor as the control room
hatchway closed airtight, safely sealing off Steven, Michael, Joanna, and Xandar
from the firefight. Through the ferroglass window, they now discovered the man
bore a knife in his wounded arm. It pierced the pale flesh and refused to fall out
despite much contraction of the man’s bicep. Seconds later the man’s attackers
could be seen; a tall, gaunt, bearded man in a tanned, rotting overcoat carried a
small pistol of some sort, while a shadowy figure carrying a long vibro-katana
closed in for the kill.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Suddenly Steven shouted out, “That vibro-katana will cut a hole in this glass in no
time! We must make a stand now!” Struggling at the hatchway controls, he was
tackled by Xandar. Knocking Stephen cold with a stiff uppercut that nearly
crushed the crewman’s windpipe, Xandar stood and continued to look through the
ferroglass. Unfortunately Xandar would now watch hopelessly as yet another of
the Dropship’s techs die.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]As the shadowy figure closed the distance to the injured crewman, the gaunt,
taller figure extended his arm out slowly to point a gun at the dying technician.
Once extended he fired, producing a loud ricochet…but the shot missed by
several meters. The shorter shadowy man stopped in his tracks, then turned to
face other pirate. Their mouths hinted anger, but the conversation did not last
long. Crying out loud enough to be heard, the shadow screamed “Beckett!” and
leaped to the other pirate. However a shell fired into his head at point blank cut
him down. The shot could be heard through the ferroglass. After the pirate had
unloaded 2 shells, Xandar knew the type and model of the pirate’s weapon. It
was the crack of a FASA-950, a small, uncommon slugthrower.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Watching with curiosity, Xandar and the others saw the remaining pirate pick up
several weapons from Dobs and the still shadow figure. Walking casually to the
hatchway, the pirate peered into the ferroglass, staring first at Xandar, then to
Joanna, and finally at Michael. He boasted a dirty, bearded mug that demanded
attention, but his manner and the way he carried himself spoke nothing pirate
about him. Displaying the weapons he collected, he set them across the corridor
opposite the hatchway. Then turning his back to the Dropship crew, he walked
down to the corner of the corridor. There he waited. Speaking to seemingly no
one, he motioned forward, then turned the corner and walked again to the edge
of the command center hatchway. He eyed the individuals again, calmly
beckoning each of them one by one while apparently daring Xandar to open the
hatchway. After centering his gaze on Xandar, he eyed Joanna. Revealing a
smirking grin, he nodded to her. He turned back again to meet new pirates now
rounding the corner.[/dcs_p]