As Babylon IV began its ascent, several XRF fighters broke off from the battle to try and intercept the transport vessel. They were only able to get off one shot each before being called back by their superiors, allowing the Babylon to only receive minor damage to its outer hull. The Alamo soon caught up with no trouble as the XRF had no reason to attack Sunfire vessels unless they were working directly for the Imperials. Both ships soon broke through Teta's atmosphere and escaped the siege below.

John activated the comm-link in his helmet to communicate with those who had gone toward the Alamo with him, [color=ed1c24]"Lizard-guy, Ball of Lightning, and Other Cyborg, get in your fighters and make sure to protect the Babylon and the Alamo from anyone who might think raiding us is a good idea."[/color] Meeting Deraen in the hallway outside of the Alamo's bridge, the helmeted mercenary turned to the Andalite and said, [color=ed1c24]"Way to think ahead there, big guy. I'll head down towards Engines and Life Support then."[/color] As he walked back toward the elevator to the lower decks of the Alamo, he shouted back, [color=ed1c24]"Good luck, and try not to die."[/color]

-=-=-

After several hours of travel without incident, the inevitable finally occurred. A [url=http://www.monsterattackteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/harlock_1.jpg]pirate ship[/url], as large as the Babylon IV and the Alamo combined, appeared from behind an even larger asteroid. [i]That's the most ridiculous looking pirate ship I have ever seen.[/i] John, whose datapad was connected to the Alamo's outer camera feed, could see the incoming hostiles and prepared for the incoming assault as several anchor-like tendrils shot forward, impaling themselves to the Alamo and the Babylon. [color=ed1c24]"Damn it. Of course they've got anchors. For those of you who've never had to hold a ship off from pirates, this is a classic strategy of theirs. Those anchors are connected to their ship's airlocks, so that's how they're going to board. Our flyboys are the only ones who can disconnect us, though I doubt they're just going to let them."[/color]

As if on cue, a horde of around ninety [url=http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090917033840/eve/images/2/2c/Hawk512.jpg]fighters[/url] burst from the pirate ship's various hangar bays. In total, forty anchors connected the attacking ship to the Babylon and twenty anchors on the Alamo, each with countless [url=http://img11.deviantart.net/b886/i/2011/079/0/4/bulletstorm_concept_art_by_johnmccambridge-d3c1pnq.jpg]pirates[/url] all traveling down the tubes to wreck havoc inside the ships.