[@MrFoxNews]
[b][u][color=salmon]Stalicar System, Hocklyn Frontier[/color][/u][/b]
No response came from the small cargo fleet, though the destroyer continued on its course back to the station. Apparently, they heard them; as soon as the ship returned to the station, where the marines were still at, the ship docked. Nothing else came from the area; nothing but movement towards the ship, as the marines on-board received beamed messages to immediately start refueling the destroyer. At the same moment that the destroyer was trying to secretly refuel, a small pod ejected out of the destroyer's propulsion tube- it flew out several hundred meters away from the hostile ships, before vanishing in a momentary flash of light. 

The aliens couldn't know whether it was or was not an FTL-capable beacon, even though it was actually just one of the emergency pods that was rigged with several missiles to detonate.

The other three cargo ships slowly maneuvered to be equidistant to each other, around the refueling station. Had the alien pirates seeded the area with signal-interceptor drones, they would've realized that the ships were talking to each other, planning, thinking, brainstorming. 

And then the ship filled with unknown gases decided on its own course of action. The gas tanker ignored the closed-beamed messages, and ignored the now-openly-broadcasted messages from all three ships to cease, and desist. And then suddenly the ship was only half-there- the ship pumped its FTL drive full of unknown gases that were somewhat similar to the Hocklyn's FTL fuel, and jumped anyways, without any idea of what the gases actually were. The result was the majority of the ship 'porting away, but leaving weaker bits- radar, communications relays, remnants of most of the tanks that were on the ship, and sections of the engines, structural struts, etc., were slowly spinning from the sudden disturbance and detachment.

The other two ships paused, and then decided to do nothing. The destroyer continued slowly 'offloading' its crew, and the marines continued to secretly refuel the destroyer, hoping that the combination of freighter half-porting and the fake FTL drone would be enough to scare the pirates away.

[@Zadubadabu]
[b][u][color=salmon]Hostel System, Orbital Docks[/color][/u][/b]
Stehlruh and the FCXO glanced at each other, silently receiving a message from their respective ships. The FCXO glanced at the Queen and replied, "Queen Spear, I am the Fleet Commander's second in commandFor the moment, you will give us the specifications your '[i]Top Spear[/i]' Rorkay's fleet, since they're demanding- Hah!- that we hand you over. They are reportedly approaching quite aggressively, and knowing weakpoints, strengths, and weaknesses would be much appreciated if they decide to take you by force. Other than that, stand by. You're ours until we say otherwise, which can be decided shortly. You'll have a moment to discuss whatever you wish, while we take care of this."

Simultaneously, the two Hocklyns turned to each other and walked a short distance away, speaking in their foreign language, rapid, tense, giving and receiving information and orders.

[center]~-+-~[/center]

The ships that weren't docked- all but three, really- shifted, moving to adopt a more defensive posture. Several large cruisers, escorted by a dozen destroyers, disengaged from the defensive formation and flew to meet the foreign fleet, matching their designs and hull compositions to that of the ship that they had just POW'd. 

"Cease forward movement; match spacial stationary positions to that of our station. Disengage any signs of external warfare preparedness; cease major broadcasting. The launch or sending of an FTL broadcast, beacon, or other communication will be taken as a message to initiate an attack, and you will be fired upon and reinforcements will be ordered. Diplomatic relations will be severely impacted."

A moment passed, as the ships started slowing down again, taking up an equidistant position between the station and the foreign fleet. 

"Foreigner demand: We do not give in to those whose honor and strength that is yet unproven. List reasons, history, and participants involved. We will consider, if you trade our hostage for information, technology, or other items of equal importance or value. Demands will damage diplomatic relations. Roamarri species not listed in database. Spear species only previously listed in database. Desist advances immediately."