The humming of a pink shaded fallthrisi ringed throughout the ship's corridors as she floated merrily through them at head height. While she was a princess of her kind, she was only an ensign here working as a communication technician, but she seemed very happy about her situation if her current mood was any indication. The male nabghor trailing behind her on his four legs and two arms knew her since they were both very young. He was glad to see her so happy at her chance to help others. Even if he was more out of his element traveling around the galaxy in space ships, if she wished it then that was enough for him. He was her loyal bodyguard and would follow her anywhere. 

Suddenly a female, robotic voice sounded into the corridor, cutting the latest tune short. The voice belonged to ANI, the resident AI of the Exeralune system.

"Ensign Vi Mo-an and Ensign Polahni," she identified them. "This is just between us, but it turns out that my sensors down here do not offer 100% coverage as of yet. I have detected a strange weight anomaly near the right rear landing gear compartment, and know that what's causing this error hasn't left, but this is all I can tell from inside my little metal box."

The nabghor, Uran Polahni, reached for his shotgun strapped onto his back, fearing the worst. Mana Vi Mo-an's body language was harder to read to outsiders due to her being a floating gelatinous being, but she didn't appear worried.

"You'd like us to check this out?" she questioned in a sign song tone.

"Indeed. This was only priority #314 of mine due to it being a contained incident, but if you're already down here than it wouldn't hurt...unless what's down there kills you once you open it up." She said matter-of-factly. "Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it after all."

She was a computer, so it was unlikely she was earnest in her last statement. Who ever heard of a computer changing it's mind after getting no additional information to change it? Looks like their AI had some quirks to go along with it. Wonderful. 

"I am most curious and shall investigate," Mana replied, already making her way to the location after eyeing an electronic map of the floor with an unblinking eye.

"Behind me," Uran said gruffly, standing next to the panel that would open up the ceiling to the landing gear compartment. Once opened he'd have an easy blast down with his shotgun into it's most effective range, making mince meat of any threatening beast down there should it try to attack. For it to attack it would have to climb up to get them or shoot at them, but he could always close the door before that happened should his first blast not do the trick.

Just as he was ready to push the button with the nose of his gun, sirens began to blare.

"An unknown ship is moving to intercept. Ensign Mo-an, you're off duty so proceed to your room or other designated safe rooms," ANI spoke up. 

Guess they'd check it out later. Uran began to turn to urge Mana to get going for her own safety, but they'd soon be interrupted...

********************

"These are not likely pirates, as I know few who could get a hold on such a ship, and this doesn't strike me as something that they'd do," Hidden Eagle replied to Msalti's question. "Well, maybe one would but he'd certainly issue a challenge of bravado first. We've gotten no demands or other communication yet."

To the reptillian Do'Rak, his suggestion was completely in line with his thinking. 

"Yes, only one of the approaching ships is large enough to have any meaninful boarding party unless their carrier joins in. Msalti's unit shall be our first line of defense against their most likely boarding location. The other units should scatter in other locations as backup, and then converge where and when the actual boarding location is confirmed," the captain said. "Try not to kill them unless necessary. I'd like to see if we can get any information out of them if we cannot contact with the carrier."

********************

Four large golden colored spacefighters flew in vanguard position to the boarding ship. They each had a bulky elzion canon on either side of the cockpit, which were separate structures from the main body held onto it by a much more thin portion of the ship. A smaller elzion weapon was at the front of the body for rapid firing attack. A red trail of gas lit up behind them from their three engines as they advanced forward. It was these vehicles that showed up on a view screen in the Exeralune Bridge. They were heavy spacefighters, perhaps capable of taking out frigates single handedly. Although the design was tweaked, he recognized this as being a UNT developed prototype.

"Enemy ships will arrive within 40 seconds.  Do not engage them outside of the range of the Exeralune," Hidden Eagle ordered, his voice going into the cockpits of the Bokites under his command. "Direct hits from their primary guns will likely take you out in a single shot. Their smaller gun can also likely do the same thing seconds. In either case, do not let them get a clear shot at you. Only attack from behind at their engine or the cockpit. Their armor will not be easy to penetrate even so. Best case, bait them into revealing their weak points to the Exeralune and our larger guns will take them out."

At this point the small glint in the distance that was the enemy command ship began to grow larger. Perhaps they were going to join in on the fun as well. That may be very bad.