The sheriff hesitated for only the briefest of moments before he made his decision.[color=0054a6] “Tell ya th’ truth, I’m thinking I’ll stay aboard an’ keep blastin’ those cannons. I ain’t th’ sneaky type, not my style, so I wouldn’ be ‘elping you nor Emmett none, an’ I ain’t a looter. Wot I’m good at is shootin’ an’ brawling, so ya c’n count on me to ensure none of em scampin’ two-faced larva-bait pirates come aboard an’ take over while yer off gallivanting through th’ corsair’s halls. I’ll remain here, hold th’ fort down, create a perimeter, an’ perform operation control, y’know police shit.” [/color]Jean tipped his hat to the Ursa, just as the final shielding crumpled away.

	[color=0054a6]“Best of luck to ya Miz Cooper, an’ if y’all get in a spot of trouble just holler for reinforcements. I’ll come storm th’ place.”
[/color]

[hr]

	Chaos reigned on the pirate bridge as numerous laser volleys tore through the oversized fowl that now dominated the ship’s prow. One of the blasts got lucky, hitting one of camouflaged cameras creating a one-legged giant chicken preforming its name-sake dance in outer space. It was quite traumatizing for some of the more avian races amongst the crew, one of which fainted dead away. Though, perhaps that might’ve been due to Nafaerio’s metallic fist slamming into anyone nearby in an attempt to regain order throughout the startled crew. His dominating voice rose loud over the ensemble of shrieking and squawking and gurgling and he stood tall atop the edge back rest of his durasteel throne, his massive hand clutching the throat of the unconscious avian pirate he’d knocked out.

	[color=aba000]“Quiet, quiet th’ lot of ye! Silence I say, tis nothing more than a hologram, see yer shots go straight through. Be quiet before I flay ye all wit’ th’ cat-O-nine-tails ye gibbering, pathetic pack O’ curdled swine!” [/color]It took some time before the crew calmed to the point where Nafaerio could make sense of the situation, behind him the massive bird continued doing a very offensive chicken dance, one of its legs still missing. [color=aba000]“Targeting, where be th’ little smuggler craft? Did they try’n jump to hyperspace?”

[/color]

	[color=fff200]“Er, Cap’n, yer holding th’ poor chap by th’ throat.”[/color]


	Nafaerio glanced down at the strangled crew member he was holding, releasing a growl of annoyance as he tossed the corpse away. [color=aba000]“Hell be damned, one O’ ye scabs who knows how to operate his station scurry up here and do a fucking scan!”
[/color]

	[color=fff200]“Aye, aye Cap’n.” [/color]A little weasely creature with yellow fur and absurd bulbous eyes scurried up and pressed a few buttons on the command board. After a few seconds of silence he scratched his head, looking nervous. [color=fff200]“Eh, they be right below our hull-line Cap’n, off our aft.”
[/color]

	[color=aba000]“What in th’ name of Zagggith are they doin’ there?”
[/color]

	[color=fff200]“Boardin’ Cap’n…”
[/color]

	For a moment Nafaerio looked stunned, unable to fully grasp the Targeting’s words. He slumped back into his throne, stroking his chin, one eye locked on the dancing chicken as if interpreting its dance to be more meaningful than it was. [color=aba000]“Tricky… Tricky little fish.”[/color] He murmured, ignoring his stunned crew who sat about, clutching their barbaric weaponry awaiting their despot’s orders. Curling one of his dreads around a cybernetic finger Nafaerio stood, turning on a heel and marching from the bridge. [color=aba000]“Targeting, I don’ care wot yer name is, you’re in charge. Set up a defense an’ try to capture th’ enemy ship, and set guards to protect my bridge.”
[/color]

	The little yellow creature looked thrilled, his small chest puffed out as he stood a little straighter, gloating over his once peers. [color=fff200]“Aye Cap’n, at once Cap’n, won’t fail ye Cap’n. Say… Where ye off to Cap’n?”[/color]


	[color=aba000]“Engineering.”[/color] Nafaerio snapped, before vanishing out the door.


	A large number of pirates patroled in groups of three to five, prowling about the cruiser’s halls, guns at the ready. Another force numbering twenty and three rushed immediately to the rear of the ship, intent on boarding and capturing the [i]Ranger[/i]. Meanwhile the cruiser’s main crew, about ten in total along with another eight guards protected the bridge, weapons bristling from every hand, tentacle, and claw. They maintained the anti-slip-space field, and kept the cruiser’s weapons ready to fire should the [i]Ranger[/i] attempt an escape.
	Nafaerio was nowhere to be seen…