The November Sky jerked suddenly, and a faint explosion could be heard within the deep of the ship. Neil was afraid for the ship, but he realized he had bigger problems when the hauler he had been modifying was now toppling over to from the shipquake. Neil rolled out of the way on instinct, roughly sliding across the floor. When he heard the steel grating thump, he had thought the machine had fallen. But instead, he looked to see the foot had moved to catch itself automatically. 

"Nice," Neil said. The balancing systems seemed to be working out fine then. Full AI was not allowed under...well he didn't always follow Terran laws, but he also wasn't stupid. It was common sense not to create any advanced AI. But a system like this that could keep its balance in case Neil needed to focus on different things was invaluable. 

Neil picked up the comm, pressing a finger to his ear. "Hey, what the hell is going on?" 

Woods answered. "We're under fire. Meet us on the main deck." 
[hr] 
Woods, Neil, Taya, and Junebug made their way up the access corridor of the vast ship. It was a mere hallway in the Highlander but here? Neil felt as if he was in a ship within a ship. The tall ceiling and wide halls were almost as vast as the halls in Aiden's palace. Woods and Neil had found Taya, only to be joined by Junebug a minute later. Neil gave her a greeting but she acted as if she didn't hear it.

"What happened?" Junebug asked. 

"It looks like we aren't the only ones looking for ancient tech." Woods replied, both women looking forward rather than to each other. "It makes no sense, we received no intel on any blockade in the system. But it seems brigands and even an uncommissioned Terran ship has decided to claim this world for themselves. Luckily our ship outclasses theirs, but it looks like whatever arguments they had with one another are on hold as they try to take us down." 

"I can maybe jam their frequencies against one another?" Taya asked. Neil pipped in with. "Get me on a gun, or give us the Highlander, we can do more help in there than here." 

"Out of the question." Woods said, though she did give Neil a sly grin. "I wouldn't give it to you even if it was my decision, pretty boy." She spoke as if there was a week long inside joke between the two, Neil had to grin back. Before anyone else could speak up, York appeared before them as they entered the deck. "Luckily, I can give it to you." He said with an amused smile befitting a man of means who has just informed their wife of a party now on the calendar. 

"But-" 

"Not my orders, though it was my suggestion." York replied. Behind him, the multi-floored deck had dozens of men on terminals, and the  blast windows showed lasers the size of streamline asteroids flying at targets dozens if not hundreds of kilometers away. "Seems Commander Tiberius has seen the wisdom of it. Luckily, I, Woods, and her crew will be accompanying us. As well as your two large friends. If we have a chance, we will continue on to the planet." 

"Sir, it's hell out there." Woods said, though not out of fear. She could see that it was a pragmatic warning to give. 

"Well, luckily we have an incredible pilot." York said, smiling to Neil. 
[@Penny]