Zey emerged from the airlock with several of her crew into the corridor that ran down the middle of the lower forward deck. It was even loud and more uncomfortable than usual. The lighting was harsh, it smelled of chemicals and freshly fabricated metal. The engine vibrations were more pronounced, and right now there were over thirty civilians crammed into it. Some were milling around, trying to find a way out or place to sit. Others had just plonked themselves down on the boxes of supplies along the walls or the one sofa, chattering worriedly or checked themselves for bullet holes.

Vigdis and Mr Chappel the surveyor contractor stumbled away through the crowd and Zey didn’t have one moment to negotiate her own way through before she heard someone shout [color=lightgreen]"Captain!"[/color]. She looked and found Duncan Feng addressing her.

[color=lightgreen]"You're intact right?"[/color]

“I’m fine!” Zey shouted back over the din, she unclipped an earbud from her communicator and pushed it into one ear.

“Get these people strapped or tied down, we’re leaving!” She patted the Doctor on the shoulder and made to turn toward the bridge when her XO appeared from the crowd, talking about going into orbit. She was relieved to see her second-in-command, though she didn’t show it. Having him on the bridge meant she could focus on not killing every stowaway on board. 

Everyone’s voice was getting progressively louder, so Zey leaned in and placed a hand on Mallory’s shoulder so she could shout in his ear. “Negative, it's too risky! We’ll move the Jo to a TGOC ground installation to decant these civilians! Get to the bridge and plot us a flight plan out of here. Fast and low as this fat lady can go! Tell Anselm we need to break this comms blackout and make contact with HQ yesterday, get them to get an escort over here and prepare their site in Iceland or Russia for us. go go go!”

Someone from the bridge wafted into her ear.“Captain, there are two unidentified men with guns in the shuttle bay. I’ve sealed off the airlock. Edwards is still inside.” 

Zey immediately spun around and looked through the viewing ports. The airlock was empty, and through the viewing port on the other side she locked eyes with Tyreese Darnell who was hammering on the door from the other side. A bulky soldier in full gear stood behind him, pointing a long gun at someone out of view - Zey presumed it was Eva as she’d have been strapping her mech in.

The man pointed at the lock, then put a sat phone with a floppy antenna to his ear and mimed talking. Zey could feel movement in her legs as the Jotunheim began moving slowly out of the hangar bay.

“They’re shooting at the jets!” Zey heard someone else call over comms.

“Bring our kinetic shielding online, direct it behind us.” The Captain ordered, still staring through the viewing port at Darnell.

[hr]
Vigdis had to request access to the Engineering airlock twice before a grase-smudged face appeared and studied her at the other end, eventually opening the first door. Once she’d stepped in, the shaven head and face recognisable as Danny Varen, FTL, spotted the gun on her back. After a moment, he opened the second door. He was dressed in black flip flops, navy shorts emblazoned with the Tamerlane logo, and a plate-carrier over his bare tattooed chest. As soon as there was clearance, Danny levelled a [url=http://www.gmktp.co.uk/assets/image/products/m4_637196.jpg]black tactical shotgun[/url] at her body. 

“What’s poppin’ Vigdis? Put the gun down and put your hands up." 

Danny looked off to his left. "Search her.”

A second engineer stepped round the corner, shotgun in hand, and went to pat her down.

“Hey! What's going on back there? I need help powering up the shields.” came the stentorian voice of the Jotunheim’s formidable lead engineer, Zhào Jiāyí. Though short in stature, everyone knew this harmless-looking middle aged lady had all of her larger and younger engineers firmly in check.

"Its Vigdis!" Danny called back, not taking his eyes off her.

"Well, stop copping a feel and tell her to get her butt over to the shield console!"

Danny looked a bit sheepish, then cracked a grin.

“Sorry Vigdis. Gotta be safe. Whats happening out there?”

[hr]

“You’re bleeding!” The teenage boy sitting opposite Fret called out, pointing to the blood on Mr Chappel’s hand.

“Oh my god! Is there a doctor on board?” His mum called through the open conference room doorway.