Velia had secured herself back into her seat.  Her knee bounced up and down nervously as she considered what to do, "How about this... suggest they seal the shuttle and cargo bays off then launch, venting those spaces.  Then we dock with them and jump out of here."

[hr]

Meanwhile in the civilian loading bay someone yelled 'Bugs!'

The effect was an immediate stampede that nothing short of weapons fire would halt.  There was yelling, screaming, injuries from the crush.  And amidst all of that, there were actually Metacer launching themselves at the rear ranks of civilians, dragging them back onto the station amidst screams of pain and terror.  And there was nothing anyone could do except fire directly into the civilian force.

"Seal the door, seal the door!" one of the guards yelled.  It was the one that had been named 'Aspen' earlier, her voice etched with a note of panic.