Bab 113: Station Siege (2).

Explosions rocked the docking bay, tearing through barricades and throwing debris in every direction. The force of the blasts sent several guards flying, their bodies slamming into walls with sickening thunder.

Cargo crates shattered into splinters, and clouds of dust and smoke filled the room, choking the air and obscuring vision.

The administrator gritted his teeth, shielding the engineer with his body as chunks of metal and debris rained down around them. "Damn it!" he hissed, coughing as the smoke burned his lungs. "They're tearing us apart!"

The engineer peeked out from behind the administrator, his face pale as he surveyed the carnage. Several defenders lay motionless, their bodies twisted and broken, while others struggled to crawl back behind cover.

The pirates were advancing again, their laughter and jeers echoing through the ruined bay.

"Gramps, what do we do?!" the engineer asked, panic seeping into his voice.