The Battle of Engineering

They'd had a bit more time to organize now and unlike their **** on the Vanguard Jessica hadn't had the time or numbers to cut them off from their armory. Especially as they'd have already been issuing out weapons and at least basic boarding armor.

The fall of the bridge meant whoever was in the engineering section was now in charge and they clearly didn't want to meet their ship's latest guests judging by how they'd laid out their defenses.

More of the crates but less haphazard. They weren't professionals but they didn't need to be if Jessica let them spend the time to bleed them down. The attack had to go on.

They weren't even amateurs as it turned out. The second her people opened fire they did nothing but keep their heads down. Clearly feeling very secure behind their boxes a few of the 'brave' ones did some blind firing but all that really did was scuff up the ceiling.

As soon as Ramirez got within grenade range it was all over. Not even the explosives showing them the fact they needed to stick their heads up and actually SHOOT. To be fair it wasn't the first time that Jessica had seen such behavior and she very dearly hoped it wouldn't be the last.

"I hope they're more active in bed." Ramirez said, nudging one with her foot.

"Ramirez! Keep it moving! This isn't a picnic!"

"This is Vanguard. You're going to want to hurry Major. They're starting to send some of their forces back."

"Understood Vanguard. Thanks for the heads up." Jessica replied. Hopefully the next defense line would be just as easy.

That would have been too much to hope for.

The next line had some who at least had basic training. They flinched and took cover far too much when the area around them was struck but the conditions they were fighting in meant that there were another four Marines down by the time it was cleared.

Still there was a silver lining. They were getting close. Jessica estimated that they would only be able to put up one more try given the numbers that had needed to be deployed even with the weakening the Vanguard had suffered.