An audible sighed of relief left Ayla's lips when they began to board the escape shuttle.<span style="color: green">"You lot have no idea how happy I am to see you guys. Thank god the escape pod bay is fairly clear of hostiles."</span>She flipped a few switches above and at the side of her, starting up the engine. As the shuttle's systems began to wake up she turned in her seat to face the marines, looking at the ragged bunch as they crawled inside. She quietly noted how most of them were unharmed, but didn't comment on this. Ayla had no desire to be shot in the back if these marines indeed turned out to be deserters. She cared more about surviving at this point."<span style="color: green">Guys, get everyone inside, carrier's being turned to slag and we're on an impact course to hell."</span><br/><br/><br/>The escape shuttle's systems were now all online, and to her pleasure perfectly functional. Fuel looked good, as did the shuttle's oxygen supply. She licked her lips to focus, making sure the auto-pilot was turned off as she carefully went through every stepped needed for a safe take-off. She gave the others plenty of time to get inside, and if greys did stumble upon them they could quickly get away.<span style="color: green">"Strap on your seatbelt and secure any cargo carefully. It's going to be a rough ride out there."</span>She smiled as she glanced at their faces through the cockpit's mirror.<span style="color: green">"Don't worry, you couldn't have gotten more lucky with your pilot. I'm flown more shuttles than you've killed greys."</span>It was at this point she noticed Sydney's presence, as well as the medical kit she lugged around.<span style="color: green">"Hey, doctor? If you could get up here before we take off, it'd be nice if you treated this wound of mine. Grey laser nearly gutted me and I've lost a lot blood I'd like replaced if possible."</span>She turned her attention back to the shuttle's controls, and continued talking regardless if the medic listened or not.<span style="color: green">"No shots though, I already got too many meds in my system right now."</span><br/><br/><br/>She sat back, now waiting until everyone was inside. Ayla impatiently tapped her foot and watches the various soldiers again. Most looked battle-hardened, some looked a little green. They were probably all really lucky to have survived. She grimaced, if you weren't lucky, you quickly died in this war. She discarded her earlier idea that they might be deserters, Veterans like Donovan or Edmund wouldn't break easily under pressure, and they would be more hostile and less helpful if these marines left their posts early. She didn't really recognize anyone, and had to by the information currently show by her HUD to identify them. Ayla's thoughts went to the other pilots of the cruiser. They had been quicker in reaching the escape pods, and had likely already left. She couldn't help but hope that they were alright, those men and women she knew better than these marines.<br/><br/><br/>Reluctantly, Ayla dismissed those thoughts to consider what might await them outside the bay's gates. Even if the other carriers had already taken out, they would still have to deal with an entire army's worth of laser fire. If they were lucky, the shuttle would go unnoticed as long as they remained close to the melting cruiser, then they could break off and make a bee-line for the other carriers. Ayla bit on her lower lip. She doubted that they would just open their bay doors however, forcing her to have the shuttle survive until the battle was finished. A few other ideas popped into her head to deal with the situation, but she felt that she had to wait for Edmund's orders first. After all, they had yet to take off.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>