Ciscero was busy locking down corridors that would not be used by the Imperials when his pad beeped.
Someone was trying to access the System Administrator that he had installed and copied over the alien version. The Imperial program served as a "mote" around the command areas isolated the controls from the actual functions.
When buttons are pushed on a command consol, the signals are sent to a program that identifies and translates the signals, codes, or sequences into action. The program does not perform the action itself (the hardware mainframes did that).
The readings that displayed to the bridge crew and everything that appeared to them was in fact, a sensor reading of a previous time.
The newly copied System Administrator took in the codes that were being entered but instead of matching it with the appropriate action (in this case, reactor shutdown), it scanned the sensor logs for any previous entering of this code to "know" what to display or show the bridge crew.
Somebody on the bridge was trying to be a hero. The codes were good and the System Administrator scanned the logs to find an appropriate response. Unfortunately, all it could find was a manual on Emergency Reactor Shutdown (designed when the onboard systems were designed and when the ship was launched) and give the textbook response:
>>>Protocol entered- Emrgency power down beginning<<<
But beyond that, the program did not know what else to display and so the display fell silent. The System Administrator knew what to "display" but it didn't know how to "act" because it was an Imperial Program and the codes were designed for alien use.
That lack of compatibility would be the major source of angst for Ciscero since all he could do is rewrite or copy over the alien program with it's Imperial counterpart.
Major Grell's entrance was strategically located to provide the best path to the engine room and other control centers.
Computer specialists from the station began their slicing efforts and Ciscero found that he could breath easier knowing that it was not just him anymore.
The vents were opened and the gas purged.
"What do we do with the sleeping?"
"Stun them again and put them in an airlock." Ciscero had to grin at Major Grell's order. Those found that were alive (including the bridge crew) were placed in an airlock. One door led into space, the other into a hall that had...well..
"Decompress all the areas surrounding that airlock." the Major growled.
With all the system problems due to the overloaded capacity of the ship, he did not trust the ship's brig to hold a fly. So he improvised.
If they wanted out of the airlock, they'd have to survive a vacuum. Power was shut down from the nearby sections and conserved.
Already, technicians were rifling through the targeting systems and the defense grids of the warship.
*
Sullust
The Sullust people blinked in confusion as the harsh alien tongue bellowed from the cave entrances. Most did not speak Basic given that Sullust was their native home and so many fled further into the caves to avoid the invading soldiers.
"Whatever they are saying, it's falling on deaf ears." Colonel Messer mused as he turned to chat with a citizen in his native language.
"Avoid the large caverns. We'll make our stand in the tunnels. Set up a series of runners.. we'll need them since our comms are being hampered by the ore in the rocks."
"Aye sir."
"Spread those charges out!" he hissed to a nervous soldier.
"Seargent?"
"Yes sir?"
"Send a Private over to the enemy for a parlay."
"Surrender, sir?"
And Colonel Messer shrugged. "I have to weigh my options, Seargent."
"Private Beckman!"
"Yes sir!"
"Private" Colonel Messer eyed the young man. "I need you to meet with the enemy and give them a message. Can you do it?"
The young man's eyes widened in slight fear but he sucked it up. "What do you need, Sir?"
"Good man! Now listen up."
