Pirates invade a space station conducting biological research. Does it sound familiar? How can I take this one-shot promise into unexpected ways?

I'm about to run a Lasers and Feelings one-shot, and I proposed the following scenario for the players:

You were returning to Consortium headquarters when you received a distress signal coming from RESEARCH STATION ECHIDNA. The station has been boarded by the fearsome BANDIT QUEEN CARCOSSA, putting the scientists and their precious biological samples in dire danger. The Raptor is the only ship in the system that can stop them!

I was thinking about doing the old standout xenomorph in the air vents, but some of the players aren't really into horror, and I feel I'm doing them a disservice if I don't have at least one space battle. Can you help me brainstorm a fun scenario from this?

*one-shot premise. Autocorrect trolled me again