Adrian - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Chapter 2:
New Beginnings
LA Spaceport Bar
A year had passed since Adrian first climbed aboard the Raven, and the crew had settled into a rhythm that made each assignment seem almost effortless. They still accepted the occasional dangerous contract, but most of their work involved delivering cargo to places where the Trade Federation either could not or would not go. Adrian continued flying regular Federation routes between Guild assignments, while Siggy did the same whenever the Guild’s services were not required. Naggs divided his time between missions and his family, and Lisan somehow managed to keep all three of them moving in the same direction.
The Raven settled gently onto its assigned landing pad at the Los Angeles Spaceport as another successful mission came to an end. The client had received the shipment without incident, and the return journey had been considerably less exciting than Adrian had expected.
He powered down the engines and stretched before standing.
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” he said, “but I think we’ve earned something stronger than station coffee.”
Siggy laughed as he released the restraints across his chest.
“That won’t be difficult.”
Naggs secured the tactical systems before standing from his station.
“Anything is stronger than station coffee.”
Lisan smiled as she gathered her datapad from the navigation console.
“I wasn’t aware you had become such a connoisseur.”
“I haven’t.”
Naggs shrugged. “I simply know what I don’t like.”
Adrian chuckled as they stepped down the loading ramp together.
“I’ve got a place in mind.”
Siggy looked toward him. “You’ve said that before.”
“I mean it this time.”
Lisan raised an eyebrow. “I thought you usually disappeared the moment we landed in Los Angeles.”
“I do.”
“And today?”
“Today,” Adrian said with a grin, “I’m introducing all of you to my favorite place on Earth.”
Siggy folded his arms. “Should I be concerned?”
“Probably.”
“I appreciate the honesty.”
“It isn’t fancy,” Adrian admitted as they began walking across the spaceport toward the commercial district. “The furniture has seen better days, the music is usually too loud, and if you ask for anything complicated to drink, the bartender will probably laugh at you.”
Siggy slowed his pace.
“You are doing a remarkable job of convincing us to go somewhere else.”
Adrian laughed. “Trust me.”
Lisan glanced toward him. “That is exactly what Commander Rayden said before assigning me to fly with you.”
“And look how well that worked out.”
“It worked out surprisingly well.”
Naggs looked between them. “I believe that qualifies as a compliment.”
“It does,” Lisan replied.
“I’ll take it.”
They continued another few minutes before Adrian noticed a familiar shape parked on a private landing pad overlooking the far end of the spaceport.
He pointed toward it.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Lisan followed his gaze. “The Shadow?”
Adrian nodded.
“I thought the Raven was your ship.”
“It is.”
“Then why keep the other one?”
Lisan looked at the sleek two-seat transport for a long moment before answering.
“The Raven is perfect for a crew.”
She smiled faintly.
“The Starlight Shadow is perfect when a crew isn’t necessary.”
“You still fly her?”
“Occasionally.”
“What kind of jobs?”
“The quiet ones.”
Adrian looked back toward the small ship.
“I figured you’d sell her once you became captain of the Raven.”
Lisan shook her head.
“I considered it.”
“What changed your mind?”
She smiled in a way Adrian had rarely seen. “She was my first command.”
There wasn’t a trace of nostalgia in her voice, only quiet appreciation.
“I’ve learned that ships have a way of becoming part of a pilot’s story.”
Adrian nodded thoughtfully. “I think my father would agree with that.”
Lisan looked at him with a knowing smile. “So would I.”
She turned toward the narrow street where a weathered neon sign glowed above a modest storefront.
“I assume this is your famous establishment.”
Adrian’s grin returned. “It certainly is.”
Siggy looked up at the sign. “This is your favorite place?”
“It is.”
Naggs studied the exterior for a moment before looking back at Adrian.
“It appears…” He paused just long enough for Adrian to wonder where the sentence was headed. “…authentic.”
Adrian laughed. “That’s one word for it.”
He pushed open the door.
“Welcome to the L.A. Spaceport Bar.”
Adrian held the door open as the familiar sounds of conversation and laughter drifted out from the L.A. Spaceport Bar.
The lighting was dim, the tables were well worn, and the polished wooden floor carried the scuff marks of countless travelers who had passed through over the years.
Siggy stepped inside first and looked around.
“You’ve been bragging about this place?”
“I’ve been recommending it. There’s a difference.”
Naggs slowly surveyed the room before nodding once. “I’ve seen worse.”
“I think that’s a compliment,” Adrian said.
“It is.”
Behind the counter, four hands moved almost effortlessly between bottles, glasses, and the register. One wiped down the bar while another filled a customer’s mug. A third accepted payment, and the fourth pointed another patron toward an open table.
Snarf looked up. “Well, I’ll be…”
His eyes settled on Adrian.
“Flynn.”
Adrian smiled.
“Good to see you too, Snarf.”
“I was beginning to think the Federation finally worked you to death.”
“They’ve tried.”
Snarf’s gaze drifted toward the three unfamiliar faces standing behind him.
“You bring reinforcements?”
“My crew.”
Snarf studied each of them for a moment before nodding approvingly.
“They look considerably more respectable than you.”
Siggy laughed. “We’ve only known him a year.”
“Give it time,” Snarf replied.
Adrian shook his head. “I come in here for encouragement.”
“No,” Snarf said. “You come in here because I pour better drinks than anyone else on this side of Earth.”
“That too.”
Snarf spread all four arms.
“So, what’ll it be?”
Adrian looked back toward the others.
“For once…” He smiled. “…the first round’s on me.”
Siggy blinked. “Are you feeling alright?”
Naggs tilted his head. “Should we contact medical?”
Lisan chuckled softly. “I wasn’t aware Guild work had made you wealthy.”
“It hasn’t,” Adrian admitted. “But we’ve had a good run, and I figured it’s about time I bought my crew a drink.”
Snarf grinned. “I’ll make sure you don’t regret those words.”
While Snarf disappeared behind the shelves, Adrian led the others toward a corner booth tucked against the far wall.
Lisan looked around as she slid into her seat. “I can see why you like this place.”
“It doesn’t try to impress anyone,” Adrian said.
“It just lets people be themselves. That’s rarer than you’d think.”
A few moments later Snarf returned with a tray balanced easily between two of his hands while the other pair carried glasses.
He distributed the drinks before looking at Adrian.
“You’ve got a good group.”
“I know.”
Snarf nodded once before returning to the bar.
For a few minutes, the conversation drifted from the mission to stories from previous runs. Siggy exaggerated one encounter just enough for everyone to know he was embellishing it, while Naggs quietly corrected the details without ever sounding argumentative. Lisan listened with an amused smile, occasionally adding a sentence that somehow made the story even better.
Eventually the conversation turned toward the coming week.
Siggy lifted his glass. “I’ve got three Federation cargo assignments waiting for me tomorrow.”
Adrian laughed. “I’ve got medical supplies headed for Luna.”
Naggs smiled. “My wife has informed me that my next assignment is fixing the irrigation system.”
“That sounds considerably more dangerous,” Siggy observed.
“It depends how well I fix it.”
They all laughed.
Lisan took a sip of her drink before setting the glass back on the table.
“I’ve got a courier delivery this weekend.”
“The Raven again?” Adrian asked.
She shook her head.
“No. My first ship, the Shadow.”
“I thought you only used her once in a while,” Adrian responded.
“I do. The shipment is too small to justify taking the Raven.”
She looked across the table at Adrian.
“If you’re free, you’re welcome to come along.”
Adrian smiled. “I’d like that.”
“It’ll be quieter than you’re used to.”
“I don’t mind quiet.”
Lisan nodded. “Saturday morning. Eight o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
The evening continued for another hour before the crew slowly made their way toward the exit. Siggy headed for the Federation transit station, already talking about the paperwork waiting for him. Naggs departed through another terminal that would have him home before midnight. Lisan paused just long enough to remind Adrian of Saturday’s departure before disappearing into the crowd.
Adrian watched them go before turning back toward the bar.
For the first time in a long while, he realized he wasn’t looking forward to his next Federation assignment.
He was looking forward to Saturday.
The Starlight Shadow
For the next few days Adrian was flying his usual Trade Federation ship. Taking supplies from one planet to another. Each trip was fairly routine.
He had spent the week looking forward to meeting Captain Lisan for a weekend courier run aboard the Starlight Shadow. It would be a welcome change from the Raven, the larger Guild transport she normally commanded.
Adrian woke at the break of dawn, something he almost never did.
But this morning would be different than any other. Today he was going on a mission on a new ship with his captain. It was a moment he had been waiting all week for.
After quickly getting ready he made his way to the spaceport. Along the way he sat and had a hearty breakfast at a café.
The café overlooked the Pacific, and Adrian lingered over breakfast longer than usual. Between the smell of fresh coffee, the salty ocean breeze, and the steady rhythm of waves against the shoreline, he found himself wishing mornings could always be this uncomplicated.
Adrian looked at his watch and saw the time was 7:18. The port was about a twenty-minute walk away. He had plenty of time to get there.
He paid his check and threw on his father’s old leather jacket.
The walk to the hangar was uneventful. Crews were loading and unloading other ships. Some ships were in the process of being fueled up.
Forklifts rolled between cargo stacks while fuel crews worked beneath the fuel tanks of departing transports. Pilots exchanged last-minute instructions with their ground teams, and somewhere farther down the docks a loading supervisor shouted for another cargo container.
Adrian smiled. Spaceports always sounded the same, no matter how many times he visited them.
After a short bit he turned the corner to the dock where the Starlight Shadow was waiting. He was nearly fifteen minutes early and saw that Lisan was already detaching the fuel line from the ship.
Compared to the Raven, the Starlight Shadow looked almost sleek, its compact frame suggesting speed and precision rather than cargo capacity.
She looked up and smiled. “You’re early!”
“I was looking forward to today all week.”
Lisan walked over and offered her hand. Adrian shook it before she stepped aside and swept a hand toward the sleek two-seat ship behind her.
“Adrian Flynn, I’d like you to meet my first real love.”
Adrian laughed. “The Starlight Shadow?”
Lisan smiled, “She isn’t the biggest ship on the docks, and she certainly isn’t the newest. But she’s reliable, she’s fast, and every scratch on her hull has a story.”
Adrian stepped closer and rested a hand against the smooth nose of the ship. “She looks like one fine ship to me.”
Lisan smiled with obvious satisfaction. “She is.”
Lisan glanced toward the cargo stacked neatly beside the loading area.
“She’s fueled and ready. All that’s left are those five crates.”
She walked around the port side of the Starlight Shadow toward the rear cargo hatch. Kneeling beside a small control panel, she entered a security code before placing her hand against the scanner.
A soft chime sounded.
The cargo doors separated down the center before the loading ramp slowly lowered to the deck.
Adrian looked inside.
“For a ship this size, that’s more room than I expected.”
“The designers used every centimeter they could.”
“They did a pretty good job.”
Lisan smiled. “One of the reasons I bought her.”
She walked toward a nearby cargo loader. “I’ll grab one.”
Adrian pointed toward another parked beside the warehouse. “I’ve got this one.”
Within a minute they were each guiding a small loader back toward the waiting cargo.
Five identical containers sat neatly on the dock, each marked with the Guild’s transport seal.
Adrian glanced at one of the labels.
“Medical diagnostic equipment.”
Lisan nodded as she guided the crate into position. “Fragile, too.”
Adrian secured the locking clamps.
“The Federation usually handles shipments like this.”
“Usually.”
“So why us?”
Lisan shrugged. “Sometimes a client needs something sooner than bureaucracy can provide it.”
Adrian looked at the remaining crates.
“So the Guild fills in the gaps.”
Lisan smiled as she locked another crate into place. “You’re catching on.”
Adrian chuckled. “I think I’m beginning to understand the Guild.”
Lisan looked over at him.
“I was wondering how long that would take.”
Together they lifted the first crate into the cargo bay and secured it against the forward bulkhead.
The second followed only a minute later.
Neither hurried.
There was no reason to.
By the time they positioned the fourth container, Lisan stepped back and looked toward the last one still sitting on the dock.
She nodded toward it. “You get the last one.”
Adrian straightened and gave an exaggerated nod. “Yes, Captain.”
Lisan laughed. “Not here.”
He looked at her curiously.
“On the Raven I’m your captain.”
She rested a hand against the Shadow’s hull.
“On this ship…” A small smile crossed her face. “…we’re just two pilots.”
Adrian smiled. “I can live with that.”
She returned her loader to its charging station while Adrian guided the final crate into the cargo bay.
Once it was secured, he remained there for a moment.
The cargo compartment was compact but thoughtfully designed. Storage lockers lined one wall, emergency equipment occupied neatly labeled compartments, and every control panel appeared exactly where a pilot would expect to find it.
Nothing felt wasted.
Everything had a purpose.
He rested a hand lightly against one of the tie-down rails.
“I can see why you kept her.”
His voice was little more than a thought.
A few moments later he backed the loader down the ramp.
“I’ll return this.”
Lisan pressed another sequence on the control panel.
The loading ramp rose smoothly before the cargo doors sealed with a reassuring mechanical thud.
She looked toward Adrian. “I’ll meet you inside.”
Adrian returned the loader and walked around to the side hatch.
By the time he climbed aboard, Lisan had already settled into the left pilot’s seat, completing the preflight checklist.
Without looking up, she gestured toward the empty seat beside her.
“Come on in.”
Adrian stepped into the cockpit.
For a brief moment, he simply took it all in.
The Starlight Shadow suddenly felt much smaller than the Raven.
And somehow…
Much more personal.
Adrian settled into the right seat and pulled the shoulder harness across his chest before fastening the buckle with a satisfying click.
Lisan was already working through the preflight checklist. Her hands moved confidently across the instrument panel as she powered up each system in sequence. A series of soft chimes echoed through the cockpit while the navigation computer came to life. She entered a destination, reviewed the projected flight path, and nodded with quiet satisfaction.
“We’re looking at about four hours,” she said.
Adrian looked around the cockpit while she continued her preparations.
Compared to his one-seat Federation transport, the Shadow felt surprisingly spacious despite its compact size. Every switch, display, and control seemed to have been placed exactly where a pilot would expect to find it. Nothing felt cluttered or out of place. Even compared to the Raven, whose bridge had been designed around a crew of four, the Shadow’s cockpit felt remarkably efficient.
“You’ve been studying her,” Lisan observed without looking up from her checklist.
Adrian smiled. “I’ve been admiring her.”
Lisan chuckled.
“There’s a difference.”
“There is.”
He rested his hand lightly on the armrest.
“On my Federation transport, I have to reach halfway across the console to adjust the communications panel.”
He pointed toward the Shadow’s controls.
“Here, everything is right where it ought to be.”
Lisan looked over with a knowing smile.
“That’s exactly what I thought the first time I sat in this seat.”
She pressed one final switch before the displays brightened across the cockpit.
“Good ship designers understand that a pilot shouldn’t have to think about where a control is.”
“They should already know.”
Adrian nodded. “And if they don’t…”
Lisan smiled. “They’re probably too busy fixing the mistake they just made.”
Adrian laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
Lisan glanced across the instrument panel one final time before nodding with satisfaction.
“Looks like we’re ready.”
She reached for the communications panel.
“Los Angeles Control, this is the Starlight Shadow, Dock Nine-H. Requesting departure clearance.”
The reply came almost immediately through the speakers.
“Starlight Shadow, Dock Nine-H, departure clearance granted. Launch sequence commencing.”
A calm computerized voice echoed through the cockpit.
“Ten…”
Lisan rested one hand lightly on the flight controls.
“Nine…”
She looked over at Adrian. “You’ve always been the one flying.”
“That’s true.”
“Today you get to watch.”
Adrian smiled. “I’ve never ridden in a cockpit without being the one at the controls.”
“Then enjoy yourself.”
The countdown continued.
“Three…”
“Two…”
“One…”
“Starlight Shadow, you are cleared for departure. Safe travels.”
Lisan eased the throttles forward.
The Shadow lifted effortlessly from the landing pad, rising with a smoothness Adrian hadn’t expected from such a compact ship. Rather than climbing aggressively, Lisan allowed the ship to build speed naturally as they threaded through the designated departure corridor.
Adrian watched her hands.
Every movement was deliberate.
Every adjustment was small.
She never seemed to fight the ship.
Instead, it felt as though pilot and spacecraft understood one another.
Within minutes Earth’s atmosphere disappeared beneath them, giving way to the endless black of space.
Once they had cleared orbital traffic, Lisan tapped several commands into the navigation console.
“The route is locked in.”
She wrapped her fingers around the throttle once more.
“Here we go.”
The stars stretched into brilliant ribbons before settling into the familiar tunnel of faster-than-light travel.
Only after the engines settled into their steady hum did Adrian glance over.
“So… where are we headed?”
Lisan smiled.
“A small colony near the edge of Federation space.”
She glanced at him. “Astoria Alpha.”
Adrian turned toward her. “You’re kidding.”
“No.”
He laughed. “I grew up there.”
Lisan looked over in surprise. “You did?”
Adrian nodded. “My dad still lives there.”
“I had no idea.”
“He flies with the Colonial Defense Fleet.”
“The Taranian border?”
“That’s right.”
Lisan nodded thoughtfully. “That explains why you know the region so well.”
Adrian smiled and glanced down at the old leather jacket he was wearing.
“My dad gave me this before I left.”
Lisan looked at the worn leather.
“So that’s why you never take it off.”
He ran a hand across one of the weathered sleeves. “He wore it for years before I ever did.”
“And now it’s been halfway across the galaxy.”
Adrian smiled. “I guess we’re both adding a few stories to it.”
Lisan nodded. “I think that’s exactly what he’d want.”
Lisan returned her attention to the stars ahead.
Adrian looked out through the canopy, watching the endless river of light flowing around the Shadow.
“I hope so.”
After several hours of conversation, the stars returned to their normal points of light as the Shadow dropped out of faster-than-light travel.
Lisan smiled. “We’re almost there.”
Astoria Alpha slowly filled the forward canopy, its familiar blue-green oceans and scattered continents bringing an unexpected smile to Adrian’s face.
The communications panel chimed.
“Starlight Shadow, this is Astoria Alpha Traffic Control. You are cleared to proceed to Dock Five.”
Lisan acknowledged the transmission. “Dock Five. Copy.”
Adrian looked through the canopy as the colony grew larger beneath them.
“Dock Five…”
He pointed toward another docking bay farther down the line.
“Dock Three is where it all started for me.”
Lisan glanced over. “The Federation?”
He nodded. “A little over three years ago.”
She smiled. “I’d say it worked out rather well.”
“So would I.”
The Shadow descended smoothly through the designated approach corridor before touching down with barely a vibration.
Adrian laughed quietly.
“I think that was smoother than any landing I’ve ever made.”
Lisan grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of time.”
The side hatch opened, and the two stepped onto the dock.
Waiting beside the cargo terminal stood a tall Valkorrian woman wearing the insignia of the colony’s logistics office.
“Captain Lisan.”
She extended a datapad. “Right on schedule.”
Lisan accepted it and confirmed the delivery with a few quick taps.
“Five crates. Everything accounted for.”
She walked to the rear of the Shadow, entered a short sequence into the cargo panel, and the rear doors slowly separated before the loading ramp lowered to the deck.
Within moments, five powered cargo loaders rolled toward the ship.
Each operator guided a single crate onto a loader before disappearing toward the nearby warehouse.
The entire unloading process took only a few minutes.
Once the cargo bay was empty, Lisan closed the loading ramp and secured the hatch.
She looked over at Adrian. “Well…”
He smiled. “That was considerably easier than I expected.”
“Most successful deliveries are.”
They climbed back aboard the Shadow.
As Adrian reached for the right seat, Lisan stopped him.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“This time…”
She pointed toward the left seat.
“You fly.”
Adrian stared at her for a second. “Seriously?”
Lisan smiled. “I’ve seen enough of your flying to know you won’t embarrass either of us.”
A grin slowly spread across Adrian’s face. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I know.”
She settled comfortably into the copilot’s seat.
“That’s why I waited until now.”
Adrian eased into the pilot’s chair, resting both hands lightly on the controls.
The cockpit suddenly felt very different.
It no longer belonged to someone else.
For the first time…
The Shadow was his to fly.
Risky Business
Three weeks had passed since Lisan and Adrian’s quiet courier run aboard the Shadow. Their conversations during that flight had already become fond memories as life settled back into its familiar routine.
Today was different. Commander Rayden had asked Lisan to bring her entire crew to Guild Headquarters. That almost never happened. Normally Lisan met with Rayden alone before briefing the crew herself.
As Siggy led them through the maze of hallways, Adrian couldn’t help but remember following the same route over a year earlier. Back then he had no idea what waited behind Commander Rayden’s office door. Today the familiar corridors somehow felt more serious.
Siggy took the lead with Naggs directly behind him and Adrian in the rear.
As Siggy approached the office he didn’t even knock. He just opened the door for all three to enter.
Commander Rayden and Lisan were already seated. Whatever discussion they had been having ended the moment the rest of the crew entered, but neither woman looked particularly pleased. Their expressions were calm, yet unusually serious.
Siggy held the door as Naggs and Adrian filed into the room. He stepped in and closed the door gently.
A short time later the four crewmembers walked onto the bridge of the Raven.
Siggy eased himself into his comms station while Naggs activated the tactical displays. Adrian settled into the pilot’s seat as Lisan took her place at the navigation control.
For several long moments, nobody spoke.
Finally, Naggs broke the silence. “So… let me get this straight.”
He looked around the bridge. “We’re actually considering this?”
Siggy snorted a bit and followed, “You heard what Rayden said.”
“I did.”
Naggs folded his arms. “I’m still deciding whether she’s serious.”
Lisan looked up from the mission data displayed on her console. “She doesn’t joke when she assigns missions.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair. “Then walk me through it again.”
Lisan nodded.
“We launch immediately. Our cargo hold will contain legitimate Guild freight with a proper manifest. If anyone scans the cargo bay, everything will appear exactly as it should.”
Siggy added, “It’s cover cargo. Nothing more.”
Lisan continued.
“Our first destination is the Dreasus sector. Specifically, the planet Hort.”
Lisan pointed to the star map.
“Hort is five parsecs beyond the border.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“You keep saying five parsecs like it’s just down the street.”
Siggy looked over. “It isn’t?”
Adrian shook his head.
“A parsec is about a little over three light years.”
He pointed toward the display.
“So your little five parsecs… is actually about sixteen to seventeen light-years.”
He leaned back.
“That’s a pretty big number, guys.”
Naggs gave a slow nod.
“When you put it that way… I suddenly don’t feel nearly as close to home.”
She enlarged a section of the star map.
“Once we’re there, Siggy will meet one of his contacts. We’ll authenticate a Quantum Encryption Core.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“I thought those were all destroyed. And any of the remaining ones were considered illegal contraband.”
Siggy shrugged.
“Most were destroyed.”
Lisan reached inside her jacket and produced a tiny metallic microchip no larger than her thumbnail.
She held it up between two fingers. “Rayden entrusted me with this.”
Adrian stared at the tiny chip. “That’s it?”
“It’s an encrypted credit authorization chip.”
“For how much?”
Lisan answered matter-of-factly. “One hundred million credits.”
Adrian blinked.
“You have a microchip with one hundred million credits on it?”
Siggy couldn’t help smiling.
“Enough to buy about a thousand Ravens…”
He looked around the bridge. “…and still have plenty left over.”
“If the core authenticates, we make the exchange.”
Adrian let out a slow whistle. “So that’s the mission.”
Lisan slipped the chip back inside her jacket.
She shook her head. “No.”
Adrian frowned. “No?”
“That’s only the first half.”
Silence settled over the bridge.
Lisan enlarged the star map again, this time highlighting another system several parsecs deeper inside Dreasus territory.
“Once we’ve authenticated the Quantum Encryption Core and completed the purchase on Hort, we’ll travel another five parsecs to the planet Grot.”
She tapped the display.
“There we’ll exchange the core.”
“For what?” Adrian asked.
Lisan looked directly at him. “A contained miniature singularity.”
Adrian blinked. “A singularity?”
He looked around the bridge.
“You know that is just another name for a black hole.”
Siggy nodded matter-of-factly. “Contained black hole.”
Adrian laughed once. “Those two words don’t belong together.”
Naggs folded his arms. “They do now.”
Lisan brought up another image on the display.
“The singularity is held inside a stabilized quantum containment field.”
Adrian continued staring at the image.
“And how stable is ‘stabilized’?”
Siggy answered first. “Stable enough that someone is willing to sell it.”
Naggs added dryly, “And unstable enough that nobody wants to carry it.”
A small smile crept across Lisan’s face. “Which is where we come in.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
“So let me make sure I’ve got this straight.”
He held up a finger.
“We’re taking perfectly legal cargo into hostile territory as cover.”
A second finger.
“We’re spending one hundred million credits on technology outlawed two decades ago.”
A third.
“Then we’re trading that technology for a contained black hole.”
He looked around the bridge. Then raised a fourth finger.
“And then we’re supposed to bring it back through Federation space without anyone noticing.”
Siggy grinned. “And don’t forget if we are noticed by the Dreasus people they are the ‘shoot first and ask questions never’ type of people.”
Naggs looked around the bridge.
“You know… This is sounding less like a mission… and more like a very creative way to die.”
Lisan let the comment hang in the air before looking around the bridge.
“If anyone wants off this mission, now’s the time to say so.”
Her eyes met each member of the crew in turn.
Siggy said nothing.
Naggs remained silent.
Adrian looked from one crewmember to the next before giving a single nod.
Lisan smiled ever so slightly.
“Good.”
She turned back to the navigation display.
“Let’s go to work.”
A few moments later the legitimate cargo had been secured and the paperwork finalized.
Siggy slid two nearly identical manifests into separate compartments of his satchel.
One documented the Raven’s current cargo and listed their official destination.
The second would only be used on the return journey after the exchange had been completed.
He patted both compartments before looking toward the bridge.
“Now I just have to remember which one to hand an inspector.”
Naggs looked over. “I’d suggest getting that part right.”
Siggy looked over to Naggs and smiled broadly.
Moments later Adrian brought the Raven’s engines to life. The familiar vibration spread through the deck as each system came online. One by one, the bridge displays shifted from standby to operational status.
“Los Angeles Control, this is the Raven requesting departure clearance.”
The reply came a few seconds later.
“Raven, you are cleared for departure. Safe travels.”
Adrian eased the transport away from the docking pad. The Raven climbed steadily through the morning sky before breaking free of Earth’s atmosphere and turning toward the stars.
Several uneventful hours later, the navigation display highlighted the edge of Dreasus-controlled space.
Lisan studied the display before looking over her shoulder.
“Naggs.”
He looked up from his console.
“Switch our transponder.”
Naggs’s fingers immediately moved across the tactical display.
“Federation beacon offline.”
A brief pause.
“Dreasus civilian freight signature online.”
Adrian glanced over. “They’ll believe we’re one of theirs?”
Naggs nodded. “They’ll believe we’re supposed to be here.”
Siggy chuckled. “Assuming they don’t look out of their window and see that we are definitely not a Dreasus ship.”
Naggs looked back at his display.
“The beacon gets us through the front door.”
He glanced toward Adrian.
“After that, it’s up to you to make sure we don’t overstay our welcome.”
Lisan turned back toward the forward viewport.
“Welcome to Dreasus space.”
Several hours later the Raven crossed the invisible boundary into Dreasus territory.
No alarms sounded.
No warning buoys challenged their presence.
The only indication they had crossed the border was the blinking icon on Naggs’ tactical display.
“Dreasus space.”
Nobody spoke.
A few minutes later, Naggs leaned toward his console. “I’ve got three contacts.”
Adrian looked over. “Military?”
Naggs nodded. “Barrier patrol craft.”
Lisan remained calm.
“Course?”
“They’re holding.”
The bridge fell silent again.
One by one the three contacts drifted across the tactical display.
Adrian watched them inch closer.
“They’re getting awfully close.”
“They’re supposed to.”
Naggs never looked away from his screen. “They’re verifying our transponder.”
Several long seconds passed.
Then…
The three contacts altered course.
“They bought it,” Naggs said.
Siggy finally exhaled. “I’ve always loved good paperwork.”
Adrian laughed quietly. “I’m beginning to appreciate paperwork.”
Lisan looked ahead. “Don’t.”
Everyone looked toward her.
“The beacon got us across the border.”
She paused.
“It won’t save us if someone decides to take a closer look.”
Silence settled over the bridge once again as the Raven continued deeper into Dreasus space.
Within a short time, the Raven dropped out of faster-than-light travel and entered the Hort system.
The yellow-orange star illuminated a world covered in scattered deserts, rocky plateaus, and shallow inland seas.
Lisan studied the navigation display.
“On schedule.”
Siggy leaned toward the communications panel and keyed a secure frequency.
“This is Raven. Requesting confirmation.”
Several seconds passed before a gravelly voice answered.
“This is Korvak. Your approach has been verified.”
“We’re on final approach.”
“Landing pad seven is waiting.”
The transmission ended.
Adrian glanced toward the main display.
“Friendly bunch.”
Siggy smiled.
“They’re friendlier once they’ve been paid.”
Following the coordinates, Adrian guided the Raven toward an aging industrial district on the outskirts of a nearly abandoned settlement.
Most of the landing pads were empty.
Several appeared to have been unused for years.
Only a single weathered transport rested in the distance.
The Raven settled gently onto the cracked landing pad.
“Engines to standby,” Adrian reported. “I’ll keep them warm.”
Lisan nodded. “Good.”
She looked toward Siggy. “Let’s make this quick.”
The cargo ramp lowered with a mechanical hiss.
Waiting below stood a broad-shouldered reptilian creature supported comfortably on four powerful limbs. As the Raven settled, it rose onto its hind legs, balancing with practiced ease. Three smaller companions remained several steps behind, each watching the surrounding area far more than the visitors.
Korvak stepped forward. “Lisan.”
“Korvak.”
There was no handshake.
Instead, Korvak extended his long tongue in a brief, controlled motion.
Lisan returned the gesture.
Siggy did the same.
Watching from the bridge security monitor, Adrian frowned.
He looked toward Naggs.
“Did they just stick their tongues out at each other?”
Naggs never looked up from the tactical display.
“Hortian greeting.”
“Friendly?”
“Very.”
Adrian smiled.
“I would’ve guessed exactly the opposite.”
“It means they’re showing they aren’t concealing anything in their mouths. It’s their way of proving they’re approaching in good faith.”
Outside, Lisan removed the tiny authorization chip from an inside pocket and handed it to Korvak.
He inserted it into a handheld verifier.
A green light appeared.
Korvak gave a slow nod.
One of the assistants stepped forward carrying a compact metallic case no larger than a small toolbox.
Siggy accepted it without opening it.
Instead, he produced his own scanner.
The device emitted a soft pulse.
Several long seconds passed.
Finally, the display changed from amber to green.
“Authentic,” Siggy said.
Korvak extended his tongue once more.
Lisan and Siggy returned the gesture.
The exchange was complete.
Without another word, Korvak turned and walked away on all fours, his three assistants following close behind.
Within moments they disappeared between the abandoned warehouses.
Siggy climbed back aboard carrying the case.
After the cargo ramp closed, he crossed to the forward bulkhead just behind the bridge.
Removing what appeared to be an ordinary maintenance panel, he reached into a narrow concealed compartment and carefully placed the Quantum Encryption Core inside.
The panel clicked shut.
He gave it one firm tug to confirm it was secure before returning to his station.
Lisan settled back into the navigation chair.
Siggy strapped himself into his seat.
Adrian looked over. “Step one complete.”
Lisan settled back into her navigation station and entered the next destination.
A moment later Adrian’s console chimed.
“Coordinates received.”
He glanced at the display. “Grot.”
Lisan nodded. “Five parsecs.”
Adrian looked over his shoulder. “Why not just say sixteen light years?”
Siggy smirked. “Because she doesn’t like frightening people with big numbers.”
Adrian laughed. “They mean exactly the same thing.”
Naggs glanced up from the tactical display. “They do.”
Adrian keyed the new course into the flight computer. “I don’t know. ‘Five parsecs’ sounds like a Sunday drive.”
He engaged the navigation lock.
“Sixteen light-years sounds like we’re about to disappear for a while.”
Lisan smiled. “Either way…”
She looked at the forward display. “…it’s still the same trip.”
Adrian rested his hands on the controls.
“Course locked.”
Then they slipped into faster-than-light speed.
The familiar stars stretched into brilliant streaks before disappearing into the tunnel of faster-than-light travel.
The bridge settled into its usual quiet.
An hour later, Naggs studied the tactical display.
“We’ll be entering the primary shipping corridor in a few minutes.”
He looked toward Adrian.
“Drop us back to normal space about three million kilometers from the lane.”
Adrian nodded. “Got it.”
Lisan brought up the navigation display.
“Once we arrive, merge with the traffic.”
Adrian looked over. “…We’re going to do what?”
“We’re joining the shipping lane.”
He frowned. “In hostile territory?”
Lisan smiled. “Exactly.”
Adrian looked from her to Naggs.
“I would’ve thought we’d stay as far away from everyone as possible.”
Naggs shook his head. “An isolated ship gets noticed.”
Siggy leaned back in his chair. “A cargo ship traveling with hundreds of other cargo ships doesn’t.”
Naggs tapped his console. “Our counterfeit Dreasus transponder is still broadcasting.”
“So electronically… we’re one of them.”
Lisan nodded. “We look exactly like every other freighter using that route.”
Adrian wasn’t completely convinced.
“So, our plan… is to hide in plain sight?”
Lisan smiled. “Now you’re catching on.”
A soft chime echoed through the bridge.
Naggs glanced at his display. “Approaching drop point.”
Adrian reached for the controls. “Coming out of faster-than-light.”
The stars snapped back into countless pinpoints.
Almost immediately the forward display filled with traffic.
There was every assortment of ships you could imagine. There were freighters, tankers, ore haulers passenger liners.
Dozens…
Then hundreds…
Ships moved along invisible lanes stretching across space in both directions, every vessel maintaining its own course and spacing.
Many bore colorful company markings Adrian had never seen before.
Several passed close enough that he could make out hull numbers and cargo containers stacked along their sides.
He let out a low whistle. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
Lisan looked ahead. “Good.”
She pointed toward a gap between two freighters. “Slide us in.”
Adrian eased the Raven into formation.
Within moments they had become just another cargo ship among hundreds making the journey toward Grot.
After nearly two hours the Raven eased away from the crowded shipping lanes.
Within minutes the endless stream of freighters disappeared behind them as Grot continued to grow in the forward viewport.
Siggy activated the communications console and switched to an encrypted frequency.
“This is Siggy.”
A moment later a voice answered.
“Proceed.”
“We’re on schedule.”
“You’ll find us at the Heloc Space Dock.”
A brief pause followed.
“Southern peninsula.”
Another pause.
“Dock Marvin Niner-Niner.”
Siggy nodded.
“We’ll be there shortly.”
The transmission ended.
He pressed a few buttons and transferred the coordinates to Adrian’s navigation display.
“They’re waiting.”
Adrian studied the updated approach path. “Got it.”
Naggs looked over his tactical display.
“Our transponder is still broadcasting normally.”
He glanced toward Adrian.
“To everyone on this planet… we’re cargo freighter Hector One-Three.”
Adrian smiled. “So that’s who I am today.”
Lisan nodded. “Just long enough to get us back into the air.”
As the Raven descended toward the planet, Adrian keyed the communications panel.
“Grot Flight Control, this is cargo freighter Hector One-Three requesting landing clearance for Heloc Space Dock, Dock Marvin Niner-Niner.”
The reply came almost immediately.
“Hector One-Three, identity confirmed.”
Adrian glanced at Naggs.
Naggs simply nodded.
Flight Control continued. “You are cleared to proceed. Maintain your assigned approach corridor. Dock Marvin Niner-Niner is ready for your arrival.”
“Copy, Flight Control.”
Adrian disconnected the transmission.
He looked toward Lisan with a small grin.
She looked through the forward canopy as the sprawling industrial docks of Heloc came into view.
The sprawling industrial world of Grot filled the forward viewport.
Unlike the nearly deserted landing pad on Hort, Heloc Space Dock buzzed with activity. Freighters rose and descended in every direction while cargo loaders crawled between towering warehouses.
Adrian followed the assigned approach corridor before easing the Raven toward Dock Marvin Niner-Niner.
The landing struts settled onto the pad with a gentle thud.
“Engines to standby,” Adrian reported.
Lisan gave a satisfied nod before looking toward Siggy.
“Your show.”
Siggy unclipped his harness but remained seated for a moment.
“I’d like Naggs to join me.”
Adrian looked over. “No captain this time?”
Siggy smiled. “My contact respects strength.”
He glanced toward Lisan. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
She folded her arms.
“Between the two of us, you’re much better at talking.”
Siggy chuckled. “And you’re not nearly intimidating enough.”
Lisan raised an eyebrow. “I’ll try not to lose any sleep over that.”
Naggs stood. “So… bodyguard.”
“Exactly.”
Siggy opened the concealed compartment behind the bridge and carefully removed the Quantum Encryption Core.
Rather than carrying it himself, he turned and handed the case to Naggs.
Naggs accepted it without a word.
Adrian noticed. “You’re letting him carry one hundred million credits’ worth of illegal technology?”
Siggy smiled as though it were obvious.
“I’m the negotiator.”
He nodded toward Naggs. “He’s the one people think twice about arguing with.”
Naggs adjusted his grip on the case. “I also have fewer pockets to search.”
That earned a laugh from Adrian.
Lisan reached for the communications panel.
“Keep your comms open.”
Siggy nodded. “Always.”
The cargo ramp lowered.
Without another word, Siggy led the way down with Naggs one step behind.
Lisan watched them disappear into the sea of cargo handlers before turning back toward Adrian. “Now… we wait.”
The next twenty-five minutes passed far slower than Adrian would’ve liked.
The bridge remained quiet except for the occasional status update over the comms.
Finally…
Siggy’s voice broke the silence.
“I have the new package.”
Lisan looked toward Adrian. “Open the ramp.”
Siggy climbed back onto the bridge with Naggs close behind.
He waited until the cargo ramp had fully sealed before allowing himself a small smile.
Then he nodded once.
“That was easier than I expected.”
Lisan looked over from the navigation station.
“Don’t celebrate yet.”
She glanced at the forward display.
“We still have to get home.”
Siggy crossed to the concealed compartment behind the bridge. Unlocking the panel, he carefully placed the smaller case containing the singularity inside. Once it was secured, he locked the compartment and gave the panel a firm tug to ensure it had latched.
Adrian activated the communications panel.
“Grot Flight Control, this is Hector One-Three requesting departure clearance from Dock Marvin Niner-Niner.”
The response came only moments later.
“Hector One-Three, cleared for departure.”
“Copy that.”
Adrian eased the Raven away from the docking pad and guided her back into the busy traffic surrounding Grot.
He set a course that merged seamlessly with the outbound trade lane leading toward Federation space.
This time, blending into the traffic came naturally.
The Return Home
The Raven remained tucked inside the outbound shipping lanes for nearly two hours.
One by one, the endless streams of freighters peeled away toward distant colonies while others merged into the traffic heading deeper into Dreasus space.
Adrian followed the flow without drawing attention to himself.
Finally, Naggs looked up from the tactical display. “We’re clear.”
She turned toward Adrian. “Take us off the trade lane.”
Without hesitation, Adrian banked the Raven away from the established shipping corridor. None of the surrounding freighters altered course. Within moments they were simply another cargo ship heading toward a different destination.
Adrian glanced over his shoulder. “No one’s following.”
Naggs studied his display for several more seconds. “No active sensors.”
Siggy leaned back in his chair.
“I think we just made one hundred million credits look easy.”
Lisan didn’t smile. “Don’t get comfortable. We are still in Draelus space.”
She brought up the regional star map.
“We’re still a long way from Federation space.”
Adrian adjusted their heading. “So what’s the plan?”
Lisan pointed toward a system well off their current course.
“We spend another hour looking like we’re headed there. Toward this little world called Vrek close to the Drealus/Federation border.”
She traced a second line across the display.
“Once we’re about twenty minutes out we turn hard to starboard and race to the border. This is the tricky part as we may be close to their patrols.”
Adrian nodded. “So at first we never let anyone know where you’re really going.”
Lisan smiled. “Exactly.”
He settled back into the pilot’s seat.
“I’m beginning to think being a smuggler has less to do with flying… and more to do with making everyone believe you’re doing something else.”
Siggy laughed. “Now you’re thinking like one of us.”
The Raven continued along the established trade lane.
Nearly fifteen minutes passed in silence.
Adrian glanced at the navigation display.
“We’re about forty-five minutes from Vrek.”
Naggs’ eyes remained fixed on his tactical console.
A yellow indicator blinked once.
Then disappeared. He frowned.
A minute later it flashed again.
“Captain.”
Lisan looked over. “What is it?”
“Our transponder.”
Siggy immediately straightened in his chair. “What about it?”
“It’s beginning to fluctuate.”
Adrian looked back over his shoulder.
“Meaning?”
Naggs tapped a few commands. “It’s still broadcasting Hector One-Three…”
He paused.
“…but the signal strength is cycling.”
Another warning flashed across his display.
“And now it’s intermittently dropping out.”
The bridge grew quiet.
Lisan didn’t hesitate. “Abort.”
Everyone looked toward her.
She pointed toward the starboard side of the navigation display.
“Adrian.”
He was already reaching for the controls.
“Hard to starboard.”
Adrian looked over at Lisan, “No Vrek?”
“No Vrek.”
She brought up a new course.
“We’re done pretending.”
Adrian banked the Raven sharply away from the trade lane.
Within moments the freighters continued on without them.
The Raven was now alone.
Siggy watched the commercial traffic disappear behind them. “We’ve got over three hours before we reach Federation space.”
“I know.”
Lisan folded her arms.
“But every minute we stay on the original route is another minute that transponder has to fool every patrol ship between here and Vrek.”
Naggs continued watching the diagnostics.
“It may not last that long.”
Lisan nodded once.
“Which is exactly why we’re leaving now.”
She looked toward Siggy.
“Monitor every open frequency.” If anyone starts asking questions… I want to know before they come looking.”
Siggy’s fingers moved across the communications panel. “I’m on it.”
The next hour passed without incident.
The transponder continued to fluctuate, each interruption lasting a little longer than the last.
Then the communications panel chimed.
Siggy immediately accepted the transmission.
“Cargo vessel Hector One-Three, this is Dreasus Patrol Seven.”
He looked toward Lisan.
The voice continued.
“Our sensors indicate your transponder is malfunctioning. Your current heading is inconsistent with your filed flight plan. Report your status.”
Lisan was already reaching for her console. “Transfer comms to my station.”
Siggy tapped two controls. “All yours.”
Lisan calmly adjusted her position before keying the transmitter.
She took a deep breath to steady herself and pushed the open channels button. “Dreasus Patrol Seven, this is Hector One-Three…”
The reply came almost instantly.
“Hector One-Three, our sensors indicate your transponder is malfunctioning. Your current course also differs from your registered flight plan. Report your situation.”
Lisan never looked at Adrian.
“Dreasus Patrol Seven, we experienced what appears to be a localized power fluctuation about an hour ago. Our navigation array, flight control systems, and transponder have all been affected. We have isolated the fault and are making repairs while remaining under manual control.”
A brief silence followed.
“Our diagnostics indicate those systems operate independently.”
“They do,” Lisan replied without hesitation. “Which is why my engineer believes the fluctuation originated in the primary power distribution bus rather than the individual systems.”
Across the bridge, Siggy leaned toward his console.
Barely above a whisper, he said, “They’re checking our flight history.”
Lisan turned just enough to meet his eyes.
She gave a subtle nod.
She returned one of her own before facing forward again.
“Hector one-three,” the voice returned, “your present heading remains inconsistent with your submitted destination.”
“Our navigation array is unreliable,” Lisan answered smoothly. “We adjusted course to avoid placing unnecessary strain on the damaged guidance system. Once repairs are almost complete, we will resume our proper flight path shortly.”
Naggs’ eyes never left the tactical display. “Captain…”
The word was almost inaudible.
She glanced toward him.
“Another patrol has acknowledged the transmission.”
Her expression never changed.
A slight nod told Naggs she understood before she calmly returned her attention to the speaker.
“We can dispatch a technical assistance vessel to your location.”
Lisan smiled politely, though no one on the other end could see it.
“That won’t be necessary. We have the situation under control.”
There was another pause.
Long enough for everyone on the bridge to feel it.
Siggy’s fingers danced across the communications console.
His voice was barely a breath.
“Border Patrol has joined the channel.”
Again, Lisan looked toward him.
Their eyes met.
Another almost imperceptible nod.
She turned back toward the console just as the patrol officer spoke again.
“Hector One-Three… we insist.”
The words hung over the bridge.
Lisan remained perfectly composed.
“Dreasus Patrol Seven, I appreciate your concern, but the situation is well under control. My engineer estimates repairs will be completed shortly.”
Siggy whispered without looking up. “They’re checking our last port of call.”
Lisan turned her head just enough to meet his eyes.
She gave a slight nod.
She returned one of her own before answering the patrol.
“We would prefer to continue under our own power.”
There was another brief silence.
Naggs’ voice was almost inaudible. “Captain…”
Lisan glanced toward him.
He pointed to a small blip that had just appeared on his tactical display.
“One ship…”
He paused. “…no.”
Another contact appeared.
“Two ships.”
Lisan acknowledged him with another subtle nod before calmly returning her attention to the open channel.
“Dreasus Patrol Seven, your assistance truly isn’t necessary.”
The patrol officer answered immediately.
“Hector One-Three, our assistance vessels have already departed.”
Nagg’s fingers continued moving across his console. “They’re accelerating.”
The officer continued. “Maintain your present heading.”
Naggs leaned toward his display. “They’re on an intercept course.”
Lisan looked at him.
She met her eyes and gave a single nod. She understood.
The patrol officer’s voice filled the bridge once more.
“Estimated rendezvous… ninety minutes.”
Lisan closed her eyes for only the briefest moment.
When she opened them again, her voice remained as calm and professional as ever.
“Thank you, Dreasus Patrol Seven.”
A tiny pause.
“Hector One-Three out.”
She pressed the transmit button to turn off the comms.
Silence settled across the bridge.
Every set of eyes turned toward her.
She looked directly at Adrian.
“Adrian…”
Her expression never changed. “Punch it.”
The Raven surged forward as Adrian shoved the throttles as far as they would go.
The engines answered with a deep vibration that spread through the entire ship.
Adrian never took his eyes off the stars ahead.
“We’re at maximum thrust.”
The deck trembled again.
“Actually…”
His hand eased the throttles forward another fraction. “…a little beyond.”
Naggs looked over.
“I didn’t know the ship could do that.”
Adrian allowed himself the faintest grin.
“Officially…”
Another vibration rolled through the hull.
“…she can’t.”
Warning indicators flickered across the engine display.
Adrian ignored them.
Lisan watched the numbers climb.
“Estimated time to the Federation border?”
“One hundred ten minutes.”
Siggy did the math almost instantly.
“They estimated ninety minutes to intercept.”
Silence.
“That gives us twenty minutes.”
“No,” Lisan corrected.
“It gives us a twenty-minute head start.”
No one smiled.
Adrian tightened his grip on the controls.
“We have to make it.”
Lisan stated confidently, “We will.”
He hesitated before asking the question everyone had been avoiding.
“And if they open fire?”
Lisan answered without taking her eyes off the forward display. “Then we fight back.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
His thoughts shifted to the hidden compartment behind the bridge.
“What about the singularity?”
Naggs answered this time.
“The containment chamber is stable.”
“But?”
Naggs looked toward him. “If the chamber is breached…”
He let the sentence hang for a moment.
“…we won’t have to worry about the patrol anymore.”
Adrian blinked.
“Because?”
Siggy answered quietly.
“A contained singularity has only one job.”
Another silence settled over the bridge.
Adrian exhaled. “Well…”
He tightened his grip on the controls.
“…that’s not exactly reassuring.”
No one laughed.
The Raven continued accelerating toward the distant Trade Federation border.
After some intense time of flying through space, Naggs suddenly leaned toward his tactical display.
“They’re here.”
Two red contacts appeared behind them.
Lisan turned to Naggs’ station, “Range?”
“Closing fast.”
Lisan glanced at the tactical screen. “They’re going to overtake us.”
Adrian never took his eyes off the stars ahead.
“Guess talking is over.”
The bridge remained silent.
A warning tone suddenly echoed throughout the ship.
Naggs’ voice cut through it.
“Weapons lock!”
Twin bolts of brilliant energy streaked past the Raven.
A third slammed into the shields, shaking the ship from bow to stern.
“Shields holding!” Naggs called.
Lisan’s voice remained calm.
“Adrian… evasive.”
The Raven rolled hard to port before diving beneath the first barrage.
Another volley followed.
Adrian anticipated it, pulling the ship into a steep climbing turn that sent the enemy fire harmlessly beneath them.
He glanced toward Naggs.
“You and me now, partner.”
Naggs smiled without looking away from his display. “Just fly, Flynn.”
A grin crossed Adrian’s face.
“Let’s see what a year together has taught us.”
He shoved the controls forward.
The Raven twisted into a maneuver that would have made most cargo pilots black out.
Naggs barely moved. “Hold…”
The lead patrol ship followed.
“Hold…”
Adrian snapped the Raven into a hard roll.
“…Now!”
Twin pulses erupted from the Raven’s forward cannons.
The first patrol ship tried to break away.
Too late.
The blasts tore through its engines before erupting across the aft section.
The ship spiraled violently before disappearing in a brilliant flash.
For the first time since the chase had begun, Siggy couldn’t contain himself.
“Yes!”
The celebration lasted less than a second.
Naggs’ expression hardened.
“Second ship still on us.”
A barrage of return fire slammed into the Raven.
The bridge lurched violently.
Warning lights erupted across Adrian’s console.
He fought the controls.
“Engine Four…”
He glanced at the flashing readout. “…down to fifty percent.”
Lisan’s eyes never left the tactical display.
“Keep flying.”
Naggs was already tracking the remaining patrol ship.
“I’ll get us another opening.”
Naggs kept his eyes locked on the tactical display.
“Three more patrol ships inbound.”
Nobody looked away from their station.
“They’ll be in weapons range in five minutes.”
Lisan’s expression never changed.
“Then we have five minutes.”
The remaining patrol ship suddenly broke away before circling hard toward the Raven’s exposed starboard side.
“He’s trying to flank us,” Naggs warned.
“I see him.”
Adrian rolled the Raven into a steep dive before snapping the ship into a climbing turn.
The patrol ship stayed with them.
“He isn’t giving me a clean shot.”
Lisan pointed toward the forward display. “Adrian, make him commit.”
A faint grin crossed Adrian’s face. “I’ve got an idea.”
He suddenly cut the port engines, causing the Raven to yaw violently.
The patrol pilot took the bait and accelerated to maintain the firing angle.
“Now!” Adrian shouted.
Naggs fired.
Twin energy bolts streaked across space.
The patrol ship twisted just enough to avoid a direct hit.
“Missed!”
“No,” Naggs replied calmly. “I clipped him.”
Sparks erupted from the patrol ship’s starboard engine.
It wobbled before regaining control.
“He’s hurt,” Naggs said.
“But he’s still in the fight.”
The damaged patrol ship answered with another barrage.
One blast slammed directly into the Raven’s stern.
The bridge shook violently.
Warning alarms filled the cockpit.
Adrian fought the controls.
“Engine One took that!”
He glanced down at the flashing display.
“Power output… dropping…”
Another warning flashed.
“…down to thirty percent.”
Lisan looked from Adrian to Naggs.
“Can she still fly?”
Adrian tightened his grip.
“Oh, she’ll fly. I will make sure she’ll fly.”
He pushed the throttles forward again.
Naggs never took his eyes off the tactical display.
“Three patrol ships.”
A heartbeat later. “Four minutes.”
Lisan looked toward Adrian. “Finish this.”
Adrian nodded once. “I’m on it.”
The damaged patrol ship swung wide before diving back toward the Raven.
“He wants another pass,” Naggs said calmly.
Adrian watched the closing vector.
“So do I.”
The Raven suddenly rolled inverted before dropping beneath the incoming fighter.
The patrol pilot mirrored the maneuver.
“Keep coming…” Adrian whispered.
Naggs rested his finger over the firing control.
“Not yet.”
The patrol ship committed.
Energy bolts flashed past the Raven, one clipping the port side.
The bridge lurched.
“Hold…”
Naggs tracked the closing target.
“…hold…”
Adrian jerked the controls into a violent climbing turn that threw the Raven directly beneath the patrol ship.
“NOW!”
Naggs fired.
Four bright pulses erupted from the Raven’s cannons.
The first two stripped away the patrol ship’s shields.
The third tore into the engine housing.
The fourth punched through the reactor compartment.
For an instant the enemy ship seemed frozen in space.
Then it erupted into a brilliant sphere of white light.
Siggy couldn’t help himself.
“We got him!”
The celebration lasted only a moment.
Naggs looked back at his display.
“Three patrol ships.”
A pause.
“Less than three minutes.”
Almost immediately another warning alarm echoed across the bridge.
The Raven shuddered harder than before.
Adrian’s eyes dropped to the engine readouts.
“That last pass wasn’t free.”
He swallowed.
“Engine One just failed.”
A cascade of warnings spread across the display.
“And Engine Four is overheating.”
The ship vibrated beneath them.
Lisan looked toward Adrian.
“Can she still make the border?”
Adrian kept both hands firmly on the controls.
“She’ll get us there…”
He stared at the flashing warnings.
“…but she’s going to make us pay for it.”
A few minutes had passed as they were nearing the Trade Federation border.
Naggs stared at the tactical display.
“They’re gaining.”
The stars stretched ahead of the Raven as Adrian held the throttles against their stops. Pushing the remaining two engines way past their recommended levels.
Every warning light on his console glowed red.
“Engine Two is overheating.”
A second warning sounded.
“Engine Three is compensating.”
The Raven shuddered again.
Lisan kept her eyes fixed on the navigation display. “Distance?”
Adrian answered without looking up. “Thirty seconds.”
Naggs called out another update. “They’re within weapons range.”
The bridge remained silent.
Long-range energy bolts streaked through the darkness behind them.
The first volley passed harmlessly by.
The second did not.
Several blasts struck the Raven’s aft quarter.
The ship lurched violently.
Adrian fought the controls.
Naggs from behind him said, “Shields collapsing!”
Another alarm sounded.
Naggs looked at his display.
“Shields… gone.”
The hull groaned beneath them.
The stars ahead suddenly shifted.
Lisan looked up. “We’re across.”
Naggs immediately checked his sensors.
“They’ve broken pursuit.”
The three patrol ships slowed before turning away, unwilling to cross into Trade Federation space.
For the first time in hours…
No one was shooting at them.
Then every warning system aboard the Raven came alive.
Alarms echoed from every console.
Adrian’s smile disappeared. “This isn’t over.”
Adrian finally eased back on the throttles.
The Raven immediately began to shudder more violently than before.
Every warning display across the bridge flashed crimson.
He stared at the engine readouts.
His face fell.
“Lisan…”
She looked over.
“The engines are in a cascade failure.”
Another alarm echoed through the bridge.
“They’re feeding into each other.”
He swallowed.
“We’ve got maybe a minute.”
Lisan didn’t hesitate.
“Abandon ship.”
No one argued.
No one even looked toward the hidden compartment containing the singularity.
The only thing that mattered now was getting off the Raven.
Adrian released his restraints and sprinted for the escape pod hatch.
Lisan remained at her station.
“Go!”
Adrian disappeared through the hatch.
A heartbeat later a green light illuminated on her console.
Escape Pod One… launched.
“Naggs.”
Without a word he rose from his station and disappeared into the next hatch.
Another green light.
Escape Pod Two… launched.
“Siggy.”
Siggy looked back only once.
His eyes met Lisan’s.
A silent nod passed between them.
Then he was gone.
A third green light illuminated.
Escape Pod Three… launched.
Only then did Lisan rise from the captain’s chair.
She rested her hand on the navigation console for the briefest moment.
A faint smile crossed her face.
“Thank you, old girl.”
She turned and disappeared through the final hatch.
Adrian’s pod drifted several hundred meters away before he looked back.
The Raven floated silently against the stars.
Then he saw it.
The fourth escape pod burst clear from the ship.
Relief flooded through him.
“She made it…”
The words had barely left his mouth.
A blinding flash erupted from the Raven’s stern.
Engine Two finally gave way.
The explosion raced through the length of the ship.
For an instant the Raven vanished inside a brilliant sphere of fire.
Then…
The fireball stopped expanding.
It shuddered.
Folded inward.
Space itself seemed to bend.
The explosion twisted into a point of absolute darkness.
In the span of a heartbeat…
The Raven simply ceased to exist.
The singularity’s containment field had failed.
The black hole was free.
A violent gravitational wave rippled through space.
Adrian’s escape pod lurched as though struck by an invisible hand.
His momentum carried him forward.
So did Naggs’.
So did Siggy’s.
Then Adrian looked toward Lisan’s pod.
Her pod had been just a little closer.
“No…”
The pod’s maneuvering thrusters ignited.
It fought desperately against the pull.
It moved.
But only inches.
“Lisan!”
Adrian slammed his own thrusters to full power.
He knew it was impossible.
He didn’t care.
“LISAN!”
Her pod continued drifting backward.
Slowly.
Inexorably.
Toward the darkness.
For one fleeting instant it hung at the edge of the event horizon.
Then…
It was gone.
No explosion.
Only empty space where she had been.
Adrian stared through the canopy.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to speak.
The woman who had taught him everything about flying…
Everything about the Guild…
Everything about being part of a crew…
…had vanished before his eyes.
Only silence and darkness remained.
Home
The office was unusually quiet.
Commander Rayden stood near the large window overlooking the Guild landing field.
Adrian, Siggy, and Naggs stood silently before her desk.
No one spoke.
Finally, Rayden turned toward them.
“We lost a very fine captain the other day.”
The words hung in the room.
Adrian lowered his eyes.
Siggy stared at the floor.
Even Naggs, who rarely showed emotion, remained motionless.
Rayden folded her hands behind her back.
“Lisan served this Guild with distinction for many years.”
She paused.
“She completed missions that others refused to accept.”
Another moment passed.
“And she brought every one of you together.”
No one answered.
Rayden looked at each of them in turn.
“The mission itself was unsuccessful.”
She glanced briefly toward the reports resting on her desk.
“The singularity was lost.”
She touched another button on the datapad.
“So was the Raven.”
She looked back at the three survivors.
“Neither loss compares to losing Captain Loc.”
The room fell silent again.
Siggy finally broke it.
“What about the client?”
Rayden gave a small shake of her head.
“It doesn’t matter. They understood the risks before this mission ever began. No one expected Lisan to sacrifice herself.”
She reached for three small data chips resting on the corner of her desk.
“You completed the assignment to the best of your abilities under nearly impossible circumstances.”
She slid one chip toward each of them.
“The Guild honors that.”
Adrian looked down. “Commander…”
Rayden gently interrupted him. “No.”
She gave the slightest smile. “You earned it.”
The three quietly accepted their mission pay.
After a long moment, Adrian looked toward Siggy.
Siggy gave a small nod.
Naggs did the same.
Without another word, the three turned toward the door.
“One more thing.”
All three stopped.
Rayden opened the top drawer of her desk and removed a slim data folder.
Her eyes settled on Adrian.
“Four months ago, Captain Lisan came into this office.”
Adrian looked up.
“She wanted to update her personnel records.”
Rayden paused before continuing.
“There was one additional item.”
She opened the folder.
“A final request.”
She looked directly at Adrian.
“If anything were ever to happen to her, she requested that ownership of the Starlight Shadow be transferred to Adrian Flynn.”
Adrian simply stared.
Rayden slid two small data chips across the desk.
“The first contains the title of ownership.”
She placed the second beside it.
“The second contains the ship’s master access codes.”
No one spoke. Every eye was on Adrian.
Rayden folded her hands.
“I asked her why.”
A faint smile appeared.
“She told me she had watched you grow into a magnificent pilot.”
Another pause.
“She believed you had earned a ship of your own.”
Adrian looked down at the two chips.
His hand hesitated before reaching for them.
His thoughts drifted back to that quiet Saturday aboard the Shadow a few weeks ago.
Lisan showing him every switch and control.
Introducing him to the ship she called her first real love.
He finally understood.
She hadn’t simply been sharing her favorite ship.
She had been trusting him with its future.
His fingers closed around the two data chips.
“I’ll take good care of her.”
Rayden smiled sadly. “I know you will.”
The afternoon sun hung low over the Los Angeles spaceport as the three quietly left Guild Headquarters.
No one spoke.
The silence that had filled Commander Rayden’s office seemed to follow them down the sidewalk.
Adrian finally looked toward the others.
“How about one round?”
Siggy looked over. “The L.A. Spaceport Bar?”
Adrian nodded. “My treat.”
Naggs gave a quiet shrug. “I won’t argue with that.”
For the first time that day, the corners of Siggy’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“Sounds good.”
The familiar entrance came into view only a few minutes later.
Adrian opened the door, allowing the others to enter first.
The sounds of conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the room.
Life had moved on.
It always did.
Snarf glanced up in recognition as the three crossed the room.
Without a word, Adrian headed toward the same booth where he had first met Siggy over a year earlier.
Siggy noticed.
“So we’re back where this all started.”
Adrian ran a hand across the edge of the booth before sitting down.
“Yeah…”
A server approached with a polite smile.
“What can I get you?”
Adrian looked toward the other two.
“Order whatever you want.”
Siggy raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”
Adrian managed the faintest smile.
“Lisan would’ve done the same.”
No one argued.
The server collected their drink orders before quietly walking away.
The three sat together.
Waiting.
None of them quite ready to begin the conversation they all knew was coming.
The drinks arrived a few minutes later.
No one touched them at first.
Adrian finally broke the silence.
“So…”
He looked at the other two.
“What now?”
Siggy slowly wrapped his hands around his glass.
“I don’t know.”
He stared into the amber liquid for several moments.
“I keep thinking about Lisan.”
He sighed.
“That last mission…”
He shook his head.
“…it’s going to stay with me for a long time.”
Another long pause.
Siggy continued, “I think I’ve had enough adventure.”
He managed a faint smile.
“I miss the cargo holds.”
Siggy looked over at Naggs. “You?”
Naggs nodded. He took a slow sip before speaking.
“I’ve made my decision.”
Both men looked toward him.
“I’m retiring from the Guild.”
Adrian blinked. “You are?”
Naggs nodded once.
“I’ve got family.”
He looked down at his glass.
“I’ve missed enough birthdays.”
Another pause.
“The Guild payout from our last mission will keep me comfortable for several years.”
He looked at Adrian.
“I think it’s time.”
Silence settled over the booth again.
Finally Siggy looked across the table.
“What about you Adrian?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
His thoughts drifted back to a quiet Saturday aboard the Starlight Shadow.
Lisan had walked him through every system.
He pulled out the title and access codes.
He looked back at his friends.
“I guess I’ll stay with the Guild.”
He smiled sadly.
“At least on my days off.”
His fingers traced the rim of his glass.
“The Shadow…”
He paused.
“…she’s an amazing ship.”
He looked toward the spaceport beyond the bar’s windows.
“Lisan trusted me with her.”
His voice softened.
“I think the best way I can honor her…”
He swallowed.
“…is to keep flying.”
Neither Siggy nor Naggs spoke.
They simply raised their glasses.
Adrian lifted his own.
“To Captain Lisan Loc.”
The other two lifted their own mugs and nodded.
“To Captain Lisan Loc.”
The three glasses touched softly together.
None of them said another word.
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