Rendezvous

Guest Poster Jan the Intergalactic Aviator

We arrived close to the rendezvous and dropped out of warp. Surrounding us was empty space except for one small, insignificant looking planet below us.

“A real beaut, ain’t she?” asked Bandit.

“That place? It doesn’t look like much to me.”

“I wasn’t talking about the planet,” he leered at me.

I gave him one of those “Give me a break” looks and quickly changed the subject. “So we’re in the right area, right? You should probably launch your little ship so you can run interference.”

“Little?” Bandit looked back at me with a mock air of incredulousness. “The Bandit’s got all you could ever want in a ship – and power where you need it.”

“Great,” I smiled back at him. “So we’re almost at our rendezvous, how much longer until we meet your customer anyway?”

“We’re just a little early,” Bandit answered as he looked at his chronometer. “I’ll launch and run ahead and make sure the area is clear.”

Just as Bandit left the bridge to make his way to his own ship strapped down in my cargo hold, my sensors started registering something big coming in fast.

“Bandit, there may be trouble,” I called into the comm. “We have something coming in fast and… aw nuts.”

“What is it?” Bandit came running back into the cockpit to take a look at the screens.

“Bad news,” I said as I looked at the readings. “Star Destroyer, Imperial class.”



“Well, don’t let them get us,” Bandit pleaded. “Get out of here.”

“Too late,” I answered. “They’ve got a lock on us. If I make a move, we’ll be shot to pieces.”

“I thought you were the best pilot in the universe and you can’t outfly one little capital ship?”

“Hey, this isn’t some local bulk cruiser,” I snapped back. “We’re talking about the Imperial Navy here.”

“Unidentified ship, this is the Imperial Star Destroyer Naal’taa,” a voice crackled over the comm system. “Please identify yourself.”

“This is Captain Jan O’Mega of the Pegasus Elite,” I answered. “I’m just here making a delivery.”

“Unidentified ship,” the voice on the Star Destroyer answered. “Power down your systems and prepare to be boarded.”

“Crap,” I muttered.

“This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by hiring you,” Bandit complained. “You’re a pretty lady and all, but I ain’t so keen on your concept of keeping away from trouble.”

“Quiet, or you’ll find yourself taking a long ride out of a short airlock,” I snapped back. I then flipped the comm back open. “Uh, Star Destroyer Naal’taa, I am transmitting my cargo manifest, you don’t think boarding is really all that necessary, do you? I’d hate to waste your time and all.”

“That is for us to decide,” the technician on the other end replied. “Do not attempt to run or you will be destroyed.”

The Pegasus Elite shuddered as the larger craft’s tractor beam locked on. We were then drawn up into the belly of the Destroyer and would soon be up to our elbows in Imperial troops.

Today is not turning out so well.