The universe is vast. Even the great technological developments over the past millenia could do little to alter the broadness of the great black expanse. The advent of hyperspace travel brought worlds together, but it could not alter the size of the universe. It was easy to lose - or never discover - worlds, even star systems, in that expanse. Lose a ship or even a fleet, and it might never be found.
When Captain Jasper Hart thought about it, space pirating in the Unknown Regions really was idiotic. And if he was anything, he knew, it was certainly not idiotic. So, he thought to himself, with a twinge of bitterness, why in the galaxy am I out here?
The idea had come to him about a standard year ago, partially in reaction to the three bounty hunters that lay dead across the threshold of his home and partially to the four Imperial warrants taken out on him, that a few years in the Unknown Regions might be just the thing for him. He'd managed to convince his crew - or rather, crews - that the Unknown Regions were filled with treasure ships, just waiting to be plucked. They had gone along with him. Which makes them more idiotic than me, he thought with that measure of satisfaction that comes only to those who understand that there are others dumber than themselves.
And after a year in the Unknown Regions, they had yet to make a single valuable catch. Oh, they'd established relations with some inhabited worlds and even set up a small trade business that kept them fed. But they hadn't yet stumbled upon any ships carrying anything particularly valuable.
Which was why, he supposed, his second in command was pressing a blaster to his head.
"Dania," he said slowly, "I understand you're upset…"
She cut him off. "No," she said, "I don't think you get it. We're leaving for the galaxy proper. When we get there, it will be my pleasure to turn you over to the Imperials. A few years rotting in one of their prisons, or inside stormtrooper armor, will teach you not to lie to people who trust you."
He risked a glance at her. She was certainly a looker - that was part of the reason he'd hired her in the first place. Long, curly red hair, green eyes...she caught his gaze drifting downwards and pressed the blaster harder into his forehead. "Eyes up, Hart."
And that was the other reason he'd hired her. No mercy. Of course, that part wasn't working out so well for him right now.
"Dania, give me one chance. One more week. At the end of the week, if we haven't caught anything, we go back and I give myself up." And it'll give me a week to plan my escape, he thought.
But she shook her head. "No deal, Hart. You'll just cut and run, probably after stranding us here. No, we're going back now."
And it probably would have ended there had it not been for the four ships that suddenly swooped past the viewport. They were a design he hadn't personally encountered before, but he'd seen them in holos. Interceptor-like solar panels connected to an almost A-wing center, with half a TIE cockpit, twin ion engines, and six linked laser cannons. "I don't think we'll have to make that trip, Dania," Jaspar said slowly. Grimly.
The woman frowned. "And why would that be?" she asked cautiously, finger tightening ever so slightly on the trigger.
"Because the Imperials are already here."
Colonel-General Wesley Vos stared out the viewport of the massive Star Destroyer at what was left of the three-ship pirate fleet his fighters had just dismantled. After a few moments, he uttered an expletive so foul it made his bridge crew pause in their tasks and stare at him for a moment in shock.
And this is what we were sent out here for? he thought to himself. Operation Shadow Shard, they'd called it. A plan developed over two years ago by Supreme Commander Kaine and Emperor Hyfe. A contingency plan, should some cataclysm befall the Empire. Select loyal units would retreat from known space, regroup in the Unknown Regions, re-establish Imperial order, and, when the rest of the galaxy was squabbling over the remnants of the Empire, return with all cannons firing to reclaim Imperial glory.
A plan invoked by now-Emperor Park Kraken, when the Empire had suffered a setback but not a cataclysm, at least not on the scale that Kaine and Hyfe had envisioned in the contingency plan. In fact, Wes was beginning to believe the plan had been invoked simply to get him out of the way while the new Emperor and his followers established themselves. Which meant that they were doing things they knew he would not approve of.
Which meant he needed to get back into the game.
He had already sent the Kommandos back, secretly, one squad to each of the major Imperial worlds - Vladet, Bastion, Onyx, and In'chion - to gather intelligence. The reports they had sent back were disturbing. In'chion - still governed by Moff Zhukov - was reluctant to recognize the new Emperor. Zhukov was dragging his feet, and a word from Colonel Selere, head of the Kommandos, had emboldened him. Bastion and Onyx had recognized the new Emperor, but there was substantial discontent with some of Kraken's policies, particularly within the military. Vladet, though, had welcomed him with open arms.
On the other hand, the news from Vladet also told of the particular policies that were being implemented, as well as those who were now in power. Regency had passed to Thorton, which made no sense to Wes - if there was an Emperor, why also have a Regent? Wes also suspected - no proof, of course - Thorton of treason, of murdering the former Regent. Additionally, Trachta was now head of intelligence, and that made Wes's spine crawl. He wasn't sure what bothered him about the creature called Trachta, but something did. Those appointments were wrong. Wrong for the Empire. He felt it in his bones, in every fiber of his being.
And so he had decided to act.
This would be the last battle he had in the Unknown Regions. He'd already contacted his forces on Thoraza and In'chion; they were ready to move when he did. And move they would, quickly, without warning.
The SS was about to return.
When Captain Jasper Hart thought about it, space pirating in the Unknown Regions really was idiotic. And if he was anything, he knew, it was certainly not idiotic. So, he thought to himself, with a twinge of bitterness, why in the galaxy am I out here?
The idea had come to him about a standard year ago, partially in reaction to the three bounty hunters that lay dead across the threshold of his home and partially to the four Imperial warrants taken out on him, that a few years in the Unknown Regions might be just the thing for him. He'd managed to convince his crew - or rather, crews - that the Unknown Regions were filled with treasure ships, just waiting to be plucked. They had gone along with him. Which makes them more idiotic than me, he thought with that measure of satisfaction that comes only to those who understand that there are others dumber than themselves.
And after a year in the Unknown Regions, they had yet to make a single valuable catch. Oh, they'd established relations with some inhabited worlds and even set up a small trade business that kept them fed. But they hadn't yet stumbled upon any ships carrying anything particularly valuable.
Which was why, he supposed, his second in command was pressing a blaster to his head.
"Dania," he said slowly, "I understand you're upset…"
She cut him off. "No," she said, "I don't think you get it. We're leaving for the galaxy proper. When we get there, it will be my pleasure to turn you over to the Imperials. A few years rotting in one of their prisons, or inside stormtrooper armor, will teach you not to lie to people who trust you."
He risked a glance at her. She was certainly a looker - that was part of the reason he'd hired her in the first place. Long, curly red hair, green eyes...she caught his gaze drifting downwards and pressed the blaster harder into his forehead. "Eyes up, Hart."
And that was the other reason he'd hired her. No mercy. Of course, that part wasn't working out so well for him right now.
"Dania, give me one chance. One more week. At the end of the week, if we haven't caught anything, we go back and I give myself up." And it'll give me a week to plan my escape, he thought.
But she shook her head. "No deal, Hart. You'll just cut and run, probably after stranding us here. No, we're going back now."
And it probably would have ended there had it not been for the four ships that suddenly swooped past the viewport. They were a design he hadn't personally encountered before, but he'd seen them in holos. Interceptor-like solar panels connected to an almost A-wing center, with half a TIE cockpit, twin ion engines, and six linked laser cannons. "I don't think we'll have to make that trip, Dania," Jaspar said slowly. Grimly.
The woman frowned. "And why would that be?" she asked cautiously, finger tightening ever so slightly on the trigger.
"Because the Imperials are already here."
***
Colonel-General Wesley Vos stared out the viewport of the massive Star Destroyer at what was left of the three-ship pirate fleet his fighters had just dismantled. After a few moments, he uttered an expletive so foul it made his bridge crew pause in their tasks and stare at him for a moment in shock.
And this is what we were sent out here for? he thought to himself. Operation Shadow Shard, they'd called it. A plan developed over two years ago by Supreme Commander Kaine and Emperor Hyfe. A contingency plan, should some cataclysm befall the Empire. Select loyal units would retreat from known space, regroup in the Unknown Regions, re-establish Imperial order, and, when the rest of the galaxy was squabbling over the remnants of the Empire, return with all cannons firing to reclaim Imperial glory.
A plan invoked by now-Emperor Park Kraken, when the Empire had suffered a setback but not a cataclysm, at least not on the scale that Kaine and Hyfe had envisioned in the contingency plan. In fact, Wes was beginning to believe the plan had been invoked simply to get him out of the way while the new Emperor and his followers established themselves. Which meant that they were doing things they knew he would not approve of.
Which meant he needed to get back into the game.
He had already sent the Kommandos back, secretly, one squad to each of the major Imperial worlds - Vladet, Bastion, Onyx, and In'chion - to gather intelligence. The reports they had sent back were disturbing. In'chion - still governed by Moff Zhukov - was reluctant to recognize the new Emperor. Zhukov was dragging his feet, and a word from Colonel Selere, head of the Kommandos, had emboldened him. Bastion and Onyx had recognized the new Emperor, but there was substantial discontent with some of Kraken's policies, particularly within the military. Vladet, though, had welcomed him with open arms.
On the other hand, the news from Vladet also told of the particular policies that were being implemented, as well as those who were now in power. Regency had passed to Thorton, which made no sense to Wes - if there was an Emperor, why also have a Regent? Wes also suspected - no proof, of course - Thorton of treason, of murdering the former Regent. Additionally, Trachta was now head of intelligence, and that made Wes's spine crawl. He wasn't sure what bothered him about the creature called Trachta, but something did. Those appointments were wrong. Wrong for the Empire. He felt it in his bones, in every fiber of his being.
And so he had decided to act.
This would be the last battle he had in the Unknown Regions. He'd already contacted his forces on Thoraza and In'chion; they were ready to move when he did. And move they would, quickly, without warning.
The SS was about to return.