Chapter 1

02:23 AM, Hollis Nebula.

Unlike the big, slow lumbering bulk cargo carriers, The Nebula’s Gift, a light cargo cruiser, was small, sleek and fast. It normally carried cargo that was too small for the larger ships to places those ships couldn’t go. Right now, half her cargo holds were filled with rations, and supplies, while the other half contained hastily installed bunks filled with refugees fleeing the planet Bespin. The entire ship was filled beyond capacity; even the shuttles were being used as quarters and not even the Captain was exempt as he was hot bunking with the First Officer.

Flight Officier Samantha Hancock was one of those fortunate enough to share their berth with their loved ones and she was immensely greatful for that. Her sister Sarah and her long time partner Cassie Nicholls were among the last of the refugees loaded on the last shuttle to escape Cloud City before it was overrun by the Devians and their minions. She also felt immensely guilty at being happy while so many others had been left behind. The sight of so many trying to get onto the shuttle while others fought to give them that chance still gave her nightmares. She was having one of those nightmares when she was violently thrown from her bunk as alarms began screaming. Confused, she kicked the twisted covers off and grabbed her clothes.

“Sam what is it? What’s going on?” Cassie hurriedly asked, as she too began to dress.

Samantha started to reply but was cut off by a ship wide anouncement. “Battle stations! Battle Stations! All hands to your posts! This is no drill! Unknown ship closing from the port stern! Battle Stations. All available personnel prepare to repel boarders.”

With that announcement Samantha’s blood went cold. She could see the same fear in her lover’s eyes.

Sarah looked down at her from the top bunk, her eyes filled with anxiety also. “They aren’t...” her voice trailed off.

Samantha put on a brave face. “Probabably pirates. Nobody uses these shipping lanes but them. Don’t worry.” she told them with a fake smile, before putting on her holster, checking that her pistol was fully charged, and slipping into her flight jacket.

As she opened the door she could hear Nebula’s Gift’s defensive weapons firing and screams from scared passengers.

Hesitating, she turned back to her lover and sister; “Lock the door and stay here,” she urged. “Remember the signal?”

Both women nodded in agreement, before she gave Cassie a kiss and waved reassuringly to her sister.

“Come back to me,” Cassie told her.

Samantha smiled, injecting confidence into her voice. “Always.”

Next she shut the door and waited until she heard the locks clang into place, before hurrying towards the flight deck.

Panicking passengers clogged her route to flight operations, slowing her progress. Suddenly the ship shook from an explosion but she managed to stay on her feet and keep running. More alarms began wailing.

“Hull breach in Shuttle Bay One!” the speakers blared. “Hull breach in Shuttle Bay One!”

At that she roughly shoved her way past a passenger and hurried onwards.

As she entered operations she raised her hands just in time to catch a laser proof vest thrown to her by Steve Regal, her chief shuttle pilot.

“Put it on,” he urged as she began struggling into the bulky protective vest. Regal was busy checking the charge on a laser rifle he’d pulled out of the recently installed gun locker.

Beyond, his copilot and navigator were shooting their laser rifles out of the hatch into the flight bay.

“Pirates?” she asked him, hopefully.

He shook his head. “Hive.”

Samantha’s blood went cold. Then Steve pulled a gas mask on and joined the others. Face pale at the news, Samantha followed his example and put on a gas mask of her own. Then she took two rifles out of the locker and stood by to hand them over when the power charges on the ones they were firing ran out.

It’d been close to thirty minutes, but they were managing to hold off the invaders. The unauthorized addition of the weapons locker and charging station, along with added venting and changing access to the Flight Control Center was helping them. They were getting ready to fight off another wave when Nebula’s Gift’s Communication’s Officer Rebecca Vangelis came in the other door.

After giving the password, Samantha let her in.

Rebecca was dishevelled but otherwise looked okay. “Comms are out. How’s things here?” she asked.

“We’re doing okay,” Samantha replied firmly. “How’s everyone else?”

Rebecca shook her head. “They’ve gotten into the Hold but the rest of the ship is holding on.”

Samantha closed her eyes in pain. She knew there was no hope for the unfortunate people there. When she opened them again Rebecca was looking at her calmly.