Somewhere in the long forgotten future. Kevin Colbran
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apparently you are familiar with my people,” Humph replied.
“Indeed, they helped my grandfather Algextz, when he had a crash landing on your planet,” Loxz stated glancing at the ship.
"This is the ship I built from that wreck using the information that Algextz was kind enough to leave behind,” Humph admitted.
“If I had known, your welcome would have been much friendlier. No matter on your next visit perhaps we can make amends,” Loxz smiled broadly. Then shook Humph's hand while turning to Algertz added, “Remember the stories that I told you when a small child, this man is the rescuer of grandfather and his crew.”
At that revelation, the youth looked at Humph with wonderment written all over the face.
“That settled, please be here first thing in the morning with your luggage and Killa will set you up in your cabin then teach you all that you will need to know as a supernumerary crew member,” Humph decided.
“Perhaps if I explained that while good for business the primary purpose of this task is to transport my child to Kessel Sector,” Loxz said.
“I suspected as much, why not use your ships since your people have travelled far and wide?” Humph asked.
“Unfortunately, our ships are attracting too much attention at the moment. The authorities found a couple of the ships with shall we say, unauthorised cargo. We are now trying to establish our honest merchant status again,” Loxz explained, “In recent times the authorities have accorded Oxzen the reputation of Tinkers. As a result, all our ships are almost torn down to the last nut and bolt which takes a considerable chunk out of the profits let alone the delay in delivery of perishables.”
“Solo and I at times have run into that problem, meaning it is better to avoid scrutiny to expedite delivery,” Humph admitted, “It only takes a rumour to attract the bright light of officialdom and slow things down. We operate on the principle that ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’ permits the wheels of commerce to rotate.”
“Indeed, well then we should be doing business in the future, perhaps next time you visit your fishing hole?” Loxz said tapping his nose to show he now knew the meaning. So with passenger settled in the Yella Terra lifted off and ascended through the atmosphere with only the starfighters waiting to give an escort to the hyper jump point. Humph programmed a short jump before re-plotting the direction towards Killa’s sun. It was likely any following vessel would overshoot and lose the trace of the new direction.
Humphs parked the Yella Terra at his base on the Moon, as he had some maintenance to do. "Why you young ones enjoy the fresh air while I fiddle with the ship?" Humph asked.
"Sounds better than watching the paint dry here," Killa said.
Algertz and Killa boarded the shuttle then spiralled down to the sea and crept up the creek valley to the national park adjacent to the farm. Using a car which was left parked at Humph's old haunt, they drove down to the farmhouse where Killa’s family lived. After reacquainting with the family and introducing Algertz then a grand tour was organised around the farm, the kids were delighted and impressing his parents despite them being aware of the job that young Mike was now doing. The novelty of having a real blue alien certainly was entertainment for the family; facilitating the conversation was Algertz learning English while in transit. However, they couldn't organise any off-farm tours because of the distinct difference.
Bidding farewell to his family and re-joining the ship, he found that Humph had programmed the return journey into the computer; swinging the counter arc to bypass the Huy area to rim-ward.
And back Again
On the second emergence into 'Known Space', the bells rang to warn of challenge emissions coming from fighters zeroing in on the pulse generated by the re-entry from hyperspace. “Ah someone is waiting, use minimal deceleration, then we talk to them and convince them that we are harmless voyagers,” Humph suggested.
The radio crackled into life with a data pulse from the lead fighter, “Identify ship and destination.”
Humph transmitted back, “SW15724 Solterra ship Constant Moon, bound for Kessel sector.” One of Humph's alias used when on slightly less than legitimate freight duties.
“Standby for inspection of cargo, slow to Ten percent for boarding,” The interceptor ordered.
Off Radio Killa asked, “Give them the flick and shoot-through? I have the jump point lined up.”
“They would be straight onto Sub-ether radio and have a tractor beam waiting to nail us,” Humph said.
Then over the radio, “Will comply, decelerating, we have delicate cargo aboard.”
An aside to Algertz, Killa bragged, “We can run rings around them but let’s not let the cat out of the bag; strap down in case things get nasty.”
Humph pointed at the co-pilot's chair for Algertz then ambled off to his room to meld with the amoeboid mass where he could control all the armament and ship movements. His reaction times being computer fast in this mode.
Then via intercom, “The sensors detect one Sun Destroyer, three corvettes, several ancillaries and six wings of fighters covering entry and exit points so let’s just talk our way through; probably an anti-smuggler blockade.”
“Our documents should be Okay, and we have no contraband that we could detect, so this shouldn’t be a drama,” Killa agreed.
Several transmissions were guiding the ship to rendezvous with the shuttle with demands to decelerate at a higher rate. The latter was fended off citing cargo and class of freighter. The registration quoted was the original ID of Humph's ship and was consistent with the performance exhibited.
“Unless the sun destroyer throws a tractor beam on us we can blast out of here before they can blink. The downside being our cover is blown, and we will have to take a convoluted route to Kessel,” Killa explained to the youth, “And that could run us a bit low on fuel.”
With no further drama, the shuttle matched velocity came alongside, and a space-suited team entered the airlock. Accompanied by several armed storm troopers, the officer demanded the documentation. This information was handed over and downloaded onto his computer. “From Solterra where is that? There is no listing at those coordinates.”
“Our planet is only just starting to explore, so I have an Oxzen navigator to guide this ship,” Killa informed him.
“Documents seem in order, escort me to the freight holds for examinations,” The official stated, “I will leave a couple of troopers to keep the Oxzen from being lonely.” The official was escorted to the holds and shown the cargo; a technician using sniffer probes determined that the contents matched the manifest.
“You are permitted to proceed; I suggest that you adhere to established trade routes where customs officers can do this job,” The officer was apparently disappointed that the ship was legitimate, “As soon as my shuttle is away, you may depart.” Just as the boarding party was leaving his radio crackled, He said, “Message received, we are to detain the Oxzen for interrogation.” Barely had he spoken when all the boarding party collapsed as Humph's sleep rays hit them.
Several of Humph's stevedore avatars leapt from hidden hatches, bundled the Imperial team through the air lock and into their shuttle as the Yella Terra spun on its axis and commenced acceleration towards the hyper point that they had entered from, “Strap in, we are going for it.”
The Terra had been braking, using the forward thrusters so to complete this task and to accelerate back to the entry point the ship had to be re-orientated. For those vessels matching pace or converging to intercept it would seem that the ship had reversed direction and accelerated back towards the entry point.
As Humph's avatars scrambled back into his merge, the sounds of the main turrets could be heard whining into position. Killa took the opportunity to dive into the pilot’s seat and strap down, having first ensured that