Unlike many of the latest starships, the cargo shuttle was an older generational model, large with a rectangular exterior and bulky tan frame. The elongated crate-like rear of the ship was where the cargo was stored. And, like many older shuttles, it had been caked with cosmic rust and a natural aged-décor of dents and paint wear. Even so, it was still operational, and the star-drive was intact—and in the freighting business, that’s all that really mattered.

Dwarfed by the cargo transport’s size, two sleek Galaxy Enforcement shuttles followed close behind. Both were painted in a checkered patchwork of black and white with the words ‘Galaxy Enforcement’ plastered onto the sides, next to a star shaped insignia. Red lights flashed on top of both shuttles.

Officer Rayet Wolf had graduated the academy last year with high honors, ascending to the top of his class with relative ease. After impressing every instructor with his knack for picking up details and applying them to an investigation, it seemed that Rayet’s future was as bright as a supernova. At the academy he excelled at piloting a variety of star cruisers with the skills of a seasoned veteran, was a crack marksman with a blaster, and had memorized galactic law like a portable encyclodeck. Unfortunately, Rayet soon learned that being the academy’s star student didn’t guarantee and instant promotion on the force. For a full year he had been put on the standard patrol beat, cruising between star systems and aiding the Illegal Substance Patrol.

The ISP, Rayet thought, despising the very name, what a joke! The Illegal Substance Patrol was an offshoot or ‘side-project’ employed by Galaxy Enforcement, created to curb the increasing use of uncontrolled narcotics throughout the galaxy. It didn’t take long before each of the twenty-five Star Systems approved this ‘interstellar war on drugs’. Soon the ISP was everywhere and, as Rayet knew all too well, it proved to be a grueling, boring job. How many times had he busted some strung out nu-crystallium fiend or a bottom-of-the-barrel drug runner? He had lost count. If it wasn’t low-grade methalxphoria, it was synthetic stardust, or, worst of all, solar spogs. Rayet didn’t join Galaxy Enforcement for some menial grunt position dealing with gutter scum, he wanted the glamour and prestige—and this might be his chance to get it…

He had finally nailed the break he was looking for, thanks in part to Canis Elnath, Chief of Galaxy Enforcement. Elnath was not only a role model and inspiration to Rayet, but to every cadet in the academy. Like Rayet, Elnath had once been top of his class, and moreover succeeded in tallying an impressive number of high-profile arrests. Galactic gangsters, drug kingpins, and serial killers had all been brought down under Elnath’s methods. The most impressive of these, and the ones that earned Elnath the most media attention, was his exploits at arresting a series of notable space pirates. This earned Elnath the title, ‘pirate hunter’ for his series of successes. So no one was more surprised than Rayet when he was summoned by the Chief himself, a living legend!

It was almost a week ago when Elnath had called for Rayet to meet him in his office. Just like the rumors, Rayet could tell, even in their brief meeting, Elnath was a figure that bled authority and good, old-fashioned by-the-book law. He seemed like a serious man, but a fair one at that. Rayet was dumbfounded that he had been called to a one-on-one conference and, little did he know, it was only a prelude to the real shocker: Elnath had chosen him for a mission of the highest security clearance.

Chief Elnath had explained that Rayet was to assist in the transport of a cargo shuttle that was making its way from Haelon to the Ivago star system. Even more unbelievable, was that Rayet was placed in charge of the operation. Due to the utmost need for security and secrecy, Elnath had refused to disclose exactly what the shuttle was to be carrying. Not that it mattered. Rayet knew that this could be his break for a promotion, a promotion direct from the Chief himself. What luck! Sure, some of the more seasoned officers would preach to him about experience over grades and how the academy had been a farce, but Rayet knew that he had natural born talents which were finally about to get the notice they deserved. For Rayet, it was time to make a name for himself.

Still, despite it all, Rayet had no idea why he had been chosen for this particular mission, but guessed that his spotless academic record had something to do with it. And the fact that Rayet had very little association with the other officers may have played a small factor as well. On the job he kept his distance—and when it came to personal matters, Rayet was a mystery, even to his patrol partner. Elnath must have known that a man like that could keep a secret. Rayet had it all figured out, believing that to move up the professional ladder one never knew whose feet would have to be stepped on. There could be remorse at crushing a rival when he’s up for a promotion if that someone is a friend. No friends mean no remorse. It was Rayet’s personal code.

Rayet turned to Magellan Rift, his patrol partner, who sat idle in the spacious Galaxy Enforcement shuttle cockpit. Rayet was thankful that the G.E. cruisers had more cockpit room than the standard cargo shuttle, especially because of the cumbersome navy blue space suits they were required to wear. Astrosuits were mandatory for all Enforcement officers to wear on patrol, along with a breathing helmet. The suits were the worst in confined spaces, making the wearer hot and sticky. Oftentimes they would feel like a portable sauna. Some higher-grade ones had built in air conditioning, but the typical officer was deprived of that luxury. That was a comfort reserved for the traveling business executive or the corporate CEO.

Magellan was star-dreaming again, occupied in the realm of some distant fantasy. Few things annoyed Rayet more than his partner. Magellan was the exact opposite of Rayet, an academic failure that had come close to flunking out of the academy. Needless to say, he didn’t make for a good officer either. There were times where it felt like Magellan was just along for the ride, considering his lack of contribution or analytical worth. Being saddled with a greenhorn did have its moments, though. After all, it made Rayet shine that much brighter when compared to Magellan’s utter incompetence.

As Chief Elnath had said before Rayet departed from his office, this mission could amount to be the most important moment of his career. Rayet was not about to let the Chief down. He glanced to the side window, making sure that the other Galaxy Enforcement cruiser was keeping time next to them. The cargo shuttle in front of them had gained some distance, but not enough for concern. Still, Rayet decided to hit the thrusters, bringing them closer to the escorted shuttle.

A sharp beep rang through the cockpit, jolting even Magellan into action.

“What’s going on?” Magellan spit out, lurching forward. “Are we under attack?” He glared at Rayet for an answer, but received none.

A surge of adrenaline pumped through Rayet’s veins. His eyes shot toward the radar screen. Something was being picked up. It wasn’t far, but too close for comfort. The signal was faint and operating on an irregular frequency but, damn it all, it was there! Rayet’s mind raced, contemplating a thousand possibilities. What could be out there? Dozens of boring patrols in the last year and nothing, now the most vital one to my career and…no, got to stay focused, can’t screw this up! Probably just a ghost signal from an old shuttle or a scrap of electronic space debris or…could it be—no! The last possibility was best not thought about. Rayet had never encountered the dreaded ‘galactic scourge’ and, while at one time had hoped he would get to apprehend one or two of them, had no wishes for such a chance encounter today. The future of his career was on the line! Rayet knew he had to remain calm. There was no benefit in jumping to conclusions. The signal may very well have been a failed SOS attempt.

Rayet snatched the radio transceiver from the control deck. “This is Enforcement Shuttle One. Enforcement Shuttle Two, do you copy?”

Static crackled over the speaker for what seemed like an eternity. What in blazes are they doing? Strict radio contact was to be maintained the whole time! Idiots! Rayet lifted the transceiver back up to his mouth when—

“This is Enforcement Shuttle Two, we read you, over.”

Rayet took in a deep breath of relief and replied, “We’re picking up irregular disturbances at Quadrant Delta, please investigate.”

“Understood, over and out.”

Rayet’s attention shifted to the side window. The nearby Enforcement shuttle’s fiery blue thrusters intensified. Within moments the cruiser sped out of view, vanishing into the darkened void of space. 

Arios could see the final thruster spark of the Galaxy Enforcement shuttle as it disappeared from sight. “I knew there was going to be trouble,” his voice wavered. His suspicions had been confirmed. He had seen the flicker on the radar screen too, along with Haumea. Something was out there.

“You don’t carry around this kind of cargo and expect there not to be,” Haumea countered, his back tense against the chair.

Arios figured that no one in their right mind would be foolish enough to attempt a mid-transit hijacking of a cargo shuttle with two Enforcement cruisers in tow. Make that one cruiser now. Still, such a reckless act would border on the insane. Only if he had some clue what was out there, his worries could be put to ease. Arios hated mysteries.

Come to think about it, this whole job had been tinged with mysterious circumstances. First of all, neither Arios nor Haumea had been informed what the cargo they were transporting was. This in itself was strange and, in most cases, pilots had a legal right to know what they were carrying. The only reason he hadn’t pressed the issue to his superiors was because of the hefty paycheck this particular job carried. Second, if the cargo was so valuable, why not use a newer-model freight shuttle for transport? One with a hyper star-drive would deliver the goods faster. And third, what was the need for an escort? Not that Arios complained about the extra security, but it would be a lie to assume that their mystery cargo hadn’t triggered his curiosity.

The radar screen picked up another object, inciting a loud beep from the cockpit’s surrounding speakers. Arios could hear a faint gasp escape Haumea. Whatever they were picking up was in the opposite direction of the first object.

Rayet and Magellan were focused on their cruiser’s radar screen. What the hell was going on? Rayet could feel beads of sweat developing on his forehead. He unhinged a latch on his astrosuit’s collar. Damn the regulations, I’ll be stifled by the heat in this thing, Rayet cursed to himself.

Magellan applied his astuteness, or lack thereof, to the control panel. He fumbled with several switches, creating a chaotic rhythm of chirps, whirls and bleeps before stopping. Nothing was accomplished. Rayek knew it was Magellan’s half-hearted attempt to make sure there was no technical malfunction. It was something that happened more often on the previous generation of Enforcement cruisers, where diagnostic checks would have to be made to ensure optimal performance. Without doing so some of the hardware would have the tendency to go haywire. But this was not the case anymore. This was top of the line hardware.

Rayet arrived at the only logical conclusion. The radar was indeed picking up another object emitting the same faint frequency as the first. This time the bogey was coming from a different direction and it was much closer. Decisions were limited. Investigate the disturbance, leaving the cargo shuttle unguarded, or stay with the freighter and ignore whatever it was they were picking up. The Galaxy Enforcement rulebook and order of procedure had stated that any and every disturbance should be investigated, no matter the situation.

Magellan, as helpful as ever, just gawked at Rayet, awaiting his next course of action. Rayet’s instincts told him to stay with the cargo shuttle, but what if the new signal had been an SOS? As an officer of Galaxy Enforcement, it was his sworn duty to check it out. What if it was a helpless passenger shuttle with an oxygen leak, or an interstellar cruiser carrying an influential diplomat? Rayet gleamed at that possibility. The recognition he would get! Surely a rescue of that proportion would necessitate a promotion, one that could very well carry him up several positions.

The decision was made; Rayet struck a switch that patched him into the cargo shuttle’s commlink. He seized the transceiver and brought it up to his mouth. Rayet paused, prepping his voice to include a tenor of authority, something he would often do to make himself sound more ‘experienced’.

“Enforcement Shuttle One to cargo shuttle, we’re going to investigate an unidentified bogey,” he declared. “If you see anything, please contact us immediately.”

Before the cargo shuttle could elicit a response, Rayet fastened the transceiver back onto the console. He wrapped his fingers around the steering gears and gave them a jolt forward. He could feel the ship rumble as they veered off from their designated course.