The genesis of the stardrive and the path to its eventual perfection was a long and arduous road strewn with disaster and tragedy. However, in the face of that knowledge, few today would dare argue that the advent of such technology had not benefited humanity to an even greater extent. The initial stardrive left man’s original homeworld in ruins but, ironically, it was this same technology that would later allow us to explore the stars without restriction.

--Sirius Quark, Star Seeds: A Scientific History of the Star Drive

Today, star-jumping has become the only practical way to transverse the galaxy. The star systems are too far apart to employ ancient methods of space travel reliant on fuel cells. The stardrive enables a ship to literally bend a fraction of space in on itself. Once little more than a theory in quantum mechanics, the science behind the process is actually very simple. Imagine a sheet of paper. You are at one end (Point A) and want to reach the other end (Point B). For instance, let us say that to reach Point B, in a linear fashion, would take four light years. Clearly, not feasible. So, instead, we fold the paper in half, making both ends (A and B) touch upon each other. Now the distance has been reduced to almost no time at all. The stardrive creates a miniature space ‘fold’, generating a warp hole to bridge the distance. Instead of reaching Point B in four light years, you can now get there in four minutes or less.

Celeste Radon PhD, The Basic Principles of a Star-Jump

Taurus-Sigma Asteroid Belt // January 14th, 086 G.C.

“Incompetent slag, look what you’ve done!” Rayet exploded while watching the Galaxy Runner vanish through the asteroid blockade.

“But…but Sir, I’ve followed your orders…,” Magellan stuttered, fearful that his superior’s rage had yet to reach its zenith.

Instead, Rayet slumped into his seat, taking a bout of controlled breaths. “All right, enough games. Launch missiles!”

“Sir, I can’t do that!” exclaimed Magellan, panic in his voice. “We need clearance from high command to use missiles. That’s a protocol we can’t break!”

It took every fiber of Rayet’s being to suppress his anger, or else he would have throttled Magellan with his bare hands. It was clear what separated Rayet from his inept co-pilot. Magellan lacked ambition. He would never take a risk, never take charge of a situation, and never climb the ladder of superiority. He was the basic drone, a simple unthinking cog in the machine. But Rayet could run the machine.

Rayet seized Magellan by the collar of his astrosuit. “Get those missile online or you’ll answer to Canis Elnath!”

“The chief?”

“I’m sure he’ll be interested to know that you disobeyed a direct order in the heat of battle because of some trivial protocol,” Rayet added.

Magellan paused for a long moment before slouching to the side, defeated. “Yes, Sir.”

Rayet watched as Magellan activated the missiles.

The Enforcement Shuttle rocketed through the breach in the asteroid field. The enemy ship hadn’t gotten far. A top portion of the Enforcement Shuttle lifted open, exposing a missile pod. Four projectiles blasted out in a conflagration of sparks and blue exhaust flash.

The Galaxy Runner’s overhead monitors flashed red, projecting an assortment of warnings and alerts.

“Four missiles have been launched,” Nova said, re-reading the nearest display to make sure she wasn’t misinterpreting it. “They’re right behind us and closing in fast.”

“Activate diversion flares,” Orion directed. He was surprised that their pursuers had resorted to missiles. It was evident that the pilot of the Enforcement Shuttle was determined to bring them down. That must be some devoted officer, Orion laughed to himself. It would take more than machine guns, beam cannons, and missiles to hinder Orion Darkstarr.

“Negative,” Legart relayed back to Orion. “We don’t have any diversion flares.”

Ace’s naturally good looks contorted with disbelief. “What do you mean we don’t have any diversion flares?”

Sickened, Legart fixed on Ace. “No money, no flares! Flares cost credits, we don’t have any credits!”

“Maybe if you laid off the alcohol, old man, that stuff costs a small fortune!” Ace snapped.

“You turbo-gassing punk, you lost half a million of our credits in that damn casino!”

“Our credits? Those were my credits!”

Legart let go of the steering gear, shoving a defiant finger at Ace. “Maybe you forgot that I—”

“Nova, take the controls,” Orion demanded.

With a nod, Nova struck a button on the arm of her chair. The steering gear swung away from Legart, sliding down the console and stopping before her.

“I had it under—” Legart reached out for the steering mechanism, but it was no longer in front of him.

“No time,” Orion replied.

Legart was embarrassed by his slow reaction and even more humiliated that he had taken his attention off the controls. As much as he hated to admit it, maybe age was starting to get to him.

Orion felt bad that he had to relieve Legart of the controls, but on the other hand, the next few moments would be crucial and he needed a pilot that was entirely focused on the situation at hand. Legart was Orion’s most trusted friend, having been aboard the Galaxy Runner longer than even Ace. Truth be told, however, Legart was easily distracted. And this was neither the time nor place for distraction.

“Quickly, takes us deeper into the asteroid field,” Orion instructed Nova. “We can dodge the missiles there.”

“Got it.” Nova said, splitting her attention between the cockpit windows and the display monitor at her side. Those were no ordinary missiles trailing them. They were seekers—warheads that were drawn to the heat from the Galaxy Runner’s rear thrusters. She had never evaded seekers before. Live and learn, she thought. Or die and don’t.

The quartet of seekers closed in on their target.

The Galaxy Runner veered to the side, missing a large asteroid by inches. Three of the missiles swerved around the rock. The straggling projectile collided into the space debris and exploded, sending out a shower of rubble, followed by a massive shockwave.

The blast threw one of the nearby seekers off course, rattling its internal stabilizers. The missile curved around, rocketing out of control. Spiraling backwards it came close to clipping Rayet’s approaching Enforcement Shuttle. The warhead detonated mid-space, sending the shuttle into a frenzied spin.

Rayet and Magellan braced themselves for the second missile’s shockwave. Both men would have been thrown from their seats had they not been wearing their safety belts.

“Son of a—” Rayet cursed but didn’t have time to finish.

A chunk of asteroid rammed against the side of the shuttle. The force of impact thrust Magellan forward, snapping his safety belt. His head smashed against the console with such velocity that it shattered his astrosuit’s helmet.

“Magellan!” Rayet gasped. He pushed his co-pilot off the dashboard. The astro helmet did little to protect Magellan’s head. Blood ran down the side of his face. It looked like a superficial wound, nothing serious, a minor concussion at most. No matter what it was though, Magellan was unconscious and no longer any use to Rayet on this mission. Not that he had been any real use to begin with…

Rayet propped Magellan against his seat and resumed control of the steering gears. He still had a pirate to catch.

The two remaining seekers continued trailing the Galaxy Runner. One of the missiles pulled back, its single thruster fading—a dud warhead. Its engine cut out and drifted harmlessly away.

The final seeker was still closing in.

Nova found the information on the display relieving. “Three down. One to go.” Her momentary relief was cut short. Ahead of them was a massive asteroid, one that could have rivaled the size of a small moon.

“Captain, asteroid dead ahead! It’s a big one; no way we can get around it and skirt the missile.”

Orion soaked in Nova’s words; his response was quick and firm. “Launch drill warheads.”

Three panels at the bottom of the Galaxy Runner lowered, revealing three missile-shaped projectiles. The front half of each warhead resembled a large drill head while the rear portion contained a fat singular thruster.

The trio launched, racing towards the asteroid. All at once they rammed into the target, digging into its rocky surface. Embedded halfway into the asteroid, the warheads ceased drilling. The rear rocket thrusters, already blazing, grew brighter. Slowly, the space rock was pushed to the side.

The Galaxy Runner spun sideways, just avoiding contact with the asteroid, a collision prevented thanks to the combined efforts of the drill warheads.

The seeker missile rubbed against the side of the rock but peeled away and kept trailing the pirate ship. It sped closer and closer, locked onto the pirate ship’s heat signature.

Curving upwards and plummeting down, the Galaxy Runner missed being hit twice, but the gap between the ship and the missile continued to narrow. They wouldn’t be able to evade the projectile much longer.

The seeker had made contact. It collided into the left rear side of the star ship, blowing a hole into the armored steel. Sections of metal plating burst outward.

Two metallic crates were sucked out from the Galaxy Runner’s wound. They rushed into the vacuum of space.

Orion and his crew were tossed in their seats from the impact. Alarm lights blared overhead.

“The cargo hanger’s been hit,” Nova said, bracing herself against the console while still grappling onto the steering control.

“The Petro Diamonds!” Ace cried out, his heart sinking.

Orion kept his composure. “Seal the air locks.”

Legart struck a button.

Every object in the Galaxy Runner’s darkened cargo hanger which hadn’t been bolted down or secured was propelled out of the breach in the ship’s hull. The sweeping blasts of suction dragged a heap of tools and instruments out of the hanger, along any final traces of oxygen.

Three metallic crates gyrated across the hanger, heading for the opening. A steel panel slid over the breach, stopping the containers from being sucked into deep space. The crates crashed onto the hanger’s floor.

Rayet was stunned—the pirate ship was still in motion! He had thrown all he had at it and failed. It’s not over yet, Rayet told himself, Darkstarr won’t escape!

A buzz sizzled through the cockpit speakers, giving way to a frantic voice. “Enforcement Shuttle One, do you copy? What’s happening? This is Enforcement Shuttle Two, over.”

“I read you,” Rayet replied into the transceiver. The scramblers’ effect must have faded. This was a fortunate turn of events; at this point, he needed all the help he could get.

The officer’s voice continued over the speaker, “Sir, the signal we investigated turned out to be a decoy pod! All communication was cut—we’ve been trying to contact you for the last fifteen minutes. We’re heading back en route T.S. 407.”

Rayet’s eyes lit up. Their course would bring them right in front of Darkstarr’s ship. With Rayet covering the rear, they could attack the pirate from both sides.

“Good, maintain present course,” Rayet advised, “have weapons ready. An enemy ship is headed your way. Use deadly force, they must be stopped! Is that understood?”

“Understood, Sir,” the voice responded with a tinge of uneasiness.