Walking back to the landing pad, I planted my fingers under the edge of the wrapper and tore it off. Tossing the wrapping aside, I opended the first folder to find a warning.

Warning

The information you are about to read has been presented to you in good faith by the Rebellion High Command. All that you are about to read will remain confidential under all circumstances. Should you reveal this information to anyone you will be tried on the charge of treason, resulting in an automatic life-imprisonment.

The legal nonsense extended to the bottom of the page. I did not read past the first few sentances, though it seemed quite intimidating. I turned the page to find a mission briefing.

Greetings, Lieutenant. As you have most likely been told, your mission will be to assassinate the leader of a piracy ring that has been attacking a series of Rebel convoys. With him out of the way, it is likely that the group should dissolve. He is suspected to be on an independant planet, most likely one near the western side of the map. The last known attack was in the Perseus system, where one of his fleets reportedly ambushed a grain convoy on its way to Atropos. Inside this package is a transmitter device you may use to contact Rebel Command. Use it to update us on your progress as you-

"Sir?" A voice broke my train of thought as I was reading.

I looked around to find a concerned dock-worker standing beside my ship.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"I was about to tell you that I have orders to give you another ship. For now, anyways. Speaking of which, what kind of ship is this? I haven't seen anything like it from the military. Then again, I haven't seen much afrom the military period. I just started a month or two ago."

Before he went on to tell me his life's story, I interrupted him. "Actually, I can't really tell you."

"Because then you'd have to kill me, right?"

"Something like that. What were you saying about another ship?"

"Oh, um, I'm supposed to tell you that you are to have a new ship."

"You mentioned that. Where is it?" I was becoming rapidly more and more annoyed at his incompetance.

"Follow me."

And follow him I did. He led me all the way to the end of the lot to finally come across a quite large ship, settled on stands. It was long, thin, and pointed at the tip.

"Here it is. Your standard Courgosy."

"My what?" I stared at the immense ship in awe.

"The Courgosy. It's a newer model freighter. The cargo tank is in orbit now, as is the standard procedure. If she were to take it down in landing, the tank would tear completely off."

"Makes sense. So, what are it's capabilities?"

"Well, it's not bad in cargo space." He looked nervously down at his watch, then snapped his head back up to look at me. "Oh, man. The boss is gonna kill me. I'm supposed to be done loading those medical goods by now. Um, check the computer's library if you have any more questions. See you later!" He spun around on one foot and nearly lost his balance. He steadied himself and began running down towards the main building.

I took his advice and approached the ship. I climbed up the stairwell of the stands and soon reached the top. I felt for the panel on the hull and flipped it up, uncovering a release lever. I pulled it, causing the door to shoot open, startling me. I nearly lost my balance, but one quick look at the twenty-foot drop convinced me to hold on tight. I flipped the panel closed and stepped inside. I closed the outer hatch behind me and opened the inner one. Once completely inside, I saw to my right the control room, and to my left a long corridor. The floor of this corridor appeared to have a crease down the middle, undoubtedly the opening to where the cargo tank would normally be. Not something you wanted to open in the middle of an endless vacuum. I walked into the control room and sat down. Feeling my body heat as I entered the room, the ship's computer was activated.

"Greetings, occupant. Please state your name." The smooth, clear voice stated as I sat down.

"Riprock, Dash L., Lieutenant of the Rebel Navy," I answered, somewhat nervously. I wasn't used to these. There were only 'sentient' computers in the newest of ships. They were rare in most ships because of their age. I suppose the Sabre Test Fighter would have been equipped with one, had it been a later model.

"I am glad to have you aboard your brand new Courgosy Medium Freighter. Do you have any questions or comments about the vessel?"

"Yes, actually. What are the capabilities of this ship?"

Another voice came from the computer's speakers, startling you. Rather than the soft, computerized monotone, it was a human voice. "Greetings, Lieutenant."

"What's going-"

"This is a prerecorded message from Rebel Strategics Center officer Rick Muldoon. I have been ordered to give you a bit of information on your current vessel." As soon as I realized what was going on, I felt rather stupid for talking to a recording. I soon forgot this as he explained further. "The vessel you are occupying, as you most likely have learned by now, is a standard Courgosy. It does, however, have a few minor adjustments made to it. The engineers at Rebel Command have done a fine job of hiding these adjustments within the hull of the ship, so that they would not be seen by dock workers or other civillians. First of all, these include enhanced thrust and accelleration, as well as an extra pocket of fuel in the aft of the ship, for emergency purposes. The ship's added abilities in these fields can only be activated by use of a seperate throttle. This allows you to disguise the fact that you have these additions. In addition to these you are equipped with a special form of torpedo. The advantage to this over a normal torpedo and launcher is that it is incredibly light. It weighs less than a ton. The problem is that each launcher can only be used once, twice at most, because the aluminum alloy used in their creation is very weak, and will most likely melt after the first few tries. Under no circumstances should you try to use it more than twice. It could back up and explode within the tube, possibly rupturing the hull. Finally, you have your standard Rebel cloaking device. This is a must, just in case of an attack. If all goes well, you won't have to use any of these, but we don't want to lose a perfectly good lieutenant if all does not. That is all for now. Be prepared for updates on the situation. For now, it is recommended that you go to the Perseus system and search for hints as to his position. If you have not already, I suggest that you read your mission pamphlet. End recording."

Damn, the mission pamphlet. I had forgotten entirely. I pulled it from where I had stowed it under my seat and opened it once more. After a few seconds of searching, I found where I had left off.

Inside this package is a transmitter device you may use to contact Rebel Command. Use it to update us on your progress as you progress in the completion of your mission. To activate it, simply depress the orange button on its side. When you wish to end the transmission, simply remove your finger from it.

At this point you should continue to Perseus. Once you arrive, you should read your target statistics. Do not read any further until instructed to do so, as the information within would only be harmful to you at this point.

That would be the only logical thing to do, after all. I hailed the tower.

"This is Dash Riprock of the..." Name, name... I needed a name for it. "This is Dash Riprock of the Courgosy 'Vendetta', requesting permission to take off." Well, at least it sounds okay. Sort of a ring to it.

"Permission granted."

I prepared the ship for launch as I primed the atmospheric thrusters. I looked around for the launch button, but I found nothing. Then I remembered. "Computer, launch. Silent countdown from fifteen secponds, then initiate automatic pilot."

"Acknowledged."

I felt as if I heard each number announced loud and clear in my head, until the vessel finally lifted from the ground and glided in a wide arc, ascending to the upper atmosphere. Once in orbit, I nearly jumped into hyperspace, but remembered. "Computer, initiate docking procedure with cargo tank." I was starting to get the hang of this.

"Procedure initiated, extending clamps." There was a mild vibration as the two long, thick mechanical arms extended from the base of the vessel. "Approaching storage tank." The turned slowly until I saw the tank itself in the viewscreen, and accellerated. As the Vendetta positioned itself just above the tank, a loud clang of metal colliding with metal occurred, and a shudder ran through the ship. "Clamps in place, magnetic seal activated. Procedure completed."

Once everything was complete, I turned towards the calculated jump point and gave the ship half throttle. Once I arrived, I set the navigation map and initiated the jump. "Computer, prepare rejuvenation chamber to wake me on arrival in the Perseus system, or if the ship is attacked. Other than that, wake me under no circumstances. That is all." I would find my target soon enough, I hoped and feared, both at once. I had just better be ready for him.

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