So, that was the amount of useful information which Mr.N gathered from this meeting, fascinating as he found it. One point of interest was how Dave was able to get more supplies into his homeworld. Mr.N said his suspicions to Dave. 'It's smugglers, isn't it? That's how you're going to supply us with more supplies. Can't say I blame you. Some of those recent Imperial taxes are killing any honest business.' Which was as true a political statement as any. But more on that later.

Dave gave a slightly sheepish nod in reply. 'Yes, Mugwort, I am glad to say, does know some people. I have met those which he takes about. I believe them to be trusty.'

Which was enough of the meeting which Mr.N gathered for now. But there was one spectacular moment slightly after they broke up. Through a crowd of people, most of whom, Mr.N was assured where loyal to the Turbosteelers a mob broke through. Where they came, few saw, but all of a sudden there was violence, chasing, fighting and the like. Many of the mob seemed human, but almost emotionless with glaring eyes and very similar looking.

Some of them seemed armed with a variety of primitive but sharp weapons. A tight group of them headed towards Mr.N. Dave seemed about to put up a fight, and Mr.N was thinking of bravely fighting alongside his leader. Against around 20 knife-wielding thugs. Now, as it will later become clear, it is important in this tale that Dave survives for a time. I.E. Not dying in some heroic, if justified manner. So, Mr.N saw Mugwort grab Dave bodily, then jump across one of the walking ramp's railings down a few levels out of the way of the violence. Oh, and to stop himself getting killed, Mr.N had to show a very nifty bit of footwork and dive under a set of stairs, while some kind of Union security sorted the occasion out.

After everything quietened down, Mr.N did ask Mugwort, 'That was a little odd. Why do you suppose some people would be so eager to kill me?'

Mugwort gave a laugh in response, 'What makes you think they where after you? Yes, they might well have randomly killed you given the chance, but I suspect that their main target was Dave here!'

'That's because, N, that Dave is an important union official. I am afraid that you are not. Also, he has received Death threats, like many of those that support this action. Tarkin is trying to intimidate people into returning to work. His poodle, Whitesnake, was spotted earlier as you saw. I was wondering what game he was playing!'

Mr.N smiled and nodded to Judi. The middle-aged lady did seem to have a firm grasp upon what had happened! But the incident wasn't casualtieless. One of the workers that the troublemakers seemed to have an eye for, selected by a totally random basis had been stabbed to death and a few others had received injuries. If it wasn't for the prompt and subtle workings of the Union security, the incident might well have been far more ugly.

But with that, it was time to return to Nimbus. Dave and Mugwort had given Mr.N some contact to help with the smuggling of supplies. Smuggling could be widespread in certain parts of the Galaxy, but it was also very dangerous for the Smugglers. Some managed to make a rich living for themselves, but for many it was a desperate way to avoid the draconian Imperial taxes. Those that where caught, often found themselves at the arbitrary mercy of Imperial justice. Which very often meant death.

Although, it seemed today, that the official route into Nimbus was a bit on the slow side. 'Customs officials it seems,' sighed Dave in frustration. 'Seems to be extra Imperial checks. Well, there has been more Smuggling activity recently. They must be annoyed and doubly vigilant.'

Well, the Imperial in charge of today's vigilance was, in fact, Baldrick. Captain Baldrick. How did he become a Captain? That's Imperial politics! Whitesnake had been carried away to some important, but desperately dull Imperial committee meeting he was forced to attend for the day. The last thing he had said before departing was to Baldrick, 'Please try to make sure that the smuggling is kept under bay while I am gone.' This was a mistake by Whitesnake. Baldrick was about to take this instruction to its fullest.

Which was why the first ship of the day, a pretty common Corvellian Transporter was intercepted by Baldrick instantly. 'Ha, ha, Corvellion vessel, not so fast. We need to do a thorough search upon your premises.' Baldrick had radioed.

'Look, is this really necessary? 'Its skipper had pleaded with Baldrick.

'Ah, questioning the process of an Imperial investigation are we? I wonder what you're guilty of?' Baldrick replied sharply and made the poor skipper, who was clearly a simple civilian on business stand and watch his ship been searched at the point of a rifle-blaster. Well there was no getting past Baldrick. He tore the ship apart. 'You have some counter brand here I am sure of that, no pulling wool over my eyes!' said he!

Only after have the ship had been destroyed, and would have had to have been put together a the skipper's expense – The empire did not offer compensation in situations such as this – was the ship allowed to continue. A little queue was beginning to build up at customs. 'Captain, we really should hurry this up!' an experienced custom official argued with him.

'Never mind that, I intend to catch these smugglers!'

'Yes, but……….'

So it was the next ship's turn, a freighter with Imperial colours and with a history of trading if Baldrick had bothered to look, but that made no difference. It was transporting lifestock which Baldrick could see with one look. But he said, 'Lets check every panel. Probably got a secret compartment. Ahhha, all these straw covered apples! What are they hiding I wonder. Get to it!' More expensive and slow time passed and the queue lengthened.

Baldrick was deaf to pleas and shouts from those caught up in the queue plus those on the planetary surface. 'Ahhh, an Aldreanan scooner. Well, we know what those Alderanans are like. What's this flutes? Probably got illegal pills hidden in every one. Come on get to it!'

That day an unnecessary queue the like of which hadn't been seen for years had build up, consisting, ironically enough of those citizens that where loyal to the Empire. But people where getting more and more frustrated. Baldrick had managed to annoy a secretary to the Governor, an Imperial journalist, and a mistress to one of the powerful landlords. How she had complained! His assistant had tried to get his attention and finally managed to attract the single-minded official.

'Look, this is pretty pointless. We only have limited resources. The spaceports only cover 10 of possible entries. Any smuggler would almost certainly bypass these customs.'

'But, that's illegal,' whispered Baldrick, forgetting that these where smugglers and so a little bit of illegal activity would mean nothing to them. '10? Well 10 is better than 0 get to it!' Baldrick did have a little difficulty in understanding basic arithmetic at times!

But it was about now that a horrified Whitesnake returned. He was inundated with complaints. Unfortunately he couldn't take one tactic he liked to employ in these situations and execute some of the complainers! Many where Imperials of at least as much influence as he. If Tarkin got to know about this, he would not be impressed.

Whitesnake snapped, 'Baldrick, what in space do you think you're doing. Don't give me that! I'll take over from here. All right, we'd better let people through. We can't really check them properly now, thank you Baldrick! But we do know smuggling activity is happening. Time for a word with intelligence, I think. Oh, and Baldrick, smack your forehead down, hard on my knee, please,' said Whitesnake holding out his knee.

Incredibly Baldrick did so and staggered of, blood pouring from his nose. Again, it must be asked why Baldrick, obviously an incompetent managed to make the rank of Captain? Well, to be honest, Baldrick was more typical of an Imperial commander than Whitesnake or Tarkin. Blundering incompetence rather than intelligence was the norm. Which simply made them all the more dangerous for those opposing the Empire.

Which in their own way where Gram Only and Matt. A couple of desperado's not by their own choice, but high up on the Imperial wanted list. But both with disguised IDs and with a knack of avoiding Imperial searches. Gram was the elder of the duo, coming up to 40, stocky and dark-haired. Matt was just over 30 and dirty blond and lanky. Accompanying them was a rather irritating protocol droid, f60.

'There, you go Matt; we have a free run-in from here. A nice comfortable landing not an Imperial in sight and we will soon be with our fence. With more money for us! Gram was confidently saying.

'Which we need. Have you seen the number of repairs that need doing on this ship? We'll be spending most of that just on giving us the ability to take off again. But it is good to avoid those Imperials. Gives us a chance to breathe.' Replied Matt as he adjusted some of the ship's controls to landing configurations.

The two where smuggling of course. In fact, they where one of the main contacts of Mugworts. Which was useful to them. Mugwort was a fair dealer and he had dealings with the two of them before and could be trusted. They where going to be supplying items that where in short supply to Mr.N and his strikers.

Gram sighed however as they entered Nimbus 3's atmosphere. 'Yes, but all this sneaking around is getting on my nerves a bit. I always feel like a little insect in the corner when it comes to Imperials. Sometimes I say bring them on. At least we'd have fun for a while,'

'Yes, but we'd be dead. At least this way we survive. And there are some pretty nasty ways to die out there!