Star Wars: Unfortunate Circumstances

by Nathan C

Being a smuggler can be hard, it's not an easy life and the risks are high. Sometimes life can be lucrative, for those of silver tongue, but sometimes luck just isn't the order of the day. Even the best smuggler, when caught in a planetary assault, can feel the pressures of the universe. Nadska is one such smuggler, but can he escape the clutches of the empire before it's too late?

3. Chapter iii

Star wars III

The realization of his impending death, inescapable and absolute, left him strangely calm. It was only when he felt a presence behind him that he shook himself from his stupor and turned. Before him stood a republic trooper, from the time before the rise of the Galactic Empire. Or at least whoever it was wore the outdated armour of a republic trooper. The armour's appearance suggested that is was the Phase II clone trooper armour used in the latter half of the clone wars, and the dark coloring identified its wearer as a shadow trooper. If so than this man could have killed Nadska on a whim. But he hadn't.

"If you want to live," said the trooper, "I suggest you come with me."

"Where?" he asked incredulously, "Or perhaps you haven't noticed the star destroyer heading straight for us."

The shadow trooper pressed a button on the small control pad built into the plastiod covering his forearm. Nadska had to blink repeatedly as a BT-7 Thunderclap, a rapid assault ship used in the clone wars, materialized behind him. At the helm of the ship was a stunningly beautiful human woman dressed in a form-fitting flight suit. She looked somewhat bored, despite the war raging outside.

A series of blaster bolts pattered the water around them. The shadow trooper, without so much as turning his head, drew a blaster pistol and shot the offending stormtrooper in the chest.

"Last chance smuggler, get in."

"What about my ship?"

"If you think you can make it, feel free."

Nadska glanced up at the wounded destroyer. The warship had grown considerably larger, blotting out the intense airborne battle above. "Lead on," he said.

The shadow trooper turned and bolted up the ship's ramp with Nadska close on his heels. The inside of the ship was neat and clean, albeit old. Nadska suspected that most of their equipment, including the ship and his saviours armour, had been salvaged over time.

Nadska took a seat behind the woman co-piloting the Thunderclap while the shadow trooper claimed the high-backed chair next to her. The woman briefly looked over her shoulder to assess him with brilliant green eyes before turning back to the task at hand. Her long black hair was streaked with red, and was tied into a braid that fell over her shoulder and down to her shapely hip.

"All systems check out sir," she said. "Awaiting your command."

More of the remaining stormtroopers dotting the beach were firing at them now. A pointless gesture of hostility. The red hot blaster bolts were deflected by the Thunderclap's shields and bounced harmlessly into the water or back at their assailants. The star destroyer was close enough now to create a powerful gale that whipped up vortexes of salty spray and tore vegetation from the ground.

The Thunderclap flared to life. Nadska grunted when the ship lifted out of the water and bucked violently.

"Engage the stabilizers and activate the cloaking systems," said the shadow trooper.

"Already done," the woman replied steadily.

She flipped a few switches on the ship's control board and eased forward. For a second Nadska thought there might be something wrong with the ship, then he was thrown back in his seat as the Thunderclap lurched forward.

"She's old, smuggler. But you'd be hard pressed to find a more reliable ship."

The woman smirked.

Behind them the destroyer's nose touched down on the beach, obliterating the shore and snapping wroshyr trees like they were toothpicks. Nadska didn't get to see what happened next. The Thunderclap sped up through the clouds and into the upper atmosphere, leaving Kashyyyk far behind.