The Robbery of Strom IV
"Phoenix, this is Talos Station. Please fire your repulsors and prepare for docking."
"Acknowledged, Talos Station."
Bjorn leaned back into his seat as the Phoenix settled onto the docking pad with a bump. Laughing, he patted the old ship fondly.
"We made it old girl. Just got some business to take care of before we leave. Rest and save your strength."
"Talking to the Phoenix again Capt'? Makes a girl wonder If she's being cheated on."
Bjorn smiled as he swivelled his chair to face his copilot and lover, River Tam.
"Oh, sorry...you didn't have to see that. You know I only have feelings for you, River."
River laughed, then punched Bjorn playfully in the chest.
"Come on. We have a job to pull. Dora and Frank are in the cargo bay working on the Stinger...and I'm sure Doc is around here somewhere."
Bjorn rubbed his hands together, a glint in his eyes.
"Brilliant. Lets go do something criminal and criminally insane."
. . .
"Sir, may I see your invitation please?"
The maitre de accepted the card and passed it back to Bjorn with a warm smile.
"Ah, Sir Roland, how very nice for you to honor us with your presence at the gala...and your beautiful companion is?"
River offered her arm to Bjorn and cast a condescending glance on the serverman.
"The Countess Roland. I have no more time for little men like you, some of my companions are here."
The maitre de bowed, then Bjorn and River swept past down the glittering hall.
"You know, the Countess Roland is a total tik, you know that?"
"Shh, not so loud. We're supposed to be sophisticated. Sophisticated people don't swear in Icelandic."
"Oh come on. Could'nt we have impersonated someone else at least?"
Bjorn shushed River as they walked into the ballroom. About 50 men and women in the latest fashions talked and danced with each other under the transparisteel chandelier. Bjorn glanced at each of them, searching for their target.
"There he is."
River turned and looked at the man in question. Regal, with graying hair and a sharp white suit, the Governor of Strom IV stood engaged in conversation with a group of foreign aristocrats. Though advancing in years, he was animated by the conversation, and exuded the sense of a man in control of his life and all those under his rule. River exhaled suddenly in nervousness, then steeled herself and began to walk towards the Governor. Bjorn caught her arm and whispered into her ear before she went.
"Remember, we need his actual eye-scan and thumb-print; sythflesh won't decieve the scanners. Do what you have to...just try not to kill him, ok?"
"Alright sweetie, I'll be gentle with the old man."
River smiled as she again walked towards the Governor, her lipstick red as blood under the lights.
. . .
"Helviti, Dora, keep your mind on the controls!"
"Sorry Frank! The winds up here are pretty strong!"
Dora grimaced as another gust of wind rocked the Stinger. She glanced up at Frank strapped to the top of the ship, then returned her gaze to the objective. Strom Tower, 945 meters tall, the tallest building in the sector. Home to a dozen of the most powerful weapon manufacturing companies in the galaxy, protected by a state of the art security system and guarded by a private army....and they were going to rob it.
"Remind me again why Bjorn picked Strom Tower?"
"Because he has a death wish?"
Doc Collins crawled into the cockpit beside Dora, squinting his one eye out the window.
"Really though, imagine if we pull this off. We'll be the first thieves in the galaxy to get away with a hit on Strom Tower in the history of the universe."
Dora grunted as she fought the controls, angling the Stinger into a steep dive to avoid detection.
"Lovely. Tell you what, if we survive this we can talk about all that. Right now, I'm trying to get us there without being detected, all the while being horny enough to scream."
"Uhhh....I'm sorry, I'll leave."
Dora snorted with laughter, then grimaced as she had to fly around a rock spur. Straightening the ship out, she turned to Doc.
"Oh please, as if you could turn anyone on. Better not ask as to why I am...anyways, you need to get out there to help Frank."
Doc nodded, then crawled out of the cockpit to the hatch.
. . .
"Excuse me, Governor Tarkin?"
Tarkin turned smoothly, raising his eyebrows at the beautiful young woman smiling at him.
"And who might you be my dear. I should say I don't recognize you, but I think that if I had ever met one as lovely as you I would know you on sight."
River laughed, then presented her ring in a formal gesture.
"Countess Roland. Me and my husband are here on holiday from Garidos, and I can't wait to see more of your planet milord."
The Governor laughed, then handed River a glass of champagne.
"Ah, you flatter me. And where is this husband you speak of."
River attempted a look of faraway discontent, thickening her voice.
"Probably drinking himself into a stupor again. I so wish that it were not this way...it makes me look bad. I don't even have someone to dance with at these events anymore..."
Tarkin smiled warmly, then presented River his arm.
"Well then dear, I'm sure we will have to remedy that immediatly."
River laughed and took the profered arm, walking out onto the floor. Looking over Tarkin's shoulder, she gave a thumbs up symbol to Bjorn, who simply looked annoyed.
To be continued.
Ok, I'm done writing for now. I have to ask Living ghost if I can write part 2...oh, and a cookie to the person who can name the 2 references in the story.