Kara King & The Beyonders: The Nightwind Glyder Heist

Chapter Four:

Reception

Time to Supernova: 7h 42m

Kara King

The Ersatz hardly touched down before security forces swarmed the hangar. Kara immediately turned from the cockpit and made for the door as it dropped to form a ramp. She made sure to walk with enough of a strut that her cape flowed behind her. She had a part to play here.

A guard held up a fist, halting ten more behind him with laze rifles at ease. They were all at ease but this was clearly some form of posturing. Kara waited while her crew formed behind her. She assumed a head of security or someone more important than these guards would arrive shortly and complain at her. She looked around the large hangar. The Ersatz was easily five times the size of most vessels sharing the room, ten times the size of others.

Sure enough, the current set of guards parted ways as another trio of people arrived. Instead of the usual military uniforms, these men wore Imperial guard formals. No armor, not that one could see easily. The two on either side, one man and one woman, had smooth black uniforms with gold trim all over. The man in the center with a cybernetic eye was similar but was clearly distinguished with red bars on his shoulders.

“Are you the commander of this vessel,” The lead man paused and leaned back for the other male officer to whisper in his ear. “The Ersatz.”

“I am.” Kara responded cooly as she felt Canis, Gita, and WHR-4 arrived behind her.

“Well as you can see were not quite equipped for a shuttle of your size given our capacity for this evening. You’ll have to turn around and come back with another shuttle.”

Kara put on the best nonchalant offense she could. “I’m sure you must be mistaken.” She was sure not to make any apology for their behavior. Kara reached over her shoulder for WHR-4 to produce the three tickets. “Our tickets made no claim to the size of vessel we should arrive on. Simply that we come on shuttle. The Ersatz is the only available shuttle on my ship so this will have to do.” Kara continued down the ramp giving the illusion that she actually was sure that would be enough. She felt her nerves and knew that confidence was not all there.

“Hold!” The security officer commanded.

Kara didn’t stop there and then. She ceased her march a fraction of a second later when the other ten guards raised their laze rifles.

The commanding officer nodded for the woman at his side to collect the tickets Kara held. Once the tickets were in his hands he continued to address the crew of The Ersatz, looking down at the tickets. “You will do as I say. You will get back in your vessel and call upon your primary vessel Ms.,” he paused but Kara could tell it was more like a silent stammer.

Kara cocked her head to the side. “Something wrong officer?” She let the implication in her tone sting. Something was wrong, the way he had spoken to her. “No, Ms. King.”

“Right as rain. I thought so.” Kara gestured for her entourage to follow knowing full well that they would be stopped for both the discrepancy in the number of people and tickets as well as the sleek handheld chest which Canis held. Nothing came from the leading guard so she confidently led her team onward, until a voice shook her insides.

“Kara.” The man had just come around the corner and stood just before her. He looked much like her. Light blue skin, dark hair, grey eyes.

Kara wanted to stand straighter. Speak more clearly. Instead, she was more like a child being scolded. Angry but powerless. “Father?”

“You needn’t bother to ask how I knew you were here. When Chief Doronda here left the Emperor’s side I checked the incoming transponder list. I must say I was surprised to see The Ersatz on the list. I’ve heard your name associated with it, of course, though I have yet to take it in with my own eyes.”

“She’s-”

“Quite the ship, yes, I can see Kara. I am surprised rather to see it as I don’t recall issuing tickets to you for this event.”

Chief Doronda approached, “Councilor King, is there a problem?” The way he asked, you could tell he wanted something to be wrong.

“Perhaps. Perhaps we will have to impound this vessel. I’m certain-”

Kara gained her confidence suddenly. That fury billowing in her finally let loose in a cool stinging sensation. “We have our tickets here.” She produced them for review. “You’ll find them quite legitimate. We have quite the benefactor.” She waited.

Councilor King took in the tickets, looking over every piracy prevention measure they put into the tickets. They were legitimate. Kara could see he was furious. He didn’t show it but she could tell in the lacking of emotional shift, he was hiding anger and embarrassment at somehow having the wool pulled over his eyes. “Chief Doronda, I would like these three escorted to the main reception all.” He gestured to everyone but WHR-4. “Once there, they are free to participate as any other guests would, get their rooms, drink, eat, socialize. I want eyes on them at all times, however. All times, no exceptions.” He turned to the other man now, “This droid, place him in the engineering holding bay with the other inert droids. Set it up with a deactivation bolt. “Kara, you know these things are very specific. You have three tickets only. The droid is not welcome. What would you like with this box?”

“It is a gift, for the emperor. A great thanks extended from us to him for being so kind as to think of my crew when inviting us.” Kara’s grin was meant to be a laze knife twisting in her father’s side.

Instead, her grin dropped suddenly when he dryly responded, “You, officer. Take this to the central ops. Place it in holding cell and have someone open it there.” He glowered down at his daughter. “I don’t trust these esteemed guests as far as I could throw them in zero g.”

Kara raised an eyebrow such that her father could tell she wondered, are we free to go now? He turned with an arm wide, clearly indicating they could move along but as Kara passed him, the Imperial Councilor grabbed her arm. “Kara,” He took in a deep breath with closed eyes to reset his emotions, “Despite my harshness you must know I love you yes? My offer always stands. Come join me at The Reverie. Throw this non-sense aside.”

Kara tugged her arm free from her father with a glare and forcefully threw herself into a determined stride away. She breathed a similarly deep breath to reset her mind. He doesn’t love you. He loves the IDEA of you. He has some plans for you. Forget him. Forget it all.

Kara, Sagita, and Canis all quietly followed the signs and escorts in the hallways to the primary salon. The sounds of classy socializing and imbibing could be heard the whole way but when they rounded the corner to view the extravagance, the picture of indulgence became clear to them.

The room was massive to say the least. The reception area was well over one hundred meters long and stood several stories high. On one side was a glass wall which stood the entire height of the atrium, giving perfect view of Palivan V and bathing the area in in a soft red light. The room was U-shaped facing the window so that hundreds of people from several decks could look out the glass and view whatever the ship idled near. Kara couldn’t imagine many uses for a ship like this and if she hadn’t heard of its existence prior to this heist then she would have sworn it was built specifically for this event.

The check in was held at the bar beyond a several crowds of partygoers, patrons with plates of food, and dancers enjoying the live synth-rock being played.

Canis didn’t need to shout to be heard by his group as they navigated the floor, but his voice was strained a little over the festivities. “This seems a good place as any to discuss next steps.” He pulled out a pocket watch which displayed a lit up holographic clock when opened. “We’ve two hours to set up the next step.”

Kara nodded her head and waved for both he and Sagita to come close as she approached the bar.

“Welcome to the Nightwind Glyder,” the desk agent and bartender said. “We are so glad you have joined us for the farewell of Palivan V and our Emperor’s birthday celebrations. May I have your name?”

Before Kara could open her mouth, a patron of the bar walked up and set a rocks glass down hard enough to make the liquor slosh side to side. Kara looked up to see Throck Morton. Throck was like Kara but different. She was good. Savior of a whole planet good. Throck and Kara had danced around each other in their endeavors as bounty hunters, captains, or whatever you would classify them as. They seemed more often than not to be on opposite sides of a standoff, and this was just the kind of person Kara was hoping not to see on the Nightwind Glyder.

“Kara King. How the hell did you get a ticket to this?”