Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind.

Thanks to my regular readers for making it worthwhile to continue the story and special thanks to my Proof-Reader Landry

* * *

IAV Transport Stokerton – En Route to Gibraltar Station – 2520AD

Captain Adendorff was a suspicious soul, which is how he had lasted thirty-five years in the Service, so when the ship received the hail his first action had been to charge the ship’s weaponry. Although Transports usually go unarmed, the IAV Stokerton was a veteran of the war and had been refitted with a Laser Cannon during the conflict making it an ideal candidate for long-range deliveries out into the Deep Black beyond the protection of the Fleet.

Adendorff had been making this run for four years ever since Gibraltar Station had been established. In that time he had never run across another vessel and this was unsurprising given how far out they were. He did know however that there were both unlicensed colonies and less savoury elements out here so it was only a matter of time until he did.

The hail was coming from a small transport, which claimed it was out of fuel and requested assistance. It had apparently been heading towards the colony of that strange religious cult which was supposedly in this neck of the woods but the aging ship had not been up to the job and had burned its reactor dry trying to get there.

The ship’s pilot was convinced it was one of those mythical Reaver vessels or else some Pirates, but to be honest no one would be out here raiding shipping when there was a lot more of that available closer to the core…a lot closer to the core.

However there is nothing wrong with being prepared, which is why the Stokerton was aiming its single Laser Cannon turret at the aging and clearly unarmed Firefly when it moved alongside to check the vessel out.

‘W