And if we get caught?

The *Gallivant* cruised past the asteroid belt of Zanthar 5, its silhouette slicing through the cosmos like a blade through silk. The crew, fresh off their tense escapade on Cimmerian IV, reveled in the relative calm, their spirits buoyed by their recent victory. Yet, the universe, ever fickle, was not done with them yet.

"Looks like we're popular today," Mara noted dryly, her eyes on the long-range scanners. "Got a blip. Could be pirates, could be worse."

"Is there worse than pirates?" Jenkins asked, half-joking as he strapped himself into his seat, his fingers dancing over the weapon controls with anticipatory glee.

"In space, everything is worse than pirates," Vela quipped, guiding the ship with a deft touch that belied the tension simmering just below the surface.