The Year is 1885 of the Imperial Calendar.  When the Imperial Flagship P.R.S. REAPER comes under attack, Major Derringer "Trick-Shot" Asus calls his bay handler to open his hanger so he can deploy in defense of the ship but is denied deployment.  Soon after the ships Commander gives him a new task.  Escort the Chalmayan Princess back to their home world of Primia.

The End of the Beginning: Imperial Shadows

Crystal stirred, her body resisting the pull of wakefulness as she groggily blinked at the dimly lit bunk room. The ship hummed around her, the faint vibrations of the Ravenblade's engines a constant reminder that they were still locked in slip-space. For a moment, she considered rolling over and stealing a few more minutes of sleep, but the weight pressing against her right side made sure she wouldn't. 


She let out a long, tired sigh, reaching over to where her holster rested on the small shelf beside her. The hand cannon sat snugly within it, its weight solid and unrelenting. With half-lidded eyes, she grabbed the holster, fastening the belt around her waist with sluggish movements. The leather creaked softly as she adjusted it against her hip, the heavy weapon pressing against her side like an unspoken promise. 


Guess I should start getting used to this, she thought bitterly. 


Chapter XX: The Unnecessarily Wary Princess