A little less than fifteen hours later, the Blackfish drops out of
hyperspace with a deep pop, like a heavy stone falling into water. Ahead lies
the treacherous asteroid field known among the fringe and underworld as
Smuggler's Run - a harbour for a plethora of smugglers and activities illegal
in more 'civilised' space.
This collection of asteroids has for
centuries served as a base of operations for many smugglers who can't afford
the relative luxury of havens like Nar Shaddaa. Several asteroids have been hollowed
out or riddled with caverns over the years to support life, nicknamed Skips. These
are numbered in the order in which they were inhabited. A few minor crime lords
have personal empires within certain asteroids, but their influence rarely
extends beyond a single rock. Of the numerous inhabited asteroids, the largest
and most important is 'Skip 1' .
Only certain people (mainly
smugglers) know how to find the Smuggler's Run, and Jaina is one of them.
Nevertheless, navigating the asteroids remains an extremely hazardous task.
The Blackfish's ion engines power up
and she glides forwards between the rocks. K and Jaina take the helm together,
performing what is obviously a well practised routine. They bring the ship in
on almost only thrusters, using the gravity of the asteroids themselves to
carry them safely through.
As they begin their final approach
on Skip 1 , Jaina begins to weave a very
specific path around the large asteroid. These are the flight patterns expected
of them by traffic control to identify themselves as returning regulars. Until
these are completed they will not be hailed, as transmissions are kept to
minimum. Even the interiors of the asteroids are screened by cloaking fields to
mask the presence of the inhabitants.
Once the required flight etiquette
is complete, they are granted docking clearance and landing beacon is activated
- a simple arrangement of transmitters and lights. It directs the Blackfish
into a large cavernous opening into the asteroid's interior.
Pilots are expected to navigate the
length of the hole with their own sensors, and little direction is provided by
Traffic Control. However, Jaina and K are familiar with the tunnel. The passage
is littered with old wrecks, debris, and scrap, each piece telling the story of
another freighter pilot that didn't pay close attention to his instruments. The
way winds ever so slightly, cork-screwing gently towards the comet's heart,
until it finally opens up into a massive cavern.
The Hole is more than half a kilometre in diameter and, as the ship
passes through, they drift through a magcon field. This atmospheric shielding holds back the
harsh vacuum of space and inside the open docking piers are quite walk-able,
much like the terrestrial ocean docks of ancient times. As soon as they are
inside the external beacon is deactivated, leaving the location of the Hole hidden once more.
The cavern seems to encompass the
entirety of the comet's interior, although it is much smaller. Leads, umbilical
cables and thick durasteel chains float lazily in the null gravity of the Cove , some attached to vessel's others
unoccupied. Small ferries and skiffs flit among the docked vessels like
insects, carting crews, maintenance technicians, cargo, and curiosity seekers
from the relative safety of the Slips
to the more hazardous anchorages nearest the Hole .
The costs of docking facilities
increase the farther from the Hole
they are. Berths (if you can call them that) closest to the Hole , as well as those in the region
known as the Tethers , as the
cheapest. The local authorities occasionally send parties of thugs to collect
fees from captains and crews who persist in mooring at the far end of the Cove in an attempt to get a free ride.
Transporting cargo from such distant anchorages can be expensive, so smugglers,
pirates and merchants wishing to move significant cargoes make an effort to dock
closer to the Slips .
The Slips are a series of well-accommodated docks that offer more
comforts than might reasonably be expected in any shadowport. The authorities
maintain control of the Slips , offering
excellent support services and replenishment assistance to captains who require
it. Costs are exorbitant, compared to equivalent services offered in more
legitimate environs, but in the Smuggler's Den you truly get what you pay for.
Depending on the circumstances
surrounding a vessel's entrance into the shadowport, it is likely that a gang
of "shadowport security operatives" pays it a visit, both to collect
fees and inspect crew and cargo. In the case of newcomers, such treatment is
virtually guaranteed. Jaina and K know a slimy dud that generally greets the Blackfish.
This is by no means their first or even second time. Jaina scans the Cove for a suitable mooring.
