The corsair descended upon the frigate like a bird of prey. Gravity cannons anchored them to the larger ship and the crew of the Last Man readied a boarding party. There were slaves to be had. Plunder was nice, but slaves were the real prize.

On the Yakuza-owned frigate, Eclipse, Lord Burraku-fon tapped long, lacquered fingernails on to a dataslate, which transmitted his orders to his chief of security. The orders read:

PIRATES INBOUND, READY NINJAS FOR IMMEDIATE COUNTER-MEASURES :/END TRANS

Sparks flew on both sides of the door as the pirates burned their way in. Metal weakened and melted under the red skeleton, a plasma high-intensity torch designed to open any door or wall. The sparks stopped. The door fell out of its frame and fell to the floor with a heavy sound. The interior was dark with light only coming from the doorway.

“This better not be another dead ship.” Lacy muttered.

“Get in thar, ya mangy dogs!” Cried first mate Briggs.

The crew rushed into the darkness and the shadows came alive.