The Imperial inspectors looked over the crates of cargo spread out in the holding area next to the landing pad, checking the information laser etched into metal bindings of the plastic boxes. Clad in polished armor of flawless white, stormtroopers watched the activity with blasters held in ready hands.

"This one," the primary inspector announced, pointing out the indicated container to be opened.

The Rodian ship captain, Zidre, leaning up against the wall during the inspection, pushed off and sauntered over to where the Imperials were waiting. Inputting the code on the built-in keypad, Zidre unsealed the container. The stormtroopers tensed, their grips tightening on their blasters.

Zidre stepped away from the crate, and the inspectors lifted back the upper half of the cube shaped container, letting it fall back against the hinge on the side. The troopers relaxed and lowered their weapons slightly when the engine component of a low grade space hauler was found inside, exactly as the ship manifest had indicated.

The process of opening random containers continued for another fifteen minutes before the inspectors gave up searching for contraband and gave Zidre permission to depart with his cargo. Tall droids on metal treads rolled into the room and began collecting the containers with their long, pincer arms and loaded them aboard Zidre's ship, the Miner Fortune. Purchased years ago from a mining operation, the battered freighter was rectangular, old, and customized by Zidre in very special ways. When everything had been loaded, Zidre entered his ship, closing the ramp behind him. His pace was casual to betray nothing should the Imperials still be watching him.

The cockpit of the Miner Fortune was housed under a dome in the forward section of the ship, allowing the pilot to have a full 360 degree view above the ship. The dome protruded slightly out of the front of the hull to grant a wider view along the forward arc as well.

Powering up the ship, Zidre flipped a pair of switches to activate a security system he'd designed. It compared a detail scan of the ship prior to his arrival on the planet with its current condition, both interior and exterior. If the Imperials had planted tracking devices or anything else, the system would detect it within seconds. No items appeared on the security screen, so he knew he could safely depart.

Adjusting the flight controls, he piloted the ship into orbit. Pulling back on the hyperspace levers, he watched the pinpoints of distant stars stretch into long streaks of light as his ship made the jump to hyperspace.

***

Dropping from light speed, the Miner Fortune snapped into existence over a large asteroid on the edge of a substantial debris field. Once an observation post for the Galactic Republic, a sizable battle had taken place here between the newly formed Empire and a Separatist fleet, the shattered hulls of ships still floating in space where they'd been destroyed. The observation post had been eliminated, but when Zidre had discovered it several months ago, he knew he could return it to a useful purpose.

Setting his ship down in the cratered remains of a hangar bay, the roof and some of the walls still missing from a heavy bombardment of laser fire, Zidre used a remote to power up a magnetic field before atmospheric pumps engaged to provide a breathable environment outside the ship.

Leaving the cockpit, he hurried to the cargo area. Opening the first crate, he examined the engine component the Imperial inspectors had checked earlier. Opening a concealed panel on the side of the rectangular component, Zidre activated a switch to release the internal locks. The engine part split open from top to bottom and folded down like an opening flower. Two people, a man and a woman, were huddled together inside.

Zidre motioned for them to step out before he headed to the next crate. Flipping back the cover to reveal a large amount of coppery fruit each the size of his fist, he activated a remote pulled from his pocket. Pistons engaged and lifted the fruit filled upper section of the container, allowing the man hiding underneath in the hollow lower half with his daughter to climb out.

Proceeding around the room, Zidre opened all the cargo containers holding refugees and fugitives from the Empire, gathering them together in the center of the bay.

"The Rebels will be here soon to collect you," Zidre explained; some of the listeners had to have a translation from those who understood his native Rodian dialect. "This way."

Zidre escorted his smuggled passengers off his ship and into the outside hangar. No sooner had they disembarked, Zidre's wrist computer beeped twice. Linked to his onboard computer, the device relayed sensor information to inform him of the arrival of a transport ship.

"They're here," Zidre told everyone. "Farewell."

Before anyone could delay him with gratitude, Zidre hurried into his ship and closed the ramp behind him. Once back in the cockpit, he moved the ship into orbit while the pod shaped Rebellion transport took its place in the hangar. With his part of the operation complete, Zidre plotted a course back into Imperial space in order to drop off his legitimate cargo and maintain his cover as a simple courier of supplies.

Zidre knew as long as the galaxy remained in its current state, there would always be people needing to be smuggled out from under the iron grip of the Empire, and he would be the one to do it. After all, it was his job, and no one was better at it than him.