Previously, the crew of the Drunken Mynock had been granted leave to depart the Imperial Star Destroyer Relentless after being questioned by the Imperial Security Bureau agent Jaden Cross. The mysterious ISB agent had left the party with vague requests for their help in the future, followed by specific threats should they not co-operate. The group's smuggler Pash, in a coma after being stunned by the Imperials, is being held by Cross as insurance. The crew  heads back to their asteroid base in the Socorro system to prepare to pick up their first shipment of ryll.