Just Desserts

Planet Cathua has a proud history where robots are concerned. Their legendary factories produced the best, the fastest, the most efficient robots in the Galaxy... but no longer.

Now they must go cap in hand to neighbouring planets, haggling and bartering for the very robots they used to be so famous for.

One Cathuan patriot is determined to reverse this embarrassing situation, and Hal Spacejock lands in the middle of his sinister plot...

Hal looked down at the suitcases, which bore large dents from the robot's knees. Clunk had gone to a lot of trouble, and how bad could a trip aboard the Luna Rose really be? "I guess you did right," he said gruffly. "And Clunk?"

"Yes, Mr Spacejock?" said the robot hopefully.

Hal gestured at the cases. "You ruined my goddamn luggage."

There was a buzz from the console. "Incoming call," said the Navcom.

"Main."

The screen fizzed and crackled and a sparse lounge room appeared, with a tall, attractive woman in a classy red dress standing alongside a chrome-plated table. She looked at Hal and smiled. "The port commander tells me you have a freighter for hire."

"We do indeed."

"I understand you're good. The best."

"Oh, I am." Hal straightened his flight suit. "And you are?"

"Sadly mistaken," murmured Clunk.

A mysterious sealed crate, a pair of shady mercenaries with more guns than brain cells and the amnesiac robot which may or may not be on a secret mission... Only interstellar ignoramus Hal Spacejock and the unflappable Clunk could turn a straightforward cargo delivery into space opera with clowns.

Three simmering planets, two cocky spacemen and one huge mess: Just Desserts, for your pleasure.