Imprint

Imprint was a novella written by Andy Redman and included with Elite Plus, released for the PC in 1991. Unlike previous (and subsequent) fiction releases, it was not produced in its own book but formed part of the Elite Plus manual.
The story itself is again set in the Elite universe, and tells the tale of a newly-qualified pilot, Rif Hood, and his early skirmishes in space. Two sub-plots, revenge against a demented fellow pilot and romance with a pilot who lost her previous comrades to pirates, converge neatly in the heat of a massive battle against terrorist forces in the Arazaes system.

This story continues to set out the details of the Elite universe; how pilots obtain their licences, the decisions they have to make regarding their way of life, and the gut-wrenching reality of combat in the vastness of space. It also emphasises the huge importance of Galcop in all matters including trading and combat, and introduces the concept of a galactic band of terrorists known as the Knights Templar. Despite a lack of clarity regarding the terrorists' aims and a slightly rushed and implausible romance, Imprint is an excellent piece of official Elite fiction.