L'ouest du voile
20 Jun 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Round Robin
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The gravitational pull of the great unknown beyond "the bubble" was stronger than a black hole's appetite for space debris. Even though deep space exploration and mining were about as exciting as watching paint dry in zero gravity, I couldn't resist the siren call of adventure. There was a beauty out there, waiting to be seen, and I was ready to rock 'n' roll with my Dolphin-class ship.
My Dolphin was like a mini-me version of my majestic Orca explorer. Both had impressive jump ranges, dual vehicle bays, and field maintenance units. The only thing missing was a rescue multi-limpet controller, but who needs that anyway? If I ever felt like playing the hero, I could just hop into my Orca and save the day.
Back at the carrier, I wasted no time switching gears to my trusty Python-class ship, ready to embark on a never-ending cycle of Tritium shuttle runs. It was like being stuck in a cosmic hamster wheel, except instead of running for exercise, I was hauling fuel like my life depended on it. All work and no play makes Commander a dull spacefarer, but hey, gotta fuel up that carrier, right?
Yatziri finally caught sight of the new addition to our hangar, and her message couldn't be summed up in a more concise and bewildered "Really?". I couldn't help but burst into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over and clutching my sides. Oh, the look on her face when I reveal the master plan behind the Dolphin! It's worth the price of admission.
I had to consider Art's situation. As a contractor, he had the liberty to decide whether he wanted to stay in the comfort of "the bubble" or join me on this cosmic escapade. The choice was his, and I respected that. So, I sent a message to Rex and Avery, instructing them to gather the department Chiefs and have a heart-to-heart chat with each clan member. No pressure, no judgments. Everyone had the chance to weigh their options and decide their own interstellar fate.
We may be pushing the boundaries of space, but we're not pushing each other. If anyone had a change of heart, they could safely return to the cozy arms of "the bubble" within the first week. After that and they were along for the ride.
L'ouest du voile
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After returning to the carrier, I quickly sent the coordinates to Rex, urging him to start jumping as soon as possible. Then, I switched over to my newly acquired Dolphin-class ship and promptly went to sleep. I was exhausted and didn't feel like going back to my quarters on the carrier. Besides, I wanted to get a feel for the accommodations on this ship, knowing that they would be put to good use in the near future.
When I woke up, I found myself in the Veil West Nebula. I stared at the monitor, mesmerized by the stunning view surrounding the carrier. The deep blues and pinks against the backdrop of the endless void were absolutely breathtaking. If I were capable of having a profound moment of enlightenment, I think this would be the time. But instead, I shrugged off the romanticism and decided to focus on the practicalities. I thought about sending a message to the carrier's mess hall, requesting a hearty breakfast, but ended up settling for a protein-rich ration pack instead. I had work to do.
I needed to get out there and get to scanning the surrounding systems. Geological signals were at the top of my list, followed by ore-dense planetary rings, with xenobiological bringing up the tail.
Perhaps the order sounds weird, but for me, I wanted to ensure there were ample minerals and materials for synthesis for the regular ships and ground vehicles and additional fuel for the carrier. If worst came to worst and we had to leave the carrier, each ship should be equipped with enough synthesis to boost its hyperdrive engine to double its rated jump capacity, and get everyone back to “the bubble”.
Sure xenobiological discoveries were nice, and they would be used to pay the weekly payroll, but I wasn’t after them to get richer overnight. Chasing credits like that becomes toxic over time. Always wanting more, never having enough. Bah, complete hubris. If something were to happen, there was enough to support the carrier for almost two annual cycles. I would say that is more than enough. What would I spend obscene wealth on out here? Better to pay the payroll, with bonuses, and let everything else worry about itself.
The cockpit still had that new ship smell to it as I settled into the cockpit. Since I had stayed onboard, all of the systems were already powered up, with the computer running continuous system checks. All I needed to do was strap into the seat, launch, and start exploring. Simple enough process under most circumstances, but that was in less interesting sectors of space.
If I thought the Flame Nebula was beautiful, the Veil West provided competition. The blue colors surrounding me as I departed from the carrier threatened to distract me with their magnificent hues. Keeping myself focused on why I was here, I set a course for the nearest system. There would be plenty of time for me to gawk in esoteric wonder later. We were here in the thick of it, and it was my job to make sure we could get out if needed.
