Chatouiller
23 Jun 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Chatouiller
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The Dolphin offered a magnificent vantage point from its viewing level. I leaned back, savoring the cold beer in my hand, as I watched the nitrogen geysers erupting before me. Glancing at the message from Rex, a mischievous smile formed on my face. He suggested sending a greeting to the newly arrived carrier in a nearby system, a lighthearted jest that I found appealing. Out here, entertainment was scarce, so I welcomed the opportunity to be amused by their futile efforts and the waste of their time and resources.
The more I pondered Rex's idea, the more I liked it. Taking another sip of my beer, I drafted a brief message and read it back to myself.
"As you may be aware, I like to keep 50 million credits in my pocket, just because. In a rather relaxed manner, I've managed to increase the profitability of this carrier by 624.01%. There have been a few first discoveries along the way, mainly due to the lack of effort from previous explorers. Perhaps if you put forth a bit more effort, you might be able to race ahead and grab any remaining discoveries before my arrival. I'm sure it won't dent my profit margin or alter the course of the stars in the slightest."
The message had a satisfying tone to it. Everyone needs a hobby, and I had developed quite a fondness for amusing myself at the expense of clueless individuals. I couldn't discount their enthusiasm, though. For that, I would give them some credit. In fact, I decided to send them a picture of the breathtaking geysers. I had no idea if they had an appreciation for such natural wonders, but on the off chance that they did, they might be enticed to come and witness the spectacle for themselves.
I forwarded the reply to Rex, asking him to send it out with the official clan logo letterhead attached.
As I marveled at the wonders of the volcanic activity outside and indulged in my persistent hobby nearby, thoughts of planets further afield crossed my mind. The Dolphin was an excellent ship, but I wanted to stretch my legs a bit. The Orca was the perfect vessel for such an endeavor, and it even had a special void ale on tap, courtesy of Chief Bowen and his engineering crew. There was nothing more enticing than charting the unknown while enjoying a refreshing beverage along the way.
Headed East
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With Avery handling the carrier's weekly payroll, I embarked on my journey in the Orca-class explorer, navigating through the next ten systems. My main objective was to find a system that offered a picturesque view of the Veil East Nebula, preferably with a pristine icy ring rich in Tritium either within the nebula itself or just a single jump away with the multipurpose Python. Additionally, I had a keen interest in geologically active planets with high-grade mineral deposits.
If there was one question that constantly nagged at me, it was why humanity had not established stations and habitats within these nebulae. Stations existed in Rosetta and Seagul but not in the Flame Nebula? There was ample space in both the Veil West and East Nebulae, yet no stations were to be found. It baffled me why they would opt to build one on top of another while neglecting the vast potential of these nebulae. And why was there a lack of closer stations to Colonia?
Okay, maybe two questions. As I took a sip of Chief Bowen's void ale, my vision blurred momentarily. The ale had a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness, with a rich nutty flavor that was hard to define. It left a pleasant aftertaste lingering on my palate. I took another swig from the zero-g flask, savoring the potent brew, and almost lost control of my ship as I flexed my wrist on the controls, succumbing to the ale's effects.
Luckily, my design prevented me from getting drunk, but I could certainly feel a nice buzz building up. The potent concoction made the exploration ahead all the more enjoyable. Not that the sights were any less pleasant without it. As I approached the Veil East, the reds, blacks, and silvers of the nebula's cloud created a stunning contrast against the vastness of space.
I noticed another fleet carrier in close proximity and briefly considered diverting my course to pay them a visit, like a friendly meet and greet with a new neighbor. However, after scanning the current system for useful resources and finding none after thirty minutes, I looked for the carrier's location only to realize they had already departed. It was unlikely that they even knew I was nearby, as they were likely heading out on their own exploration mission, much like myself and my crew.
It took over an hour to locate a suitable spot for Rex to park the carrier. I found a Tritium-rich ring further out along the planetary orbits, with one of the planets exhibiting active volcanism and containing Arsenic in its mineral composition. It was a perfect combination in my book. Sending a message back to Rex, I admired the beauty of the gas giant's ring before me and savored the pleasant buzz that the void ale had bestowed upon me.
