Flurry
26 Jun 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Flurry
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I remained on the Dolphin that evening, treating myself to a warm meal as I gazed out at the mesmerizing gas clouds of the nebula. A reply from Rex and Avery arrived, affirming the viability of the plan but posing the fundamental question: Is this truly what we wanted? It was a thought-provoking query that tugged at my inner conflict between the familiar and the uncharted.
The buzz from the void ale had long dissipated as I returned to the observation deck, savoring a cup of after-dinner coffee while taking in the wondrous sights around me. The concept of relocating everyone to Colonia seemed attainable with our current funding, but it would necessitate a brief return to the bubble to procure enough fuel for the journey, along with a reasonable safety margin.
During that time, families of clan members who wished to join us could make their arrangements. The reality loomed that this might be a one-way trip, with loved ones left behind, possibly never to be seen again. It was an opportunity to venture beyond and start anew or to remain in the familiar embrace of what we already knew, though the drama of the bubble hardly offered true comfort.
None of this would unfold overnight. Extensive planning, logistics, and the inevitable uncertainties lay ahead. Nothing was set in stone, and the carrier did not come equipped with a crystal ball to unveil the future. Between the present and the unforeseen future, much could transpire, rendering second-guessing futile.
In my quarters, I lay down with my head on the pillow, deep in contemplation. Irrespective of the ultimate direction the grand ship would take, there were various modules and ships stored within its hangar bays. What should be done with them? The Krait Phantom, no longer needed for its anti-xeno weaponry, could be reverted back to its original purpose as a mining vessel. Outfitting it for exploration would not be worth the cost, as the Orca-Dolphin combination served that role perfectly.
"One step at a time," I whispered to myself, allowing my eyes to close. "Focus on the immediate task at hand. Each decision will influence the next, and statistical calculations cannot predict the future."
Acting on their last orders, Rex moved the carrier back to the bubble, leaving Xochitl more than a thousand light-years removed. She had sent messages ahead to the relevant vendors outlining her requirements for the immediate future. Everything was happening quickly, with a flurry of ships loaded and staged for the carrier's arrival.
Onboard the carrier, Rex and the division chiefs moved with a singular purpose. The carrier contained an enormous amount of unused space, which was being repurposed into family habitats. A lot of “on the feet” planning was taking place, with consideration toward broadening the clan into a mobile colony.
The flurry of clan member transmissions taking place required the bridge crew to isolate a channel for their use as they conversed with the carrier administration services. Supporting engineering services were provided to aid in the carrier's required internal conversions. Achilles Corp was providing an additional one hundred million credits worth of android assistants to aid with the expected growth in personnel, maintenance, equipment, and other services. Several hundred million more were allocated towards everything a carrier and a large crew would require.
Every ship on the carrier had been purposed and tasked with a variety of services. Many were transporting a family of clan members. Several others were transporting goods, stocks, spares, and everything else that could be required. The largest of the fleet, the Imperial Cutter, was running in an almost never-ending transport cycle, delivering over four-hundred million worth of Tritium, for the carrier’s fuel tank, at over 728 tons per load.
Yatziri busied herself flying a few clan members to the system's local station, where they would depart for the paid-for and waiting Apex shuttles to take them to their next destinations. Not everyone could make the trip for an eclectic range of reasons. This was expected, and each departing member would still be a part of the clan, regardless of their location. Several tears and smiles were shed, but they would always have a home, whether here or somewhere out there.