Logbook: 04 Mar 3302
04 Mar 2016Extremofire
Commander's Log. Text. Galactic date: 04 Mar 3302 08:41I am now the proud owner of an Anaconda. And it already has scuffs.
I've never flown a large ship before, and this is one hell of a large ship. I probably should've flown a clipper beforehand or something. I plotted a course in my newest space taxi to Songballa, an Empire controlled system in Li Yong-Rui territory. At least there I don't get the shady looks from strangers, with my black and purple uniform bearing the insignia of Lavigny's Legion. Here, I'm praised as I should be. I land in the station, making sure the ship is free of trash, and disembark, logging the hauler as "ready to be resold". I walk through the control terminal, making my way to the Faulcon DeLacy shipyard. After a short shuttle ride I arrive, the sales room plastered with flashy advertisements, complimented nicely by a smiling salesman. He anxiously welcomes me, knowing I'm there to purchase their flagship.
I'm led to the landing pad where it has been prepared for my arrival. The massive beast stands vigil, unmoving, silent. The scale is mind-boggling. I walk up to the deployed landing gear, and place my hand on the shocks. Warm. Stranger to the taste of space's bitter cold. I'm led inside the ship to the bridge which takes more than five minutes to reach. The bridge is unwelcomingly large, empty. The salesman's voice echoes through the cockpit, his words not quite being comprehended as I fantasize of the days to come. The cockpit seems cold... a haunting emptiness penetrates my awe. Perhaps it's the impending "space madness" I've been told so many times about. Well, nothing a few tweaked environmental controls can't fix.
A short conversation later, the ship is mine. Praising the Emperor for her funding of this ship and blessing of the expedition, I begin the launching sequence. I'm immediately stricken by the all-too-familiar fear that came with my first flight; I've never maneuvered a large landing pad before. The sounds were unfamiliar, the inertia was terrifying. The large pad tosses my ship into the docking bay, as the massive blast shields lower to let me depart. I'm cleared for departure. Silence. Nothing. I activate lateral thrusters. A fierce rumbling meets my feet as the gargantuan thrusters effortlessly lift my ship off the pad. Focus. I throttle forward, lining up with the mail slot. Simple. Push. I move forward, aiming for the middle as always... Panic. A disgustingly terrifying screeching sound. Proximity and impact alarms buzz, echoing in the creepily empty hall of a bridge. Registered hull damage. Severe concussive force. I didn't realize how large of an underbelly this beast has... It grinds through the mail slot. Freedom! ...I'm in open space.
I get a feel of the inertia, the sway of the Anaconda. I marvel at the lateral thrusters placed in full view of the bridge. The starlight fills the ship. I'm ready to fly.
Getting the thing back to Shajn Market at headquarters was a similar story. I have lots of practice to do. The last thing I want is to start this expedition with half of the ship gone, left in the mail slot.
I'm super excited. Long live the Emperor!