[26083033] It's been a while...
23 Sep 2017Poltergeist
...since I sat in the cockpit. Planet-side job, family, friends - everything, that mud-sloggers call "real life." I had to get out into the void again; I have had enough of this. People told me I should stay, forget about flying. They said there's nothing out there, that it's just big, empty space. That I won't find anything of interest there... That all I'll be doing is flying from one system to another, doing the same thing over and over again. Yeah! Like I wasn't doing that already on the ground!Let them sit on the dirtball they call their planet! At least here I'll see more than one star, more than the same sunrise and sunset. Here I'll be able to go way further, than the line of horizon.
I took a transfer shuttle to Tun's Wart. Really like those new Dolphins. They’re slick on the inside, just as on the outside. Too bad the on-board entertainment sucked. Nothing but propaganda and fear-mongering: Thargoids this, Empire that, VOTE FOR HUDSON! Couple of hours of mind-numbing shows and ad blocks later (Yum-Yum Noddles are Yumolicious!) we reached Tun’s Wart.
Before I got stuck on the ground this was my home. Running missions for the Federation, making my way up the chain with the hope of getting new, shiny Federal Corvette. I've long since dropped that goal. I can barely afford fitting out my 'Conda... Let's take it one step at a time.
First things first, tough. There was one thing my planet-dwellers were right about: going out alone is a fast track to burnout. Or space madness. I went to my old contacts - PalCon. I signed up with them almost two years ago, but - back than - I was too busy grinding my rep with Hudson's cronies. Did only a few operations with PC. I decided that, this time, I'm gonna make it right by them. After all, what's the worst thing that could happen?
Turned out a lot of things have changed during my planet side stint. The PC federation grew larger, to the point, where they had to divide and specialize. Some went for bounty hunting, some - mining. Others decided they'll look after their home systems, while another group formed from those, who don't mind a bit of loneliness in never-heard-of parts of our galaxy. I decided I'll join The House Andhrimi. It was time to move all of my assets to PalCon’s space. The 'Vette can wait.
Planet Express... A rushed purchase, but I do love this 'Conda. Yes, she's not A rated and she won't be for a while, but I adore her. First pre-flight checks went smooth; the maintenance crews earned their money. Delicate hum of ventilation, murmur of the power plant in the lower decks, the smell of leather seat. I was home. I plotted my course to Roentgen's Hub in LFT 37 - only couple of jumps away - and requested permission for takeoff. After couple of seconds of clangs, hisses and few violent pulls of the pad, I was looking at the mail slot of the station. And beyond it - the void, welcoming, promising and unforgiving. When the mooring clamps were released I pushed her up gently... And almost slammed into the pad above me. I forgot how sluggish she was... On top of that I never got around fixing the steering stick and I ended up yawing ever so slightly to starboard. It's been a while...
Few scratches and loud thuds later I was out and jumping towards LFT 37. Bumpy start, but it’s good to be back.
To be continued…