A new expedition - Log, Day 07
19 Mar 2020Kris Afron
Well actually this is probably the last log for this expedition, not bad for just one week of travel.Today was pretty routine, as I anticipated that we'd enter the bubble and "civilised" space I took over the piloting. Livvy did really well, but a trip to the void with no humans to worry about is totally different to one within the bubble where you can easily be preyed on by those who choose a life of mischief in preference to earning an honest living. I've learned these lessons over the past 15 months, but Livvy, well she's just a bit naive right now, give her 6 months and it'll be different.
Anyway, the 36 jumps back to LHS 3447 went without incident. We found an Ammonia world on the way, which Livvy found fascinating.
She was quite animated when we scanned it, "I bet it stinks down there, do you think there's life on it?"
"Well maybe" I advised. "Quite often life forms are found on these worlds, even on Ammonia Gas Giants as well"
"This trip is coming to an end Kris, what happens now?"
"I've some business to attend to once we've docked. For one I have to write up your training notes and hand the report in to a guy called Jan Benson, he's the Manager of the Pilot's Federation Local Branch at Dalton Gateway"
She looked at me strangely and shocked "What, you are reporting me for stealing your Scarab, no, for smuggling Mufty on board!"
"Whoa, hold on. No this is a genuine report of your piloting capabilities. I was tasked by the Pilots' Federation with evaluating you for entry to Pilots' School, that is mainly what this expedition was about. But I can't train you in everything"
"Oh My God" she said these word slowly and distinctly, "so this was ..."
I answered before she finished "Oh yes, the first step of the rest of your life as a Pilot sis"
She went kind of pale, but I don't think I've ever seen such a broad grin on her face, "So what are you going to say? Tell me, pretty please, pretty please". By this time I could see she was nearly bursting with anticipation. So I told her that I was recommending her for the training, and that I'd been really impressed at how well she'd done and then,
"Look, why don't you get on a transport, go home,break any news you want to Mom and Dad, and Nero if he's there. I'll finish up here, get A View of Immensity stowed in a hanger and sell the exploration data that we collected. I'll join you in a couple of hours time"
"Ok, ok, ok, but promise that you won't just shoot off, make it back home. We should all celebrate together"
"I promise, and the final decision is down to the Pilots' Federation, but I don't anticipate any issues, off you go, see you later"
With that she dashed to the luxury cabin and picked up her stuff, and Mufty and waved me goodbye.
After delivering my report to Jan Benson, I popped over to the stations' Authority Contact and then to Universal Cartographics, we'd made a tidy sum - CR 55,321,544 - after I paid for repairs, a new paintjob and a fuel fill. Then it was on to the transport hub myself and home to the condo to see the rest of the family. There was just one more thing I wanted to let LIvvy know about.
"Livvy, we made a tidy sum from the expedition", I told her how much.
"Wow, not bad pay for you to take me away for a few days training, what are you going to spend it on?
"Well, some of it might go on a few good nights out with friends and commanders I meet at stations. But half of it I'll be putting in trust for you so you can buy a good ship when you come out of training school". Actually I was lying, it was all going into trust for her.
I can't describe the reaction that I got from that, suffice to say she was well well chuffed.
CMDR Kris Afron signing off. Fly safely commanders.