CCC3 - part 12, Eagle's Landing
09 Dec 2018Andrew Linton
Our next waypoint on the route to Gandharvi is in the Eagle Sector, an outpost called Eagle's Landing. We deep-dive below the galactic plane in order to avoid those in the convoy whose aim is to block our mission. We've been attacked twice, at Hillary Depot and Amundsen Terminal.We become explorers rather than a P.I. with a posse of vigilantes. We marvel at the brilliant and diverse sights that the galaxy contains: attractive but toxic ammonia worlds, terraformable planets, hair-raising white dwarfs, and huge class B stars. The lowest we travel is Flyooe Hypoea TY-A e0. Its Z co-ordinate is -1760, so there's little chance of interdiction here.
We take turns to drive the SRV over icy moons and metal-rich planets, collecting materials as we go. Our stocks of polonium, germanium, and yttrium are complete, along with vanadium and niobium. It's only our stock of arsenic that limits us to 72 premium FSD injections.
It's a quiet, untroubled time and we find ourselves relaxing into the explorer's routine—until I discover that menstrual synchronisation has kicked in among my travelling companions. We're sitting on 0.2g rocky moon when I enter the galley to find I'm interrupting a specially tense moment.
"That's my Any Na Coffee; you should ask first."
"What's the point of asking? You never listen to anything I say."
"Calm down, you two."
"Who asked you? Butt out."
Tears, blame, guilt games. It doesn't even matter who's talking, it's all the same. I turn about and head for the SRV bay. In my experience it's best to keep out of the way. Under the pretext of looking for tellurium, I drive about a kilometre from the ship. I switch everything off and enjoy the silence, like some ancient monk in his solitary cell.
I meditate for half-an-hour until worrying thoughts impinge. What if they take the ship and leave me here? What if full-blown misandry blossoms from their attitude towards Eldrin Dood? Am I at risk from them?
I turn on the HUD and check that the Orca is still there. I release the brake and return to the ship, entering the galley more cautiously this time. Mai is there alone.
"Tay's on the bridge, Jaq is in the cabin," she answers my enquiring look. I think that silence and avoidance are still my best tactics. Under no circumstances must I refer to the argument or in any way hint that it's related to their biology. I go to the bridge.
"We should get going," Tay says. "While we're sitting here, Eldrin is carrying out his plans, whatever they are."
I nod my agreement and take my seat. After a quick systems check we're off the ground and climbing steadily to break mass lock. Once we're in supercruise, I plot the route to Eagle's Landing—it's thirty-three jumps.
"Will you take us there?" I suggest, partly to give her something to occupy her mind other than petty arguments, and partly so I can read up about Eagle's Landing. Reed's Galactic Almanac tells me that the best approach heading to Eagle's Landing for large ships is 145. Pads 07 an 08 are the large ones.
Later, when we arrive in system, I take command and bring the Orca straight in to pad 08.