Like Minded Folks
11 Feb 2022Lance Ducatillon
I close the communication terminal in the cabin as I reach over and grab the intercom mic, "Number One, get with navigation and plot us a course to Eta Scorpii. Find some neutron stars to help out, I'd like to have time to arrange for some minor refit. I will explain more shortly.""Aye Commander. Plot a course to Eta Scorpii, neutron stars preferred. I will have Helm standing by for a course correction on your order.", replied Vega, my First Officer. He's one of the best spacers I've ever had the pleasure of serving with, let alone have as a First Officer and friend of many years.
I sit back for moment and think of the last few weeks out here on this shake down expedition. The crew seems to be meshing together really well. Orion, on Helm and Legion at the Tactical station have both been with me now for a few years now. They make a great team and when the turds hit the bulkhead, there are no two better people I'd rather have on my side. My new Operations Officer, Dark is very technically minded but when the gods gave out a sense of humor, he was just nowhere to be found. He does however fit right in with my two newest crew members, Astra on Engineering and Apollo on Science. They came along with Dark, actually they were installed by Dark. Vega talked me into having Artificial Intelligences installed for efficiency.
I like running a small crew, keeps us more mobile and flexible plus makes the shares bigger per person. It just wasn't efficient having to cover multiple stations. It's pretty manageable when things are all going as planned, but that never seems to last long. These latest ships designs are built for efficiency to start with but, this is giving us the ability to keep watch standing to a minimal. I can assign an AI crew member to any station and our human crew can also use any station. I was skeptical at first but after the last couple of weeks out here it all seems to be coming together. That's why I feel like we're ready. I found this opportunity and I am gonna jump on it. After all, I got a ship, I got a crew, it's time to start flying and making some credits.
I grab the mic and announce, "Attention all crew, this is the Commander. Now that all the paperwork is in and approved, I should welcome you all to The Stellar Cartographers' Guild. It's far past time, but I have found some good meaning, like minded folks out to make a credit or two finding a way through the deep dark. There is strength in numbers as well as increased credit potential. It also means we have access to Carrier Operations to get us out further into the deep dark quicker and easier. There is a short expedition coming up that will be perfect for us to get our feet wet and make sure we integrate well, and figure this whole carrier support thing out."
I paused a few seconds to change gears, and to let the cheering from Orion and Legion calm down, then finished, "Helm, change course to Eta Scorpii. We have a rendezvous with a lady called 'Garden of Avalon'. Commander Out."
I hung up the mic and headed to the bridge, we have some jumping to do.