Jac5 Celestial Journey - Log 3: Aspiring the Galactic Centre
15 Nov 2020mariedess
I was sipping on a cup of Void Extract coffee while looking over my next flight plan, and I discovered that the way to the twin earths was going to prove to be quite dangerous. I took my time checking my systems today, considering the downfall I had yesterday. I had originally been thinking that Cmdr Nico’s ship might not be able to make this journey, when I realized that if I mess up too many times, we could both potentially end up with the same disaster on our hands. After careful analysis of the map, and coordinates, I discovered the only way to my approach would be the use of a neutron highway, filled with dangerous stars. Lets just say I took a bit of extra time making sure I was ready and prepared. I checked through my contacts, and noticed no news yet. After my systems checks were complete, I got up from the cockpit and headed into my cabin to grab the duradrive device. It appeared to be silent for now. I returned to my seat and shoved the device in the drawer below me. It was time to take off.
I engaged my engines, and lifted off the moon, boosting towards the horizon with my next star in mind. It was going to be another dangerous one, and I would need to throttle down immediately or veer off to the side.
“ 3...2...1…” Archer my cockpit assistant recalled as we zipped into witch-space yet again. Looking out the window as the time bends around my Celesta, was truly one of the most peaceful moments in my morning. Little did I know the day would be quite busy.
As soon as I dropped out in the star, I had incoming messages from all three commanders. The small sound of “Bloop, Bleep, Bloop, Bleep!” came from below my feet. It would appear as if I were being summoned from all reaches of space at this very moment!
I throttled down just in time to miss the death rays of this Dc star. “Phew” I thought to myself as I rubbed my sweaty palms on my thighs. After a few deep breaths and another few sips of Void Extract Coffee, I decided to start checking my messages. Starting with my fellow cmdr Rob.
“ Cmdr Meri, I have broken away from my pursuers! When we left Colonia they were close on my tail! I had to go radio silent the past few days, but mind you I am close behind! Still headed to the twin earth’s right? Well me too, I should be there by tomorrow! Anyways, let me know if there has been a change in plans. Feels good to be away from populated space” Cmdr Rob’s message was brief, but it was all I needed to feel better about the situation. I was not sure if he had successfully evaded the pursuers, or if he was caught. This was a relief to hear.
I immediately returned a brief response, determined to get things taken care of one task at a time. “ Cmdr Rob, very nice to hear! You had me going there for a minute. I thought we had lost you! Yes the plan is still to meet at the twin earths, be careful flying out there! There are many black holes, and I have had my fair share of trouble the past few days!” I finished the message and moved on to the next
Before I could open the next message I received an incoming hail from Cmdr Rob. “ Cmdr, I have viewed your location, and it would appear that we may be able to intercept each other in the next few hundred light years! I will keep my eye out for you. Did Cmdr Nico make it out safely? I mean I know he wasn’t being hunted, because of his ties to the Empire, but he is well? What of Cmdr Troop? “ Cmdr Rob continued to ask questions so fast I could not even respond to one before he was finished with five separated questions.
“ Woah there slow down a bit! I just woke up. Cmdr Rob, I have received word from each of the commanders, but I am unsure of their current status, you see.. I was sipping on my morning coffee, when you hailed me! Now if you don’t mind. I would like to find out, and get back to you on that. “ I sipped on my coffee as if my life depended on it. It was too early for so many questions, and I am not very enthusiastic in the morning.
“ Oh you know me. Always curious! Sorry about that, I have been up several hours already! Enjoy, and let me know what you find out. I will regroup at the neutron star where I believe we will intersect courses. Take it easy!
Cmdr Rob chipper as he always is, ends the transmission with a wave and a smile.
I plotted a course for my next fuel star and engaged my hyperdrive. It was time to fill up, and check the remainder of my messages. “Okay, that was Cmdr Rob.” I thought to myself as I crossed passed his message and moved on to the next in my order.
Cmdr Meri, How is it going on your journey to the two earths? I have been flying way above the galactic plane. Making pretty good progress here! Nevertheless, I just wanted to make contact and see how it is going with you and the rest of the crew! Right now I am headed through a very blue sky that almost reminds me of flying back on Earth! Haha, well of course not really, but I thought I would share this find with you! I hope all is well! Cmdr out!” Cmdr Troop’s messages were always brief, but packed full of information about system locations and current positions.
I responded to him with ease. Cmdr Troop was always easy to keep notified. “ Cmdr Troop, yes! We are well! Cmdr Nico, and Cmdr Rob and myself have not made it to the twin earths, however, that is where we might be in the next day or so! We have been making good progress towards the centre of the galaxy. We are far into Odin’s Hold now, and the sky is looking much less dusty. The plan is to spend the night or two in the twin earth system, and then move forward to Sag A where we can find a port to repair. I had a bit of trouble along the way, and damaged the Celesta. It would do me some good to find a port at this point. I hope that you are flying safe, and keep in touch! “ I was satisfied with my response, so I sent it and went on my way to the fuel star.
The last message on my contacts window was from Cmdr Nico, with a traditional status of the geological and biological finds of our most recent system. Attached to his document was a message regarding his whereabouts.
“ Cmdr Meri, I know we were intending on staying the night on the moon, however I could not sleep, I was restless and decided to move on with the search. I am currently sitting in a neutron system that I believe is going to be on the way of you and Cmdr Rob’s direction. I know it will be many hours before you see this notification, but here are my coordinates.” Cmdr Nico left his present location on the message.
Finished with my cup of Void Extract Coffee, and finished with my messages, I got up from my chair and took the mug back to the resting area. Upon returning to my chair I heard the muffled noises of the duradrive coming from the drawer beneath me. I was nervous to check the message, because the Cmdr could be a potential bounty hunter. I mean, if you saw, she looked just like an Empire officer. I reached down and pulled the device out. I set it on the flat armrest and put in the code to activate the transmission.
“ Cmdr Meri! Very nice of you to reply back so fast! I must stay, for an outdated duradrive, it sure does still have some kick to it! So tell me.. How is the expedition! Have you made it where you are headed? I-” Cmdr Tara cut off but the transmission resumed. Her hologram disappeared, and all I could hear was noise. It sounded like she was reporting from a busy port, or a highly populated area.
“ Who are you talking to?” A man’s voice called out in the distance.
“ Oh, no one.. I mean... I am transmitting! Say High Ricki!” Cmdr Tara’s voice returned with a high pitched squeal. The hologram tried to make out the image, and instead sent a distorted image of a figure.
“Ah come on sis, don’t call me that!” The man said as his distorted image faded from the duradrive.
After a few ruffling sounds of static, Cmdr Tara returned back to the duradrive in her full hologram form.
“ That was my brother Ricki! Oh but don’t call him that. He does not like to be called that name! I am his sister so naturally he just has to put up with me! I have talked him into successfully getting us out of here and heading off to Colonia! I am just soooo excited! Well commander Meri, I look forward to hearing back from you! I hope you are flying safe out there! Tara out” The transmission ended as suddenly as it began.
Cmdr Tara seemed like a humble individual, and far from a bounty hunter type. I was not sure how to take what I just received. I clicked save on the file, and stored the device back in the drawer; figuring I would contact later when I got the chance to settle in.
“3...2...1…” Archer recalled as we warped into hyperspace, towards the signal of Cmdr Nico, and Cmdr Rob.
“What a thrill! All of us together! How cool!” I squealed as both commanders' signals came into view. I immediately set up a conference call with the commanders.
“ We are almost to the twin earths! Just a few more thousand light years to go!” I could not contain my excitement as I pulled up on them.
“ Do you guys want to go through this cone? It could speed up our process! What do you think?” Cmdr Nico suggested as he prepared to come closer to the cone.
“ Sounds great to me! You all know I love the thrill of the highway! I will race you there!” Cmdr Rob calls back as he zips right by me in the sky, passing both myself and cmdr Nico.
“ Go for it!” Cmdr Nico calls out as we both watch Cmdr Rob swirl his Jumper01 in for a super charge.
We watched as he flew straight in the cone, and out the other side as if he had done it a thousand times. It was Cmdr Nico’s turn. I lined up behind him and prepared to follow suit right behind.
No sooner had Cmdr Nico and Cmdr Rob made it through the cone of the neutron star, was it my turn. I steadied my grip on the controls and headed through the cone. Blue swirls of the star radiated all around the Celesta. I held my grip with the star long enough for a sufficient super charge.
I was mesmerized by the view as I passed through this star.
In that split second, I thought of nothing other than the beautiful blue sky. I recalled what Cmdr Troop had said about his blue earth sky, and in this moment could relate to what he was saying. The three of us zipped out of that system and back on our own courses towards the twin earth system.
Cmdr Rob, although he was first to super charge, he was last to engage his hyperdrive. He cast a long glance back at the beautiful sky and jetted off into the black.
The further down the galactic plane we got, the stranger the galactic centre was becoming. The light of the stars were clearly starting to distort the closer we got to our location of the twin earths. I had to stop a few times and take a look at the view. It was as If I was headed for the eye of a hurricane. Although, much more dangerous I imagine.
I got to thinking as I was traveling with my friends, on the commander Tara. I wondered what her story was, and figured maybe next time I stop to rest, I would simply send out a transmission. What is the worst that could happen? I doubt that a humble woman has anything to hide. I think I will step out of the box a bit, and see what she does for a living, and maybe get to the root of why she contacted me in the first place.
If she truly innocently thought that contacting her old duradrive was wise, then I am fortunate that I am not a pirate. I found a way to track her signal using one of the interphase window’s in the duradrive. The controls are coming to me very slowly without a manual, but I think in time it will come more naturally, and to think the general population has been using this form of communication for nearly three years now! I guess it is time to get up to date with the galaxy.
The three of us traveled the rest of our shifts out as long as we could, but the three of us fell short of our goal. I guess tomorrow will be the day we reach the twin earths, and tomorrow would be a good time to respond back to Cmdr Tara with the news. I found a quiet place to send my Celesta in a drift, and then I went to my bunk, and passed out almost instantly. Neutron highways take a mental toll on my mind, as well as the physical whiplash.
The cloud out of the windows resembled that of the earth clouds at sunset, and that was the last view I had before resting for the night. I was fast asleep before my ship's autopilot had time to kick down the lighting in the cabin.
It has been a pleasure sharing this story!
-Mariedess