A Beautiful Mule
21 Apr 2023Davinci X
"The time is now 0700. You have 60 minutes till your meeting with a representative from the Torval Mining LTD at the Torval Orbital Administrative Office commander," the Vulture's computer stated rather emphatically. "Shall I suggest appropirate attire?""That will not be necessary Drake," DaVinci replied as he took another long swig of his coffee and continued to go over his logs. "But thank you.
"Now... where was I...," DaVinici thought out loud before being interrupted by the computer once again.
"Commander, I do not mean to..."
"Nag?" DaVinci quipped.
"No sir. I just wanted to remind you how important this meeting is and that message from Torval Mining made a point about not being late," Drake stated.
"You worry too much," DaVinici reassured the rather anxious computer. "I just want to finish up this personal log. I've still got plenty of time."
With that, Drake fell silent and DaVinci began to reflect once again on recent events that led to his present circumstances...
After his meeting with Mr. O'Malley at The Cracked Cockpit on Jameson Memorial, DaVinici was now at the docks looking over a new Lakon Spaceways Type-7 Transporter. After a cursory inspection of the exterior and kicking of the tires, DaVinci thought, "This gal has some big hips." The T-7 would be the largest ship DaVinci had piloted up to this point. Bigger than either the Asp Explorer or Keelback.
The Type-7 was a no frills transporter, and as DaVinci entered the interior walking through the currently empty storage holds, it was clear this ship was designed for one purpose. Hauling cargo. As DaVinci made his way to the cockpit, the computer chimed in.
"Please state your name and prepare to be scanned for security identification."
"Welcome commander DaVinci X. Please request ship's name and ID."
"Ship name, Bela Mulo. Ship ID, DX-DC3. Authorization Davinci X."
"Confirmed commander. Bela Mulo DX-DC3"
"Thank you Bela."
"Sir?
"Yes Bela"
"What does 'Bela Mulo' mean?
"It is Italian for 'beautiful mule,'" DaVinci answered.
"Beautiful... mule...?" The computer sounded insulted and confused.
"Mules are a domesticated equine hybrid of a donkey and a horse used as a pack animal on Earth for a number of centuries. You are a Lakon Spaceways Type-7 transporter designed to carry and haul cargo are you not?" DaVinci clarifed. "But that does not mean you are not beautiful my dear Bela."
"Yes commander"
"And it is just 'D'" Bela"
"As long as you do not refer to me as a mule commander."
"Deal Bela," DaVinci smiled. "Would you please run a systems diagnostic? I am going to see where we will be picking up the cargo Mr. O'Malley has paid for us to haul."
"We are scheduled to pick up 200 units of silver along with 50 units of Kamitra Cigars at Hammel Terminal in the Kamitra system, Commander... D," Bela accessed the information before DaVinci had even accessed navigation. "Calculated route distance is 218.96 LY over 8 jumps.
"Well then, guess I'll go stretch my legs and get a cup of coffee Bela while you finish the diagnostic before we get underway."
"Understood D."
DaVinci returned with a rather large industrial sized container of coffee and went over a final pre-flight check list with Bela. 45 minutes, 8 jumps, and approximately an uneventful 219 light years later, DaVinci was staring out the cockpit at the Orbis Starport.
"Hammel Terminal, this is Commander DaVinci X of the Bela Mulo, id number DX-DC3 requesting to dock. I am scheduled to pick up a 250 units of cargo. Over."
"10-4. Commander DaVinci, ID and request confirmed. You are authorized to dock. Please proceed to landing pad 31 and limit your speed to under 100 meters per second."
"Roger than Hammel Terminal."
"Bela, I'm going to hand over docking to you if you don't mind."
"Do not worry D. You are in good hands."
The T-7 waited in line as three other vessels ahead of her docked, and then the computer guided the Bela Mula to landing pad 31 without fuss. DaVinci powered down the thrusters and FSD as he finished off his coffee.
"Bela, I'm going to go get talk to the dock foreman to see how long it is before we are loaded and inspect the cargo," DaVinci grabbed the monstrous mug and was headed for the door. "And I'm also going to get a refill."
"Sir, I can refill your coffee here. We have that program and the requisite food cartridges..."
"Bela, my dear, what the food cartridges approximate as coffee is just not the same as the real thing."
"But D..."
"Bela, we can have a culinary debate later," DaVinci stopped the over accommodating computer before it could finish. "In the meantime, could you please calculate the next leg of trip?"
"Yes D."
DaVinci exited the T-7 and made his way over to the dockworkers facilities and offices, but not before following the smell of freshly ground and brewed coffee beans to a cafe. DaVinci had at least two guilty pleasures, freshly ground coffee and Scotch. Neither of which food cartridges did justice. After a brief conservation with a rather tert dock foreman by the name of Olga, a short but robust lady who looked perturbed by DaVinci's questions, and inspecting the cargo, he made his way back about the Bela Mulo.
"Welcomeback D. I have finished calculating the route for this delivery. Would you like the specifics?
"Yes Bela and thank you."
"Delivery to made to Hera Tani at The Jet's Hole in the Kuwemaki system will require 12 jumps and 180.70 LY. Estimated time is 40 minutes to one hour..."
As Bela continued to read out the navigational information, DaVinci couldn't help but wonder that cigars and silver was an odd combination of goods. Cigars and whiskey would make more sense. That and silver? Hera Tani is an engineer who is known for modifying power plants. Cadmium, Tellurium, or Vanadium would make more sense. DaVinci explained it away that Mr. O'Malley likely owed Hera Tani payment and maybe she has a taste for Kamitra Cigars like he did for coffee or Scotch.
Still, he had an uneasy feeling as the dock workers began loading Bela.