Cadets learning by example: tales from the Alliance
25 Sep 2024Haraldsen
Meanwhile, in a classroom in the prestigious Alliance Academy on Turner's World...
Cadets, dressed in fresh, crisp, immaculate uniforms, destined to become best of the best, sat attentively at their desks. Wide windows on a high floor generously offered a breathtaking view over Garden City, a sight not many people had a chance to see even once in their lives. And their special today's guest was a person of the same caliber.
"Good morning, cadets," with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye, spoke their instructor, a seasoned pilot known for having both the mastery and the connections. "Today, I have a special treat for you. Word on the street is that he used to be a smuggler, known for his cunning and bravery as he maneuvered through treacherous and dangerous paths. Eventually, he found his way to the bright side, joining our Defence Force. Please, give a warm welcome to the ADF officer, one and only Captain Hans Adler."
Captain Adler, a weathered pilot known for his tales and fondness for a drink, stepped up. The cadets, knowing they were in the presence of a legend, listened intently.
"Ah, brave space cadets, gather 'round and lend me your ears, for I shall regale you with the tale of Captain Speedy and his misfortune. Our intrepid hero, in his infinite wisdom, decided that the laws of physics were mere suggestions and that speed limits were for mere mortals. Who needs physics after all, when we have such fine ships, blazing through space? Those who live in the world of numbers and equations, were forever lost for the thrill and awe of real flight, our hero thought.
With a flourish and a flick of the wrist, Captain Speedy cranked the spaceship’s throttle to maximum, hurtling through the cosmos faster than a caffeinated squirrel on a sugar rush. Engines roared, the stars blurred into streaks of light, and the planets became mere smudges. Finally, the space station loomed ahead, its mailslot a mere speck in the vast expanse of space.
'Piece of cake,' thought our hero, as the onboard COVAS, ever the voice of reason, sighed, 'Oh, this should be good.'
As the spaceship hurtled towards the mailslot, it became abundantly clear that Captain Speedy’s spatial awareness was as questionable as his sense of speed. The mailslot, that tiny beacon of safety, was missed. Instead of a graceful docking, the spaceship careened past, scraping the side of the station with a sound that could only be described as cosmic nails on a chalkboard.
Warning lights flashed, alarms blared, drawers and boxes spilled their contents, cluttering the cockpit, and the COVAS, with a tone dripping in sarcasm, remarked, 'Oh, brilliant move, Captain. Truly, a docking maneuver for the ages. Perhaps, swapping the assists for flame decals happened a bit too early.'
The spaceship, now a tangled mess of metal and regret, spun out of control, finally crashing into the station’s outer hull with a resounding thud.
Captain Speedy, now the laughingstock of the galaxy, floated amidst the wreckage, pondering the series of poor decisions that led to this spectacular failure. Let this be a lesson, dear cadets: when it comes to docking at a space station, perhaps a bit of caution and a lot less speed might serve you well."
During a recent conversation between Meowers and Haraldsen, the discussion took an unexpected turn. Haraldsen introduced the character “Captain Speedy” into the mix. Haraldsen insists that they were not under the influence of alcohol, or if they were, it was only a tiny bit. Any resemblance to real persons, living or fictional, is purely coincidental and should be taken with a pinch of humor.
This text is keeping things lighthearted. For the dark side, go to Captain Speedy Made a Docking