Déjà vu - Day 1, 0430 UTC
01 May 2022Traegon
"WHAT?!" I very nearly shouted into the comms, "you can't be serious. Check again.""I did. Twice now, " Cmdr. Neon reported over comms, "I don't know how I missed this."
For a few moments, neither of us spoke. I wracked my brain for some kind of solution to this. I had nothing. It was obvious that he didn't, either.
"There's no use," he finally said, "4,000LY or not, I have to go back, and if I'm headed back, now's the time to do it."
He was right. We'd only been hyper-jumping for an hour. My ship had some damage, but that was simple enough to repair while scanning the system and refueling, so I could afford the delay. I wasn't angry, really, but I'm sure he was. I could hear it in his voice. A combination of frustration and resignation.
"I just don't get it," I said, "we spoke about it multiple times. I was sure you had it on board."
"Well, obviously," Neon said in disgust, "so did I. There's nothing for it. I'm heading back. Just keep going, and I'll try to catch up."
"Fine... fine..." I said, "I'll scan a few systems as I go, maybe make planetfall once in an effort to slow my pace down so we can meet up. Just do me a favor before you head back this way?"
"Whaaaat?" he questioned, "make it quick, I'm charging up now."
I chose my words carefully: "Make 200% sure your AFMU is actually equipped and fully armed before you head back out again, okay?"
...
No response.
His FSD and anger fully charged, he jumped back into the direction of the bubble with enough fury that I was sure could've caused the destruction of his ship.