The JHC Drive

[Zeppy]

Jack stands on the Bridge of the Graf Zeppelin, his eyes glowing orange softly. Through the view screen one can easily see the JHC Drive attached to the front of the Graf Zeppelin, it glistens in the light of the nearby yellow sun and the occasional bolt of lightning jumps between the four outstretched claws. Jack’s earpiece crackles to life, shortly followed by Joel’s voice, “all diagnostics turn up nothing out of the ordinary, engineering reports all ready.”

“Okay then, prepare for Jump in five minutes.”

Joel grunts and the earpiece goes dead, Jack touches a few points on his HUD and it crackles to life again, “George, how are things on your end?”

“Artificial space/time is at maximum safe capacity; the main core is powering the Jump Drive and is ready to activate on your mark, coordinates are set for the stable Jump Hole at G2 in Omicron Delta.”

“Okay then, bring gravitational shielding online at minimum capacity and standby.”

“Aye aye”, George replies with a half-chuckle.

Jack sighs before ending the connection and switching to the ship’s intercom system, “Attention all crew, prepare for JHC Drive activation.”

People all around the bridge quickly move to their seats and strap themselves in, Jack does likewise. He counts to thirty to give the rest of the crew adequate time to do so before opening a channel to George, “bring gravitational shielding to maximum power George.”

“Gravitational shielding is now at maximum power, all systems ready for Jump.”

Jack pauses for a moment, the magnitude of what they are about to do apparent to him, “any quotes for us today George?”

“To be honest, the only one I can think of at the moment is Murphy’s Law… I don’t really think you need to hear that right now though do you?”

Jack shakes his head in exasperation, “even if it’s a bad one, you still have a quote at the ready, that’s reassurance in and of itself George… activate the JHC Drive.”

Almost instantly a brilliant blue flash of light erupts inside the JHC Drive’s claws, it throws stark shadows through the bridge and several people scream in fright. Space seems to compress in front of the Graf Zeppelin until it looks like the ship is falling through a pinprick of bright blue light. A mere instant later the familiar tunnel of swirling light can be seen through the bridge’s view screen. George’s voice crackles to life over Jack’s earpiece, he sounds slightly out of breath, “Jump Drive activation successful, crystal is charging and gravitational shielding has been deactivated. We should soon arrive in Omicron Delta.”

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Reseach into the Kansas sector

Research into the Privas Planetary Cluster

Research into Alien "Trade Lanes"

A new ship, Jack Denton's time on Freeport 11

The JHC Drive

An Unscheduled Vacation of Sorts

The above are meant to be read in order, if you jump in at "A new ship" you are going to be lost.

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