Destiny

[jammi]

I paced anxiously around for a while, adrenaline making my blood feel cold and my stomach lurch at the slightest movement. My last foray into space had nearly killed me and much to my annoyance, this was effecting me negatively. I vowed I would learn how to curb these annoying subconscious actions as soon as possible.

There was a slight tug as a trade lane was activated and the ship launched forward like a speeding bullet; faster than a speeding bullet actually. I resumed my pacing near the door, occasionally looking at one of the monitors. The screens with the statistics on them appeared to be measuring reactor outputs and engine efficiency, while seven blank screens were dotted around the perimeter of the cabin, each surrounded by a small forest of buttons with a joystick protruding from the panelling to the lower left.

Notices advising caution on top of and below each of these screens labelled these as turret controls. The detective watched me closely, noting my unease. Uncomfortable I sat down on one of the many vacant seats. The ship jerked as we exited the lane, only to repeat the motion as we re-entered another lane. We were now headed to Bonn Station where the rest of the crew would be picked up.

Halfway to the destination there was a premature lane deactivation. A small red light popped on over Smiths head, who glanced worriedly at the Detective. I peered at the scanners anxiously. They were showing four hostile contacts closing at impulse speed. The detective seated himself behind one of the blank screens and activated the turret. Smith pressed a few other buttons which activated the remaining turrets, probably on autopilot.

Then a wing of Valkaries streaked past, heavy Rhienlandic tones echoing over a local comm-net. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched the fighters decimate one of the pirates in a salvo of bright lasers, the resulting explosion bright and startling against the black backdrop. The rest of the fighters, routed, turned and fled.

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