Starliner Asimov

Posted on Fri Nov 23rd, 2018 @ 12:28am by

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Starbase 375
493 words - 1 OF Standard Post Measure

"Starliner Asimov ready for docking", came the announcement from Starbase 375. "All passengers disembarking, no boarding at this stop."

"Acknowledged, Starbase 375. Expect 671 passengers", the Asimov's skipper, Growl, responded, turning to his brother. "You watch those starbase engineers carefully, Barf. I don't want any scratches on the furniture."

"Already had them add padding to all the expensive pieces", Barf said. "If they work as quickly as our crew, we'll have those quarters transformed in less than a day."

What Growl was really worried about was the additional life support equipment that was being installed. The Asimov had a capacity of 1500 passengers, and with the additional oxygenators and carbon dioxide filters, the ship could support up to ten times that many. But that required a lot of power. He'd have to take the shields offline, and as the Asimov had no offensive weaponry, that was their only defence.

"Have the escorts arrived?" Growl demanded over the comms.

"Starships Humboldt and Zheng He are scheduled to arrive today", the disembodied voice from the starbase responded. "You needn't worry about your safety."

"Who said I was worried?" Growl demanded. "I'm simply double-checking whether your inefficient administrative body is able to deliver on promises on time for a change."

The starbase communications officer knew better than to rise to the Tellarite's verbal challenge, she wasn't in the mood for a verbal fencing match. At least with this one, she knew the insults and complaints were playful. Some freighter captains...

"We've got a problem, skipper", the helmsman reported. He was responsible for all boarding operations, as helm control wasn't necessary while a ship was docked. "There's a group of passengers on C Deck refusing to depart. They want to be taken all the way to Casperia as by their booking."

"Unreasonable, snot-faced, smooth-skinned..." Growl started. His hoof hit the button to open a channel to the starbase again. "Starbase control? Give us transport coordinates to beam a group of people whose departure needs expediting."

"Is there a medical emergency?" came the response.

"Negative. They're refusing to leave and I am not arguing with them", Growl said.

"And here I thought that's what Tellarites loved most?" This time, the communications officer could not resist the temptation.

"True. But I have been specifically told not to argue with passengers, especially not those clay-brained, self-important pleasure seekers whose very presence makes my bristles itch with the desire to drown them in my mud bath!" Growl was proud of his insult in Federation standard. So many Tellarite words didn't translate well.

There was laughter, then, "Roger that. Use these coordinates, you have transport permission."

"Good." He looked at his helmsman. "Kindly rid us of the stench of their selfish presence."

A brief moment later, the helmsman replied, "Disembarkation is now proceeding as scheduled."

"Good." If everything proceeded as scheduled, they could be at Cortic in five days. He hoped it would be soon enough. Or even better, that they wouldn't be needed at all.