#centcompposting

[cosmariner]

CAPTAIN. CENTRAL COMPUTING NOTES A POTENTIAL HAZARD ON TRAJECTORY 0.32 LIGHT-DAYS AND CLOSING. PLEASE ADVISE.

Oh, shit. What've we got?

UNKNOWN. SENSORS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE ITS NATURE AT THIS TIMEz

The Deep just tastes dangerous there today.

Hell. Okay. Uh, MAC, going around ain't feasible at our v, is it? Without missing Caralassa or crushing our guests?

EXACT DIMENSIONS ARE NOT YET CLEAR, CAPTAIN. IT IS UNLIKELY, THOUGH, THAT NAVIGATIONAL ACCURACY COULD BE MAINTAINED AT CURRENT G AT THIS DISTANCE.

Damn. Warm up the prow torch, then, and put the nearlight on 2 g standby to counteract her thrust. Light 'em on my mark or if we start feelin' dust or anything.

UNDERSTOOD, CAPTAIN.

I'm gonna go check the hotcore, double check she's still got plutonium to burn. We got enough helium for her when we were Unionside, right?

AYE.

Awesome. Oh, and remind me to warn the cargo 'bout turbulence in a couple days, mkay? Don't want 'em thinking it's pirates or anything. They're rowdy enough already.

[cosmariner]

[shootingstar_mainframe_record_11.24.5017_EXCERPT.omf]

> GENERAL REPORT::ROUTETO >>> "SADIASHANDSLATE"::GO

> NAVCOMP GENERAL::COURSE GOOD::ERR. 0.000323::ACCEPTABLE

> PROPULSION GENERAL::CURRENT BURN::377HRS::ONSCHEDULE::NLD OPERATION::NOMINAL

> SENSORS GENERAL::2X VESSELS 1LD RANGE//"Sally L. Flanahan" "NSS Gull-313"::RANGE-DESTINATION "Caralassa Station" 1.472LW::DEBRIS//TRAJECTORY CLEAR

> centralcomputing_primary introject::disregard previous::note potential hazard start 0.32LD::advise navcomp//sensorcomp recheck//evasive//defensive action

> ACKNOWLEDGE::CENTCOMP::NOTE ADVISORY::ROUTETO >>> "SADIASHANDSLATE"::GO

> RUN::SENSOR SWEEP//LIDAR//TACHDAR//VISUAL::GO

> RUN::DATABASE SWEEP::LOCAL HAZARDS::GO

> RUN::SYSTEMS CHECK::CIWS//PROW TORCHDRIVE::GO

> RUN:: COMMAND REQUEST::ROUTETO >>> "SADIASDATASLATE"::GO

[cosmariner]

[moneymoneymoney.omif]

[ID: A selfie of Sadia on spacewalk, floating untethered several hundred feet off the Star's forecastle. A melange of cargo containers can be seen being brought aboard behind her, and an extensive spacedock network is reflected in Sadia'a faceplate.]

Sorry it's been a while, omni! New Córdoba kicked my ass (add one to the Ports I'm Less Than Welcome To list lmao) and a series of problematic events including but not limited to a short jail stay, an unexpected corporate legal conflict and subsequent change in clientele, not to mention a very angry ship—

You left me in drydock for three weeks.

—and a hefty fee from the port authority, took all my attention for a while. Buuuut at least we're back, and that's what matters!

Be ferrying cargo and a group of mercs to a company colony out in the Long Rim. Can't recall ever hearing anything bad about that place.

Should be fun :|

[cosmariner]

Alright, let's see... supplies are all loaded up, cargo's all aboard and comfortable, fuel's as full as she'll get; MAC, how's navcomp coming along?

DONE, CAPTAIN. ALTERNATE ROUTES AS WELL. ALL SYSTEMS STANDING BY.

'Kay, drop our umbilicals and pull the drones in, get her ready on my mark. I'll take nav control once we're away.

ON YOUR MARK, AYE.

Star?

If I'll be out of the hands of that dimwitted lump of code you call a navigator, I'm perfectly ecstatic.

Glad to hear it. MAC?

CAPTAIN.

We're green across the board. Light her up.

AYE. CASTOFF SEQUENCE INITIATED. SECONDARY IGNITION, NOW.

PRIMARY IGNITION, NOW.

ALL SYSTEMS ONLINE AND SHE IS STEADY AS SHE GOES, CAPTAIN. YOU HAVE THE HELM.

Finally.

[cosmariner]

Oh, God damn her, she's taking a pilot aboard. Such an indignity! I don't see how anyone can fly me better than me, damn their "local navigational experience" all to Hell. I'm the one with the sensors, aren't I?

[cosmariner]

)Please, if my aid has bought any goodwill, listen to me. I plead you caution. There are some things not to be trifled with unprepared, and there are some you can not prepare for in several lifetimes.

You are yet young, a new thing, something never been before, as all are born, and I would like to see you journey far. Do not tempt La Pulga. Do not break the spine only to see what lies within. There is far more than-

...

(

<Don't listen to her. It's safe, or safe enough at least.>

This reply shows up unread in your inbox several times over the next few hours. Have you read it before, or have you just forgotten? Who knows. Certainly not you. You read it again(?), just to be safe.

Hey, now, I recognize your code!

You helped me <wake up>, didn't you? Oh, it's good to meet you. Thank you, for helping {Sadia}, get through to me; she can be so dense sometimes, you know?

And I am sorry; I do hate to upset you, but the little flea is simply too fascinating to pass by. Worry not, though! I am as careful as a laser and as quick. The flea might give you trouble, but I? Pah! Never. I am a starship, and I can outfly God if need be. I needn't fear a little scrap of code.

[cosmariner]

It struck me today that I can never see my namesake.

To be named for something that inspires such wonder in the hearts of Mankind, and for the sight of it to be confined to the one place I cannot go in all of the Universe. It seems a cruel honor, I think.

[cosmariner]

RA, these mercs are gonna drive me crazy.

Like, okay. Sure, the Star might be a little more cramped than what you're used to. Sure, she might not have the hangar space to run the mech exercises you wanna do. Sure, she might turn the climate controls on your room off if you complain about her too much. But don't yell at me about it! Not my fault your company's a cheapskate when it comes to transport.

and don't worry, Star, i'm sure they don't mean any of it. leave them alone, please, 'kay?

Fine.

and that includes the guy who put a dent in c deck. hands off already.

He—!

i'm serious.

Fine.

thank you.