The fleet required a minimum basic education score of eighty-five percent for standard enlistment. To be eligible for the academy exams, I needed ninety-two percent or higher. My mother had sent me a lot of information regarding the academy and enlistment requirements. She had also sent me information regarding command training. Based on the information she sent, I figured she was hinting towards applying for the course.
To join the command training, I would have to pass through my first year, only second-year cadets could test into the command course. I wasn't sure if command training was what I wanted, but I did not outright reject the idea. My greatest frustration during the final flight simulation scenario was the commander. It was the tactic ordered that caused the failure. There were several ways for that scenario to be won, but having to comply with the directions of the commander meant the destruction of the ship and failure of the scenario.
A day later, I walked with my father to the shuttle that would take me to the Winaru space station. The trade freighter my mother had arranged for me to travel with would leave the next day. I had not spent much time at the station, so my father had suggested it would be best for me to arrive early to adjust to the changes in gravity. The shuttle was one of two used to transport workers to and from the orbital station above N2390. As we drew closer to the lunch pad. I eyed the small, dirty looking shuttle with trepidation. Two thrusters protruded out from the boxy sides of the shuttle, looking vaguely like big round metal legs with the way they were positioned on each side. Port and starboard, I mentally corrected.
I had only been on the station twice before and had never traveled beyond the Winaru system. Though I was born in the Galaria system, I had been only a month old when I was sent to live with my dad on N2390. Fortunately, the wife of one of my dad’s coworkers had been willing to care for me whilst I was younger.
"Aristeia, I know your birthday isn't for a few days, but you will already be in Xi'anu," my father said as he handed me a black case, which the shuttle pilot had handed him a few moments ago.
I gave my dad a quick hug, before I opened the case and examined the contents. Inside was a shiny metal ball, that was six inches in diameter. I frowned slightly in confusion as I looked at it and rolled it over in my hands. There was a small lens on one side, and I could feel the outer plating shifting. Eyes widening in shock, I gazed up at the man before me.
"Dad, is this what I think it is?"
He nodded with an amused smile as he held out a small data chip. I took the chip with my free hand and inserted it into the implant port on the back of my neck. After installing the data and removing the chip, I focused on the drone, watching as the outer plates on the round device shifted outwards and a blue glow lit from within. With a soft whirring noise, it rose and hovered above my hand.
"It doesn't have an AI chip yet, as the academy does not allow pre-awakened personal AI. Your mother said she will supply you with a high-grade AI chip should you pass the academy exams with a score of ninety-five percent or more. You scored well on the basic education exams, so I hope you will also do well in the academy's testing."
The small drone, even lacking the AI component, still had basic functionality. With an AI chip, it would be a fully operational companion drone. I never had my own AI drone, but had seen a few people around the complex who owned base model drones with limited ability. This wasn't a cheaper base model like I had seen used on N2390 though. No, this was an Altairin corp Begleiter IX class drone.
"Dad, how did you get it? I know it wasn't from the scrap, I saw this model advertised only recently and it's brand new."
I was worried he had spent more than he should have. Had he gotten a loan? The Begleiter IX base drone without upgrades costed sixty-five hundred credits. The drone was extremely popular and compatible with a wide range of modifications and upgrades. I was already mentally fantasizing about all of them and trying to work out how to get the credits to afford some of the better ones.
"I got it cheap from old Pete, who owes me a rather large favor."
I narrowed my eyes and mentally directed the round drone back into the case. Powering it down, I knelt to lock the case before standing and hugging my father.
"What kind of favor is worth something that usually costs sixty-five hundred credits?" I asked, feeling both suspicious and relieved. Moons above, if he had been gambling with old Pete again, I was going to feed him to a Grignar.
"A man's life is worth more than credits, Ris," my father said and I stayed silent, knowing what he was referring to. "Do you have everything?"
Nodding, I adjusted my backpack and smoothed the creases from the simple gray jumpsuit I was wearing. I had decided to leave my bodysuit with my father to sell for extra credits. I would not need it on Velante, as the academy would provide one for training purposes if I managed to get in. The short time we were spending breathing the lower quality air wasn't overly dangerous, as it would take a few hours of breathing without a mask to suffer any ill effects.
Looking at my father, I felt tears fill my eyes. While I would be able to message and call him, I knew I wouldn't be visiting the Winaru system any time soon.
"I'll miss you, Dad," I said as I hugged him, burying my face in his shoulder as he squeezed me tightly.
"I'll miss you, too. Send me a message once you arrive in Xi'anu. I've got a friend out there who might help you with an upgrade on that little drone. He likes to mess around with drone tech, so I think you will like him," my dad said, stepping back and ruffling a hand over my hair.
Scowling at him, I tried to smooth the messy silver-blond strands back into the once neat bun. Laughing, my dad urged me towards the open door of the shuttle.
"Bobby, you'd best take good care of my little girl. Get her safe to the station and see her to the Stargazer II, ya hear?" My father said shaking hands with Bobby Preze, the shuttle’s pilot.
"Course, ya lil’ girl will be fine. Old Pete’s on station and will help see her settled," the scruffy-looking man said, his voice rough. He wore a dark green jumpsuit that had seen better days. It was greasy and torn in a few places, and he looked like he hadn't showered in over a week—smelled like it, too.
Moving further into the shuttle, my father directed me to stow my backpack and the case containing my drone inside a secured compartment. I took my seat and my father helped me with the buckles. Seeing the nearby foil bag, I grabbed it in a tight grip. My father watched my actions with amusement but didn't comment. The two times we had gone to the station, I vomited during the flight, which was why I purposely forwent breakfast this morning.
"Look after yourself, Ris. Don't let any of the inner system brats push you around," my father said, his voice sounding gruffer than usual.
My father gave my shoulder a squeeze before he turned to leave the shuttle, not even giving me a chance to respond. I saw Bobby close the door and head into the cockpit, so I took the time to glance around the interior of the shuttle. There were four other passengers on the shuttle, and I knew they would be workers returning to work on the station. Those who worked on the station worked for two months before returning to the planet for three weeks leave. The station operated with only a minimum staff of ten people at anyone time, as it was only a small station used only for transferring scrap and refined metal to and from the planet.
"Prepare for launch." Bobby's voice rang in my ears, and I was jolted from my musings as I heard the engines start up.
Clenching my hands around the straps that held me in place, the vomit bag gripped in my right hand, I listened to the sound of the engines as it grew to a deafening roar. The shuttle tilted backwards as the launch pad shifted it into position. The noise grew louder, and I glanced around in concern as the shuttle began to shudder ever so slightly. Was this thing even safe? I was suddenly forced back against my seat, as the shuttle shot upwards at high speed.
Groaning as my stomach rolled, I tried to control my nausea and failed, emptying what little my stomach contained into the foil bag
.
I breathed deeply as the ship broke through the planet's atmosphere. My body felt lighter, and I was grateful for the straps holding me in place. Working quickly, I sealed the foil bag I held, not wishing for its contents to begin floating about the shuttle's cabin. Hearing a mechanical whirring, I glanced to my side and saw the shielding over the windows withdraw. I watched in awe as N2390 was revealed. A pang of sadness filled my heart when I stared down at the red and brown sphere that was the only home I had ever known, shrinking in size as we ascended towards the station.
Chapter 5
Discarding the sealed foil bag into a waste disposal unit, I tried to ignore the chuckles and amused looks thrown in my direction.
"Ya get used to it eventually, girlie. Everyone chucks it the first few times they break atmo," Bobby told me as he guided me through the open hatch of the shuttle.
The shuttle had landed inside an enclosed area within the station. With the external bay doors closed, we could walk straight off the shuttle and into the open area of the landing bay. Stumbling slightly as we entered the station, I took a moment to steady myself, feeling unsteady after the flight. They set the gravity here at .95g, which was slightly higher than the .93g on N2390. All spacecraft and orbital stations had a standard gravity of .95g across the Federation. The planet Velante had a gravity .98g, so it was good I was arriving early for the exam, as the additional time would allow me to adapt to the higher gravity on the new planet.
As we walked through the station, I asked Bobby to show me the observation deck. Looking down at the reddish-brown orb, I felt that pang of sadness again, but this time I also felt excitement as I said a silent farewell to the planet that had been my home for the past eighteen years. With a sigh, I turned away from the window and looked at Bobby.
"Thank you for bringing me here to see this, it's a beautiful sight. Should we head to the Stargazer II now?" I asked the man, who nodded, giving me a gap-toothed smile. I withheld a shudder at the sight and had to restrain myself from suggesting he visit a medical unit for some dental care.
As we walked, I mentally recalculated the weight of my luggage. I had an allowance of eighty kilos weight for my trip on the Stargazer II. The drone weighed approximately six kilos, with that plus my own weight and luggage, I was just under the limit. Releasing a relieved sigh, I was glad my father had advised me to leave room for more weight. If I had packed more clothing, I wouldn't have the weight allowance for the drone.
I had left most of my personal items, as I would be supplied with uniforms at the academy, and if need be, I could purchase anything I needed on Velante. Cadets in the academy received a monthly stipend. The amount varied in accordance with the cadet's time in the academy and the program they were enrolled in. The higher one’s program's level, the more one received, but it was a pittance compared to an active service salary.
I followed behind Bobby as we walked through the corridors of the station. Soon we arrived at an access tunnel, and I saw two men standing near the entryway. One was wearing a green jumpsuit that matched Bobby's in appearance but was in much better condition. He looked to be checking something on a datapad. The other man was clad in a blue jumpsuit with Stargazer II written on his left shoulder. He held out his own datapad with a frown and seemed to be arguing with the station worker. They both looked up as we approached, and the face of the man from the freighter darkened as he looked to me. Which gave me the sudden feeling that my presence on the freighter wasn't exactly welcomed. Bobby shook hands with the man from the station, who I recognized as Pete Romara.
Pete was a dark-skinned man affectionately called one-arm Pete, or old Pete by those who knew him. He had lost his arm in an accident in the refinery some years back and was using a mechanical prosthetic since then. I had known Pete since I was a child, and he was the one who had first taken me into the scrap yards. He had also taught me how to determine the salvage's worth and helped me sell any goods I found.
"Pete, Everything good?" Bobby asked, looking to the man from the freighter who was still scowling at us. I smiled, giving a small wave of greeting to Pete, and he gave me a nod with an affectionate smile.
"The Stargazer took on a few extras at their last stop. Reckon they ain't got the room or weight allowance for our little future pilot," he said, glaring at the man from the freighter, who scowled right back at him.
I frowned, feeling a little worried. If they didn't take me to the Xi'anu system, I would be stuck here for another two weeks before the next freighter was due. If that were the case, then I would miss the academy exams for this year. There were no exceptions when it came to the academy exams. If you didn't take them during the set examination period, you had to wait until the following year.
I bit my lip and thought about what Pete had said. My mother had been the one to arrange my passage, she wouldn't take kindly to the freighter going back on the agreement they had come to. My mother was a strict woman, and I hoped I might use that to my advantage. The freighter wasn't due to leave until tomorrow, so with luck, my mother would see my message quickly and be able to contact the freighter to sort out my passage. Turning my attention to my wrist device's holographic interface, I noticed I wasn’t connected to the network.
"Pete, can you give me the access codes for the station's network connection? I need to send a message to Admiral Harra and inform her the freighter is denying me passage," I said and saw the man from the freighter pale and flinch. His eyes widened, and he looked down at his datapad, tapping at it in quick motions.
"Sure thing, kid. Dare say the Admiral won't be too pleased to know the freighter is going back on their contract with her," Pete said with a grin, and we started walking away down the corridor.
"Wait, wait. Please miss, allow me a moment to speak with the captain. I'm sure we can sort this out. No need to bother the Admiral," the man said, his voice rising in pitch as he spoke frantically.
I kept my face blank, trying to hide my anxiety, and turned back to the man. Sweat dripped from his brow and his face was pale. I nodded in agreement and then watched as the man turned, running down the short tunnel that connected the freighter to the outside of the station.
"Nicely done, kid. Reckon they were looking to add a few more credits to their account from you, would claim you be takin’ from their profits by taking up space and weight that would be used for trade goods," Bobby said as he glared down the tunnel.
Pete nodded in agreement and I sighed. I just hope that my mother's reputation would be enough to frighten them away from trying to scam me. I didn't have the credits to spare for extra fees. I had just over twenty-three hundred credits in my account thanks to selling salvage and the thousand that my father had given me for the trip. My mother had been the one to pay for my travel and also arranged for accommodation at Velante. I wasn't sure where I would stay on the planet, just that someone would meet me at the Sovari space station.
I looked down the access tunnel as I heard the swish of the freighter's airlock. The man I had seen earlier stepped out, followed by another man. The unknown man was shorter than the first and had to turn to the side to fit his rather large stomach through the door. My eyes widened, as I watched the man approach. I had never seen someone of such a size before. It was rather difficult to put on weight eating the rehydrated meal packs, otherwise known as RMPs. The RMPs were specially formulated to meet the essential dietary needs of a person's body. He had to be relatively well off to afford to eat excessively enough to grow to this size.
"Ah, you must be our passenger. My apologies for any confusion my crewman may have caused. It appears they made an error in calculations. I am Captain Zagreb," the man said, holding out his hand. I struggled not to shudder at the feel of his wet clammy palm against my own, discreetly wiping my hand across the leg of my jumpsuit when he released it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain. I am Aristeia Kelras, and I understand mistakes happen. I am glad my mother, Admiral Harra, won't need to rearrange my travels. It's a
rather tight schedule as it is," I said, wanting to make sure that this man understood that any more antics wouldn't be acceptable. By making it clear that my mother was the admiral, I hoped it would forestall any more ploys the freight company may have up their sleeves. Captain Zagreb swallowed and mopped at his brow with a delicate white cloth.
"Ahem, yes. Completely understandable. Perhaps we may be of some assistance in that. We have finished loading our cargo already, and we can leave as soon as the refueling is finished," he said, shifting a little, and I narrowed my eyes. If I hadn't arrived today and instead came up on the shuttle tomorrow, then the freighter would have already departed without me.
"Then it is good I arrived early. Bobby, Pete, I guess this is goodbye. Please look after my father for me and don't let that old codger Scotty feed him any of those deathly concoctions of his," I said to the two men, and they grinned at me, chuckling in amusement at my parting comment.
"Stay safe kiddo, remember what I taught you. Always haggle, never pay full price for anything," Pete said with a wink and waved at me with his silver-colored prosthetic arm.
Bobby echoed his farewell, and I turned away from them, following the captain through the tunnel and onto the freighter. I entered behind the man into the airlock, and he turned to me as we waited for the freighter's door to open.
"Miss Kelras, this here is Uric. He will show you where you will be staying. I ask that you remain there for our travel so as not to distract the crew. We will depart in two hours and will arrive at the hypergate six hours after that. It will be twelve hours in hyperspace and another eight hours standard travel to reach the Xi'anu system’s main station," the captain said, and left through the now open door into the freighter.
I turned to the man I now knew to be Uric following him onto the freighter. The gravity on board was the same .95g as the station we had just left, much to my relief. I followed Uric down several narrow corridors to a tiny room. On each side of the room was a set of bunks stacked three high. Each bed was enclosed like my old bed down on the planet but didn't have as much storage space.
Striving for the stars (The Kelras Chronicles Book 1) Page 3