8-107: Zarg’s World – Hybridyne

OK, Lia and Kwint amuse themselves however.  Kwint is easy to talk to on a superficial level, with occasional glimpses of depth.

Outside the window, the overcast night near the Downport gives way to twilight and gradually brightening day as the aircraft moves closer to the stellar point.  Outside, above and below, roiling clouds whisk past as the Hybridine bumps along against a buffeting headwind.  Below, Lia has occasional glimpses of an endless ocean through the cloud cover.

Presently the Hybridyne begins its descent into Gravport, first a gentle downward pitch as the craft drops through the lower cloud layer, accompanied by more buffeting, then the pilot advises passengers to prepare for Zero-G as the Grav Plates are turned back on again and the Hybridyne makes its vertical descent onto Gravport’s domestic travel dock.

Passengers are advised that the aircraft will be remaining in Zero-G while disembarking, and so should take appropriate care and wear their Gecko Boots.

A passenger tube is attached to the side of the Hybridyne through which passengers can disembark.

Through the windows in the tube, the view is…rather spectacular.

The system’s star Zhaymar is just above the horizon at this latitude and casts long, golden shadows across the city.  Gravport itself is a sprawling series of flat habitat blocks, each 5 to 10 metres thick and about 50m on a side and suspended from an array of dirigibles and propellers.  Each block connected to its neighbours by flexible tubes to allow transit of people and goods, and connection of power and communications cables.  Gravport floats in the sky about a kilometer above an atoll, which is surrounded by rolling seas as far as Lia can see in any direction.  The city appears to be connected to the small patch of ground by several cables, and Lia can see pods moving up and down along them. 

The Hybridyne itself is attached to a frame hanging off the side of one of the edge blocks, presumably keeping its plates energised so as to support its own weight. 

Above her, the cloudy sky flashes with internal lightning, threatening a storm.