F-602: Crystal Coast Tour Aerostat

There are six people in the premium seats, all in plain clothes of various degrees of dressiness, that probably satisfy Oliver’s observation criteria.  There’s no-one aboard in obvious official garb.

They buckle in and after a short wait an announcement is made to stand by for zero gravity.  Then their weight drops away as the overhead grav plate energises and shortly after that there’s a low whine as the four engines start up and the vectored thrust pods push the aerostat into the sky.

“Bluevening Sers and Mers, I’m your pilot for today and welcome aboard our tour flight to Crystal Coast Resort.  From here we’ll be skirting around the edge of the Downport’s starside airspace and heading overland toward the coast, where we’ll turn left and follow that along until we reach Crystal Coast Resort.  Along the way I’ll be slowing and dropping down for you to experience some of our local attractions.

“We have a little cloud cover forming overhead, but we’ll be staying below that so you can all have the best views and hopefully we can beat the rain.

“We have freshers at the rear of the aerostat on the upper deck, but please remain in your seats with your belt fastened otherwise and at all times when the seat-belt light is on.  If you aren’t used to moving around in Zero-Gravity, please call one of the cabin staff for assistance.

“Once we’re clear of the Downport, cabin service will commence.”

As the pilot finishes the announcement the thruster pods swivel to a new orientation and the aerostat begins moving forwards as well as continuing upwards; the Lia and Oliver feel a gentle push sideways to the rear of the vehicle.

Outside the windows they can see the sprawling grey expanse of the Downport as they circle around and away from it; across the port an orbital shuttle lifts into the sky, blue flame trailing from its exhaust.

Presently tasty food smells begin wafting up from the premium seats in the lower deck.

The aerostat leaves the grey concrete of the Downport behind, replacing the view with low, rolling hills suffused with low scrubby plants.

Presently a cabin staffer appears, offers them food (basically soups or flavoured pastes) or drinks in squeeze tubes:

• Cold squeeze meals ʄ3
• Hot or frozen squeeze meals ʄ6
• Cold drinks ʄ2
• Hot drinks ʄ5

Prrri speaks to the staffer, “warrrm xwaterrr?”

“Uh, warm water?”

“Yesss.”

“Um, we only have cold water.  Sorry, uh, Mer.”

His ears go flat, “alrrright.  Xolld thenn.”