8-214: Merchant Freighter Spanial – Foofor System

It is crowded in Control on Lia Day 38 at BB07 when Spanial drops out of jump.

 

Karmen, Jennie and Ipan are at their usual stations, both Kort and Lia are there too.

There is the usual queasy feeling and the green haze dropping away to reveal a starscape dominated by a reddish star.

Immediately Ipan says, “Commencing full passive scan.”

After a few seconds of working her console Jennie says, “If the basic astronomical data we have is correct, we’re right on the safe jump margin at 0.46AU from the star.”

Ipan says presently, “initial scan is clear, commencing second sweep.”

Karmen turns to Kort, “for sure now, maybe you’d like to give us the actual navigation data for our destination?”

Kort reaches into a pocket and pulls out a keyring on which are several keys and a couple of security data widgets.  He unclips a widget and plugs it into Karmen’s console, presses his thumb against the authorisation tab.

“Do you have it, Karmen?”  he asks.

She nods, “sending it to your station, Jennie.”

Kort says, “Our destination is a ship in orbit around the second planet, which should be just outside the safe jump distance from the star.  Unfortunately our navigation data is imprecise so I’m not sure exactly where the planet will be in it’s orbit.” 

Jennie says, “Ipan, as soon as you’re done with the main array we’ll see if we can find this planet.”

There is a much longer pause while Ipan works, presumably taking more time on the second scan of the space around the ship.  Presently he says, “I can’t detect anything.”

Jennie starts talking technical stuff with Ipan, which sounds like it’s about where to look for the ship’s destination.

Karmen turns to Lia, “Looks like things are safe enough for the moment.  We’re drifting with some residual from the jump, I’ll send the exact vector to the Cargo station.  Time to test the Hopper, Lia.” 

It may be worth noting that, on Lia’s usual routine, she would right now be climbing into bed with a shot of Zoner!