After Howard City it seemed quiet, the trade routes a far away a few space taxi runs left on the board from last night. A third of a million waiting to be made hopping from station to outpost to station … rinse, repeat. Always small numbers and mostly left to passing sidewinders, beneath most pilots but reputation and standing doesn't make itself.
Stories of big hauls run rampant in docks but whole systems run off seven tons of coffee for those early start shifts, or five tons of uniforms for the breakdown teams starting next week. Casks of brown ale and genetically engineered omni-meat for wedding barges bound for Tauri 39 on the weekend. Mini-hauls are what keep the lights on and the docking bay full.
Despite the hour and the jobs already done that type seven isn't going to buy itself and the hold is getting a little cramped. In a moment of pure stupidity the cargo is filled with rares, the usual run, down and out in minutes up to Pausch City a few light years outside of Li Yong-Rui's space. You can always tell as the price of ships go up, if he has his way insurance would too. Now that I can get behind, dreams of discount vessels beyond the bank balance sneak in with the early morning tiredness.
Eyes dipping, head bobs with each swerve, a screaming slash and tear of ceramic plate against military composite as the suicidal officer barges into the cobra rocking it back and forth with a shock alarm call fashion from a horror movie. The Fujin authorities shouting over the comms, the ping pong of alarms [and fines] dancing over the display as the giant goliath of the Starport consumes the sensors.
Then it hits, Fujin! Seven AM and punch drunk on sleepless nights the galaxy map must have spun around, instinct took over sending me back "home" crashing gently into Futen orbital with a tender bump. One hundred and eighty light year round trip, two asps returned to the void and countless pitch and roll maneuvers with eyes closed.
Fujin! The cargo hold full of worthless tat, a stack of prayer sticks crash onto the floor with comedic effect. No more runs, time to sleep!
