the small booster on. It lurched in his grip, directing them toward the airlock chamber on the other side of the massive bay. The booster was only active for a few seconds, just enough time to give them momentum to keep flying, but it went cold before its jet wash burned a hole in Lincoln's suit.
Aurora felt a short wave of panic wash over her as the cord tightened and then jerked her after Lincoln. As she gripped the cable connection, she was glad she'd secured herself as Lincoln had asked; she wasn't certain she could have held on tight enough to not be left behind.
While they were gliding at altitude, Aurora looked down at the hundreds of vessels over which they were passing. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she started to breathe harder. To calm her, Lincoln began talking smoothly and slowly about the ships below them. She stared in amazement at the varying designs and shapes and sizes. There were several different groups, which she categorized. The compact streamlined vessels seemed to be a kind of small starfighter, while the oblong and compartmentalized ones, she assumed, were for cargo transport. Lincoln pointed to a few and identified them as Talons, as Fangs, some as sloops, and a few as frigates. He told her she could find complete information on the entire fleet in the ship's central computer system.
They reached the other side of the hangar just as Aurora’s heavy breathing started to take its toll. Lincoln ignited the booster for some slight maneuvering , and they set down about ten feet from the door to the airlock. Aurora was getting light headed as they stepped through the doorway into the pressure chamber.
Taking hold of a handrail, Aurora steadied herself and relaxed slightly. She heard air moving as soon as the door was sealed. A tone sounded and Lincoln quickly opened her relief valve. “What did you think of your first experience in space?”
Aurora smelled clean air and breathed deep, filling her lungs with its sweetness. “Not bad for a field trip.” She replied as she opened her suit and quickly shed its bulk. “What’s next on this thrill ride?”
They heard a loud metallic clank, as the airlock's other door unsealed, allowing it to roll open and reveal a small group of people waiting on the other side. A tall man stepped forward. He had bright copper hair that continued down his jaw line, and around his mouth. His uniform fit snug, but didn't look like it would restrict movement. He raised his hand to shake Aurora’s, “Welcome aboard. I'm Commander Paul Cutler, Colonel Smyth's First Officer. I run the ship while he's away.”
She responded shyly, "Aurora Dane." She would have said more, but for once in her life was having trouble finding words.
Commander Cutler turned and, with a wave of his hand, introduced several other people. “This is most of the senior staff. Here we have Dr. Eliza Cruz; this is Chief Engineer, Peter Ambrose; this is Amelia Cruz, she's our Chief of Security.”
Aurora stammered, “Nice to meet you,” as she glanced at each of their faces in turn, registering that these weren’t aliens. They were humans. She had to continually remind herself that she hadn’t just sped into the future, but was still in her contemporary present. But then, paradoxically, she had stepped into the future. These humans had grown accustomed to living on a starship, which according to modern earth technologically, should be impossible and yet, there she stood on the deck plates of a real starship. Her own personal “Twilight Zone” had commenced. The whole thing was dizzying and exciting to her at the same time.
“Hey, wait. I’ve seen you before,” said Aurora.
Paul replied, “Yes, we met briefly at your college. But I was unable to stay for a proper introduction. I was also working to recruit new volunteers.”
“Yeah, I heard that’s getting tough lately.”
The first officer ignored her comment and continued his welcome, “We have prepared a place for you
Aurora felt a short wave of panic wash over her as the cord tightened and then jerked her after Lincoln. As she gripped the cable connection, she was glad she'd secured herself as Lincoln had asked; she wasn't certain she could have held on tight enough to not be left behind.
While they were gliding at altitude, Aurora looked down at the hundreds of vessels over which they were passing. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she started to breathe harder. To calm her, Lincoln began talking smoothly and slowly about the ships below them. She stared in amazement at the varying designs and shapes and sizes. There were several different groups, which she categorized. The compact streamlined vessels seemed to be a kind of small starfighter, while the oblong and compartmentalized ones, she assumed, were for cargo transport. Lincoln pointed to a few and identified them as Talons, as Fangs, some as sloops, and a few as frigates. He told her she could find complete information on the entire fleet in the ship's central computer system.
They reached the other side of the hangar just as Aurora’s heavy breathing started to take its toll. Lincoln ignited the booster for some slight maneuvering , and they set down about ten feet from the door to the airlock. Aurora was getting light headed as they stepped through the doorway into the pressure chamber.
Taking hold of a handrail, Aurora steadied herself and relaxed slightly. She heard air moving as soon as the door was sealed. A tone sounded and Lincoln quickly opened her relief valve. “What did you think of your first experience in space?”
Aurora smelled clean air and breathed deep, filling her lungs with its sweetness. “Not bad for a field trip.” She replied as she opened her suit and quickly shed its bulk. “What’s next on this thrill ride?”
They heard a loud metallic clank, as the airlock's other door unsealed, allowing it to roll open and reveal a small group of people waiting on the other side. A tall man stepped forward. He had bright copper hair that continued down his jaw line, and around his mouth. His uniform fit snug, but didn't look like it would restrict movement. He raised his hand to shake Aurora’s, “Welcome aboard. I'm Commander Paul Cutler, Colonel Smyth's First Officer. I run the ship while he's away.”
She responded shyly, "Aurora Dane." She would have said more, but for once in her life was having trouble finding words.
Commander Cutler turned and, with a wave of his hand, introduced several other people. “This is most of the senior staff. Here we have Dr. Eliza Cruz; this is Chief Engineer, Peter Ambrose; this is Amelia Cruz, she's our Chief of Security.”
Aurora stammered, “Nice to meet you,” as she glanced at each of their faces in turn, registering that these weren’t aliens. They were humans. She had to continually remind herself that she hadn’t just sped into the future, but was still in her contemporary present. But then, paradoxically, she had stepped into the future. These humans had grown accustomed to living on a starship, which according to modern earth technologically, should be impossible and yet, there she stood on the deck plates of a real starship. Her own personal “Twilight Zone” had commenced. The whole thing was dizzying and exciting to her at the same time.
“Hey, wait. I’ve seen you before,” said Aurora.
Paul replied, “Yes, we met briefly at your college. But I was unable to stay for a proper introduction. I was also working to recruit new volunteers.”
“Yeah, I heard that’s getting tough lately.”
The first officer ignored her comment and continued his welcome, “We have prepared a place for you
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