What does this text need:The Earth Space Transit Dock (ESTD) hung vast in its orbit around the Earth. No facility came close to its enormity or its facilities. Ships of all classes used the ESTD; some even found a permanent home there.
The last of the O’Neil cylinders was named the Tamstone Cylinder. From the observation window, young women looked out across the gulf of space at the ESTD.
At twenty-three, Jade McConnell was the youngest fleet captain in the service’s history to command a CAG-Nomec 2032 Interseller freighter. She worked for Stanner’Tec Freight Lines, the largest company in the Civilian Mercent Fleet.
The Star Raptor was clearly visible, assigned the same berth, number eleven, when docked at the ESTD. The underside of her hull illuminated the pale blue of Earth’s atmosphere. Was the place McConnell truly called home?
Laid up for eight long months, her ship, the Star Raptor, was in for a mandatory cycle of repairs. This, along with her ship being without a load, were among her many pet peeves.
Among others are the so-called ‘Jackers,’ a term used to describe people connected to the hive mind.
In its infancy, people literally jacked in using a jack cable that went into a port at the base of the skull.
Time went on, and technology improved. They replaced the jack and port with a smaller patch-like device at the base of the skull.
This “hive mind,” as it was called, was a collective consciousness. McConnell herself had a link device, though she only used it occasionally at work.
Born on Earth, Captain McConnell detested it and longed for peace. Earth had too much noise, like sentient robots and the rest, to make her retire to an out-of-the-way asteroid colony in some sector few had ever heard of.
McConnell had not seen her mother in years, who was queen of her tribe in Tanzania. Her sister by adoption, Lux, was the princess of that tribe. In reality, Lux could have been anything, as her intelligence rating is unmeasurable. Though she thinks of herself as average, Lux, if they summed her up, would be elegant, graceful, and painfully beautiful to look at. She is wise and radiates power without needing to express it.
For Fleet Captain McConnell, paying a visit to her family was a priority, though passing through quarantine (which lasted three months) was not something she liked.
In the year 6050 AD, it was unusual for there to be any traditional monarchies left. The Am-Waw-Nee-Ko’nah People had existed since the Middle Bronze Age (1500–1200 B.C.), which accorded them the status of a specially protected group. This meant they could hunt (without exceeding quotas) and exercise other traditional practices.
The time had come; enough was enough.
The morning of August 4th was overcast and grey. There was a light breeze outside, enough to move lighter tree branches, but not enough to make it cold. She turned on the Vid-Com and said, ‘Freighter Command New York, this is Fleet Captain McConnell.’
‘Freight Command, Kamson Speaking.‘
Eric Kamson, pushing 60, would have been a racist back when that was a thing. He had thinning hair on top with the universe’s worst comb-over.
‘Ah, Fleet Captain McConnell, nice to see you. You’re quite a sight for my tired eyes!’
Fleet Captain McConnell couldn’t believe she’d ended up with Eric Kamson. Three years prior, they had found him on the Star Raptor’s Bridge. Kamson was not supposed to be on the bridge of any ship. Captain McConnell acted within her rights, contacting dock security and having him removed and suspended for a month.
If Fleet Captain McConnell had a choice, she’d blast him out of an airlock, but since pollution of space was illegal, she decided against it. Staring blankly into the Vid-Com, Fleet Captain McConnell replied.
‘Tired eyes, is it now? I must have heard that one a million times or more! Now, about my ship, the fine crew that fly her, and the lack of loads for her fine-hold. Other ships, except mine, find loads. For some unfathomable reason, we don’t. What gives?’ said Fleet Captain McConnell.
‘Let me add, I have an adopted sister; I believe you know Lux? She’d be happy to take you hunting. You have a head start, then she comes after you with a fine, and should I add, deadly spear. Which she is more than an expert in! So pretty, please.’
‘Ok, OK, no need for harsh words; just messing with you,’ Kamson said.
“Qwi-bae No’Com’mo Nay’Domo en’say,” Fleet Captain McConnell replied in the language of her mother’s people.
Kamson looked confused and said, ‘What was that? It sounded nice.’
‘I said," Fleet Captain McConnell replied, "may your count of remaining days be many, and may the twelve look kindly on the path you take.’
While waiting for Mary, Fleet Captain McConnell examined the large holographic information display behind her, desiring information from the space weather service about sun activity, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. These high-energy particles could disrupt sensitive electronics, but not right now, when everything was quiet.
With that, the Vid-Com flicked over, and Fleet Captain McConnell saw the only other member of the Am-Waw-Nee-Ko’nah people to work in the interstellar shipping business.
Mary St. Michel (tribal name: Mary’Nanmo)
Fleet Captain McConnell responded, “Ak-Namb-bae Kum’bè’Diè’ em’de.”
Mary St. Michel responded, “Qumbe” Na Ka’ Nac’estè Jade Tumbè.
She was twenty-nine, built like a statue from ancient times, and could have been a throne guard in Fleet Captain McConnell’s mother’s tribe but chose this life instead.
‘Long time no hear, Fleet Captain McConnell. How are tricks?’ St. Michel said in her usual fashion. ‘I know what you’re about to say and how you’ll respond, but I’ll ask anyway.’
Fleet Captain McConnell’s response was instant. 'Hi Mary, you never want to see any of my tricks, of which there are many. To answer the other part of your inquiry: board, broke, ship laid up, crew asking questions I cannot answer, and higher-ups asking when I’m putting out again. I need a load… So, ah, what gives?
'Oh, and before you say there are none, there is Article 39 of the Third Aims and Louis Convention on the Movement of Goods in Interstellar Space: “States.”
‘Under Article 2, Sub-Section 2F, all fleet captains so employed for the movement of loads through interstellar space are given free access to such loads as may be available.’
Under Article 12, Paragraph 225, Subclause L/102a:
“It shall be a crime under this convention (as ratified).” Any interstellar freight company must deny or cause, by accident, design, or other such accordance—therefore, grievously allow, or by inaction of the same. Deny any Fleet Captain in the same company’s employ a load of equal rank and quality as any other Fleet Captain in the same company’s employ for the same and equal purpose," Fleet Captain McConnell said, who had studied the regulations since she was five years old.
“Hated to have convention stipulations thrown around,” Fleet Captain McConnell’s