Life-Debt by R.J. Blain

Author:R.J. Blain [Blain, R.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen & Page Publishing
Published: 2023-08-10T18:30:00+00:00

EIGHT

He could read the manual and listen

As promised, I filed an application for Delta to have a legal lesson in captaining my ship. The spaceport authorized a three-hour cruise. The flight path amused me, as it would take us on a tour around the spaceport. Traffic control asked me nicely to avoid slingshotting around Cremora Delta 005-23, as there would be other ships in orbit who would appreciate not having heart attacks.

I laughed and confirmed I would not have a beginner attempt to slingshot any planet, star, or other stellar object.

To my delight, the spaceport authorized him flying my ship out of the quarantine bay, something most disallowed due to the higher risk of a novice pilot making a critical error. Delta sat in my seat, and the poor man sweat.

Mystoran did a better job of hiding his discomfort, but the Veloc’s crest lay flat to his skull, and he clutched the armrest with his capped claws.

As I intended to make Delta take it slow and easy, I allowed Pandora to sit in the co-captain’s chair in her harness, which was clipped to the seat. I petted my fox, pleased she’d slept with me the entire quarantine period rather than snuggling up with her feathery friend.

Once we returned from his maiden flight, Delta would leave quarantine and go home with Mystoran, and I would resupply my ship with some help from Mystoran’s kin. Within five hours of our return, I would be on my way to the black market to find out the truth of the core shiftgem crystals hiding beneath my engine.

“All right, Delta.” I pointed at the comm button. “Press that button and tell the traffic controller my ship identification number, your status as a temporarily licensed training captain, and that you wish to depart from our quarantine bay to head to the first set of coordinates on our flight path.” I took the time to tell him precisely how to phrase the entire thing and had him repeat it back to me before setting him loose.

He did as told, and the traffic controller approved our departure, informing us he would have all space cleared for an additional ten minutes to account for novice piloting education.

At my prompting, Delta confirmed reception of the transmission.

“All right. We’re not going to do a stress test of the engine, but I’m going to teach you how to do the same maneuver but at a lower speed.” I reached over, pressed the communication button, and said, “Instructor Captain Viva here; we will be practicing the orbital escape launch at a quarter speed. Approval requested.”

“Approval granted up to thirty percent speed,” the traffic controller replied.

“Roger.” I directed Delta on how to change to the correct frequency for the next stage of launch. “Checklists are a way of life, but as you are not a linker, you can’t make use of my specific checklists, so I will relay the checklist to you. Do as you’re told, and you’ll learn.”

“Roger,” he said, and he swallowed.

Step

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