1
The outgoing captain, Rachelle, had given him the conn shortly after leaving Drafuse. She wanted to start her retirement early, which suited Dukk fine. He had been first mate for over five years and had helped manage this old rig through many far more challenging situations. The run had been uneventful and the conditions for descent looked perfect.
Dukk was really looking forward to making a start on securing his own retirement. Which he knew meant clearing the many favours and debts accrued to get him to the position he was now in. And that being, about to become captain of the Dinatha. Two things had come together to enable that. Firstly, Rachelle had finally cleared her debts. Secondly, Dukk had finally secured the line of credit he needed to buy Rachelle out of her share. With the largest share, he would naturally assume the role of captain.
Dukk was average height. Wide shoulders and a big chest gave him a stocky look. Fair complexion. His petrol hazel eyes looked brown against his dark brown hair. He was attractive in an ordinary sort of way, with a warm smile but a seriousness about him. He was fit and worked hard at staying that way. Not an easy task when spending so much time in near zero-g.
The life of a haulier suited Dukk fine. He knew the risks but kept coming back. It was the only life, he knew. He had made that choice as a teenager and hadn’t looked back. It wasn’t an easy choice. He recalled the moment he first grappled with the hard truth of his choice. He was about to board a rig for the first time. He was at a port waiting for the arrival of the rig that would be his new home. A port worker noticed Dukk there looking anxiously out at the approaching rig. He came over and looked out too.
“I wouldn't ever see myself in one of those contraptions,” he said.
And, then added, “it looks like a gigantic twentieth-century space shuttle. One of these days it will share the fate of Challenger.”
Dukk still had no idea what the port worker was talking about and put it down to madness.
2
The decision to apply for an apprenticeship as a haulier was made after the results of the test, at the age of ten. The test marked him as very unlikely to get above level eleven. The observer said he would never reach level one to become one of the twelve EOs whom ruled each citadel.
The test results said he lacked the necessary identity characteristics to excel in the Rule of Twelve training. So, there, and then he chose the status of deprivileged. He accepted the life of someone who would never be assigned any level of privilege.
Besides, he found those that embraced the Rule of Twelve training cold and repulsive. He assumed EOs would be the same. He much preferred mingling with fellow deprivileged, who worked hard, were authentic and treated each other with respect.
Annee was one such fellow deprivileged. She was short, but strong. Her muscular and fit body was only second to her sharp tongue and cheeky grin. Her dark brown and cool toned complexion added to her poise and style.
At this moment, she stood in the hatch that separated the cockpit from the passenger seating area. Dukk had given her the task of seeing that the passengers were ready for the descent.
As she complained to him now, Dukk was reminded that there was a time when he had fantasised there could be something between them. But that idea was extinguished long ago when she and Rachelle stopped hiding their companionship. It wasn’t clear to Dukk, what would happen when they reached port. Annee was a talented haulier, and she would be hard to replace.
He was hardly listening as she shared her concerns about getting the six passengers and the observer strapped in before they pointed the nose. Dukk wasn’t paying attention to those worries, as he knew Annee was well able. He smiled as he realised, she was simply lightening the mood, as if she could read his thoughts.
As the door closed behind Annee, Dukk parked the thought of her leaving the rig. There were far more important things to do right now. One problem at a time.
The hatch indicators on the panel before him, showed him that Annee was already through the passenger seating area, and onto the landing. The landing was the top of the stairs to the lower levels. Beyond the landing was the transport pods and airlock that made up the rest of the upper deck.
Soon she would be on the accommodation level yelling commands at the guests. The twelve-hour delay in orbit would have increased their anxiety, but also increased their complacency. They’d need a good barking at now to snap them into line so that their effects could be stowed securely, and seats taken in the upper level.
3
Dukk now returned to the pre-descent checklist. He had already accepted the approach offer from the port authority and shared the access codes he got from the observer.
Having the observer on board was a necessary evil. No-one he knew, liked either their presence or what they represented, but it was the only way he knew of getting into and out of the citadels. And that was where hauliers picked up their contracts. Putting up with the observer was far better than the alternatives, which included working in the labour camps at the citadels or playing lackey to one of the odd creatures in any of the other systems.
At least here on the Dinatha there were boundaries. Some concessions. The observer had to stay within the passenger areas and wasn’t allowed into the cockpit, storage areas or engine room. “Operational safety always comes first” is what Dukk and the crew would say if the observer tried to push their privilege.
It was true that the observer held the power to make changes on a whim, but the crew had to be free to run the rig.
Dukk checked the allocated pad number and entered the coordinates into the Nav. He knew this pad well. It wasn’t too far from the bars that would give him both access to downtime and his first contract as captain.
His mind wandered to the moment they cleared control. The moment his identity chip was read, vitals scanned for and cleared of contagions, he would be off to secure a new contract. The others would be well able to unload the passengers and cargo.
His thoughts were interrupted by a squawk in the comms, the multi-channel communications implants located just behind his ears.
“Heat shield locks, four and five are not going green.”
It was Bazzer, the Dinatha’s main engineer. He was a stout and fit man in his late forties. Fair complexion, dark green eyes and unkept long red hair that was often secured in a low ponytail.
Whilst older than Dukk, Bazzer had no desire for his own command. Interested instead in the technical workings of these grand old birds.
Dukk had known Bazzer since his first job and there wasn’t anyone else in the galaxy he trusted more.
Bazzer was at his usual pre-descent station deep in the rig’s inners. He was at the engine controls overseeing both the starting of the second reactor and the positioning of the heat shields for re-entry into the atmosphere. Monitoring the starting of the reactor was his priority.
Dukk could see from the dial before him that it wasn’t fully spun up yet. Bazzer would be stuck at the console for at least another couple of minutes.
The heat shields had been acting as counterbalances to the solar panels, while they ran the gravity emulator. They deployed the solar panels on emerging from deep space. Using solar energy to power the rig’s essential systems was cumbersome but saved precious hard fuel. It made sense to use them in the dead time, like orbiting a planet waiting for a docking slot. As the solar panels were retracted back into the body of the rig, the heat shields needed to be moved back into position and locked into place. Unfortunately, space debris could get lodged into the tracks and stop the shields from locking neatly. That would result in a sudden and fiery end to the descent. An eventuality everyone was keen to avoid.
Dukk responded, “Larinette, how is it going?”
Larinette was also in the engine room, monitoring the retraction of the solar panels. She was using the inspection cameras, scouring for any damage to the flimsy surfaces.
A lifted panel might clip the compartment doors as the panels slid down the inside of the rig. If the compartment doors didn’t seal properly, a fate similar to malfunctioning heat shields would await them as they raced through the outer atmosphere.
“Two more minutes,” Larinette replied.
Whilst momentarily distracted by her silky voice and the thought of time together when they were planet side, Dukk had to focus on the problem at hand. Two minutes was too long. He had already committed the Dinatha to the descent. Altering the plan now would prevent him from making the docking window.
4
Dukk was already unbelted, up and moving. Before leaving the cockpit, he grabbed his cuffs from their docks. He cringed as the standard announcement echoed through his head, “Remember to keep your Rule of Twelve sanctioned wrist wrap devices always charged to above twenty percent. Your devices are currently near sixty percent.”
Instead of making his way back through the passenger seating area, Dukk headed for the hatch in the floor at the back of the cockpit. Whilst not the fastest route, using the floor hatch meant his absence from the cockpit wouldn’t be noticed by the already anxious passengers.
Having no one at the helm as they commenced descent wasn’t ideal. However, with Rachelle taking it handy in her cabin, Chuk’s no-show before leaving Drafuse and the rest of the crew occupied, Dukk felt he had little option. The window was too tight. He was well aware of the scarcity of descent slots. He knew there were at least a dozen other rigs eagerly waiting and willing to take his slot if there were any delays.
The hatch gave him access to the forward airlock compartment, which served as the main airlock for bringing cargo on and off the rig. This compartment also served as the storage for miscellaneous tools and spares.
Solving this problem fast would need plenty of strength to propel himself through the guts of the rig. The g-suit wasn’t helping either. While fitted, it was bulky and could catch latches and handles. However, wearing the g-suit was essential for survival if there was a sudden depressurizing. Besides, it also kept his muscles strong which he needed if he wanted to walk the moment, he was planet side.
To complicate it further, he was sensing his own odour. He tried to change his inner layers daily, however he hadn’t factored in the extra hours waiting in orbit for port clearance. Sweat had accumulated and the exertion was amplifying it. The image of a powerful long shower on the planet he was born, came to mind as he opened the hatch to the hold.
The main hold gave him access to the starboard storage hold. This hold mirrored the one on the port side. It housed the various fuels, oxygen, water, and other supplies. The superstructure that housed the storage spaces also functioned as crude wings that made flight possible within atmospheres.
Along the forward wall of the space were the massive pump handles needed to manually lock the heat shield panels in place. The age of the rig meant these handles were used more than they should be, but what could you do with margins so tight and competition for loads so high. Comprehensive maintenance wasn’t a viable option at the moment.
The warning lights on locks four and five were blinking an angry red. Dukk first pumped the handle on lock four. A faint pop and the light blinked green. Next, he pumped the handle on lock five. Nothing. He waited a moment before pumping it again. A pause, then a faint pop.
Just as the second light went green there was a massive shutter. The rig groaned. It was a sound that would bring more anxiety to the folks strapping themselves into their seats. However, Dukk smiled. He knew this rig well and knew the message he would hear in his comms a moment later.
“Solar panels secure,” Larinette announced from her position at the engine room console.
She had just shut the doors which closed off the solar panel bays. Dukk could hear Bazzer next to her confirming the heat shield locks were all in place and reactor two was stable.
It was time to return to the cockpit.
As Dukk stepped through the starboard storage hold hatch he saw Bazzer and Larinette accessing the stairs to the mezzanine and then accommodation level. Dukk retraced his path swiftly, closing hatches as he went.
He was just closing the clasp on his harness as Annee, Larinette and Bazzer entered the cockpit from the passenger cabin. As he winked back at them, he caught a glimpse of the passengers harnessed in and peering around, trying to get a glimpse of the cockpit, and looking anxious. And rightly so, they now faced the riskiest stage of their descent.
5
For the descent, Larinette took the seat next to Dukk. She had her sandy blond hair tied back, thus he could take in fully her fine features and light blue eyes. It felt odd, but nice to have his companion at the controls with him for this maiden descent. It was odd because usually he or Rachelle sat there as the other was at the helm.
As second, Larinette’s role was to monitor the thrust and pitch controls. Annee sat at the console behind her and was tasked with monitoring other traffic and handling communications. Bazzer sat in the back of the cockpit monitoring the reactors and other rig systems. Dukk would keep an eye on the Nav, autopilot and oversee everything else, ready to step in if something didn’t feel or sound right.
Whilst all automated, systems weren’t infallible, and this rig was old. Knowing what was happening just before something breaks, helped reduce the chances of overreacting and making it worse.
“Dukk, make it a good one,” it was Rachelle on the comms.
“Will do, Captain,” Dukk replied.
“I don’t want anything getting in the way of my celebration this evening,” Rachelle added.
“Where are we going, Shell?” said Bazzer joining in the comms.
“Not the Auld Dubliner again, I hope,” piped Annee.
“Cheek of you! You suggested it for old time’s sake!” Rachelle retorted.
Annee chuckled to herself at her console.
“Well at least no-one will get lost again, hey Bazzer,” Larinette joked.
“So, who’s buying the drinks, you or Dukk,” Annee added.
“Don’t look at me, every EU I have is committed to putting the captain happily into retirement,” Dukk replied.
“You buy the first round, and the rest is on me, how’s that Dukk?” Rachelle said.
“Deal! Now time to focus or no-one will be doing any celebrating later,” Dukk concluded.
The comms went quiet.
With everything in place, Dukk engaged the descent sequence on the autopilot. This started with the port bow thruster pivoting the rig one hundred and eighty degrees.
The rig shook and groaned. Even Dukk felt his stomach turn. The necessary maneuver and the resulting g-force push the g-suits to their limits. Being familiar with the feeling didn’t make it any less unpleasant. He was glad as always that he wasn’t sitting in the back with the passengers.
Next the main engines gave a quick burst. This slowed the rig so it would drop out of orbit. Another burst of the bow thrusters brought the rig back one hundred and eighty degrees again.
Now a final burst of both tail and bow thrusters pointed the nose into the forty-degree angle needed for re-entry.
The re-entry alerts sounded just before the colour of their view changed to bright red. Then a thunderous noise engulfed them as they entered the atmosphere. They were now committed and at the mercy of their preparation.
It was a moment Dukk loved and hated equally. It was terrifying but also comforting. For a brief time, there was nothing further he could do but wait. Things were just as they were and will be as they will be.
Soon the view and the sounds changed. They were in the atmosphere.
