Daryl stood at the station depot outer ring waiting for this squat looking logistic master as he went over his cargo manifest. Looking at the squat alien that to Daryl looked like a squid with 4 short stubby legs. Daryl was never the best at identifying the marriott of the many sapien species he has crossed over the years. As the the logistic master handed him the pad for his bio print to pay for his time at the station, plus fuel, plus food and any taxes and small “Fees” that are always taxed on when he pulled into a station.
Looking down he realized that he would be down to his last 100 credits. The dread of being so low always made him so fearful but also it was nothing new as he was one of the last manned slow hyperlane drivers in the system. His ship the Rush Valley was an old and a mix of several of these freighters that was easily 200 cycles old about a third of the times humans had been on the intergalactic scene. With new wormhole tech out of the Architects/Human/Dotorian tech center for advancement cargo shipping had changed to hours of delivery vs the months it could take him. Then there was the automated cargo ships form the Dathmon/Qatest that where used for many cargo runs that could not go through wormholes. They were his biggest rivals as there was cargo that could not pass through a wormhole safely. But they really were used for system to system and did not run multi system runs with mixed cargo. So that is when the “Independents Group” stepped in. While not an employee they were the ones who worked out logistics, the runs and dealt with the clients and sub contracted to him.
As the short logistic master gave a curt yelp as he looked at Daryl and spoke in a rhythmic tone “Well human Daryl I think you are close to the last human pilot or near the last. It shows this could be your last run till your ship is paid off. Will you keep it or sell it afterwards?” Daryl hated this question as many people went under before they paid off their ship and the other half sold there ships as soon as they got it paid off to have their “Retirement” but these days the ship where not worth much and mostly just scrapped for parts and materials. With a smile “This ship is my home and it will always be my home. I am a trucker not a pilot” Which was true if he liked it or not. But with this haul he knew that he would have it paid off and have enough to be semi retired.
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As he walked back to tube that connected to his rear air lock he stopped to stare at his “Rush Valley”. At 8 kilometers long while fully extended with all the cargo modules attached. Each one could be deployed individually or deflated to be stowed into the spine. The spine connected his living space to the engines in the rear. She turned like a planet and accelerated like a rock on a slope. But once she got going a certain direction the momentum with slow acceleration the jump was smooth. So smooth that most of the dampeners had not worked for the time he had gotten her and it was never needed. Slow and steady but like the locomotives of the ancient earth it was crude but it was what he enjoyed. She was fully loaded with all bays fully inflated and fully extended. This run really would take 3 months based on following all the “Guides' ' but he knew a few tricks that would make it in just under 2.
As he approached the rear of his ship going over his cargo he realized a few several pod would need tending at various levels. While he did not mind it could be entertaining or it could be something like the Draskal Viper monkeys. Well it was time like it or not as he did not have the credits to stay on station long. As Daryl entered the final lock a voice stated “Voice Identification, Please.” Daryl groaned “Daryl T. Rucker Space Trucker” a matter of fact voice stated that is not proper identification term. “Caitlyn, do not make me rewrite your code.” Daryl knew he was bluffing he did not know how to do it, heck he forgot what Catlin stood for. Computer Artificial something something something. As Daryl tapped his foot the ship's door finally opened. “Thank You” Daryl. “Mr. Rucker you know that tampering with me would ruin your lease agreement. We both know you need me and that you have no idea how to program anything more than a replicator and a holovid device.” Daryl stepped inside and spotted something in the corner of his eye as the doors had closed. From the shadows 3 sets of eyes. Daryl just remembered something “Shit” as a blur of motion knocked him to the ground.