As I browse the GalNet a news article caught my eye as I sipped my second cup of coffee. It was about the worsening relationship between the Free Worlds and the Nova Imperium. The headline got the standard bold and ominous title: "Tensions Escalate: Free Worlds and Nova Imperium on Brink of War." I raised an eyebrow then shook my head and leaned back in my chair, and I keep browsing the net but nothing interesting pops up except that a well known celebrity has a major scandal and a politician was exposed to be attracted to some poor minor, Being bored I turned to Eli.

"What's our ETA, Eli?" I asked, while standing up and stretching.

"We are halfway to the mining station, Captain. Estimated time of arrival: 12 hours," Eli reported.

"Good. Keep me posted if anything comes up," I said, heading out of the cockpit. It has been a day and a half since we left New Heaven, and I have to do the routine maintenance check since I'm the only Crew capable of doing so.

I made my way through the Star Hopper passing several rooms towards engineering, The familiar hum of the fusion Core was almost therapeutic. I checked the plasma coils and fuel rods, ensuring they were operating within normal parameters. Then I moved on to the life support systems, making sure the oxygen levels and filtration systems were functioning correctly, and fixing some minor damage here and there. After everything seemed to be in order.

I went to my next stop the cargo bay. The supplies for the mining station were securely fastened, just as I had left them. I did a quick visual inspection, confirming that nothing had shifted during the journey. Satisfied, I went to the lounge to make some food and rest for some time.

After resting and looking at the clock, it took me several hours to do the maintenance check.

I stretched and made my way to the coffee maker for yet another cup of coffee. The taste was still terrible, but at this point, I didn't care.

Afterwards I headed to the cockpit "Eli, status update," I called out as I entered the cockpit.

"We are approximately one hour away from the mining station, Captain," Eli responded. "All systems are operational. No anomalies detected."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Great. Let's get this job done," I said, settling into my seat. The next hour passed quickly, the vast emptiness of space giving way to the distant glimmer of the mining station. As we approached, the station's outline became more distinct—a rectangular structure clinging to the asteroid it was mining.

"Docking request sent, Captain," Eli informed me. Moments later, the station's docking control granted us clearance.

The docking procedure was smooth. The Star Hopper settled into the designated bay with a gentle thud, the landing gear absorbing the impact. I powered down the engines and made my way out of the cockpit through the corridor and made my way to the cargo bay as it opened the bay door.

As I descended the ramp, a middle-aged woman with a clipboard and a hard hat approached me. "Captain Ernest, I presume?" she asked, extending a hand.

"Yeah that's me here to deliver your supplies," I confirmed, shaking her hand. "You must be the station manager."

"Indeed. My name Carla. We've been awaiting these supplies," she said, glancing at the cargo. "My crew will handle the unloading. If you could just verify the delivery list?"

"Of course," I replied, taking the clipboard from her. The list was long, but everything seemed in order. As her crew began unloading, I double-checked the inventory. Satisfied, I handed the clipboard back.

"Everything looks good. These parts should get your equipment back up and running," I said.

"Thanks, Captain. We've had a rough few weeks with equipment failures. These supplies should get things going.

After the cargo was fully unloaded, Carla handed me a Credit chip with the promised 20k credits inside. "Thanks for your business, Captain. Safe travels." With that done my bank account now has a total of 240k credits which is more than enough to buy a ship or upgrade star hopper I mused to myself, then turned back to Carla.

"Likewise, Carla," I said, shaking her hand once more. With the formalities out of the way, I decided to take a rest and headed to the station's bar after asking the locals for the direction.

The bar was a modest establishment, bustling with miners and station workers. I found a seat at the counter and ordered a drink. The bartender, a burly man with a friendly demeanor, slid a glass of something amber-colored my way.

"Much appreciated," I replied, taking a sip. The drink was surprisingly good, a far cry from the terrible drink I was used to in the ship. I allowed myself to relax, enjoying the lively atmosphere. Conversations buzzed around me, mostly about mining operations and the latest station gossip, like one about the station manager got something going on with a deck hand. It was a nice change of pace from the solitude traveling alone on the Star Hopper well there is still Eli keep me company.

After a couple of drinks, I decided it was time to head back to the Star Hopper. The bar had been a pleasant diversion, but there was always more work to be done. I made my way back through the station, the corridors quiet compared to the bar.

Once aboard the Star Hopper, I checked in with Eli. "Everything alright while I was gone?"

"All systems remain operational, Captain. Should I prepare for departure?," Eli reported back as her fox avatar reads a newspaper.

"Good to hear," I said, stifling a yawn. "But first, I think I need some sleep."

"Understood, Captain. I will continue monitoring all systems," Eli's fox avatar said, its virtual tail swishing slightly as she keeps reading.

I made my way to my quarters, and jumped toward my bed. Another job done, another day in the life of a spacer. As I lay down, my thoughts drifted back on what the next job will b

e, with that I closed my eyes and finally fell asleep.