Calan - The Immortality Paradox

Chapter One: Visitors of the Incubus, Part Two

Date: 403, OA19,652

Location: Interstellar space between the Canol System and the Seven Suns System

Deceleration was in progress. The crew of the Soldat Intergalactique were clamped to their seats by flexible, copolymer jackets designed to disperse the force of deceleration equally across the body. As the pressure increased, Captain Lawrence felt as though he'd draped a sack of water over himself; the material writhed and twisted depending on the magnitude of force impacting a segment of his surface area. Even breathing caused the jacket to recalibrate. Designed by the Arkanstar space divison - likely costing the Force a minor fortune - the polymer also had a head attachment wrapped around Lawrence's face, connecting precisely with the crown of the seat behind. A breathing apparatus was installed for the mouth and nostrils, allowing for normal respiration and two transparent outlets for the eyes.

The backward thrusters expelled carbon dioxide at a constant rate. 'Velocity at 948 kilometres per second and decreasing.' The voice of the computer rang in his ears like a siren. Nevertheless, he was thankful for the oral notifications - his eyeballs were burning under pressure, and tears were blurring his vision. He wasn't able to see the console clearly. This was only his fourth long-distance space expedition for good reason. Constricted and immobile in his pilot seat was not his preferred method of transport. Lawrence was known for being a prolific pilot, one of the best ever to enrol in the Force - renowned for his unparalleled reflexes. A common-spoken exemplification of his skill was his role in saving an emissary of Libera from a hostage crisis on Caesar station. According to official reports, members of Penumbra had intended to ransom the dignitary, Samantha Orman, who was stationed there for a political requisition. The story told of how Captain Syd Lawrence outmanoeuvred the blockade, freed the dignitary and escaped without being detected. Whenever someone inquired about the accuracy of the tale, Lawrence would modestly remark, 'I can't remember'. Regardless of his competency with a spaceship, it was wholly different to travelling at speed without diversion. Lawrence called it lazy and passionless. Technology and its analytical intimacy with physics were in control, not the subjective hand of man.

'Velocity at 893 kilometres per second and decreasing.' Exactly seventy-two Sylfaenydd-days into the mission, they had arrived at the Regal Trident - the gateway into the Seven Suns system. Lawrence recalled the Trident to be a row of three rotating, metal rings of different diameters. The largest was capable of enveloping a leviathan cruiser. The smallest could fit a simple transport capsule. Each would rigorously scan the interior of the passing vessel, whilst security forces indiscriminately chose ships and boarded them for interrogation. The system was relatively simple and functional up to a point. All vehicles admitted were tagged electronically, which was then removed upon departure. Any vehicles found in Seven Suns space without electronic tags - those who bypassed the Trident illegally - were prosecuted accordingly. Despite this, considering the aggregate of freebooters wandering the system and the ongoing feud regarding the specific territory ownership the Regal Family of Jones possessed, the prosecution was not always infallible.

'Velocity at 675 kilometres per second and decreasing.' All four of Lawrence's fellow crew members were awaiting arrival in the interior cabin behind. Private Hamilton, lackadaisical as ever, had spent more time telling fantastical stories about his misbegotten youth than partaking in group activities. In truth, there was nought to do but keep each other company, though Lawrence expected more enthusiasm from a joker. Private Granger proved to be more congenial, even if her Français accent was unquestionably strong. She originated from Terrain de glace near Meréclat - a vast gathering of snow and ice-crowned mountains in the northern hemisphere of E'blanche. During the desolate hours of space travel, they indulged themselves in holographic chess or sometimes exchanged peculiar stories of time during their military service. Pale-skinned, green-eyed and with a penchant for mental exercise, Granger reminded Lawrence of his wife.