It All Started with a Shuttle Flight

Chapter 1

Moira Sector: Stanyear 4341

The shuttle weaved through the marked course as I was looking out the forward viewport admiring the star-studded darkness.

"Are you sure?" asked my cousin Laura.

Upon my completion of inspecting the controls, a smile formed on my face as I adjusted them to match my personal preferences. One step closer to commanding a shuttle after I prove myself as a pilot through my upcoming Flight Exam. "Positive." Carefully placing my hands on the controls and my feet on the pedals.

"I have the helm."

As Laura lifted her feet and her hands rose in the air, I noticed the shift in the pedals.

"You have the helm."

"Thanks."

Sleek and fast, we tore through space. By testing the pedals and feeling the shuttle's movement, I noted it moved as expected, but it only required a small amount of pressure to bring about the desired movement. As it should be for a shuttle with a racing pedigree. I could feel the power of the shuttle through the controls and my seat, thanks to the perfectly tuned Inertia Compensators. It sent a rush through me as the grin lifted the edges of my lips, and I nodded to myself.

"It's sensitive." Laura took notice of what I was doing while monitoring the scanners. Ever watchful of other ships and asteroids around us. Not that there were any asteroids on this track. This was a straightforward open space track with multiple turns, dives and corkscrew turns. All monitored by the beacons that mark the track.

I made a slight correction and rolled us into the next turn. It was as smooth as I expected it to be. Minimal side slide coming out of the turn as I straightened us out. We made another turn of the course with me at the helm.

"Nicely done, Marc. How about we run another training track? We'll use Seven-B."

Thinking it over as Laura tapped a new navigation course into the system.

My shoulders lifted in a shrug, then I realized Laura wouldn't see that. "OK. Send me the parameters."

"On your screen six."

My eyes darted as I gave it a quick glance, looking at the posted maximum speed and a fast view of the outline. Smirking. Slow. For me anyway. Novice training course. That should do. I shifted us across the distance to the next training area and brought us into the circuit that would allow us to enter the center training lanes. Fifteen minutes later I was Comm'ng the Training Control Center.

"Track Seven Training Control, this is Shuttle Seven-Two-Eight Alpha. Marc Alexander piloting. Laura Bedinski in command. Request entrance lane onto Track Seven-B."

I waited a few seconds for them to respond.

"Seven Control to Alpha. We have sent you a lane assignment. Two minutes to authorization." A yellow pip and course popped up on my navigation screen. "When the pip turns green, you are a go to enter the lane and begin your run. Good luck and fly safe. Seven Control out." Said the bored controller's voice.

"Shuttle Seven-Two-Eight Alpha to Track Seven Training Control. Nav and lane assignment received. Awaiting green pip to proceed. Shuttle Seven-Two-Eight Alpha out." I said as I joined the entrance lane behind another shuttle that just sped up for departure onto the track.

"Looks good Marc. Jump right to fifty percent once it hits green. When we enter the track, take us to seventy-five percent power, run a few laps to get the feel for this shuttle." Said Laura, looking at our scanner displays of the traffic on the track.

"Sounds good." I said, as my eyes followed the countdown. Flicking back and forth between the traffic scans and the shuttle's flight instruments.

The AI started a count. "Five...Four...Three...Two...One" The tone sounded as the pip turned green. My right hand pushed the throttles forward slowly as I brought the power up and we sped down the merging lane. Halfway in, we were at fifty percent and climbing. My eyes darted from the screens to the forward viewport, then back to the controls. With a gentle push of my left foot, we smoothly slid onto the track, finalizing the last maneuver out of the merger lane. Spotting the shuttle racing up behind us as I pushed the throttles forward. I was a little rough, and the shuttle bolted forward, pushing us back into our seats.