The journey to the IPC station didn't take very long thanks to the advanced technology the company had developed. Just moments earlier, a staff member was on the intercom telling all the passengers that we will be arriving at the station shortly.
As if on cue, the transport suddenly came out of warp and the ship gave a slight larch at the sudden deceleration. I glanced out the window and I could see the ships destination slowly approaching.
It started out as a small structure in the distance, but grew larger as the transport drew closer, slowly revealing the shape of a massive structure suspended in space. The IPC space station loomed ahead, a mechanical behemoth, the entire structure shining under the light of a nearby star. There were even layers upon layers of metallic rings that encircled a central hub. Each ring most likely had a different purpose. Some were probably for research and development, whereas others could have been purely for trade. I couldn't tell from this far away.
But what I could tell the station was important to many different civilisations, even from this distance. Many ships of all sizes and designs wove through the space around it, docking and departing when it was their time. They all followed a path of blinking lights with timed patterns that illuminated the approach for ships to safely dock or depart.
As the transport drew even closer, the finer details of the station were becoming more apparent. There were towering spires that rose from points all around the station's mass and at the very peaks of those spires, there was some type of shimmering energy. That energy was probably redirected into the station to power it and keep the vacuum of space out.
There were massive docking bays that lined some of the lower rings, each one clearly busy with their daily task. Some had cargo haulers unloading their freight, while smaller ships moved between rings delivering passengers or cargo to their intended destination. The whole station was pulsing with activity, it was like it was a living machine.
It wasn't beautiful, not in the way stars or distant worlds were, but there was a certain awe in its construction. Every hatch, every glowing panel, it all served a purpose. Function above form. Just like the corporation that ran it.
The Interastral Peace Corporation, or the IPC. Everyone knew about them and everyone relied on them. Their reach stretched across the entire galaxy, linking the stars together through trade and control. Their influence was inescapable, and this station was just another cog in the ever-turning machine of their empire.
When the transport started its final approach, it tilted slightly, adjusting its trajectory as it neared a docking bay. The ship lightly shuddered, a faint vibration under my feet as it was locked into position by the station. Lights from the station beamed through the windows, casting patterns across the cabin.
I could see the dock workers through the window below. They were using Machinery to move conveyor belts and fuel lines into their correct position on the side of the transport. The Forman barking commands so everyone knew what to do.
Once the ship was docked, the engines eventually wound down, their hum fading into silence. I stayed in my seat for a little, as did many other passengers. Some of the few were already standing though, getting ready to depart.
A message started playing over the intercom.
"Welcome to Interastral Peace Corporation Station E-27. Passengers, please prepare to disembark. Ensure you have all your belongings and necessary documentation before proceeding to the Gate. Thank you for choosing IPC Transport."
The announcement cut off with a faint static hiss, leaving the cabin in silence once more. The remaining passengers around me started collecting their bags and shifting in their seats. Some whispered quietly to one another, while others simply waited.
