Faster than the Speed of Love

Chapter 9 - The crew of the Arcturus

Chapter 9

Kyna’s POV

We boarded the Arcturus, and I headed straight to the control room after I dropped of my overnight luggage in my living quarters - the trip to the Ceenox system would take just under 48 hours in hyperspace, the rest of my luggage was in the cargo hull alongside everyone else’s and all the larger Military and Scientific equipment which we shouldn’t need until we got there.

Once I got to the control room, I greeted Captain Steven Meyers – the Commanding Officer of the Arcturus. Despite John being an excellent pilot, he was more suited to flying smaller fighter ships than the M-Class ship (m for Major) the exhibition would start partake its journey in. So the brawny yet logical Captain Meyers was chosen for this specific job, and while the expedition members were living on the ship, I would be Chief Engineer of the Arcturus.

First Officer, Lieutenant Commander William Shelby was next to him discussing some logistics about the possibility of complications with departure. Captain Meyers was disregarding his hypotheticals

“But what if the-” L.C Shelby’s voice was a rather whiny

“That’s enough Lieutenant.” Captain Meyers retorted sharply, “We’ve had the best of the best go through every possible scenario, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know but-” He tried, but it was no use

“Look if you have any more complaints, keep them to yourself, because when I want your opinion I’ll give it to you.” Meyers barked. I smiled to myself, he was a very interesting man, it seemed.

“Excuse me, Captain Meyers” I piped up, attempting to gain his attention, he looked up from his commander’s chair in the centre of the control room. His steel grey eyes softened slightly.

“Oh, Dr. Lawrence.” He said, obviously relieved to take a break from his subordinate’s negative attitude. “I didn’t see you there. Welcome, welcome”

I stepped closer to the centre of the control room, shifting my trusty satchel on my shoulder. L.C Shelby met my gaze, smiled begrudgingly then retreated to the back of the room, muttering something about finding the navigator – what a sourpuss ‘He needs to grow up’ I thought bitterly. “That’s your seat there Dr Lawrence” Captain Meyers pointed my designated position in the control room. I laughed internally, seeing as I knew exactly where I’d be sitting – I’d designed the Arcturus’ control room myself, alongside many other devices, components and rooms in the ship.

“I know Captain. I was the one who designed the room, I know where I sit.” I laughed lightly he smiled too, visibly content to deal with my mock superciliousness rather than the fun-sucking attitude of L.C Shelby.

“How much longer till we take off? I accidentally put my watch in my luggage in the cargo hull rather than my overnight luggage. Great way to start the expedition – with a spacey forgetful leader.” I said jokingly, Captain Meyers laughed and got up from his Command chair, walking towards me.

“15 minutes, and don’t worry about it, being a little forgetful is perfectly fine, I’d be worried if you didn’t have any flaws, seeing as your Personnel file was so perfect.” He said reassuringly, but internally I was thinking ‘great, another person who’s read my file’  but since my first encounter with John, I’d realised that the higher-ups of SOIE society were constantly reading other people’s files and it was the norm, so I’d gotten used to dealing with it.

I laughed at his remark, albeit a little forcibly, but a laugh nonetheless. “I suppose you’re right” I said and Captain Meyers smiled “So you nervous or excited, Captain?” I asked, taking my seat.

“Bit of both I guess, and you don’t have to call me Captain, Meyers is good.” He replied

“Ok then Meyers,” I smiled, “Well I better get us ready for departure, we can talk more later… we have a whole two years anyway.” I said then turned to the control panel in front of me, and started switching the preliminary controls on just as the rest of the control room crew entered.

No-one’s POV

“Captain Meyers, the hyperspace generators are fully operational and ready for take-off” L.C Shelby stated, having finally gotten out of his miserably pessimistic mood.

“Dr Lawrence?” Captain Meyers addressed the head of science, checking that everything was indeed ready for take-off. Kyna looked up from her screen in front of her and turned to face the captain – not stopping typing as she did; she could touch type in both English, Japanese and Agethan.

“Ready Meyers.” She nodded, then turned back to her screen, not waiting for the Captain’s response. John walked into the room and headed straight towards Kyna and stood silently next to her seat.

“Well then, I think it’s time to leave our cozy little planet and head out of the galaxy.” Meyers smiled and instantly reassured any nervous SOIE members in the room at the time “On my mark, Dr Lawrence will take her out.” He said with finality, with ‘her’ meaning the Arcturus. Kyna typed the last control sequence and turned the small, yet heavy leaver activating the engines. The Arcturus rumbled and hummed expressing her happiness to be in use finally, Kyna switched on the inertial dampeners and the ship’s inner movement was restricted to a minute vibration and a light drone hinting of the working engines. And while the interior was stable, like a normal room, all the inhabitants knew the ship was now hovering before its final heaveof energy.

The large viewing window in the front of the control room revealed the truth of the Arcturus’ movement, the entire control room crew seemingly held their breath as the ship began to leave, the Arcturus suddenly surged and was moving, flying into the sky and the stars due to Kyna’s control sequences. The ship was now soaring through Earth’s atmosphere, in a spectacular feat of technology – the explorers had set off on their expedition. Like children giddy and excited to open their presents a Christmas, the crew of the eagerly awaited the Ceenox System and what it held in store for them.