Breathe Deep

Shift

It was a rather listless flight pattern. If there were any sort of regulation on space flight a citation for reckless driving probably would have been right up this particular pilot's alley.

"Sentry duty." He scoffed, "I hate sentry duty. It's so boring. Nothing ever happens, and I'm stuck on this stupid job for a whole cycle."

The pilot leaned an elbow his panel, propping his chin up with his palm. He began to idly flick his radar switch on and off with a dull sigh. His ship idled on his slow orbit for a long while, letting the gravity of the planet ease his vessel around bend. The first few times he was sent on sentry duty when they cut to solo runs, he had already broke his ship loose and saw just how much fun he could have without the Empire breathing down his neck. For a little while, it was fun. It was something to look forward to. It was freedom. But after his fourth deploy on sentry, the solitude had lost its luster.

There was never anything new. They were too far out from any thoroughfare or trade route to see any sort of traffic or visits to the planet. Now that sentry was done with a lone ship instead of with a pair, it was even worse. Now, it was a full cycle without anyone to talk to. Even the stars were dull. There wasn't even an asteroid belt nearby to fly through, let alone comic visits or anything remotely exciting.

The pilot's jaw widened, threatening to unhinge, with a gigantic yawn. With just as dramatic a stretch, he flicked on his radar on again and slumped into his chair enough to make any drill instructor in any space militia quite cross. It was a few ticks into cursing himself for not thinking ahead and bringing snacks for his shift before his placid silence was shattered by a rather enthusiastic beep. He jumped in his seat, sitting up and hurriedly clicking buttons. Maps shifted and screens swelled into view, the mechanics were inciting several alarms. Suddenly, the boredom ebbed and made way for panic.

"H-holy shit!" hands darted for keys and switches, too quick to notice the shaking, "What is it? What do I do? Nothing ever happens! Why does it have to happen while I'm on shift?!"

He brought up a blinking panel on his screen and tapped it. No sooner had he done so, the entire screen made way for a visual of a large ship in the distant shadow of the planet. His systems had picked up the high energy shields it had put up. "F-Fuck! U-uh... Uhm." He racked his brain for S.O.P. in this situation. "C-contact! Gotta – command ship!" There wasn't supposed to be anything out there. There was never anything out there. How did he always end up with the business end of the shit stick?

"S-Sonos 254 to Command!" he stammered, "Sonos 254 to Command! Do you read me Command?"

"We read you, Sonos." was his answer.

"Commander Thax!"

"What is it, Sonos?" the commander sneered at the screen, hardly moved by the alarm on his soldier's face.

"Commander, I-I found- there's a ship, sir! On the far side of the planet!"

Thax's yellow eyes narrowed, "What sort of ship?"

"A big one!" the pilot sent his feed to the command ship and suddenly Thax was far more interested.

"I know that ship." He mumbled. How grand a victory would it be to finally be able to set foot on this stupid rock and hand Lord Zarkon the heads of each paladin, "Muster every pilot on this ship. I want those hangars empty and ready concentrate attack on that ship... And Vartex."

"SIR!"

"Lieutenant! Get me Lord Zarkon."

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