Off-World 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

! REPORT

Off-World

3D Render by emarukk

Amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle of the In-World's crowded streets and pulsing life, the emptiness between Off-World stations felt like a serene oasis. The vast expanse of space stretched out in all directions, peaceful and silent. A small boat glided through the stillness on its sleepy patrol route, traversing the vastness of planetary space toward an interstellar navigation point. This vessel, typically used for transporting cargo and passengers within solar system stations, was now on a mission with different objectives. Despite the crucial mission at hand, there was an eerie stillness within the cockpit. The steady hum of power generators and the gentle whir of air conditioning machines created a lulling atmosphere, as if time itself were slowing down. The only interruptions to the monotonous thrumming were occasional bursts from the steering thrusters and faint strains of music emanating from the speakers. Flying at interplanetary speeds may have seemed exciting. Still, in reality, it was a tedious and monotonous task with potential danger. One wrong move could spell disaster, especially with notorious pirates lurking around every corner, eager for any opportunity to strike and claim their loot. In light of these perilous conditions, Off-World Trading Company always sent out smaller armed cargo boats ahead of their massive container freighters for added protection.

The "Space Jumper Companion" class spacecraft had been in service for decades. With updates and maintenance, each vessel was much older than the crew onboard. Oleg and Kaori were tasked with receiving and guiding the massive container freighter OWTC Astarte from the interstellar jump point to the processing plant orbiting Gnuflhump 6. Oleg reveled in the sensation of flying these ancient yet nimble boats. As a certified captain for a large freighter, he often found himself longing for the days when he could pilot smaller vessels like this one. Even Kaori, who was used to the routine of their usual assignments, couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and adventure in this task. However, they both knew that their time with this small boat would be fleeting, as their duties called them back to their larger ship soon enough. But for now, they would enjoy every moment of freedom and exhilaration from navigating the open space in this little vessel.

After a few days of patrolling, their boat had yet to encounter any signs of pirate activity. No single signal or revealing interference was detected. The vast expanse of space seemed to stretch out endlessly, living up to its name as the ultimate frontier. It was a peaceful and serene journey, unlike the treacherous missions they were used to. Pirate hunts were supposed to be the Confederation Navy's responsibility. However, the task often fell on external contractors like themselves due to political conflicts and lack of resources. This only added to the dangers they faced in this line of work. The scattered nations of the galaxy were still recovering from past wars, and could not come to an agreement on how to effectively combat piracy.

Meanwhile, the commercial Navy suffered heavy losses because of delayed decisions and endless talks. That was before trade companies got enough and started arming their ships with military-grade weapons for protection. It was a disheartening reality that the Confederation would never modernize its own army, opting instead to purchase services from outside sources. But for now, all they could do was continue their patrol and hope for a smooth voyage.