Chip sits at the sticks of his Class 3 transport ship, hands folded neatly in his lap while the vessel sails through the Arrowhead Galaxy at speeds eclipsing several hundred thousand kilometers per second, the hum of the Xenium drive, along with the beeps and chimes of the navigation system, all that fill the air of his family's

vessel. In the cargo bay are a thousand tons of warp drive coolant,

ready to be delivered to the Bicarian homeworld of Javatra

for their fleet of top of the line ships.

Chip's attention is momentarily averted.

He calmly picks up his hand and presses the button for his virtual assistant, Alice.

What do you got for me, Alice?

All systems operating as expected, Chip. We have plenty of fuel to get to the Amaldi system and back and

according to my navigation we should arrive a full hour before our hall is

due. I'd say we're back in a comfortable rhythm after such a long break from

deliveries wouldn't you? Thank you Alice. comfortable rhythm after such a long break from deliveries.

Wouldn't you?

Thank you, Alice.

Let me know if anything changes.

Few moments pass by before Alice once again

gets the attention of her captain. What is it, Alice?

You seem distracted, Chip.

What are you thinking about?

Distracted?

How can you know whether or not I'm distracted?

I'm flying the exact same way I have for the last 130 years.

Well, you keep checking the cargo bay every 30 seconds and you haven't started any of your travel logs.

...