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Literature Text
FTL: Flight of the Kreme Belle
Anika paced back and forth with her brow furrowed and her arms crossed. Captain Coupe had left the ship with all of the remaining officers two hours ago. Rylie monitored Anika's path every time she finished a chapter of the ebook she was reading. The only other sound apart from Anika's footsteps was Ginette's munching; which was a fairly accurate indicator of her level of stress.
::Flight attendants, please report to the bridge immediately::
The monotonic digital voice of the ship's computer startled the young women, who screamed in unison.
::Time is of essence, the Captain's signal is weak and the transmission will most likely brake any minute now::
The three women dashed from the kitchenette; the doors automatically opening as they got near them. Anika reached the bridge first and got a glimpse of the Captain's face before the screen became a sea of static and then turned blank.
"What happened?" asked Rylie while catching up to Anika.
::Download complete. Transmission interrupted by hostile force. Engaging Emergency Protocol 2247 dash 321. Flight Attendant 001, please take the pilot's seat and initiate Take-Off Sequence::
"Wait, what?" asked Anika in disbelief. "What do you mean 'Transmission interrupted by hostile force'? And who are you calling Flight Attendant 001?"
"Also, clarify that whole 'Take-Off Sequence' deal, we're not pilots!" chipped in Rylie with a tinge of panic.
::To clarify: the one with the tangerine hair and the giant udders is Flight Attendant 001... :: "Hey!" protested Anika, while Rylie and Ginette busted out laughing.
::The one with the pink hair and overtly thick thighs is Flight Attendant 002... :: Rylie jumped and hit the surveillance camera in the corner of the room. "My hair is peach, not pink!" she retorted offended.
::And the heavy one with amethyst hair is Flight Attendant 003:: finished the computer, with all three women wishing it was alive so they could kill it.
"Our names are Anika, Rylie and Ginette," stated Rylie angrily "not Flight Attendant 001, 002 and 003! And if you think you can insult us-"
::Miss Anika, please take the pilot's seat, buckle your safety-harness and flip the row of toggle switches on the right side of the main panel in ascending order:: interrupted the main computer's voice with a trace of urgency in its habitual monotone. ::Miss Rylie, Miss Ginette, standard protocol recommends both of you to find the nearest seats and buckle-up as well. Although, I require only one of you to fly the ship, having all three of you is preferable::
The young women stood baffled by the computer's sudden compliance. It had never addressed them by name before; or treat them politely for that matter.
::Perhaps you prefer to share the Captain's fate at the hands of the Rebel insurgents. They might be merciful and sell you to slavers; but most likely they will torture the three of you to learn how much you know about the data transmitted by the Captain just a while ago::
"But we don't know anything!!!" interjected Ginette shaking.
::Irrelevant. Best case scenario, they will think that Federation spies are tougher than rockmen. The sensors detect a small force approaching; no Federation beacon detected... ::
Anika jumped into the pilot's seat and fired up the Auxiliary Power Units, the Main Reactor and the Gravitational Thrusters; while Rylie and Ginette desperately buckled the crash webbings of the seats they took. The women felt the rumbling of the powering-up reactor, and the ship lifted slowly, hovering in place.
::Good job Miss Anika. Now, slowly push the Throttle Lever, the one shaped like a 'T', while gently pulling the Control Stick towards you-::
*Crackle* "Starship Kreme Belle, turn off your engines. This is your only warning." *Crackle*
::Miss Anika, get us out of here::
Anika pushed the throttle lever forward and the ship accelerated faster than three shakes of a lamb's tail. In a few tense minutes that felt like hours to the young women, the blue sky was replaced by the cluster of stars and nebulae. After a few more minutes, the computer asked Anika to cut the engines so it could charge the Faster-Than-Light Drive.
::Very well, after careful study of your personal files, I have assigned your new posts according to your personal aptitudes. Miss Anika, your trusting nature is ideal for you being the pilot of the ship; Miss Rylie, your natural aggressiveness makes you the best candidate for the gunner post; Miss Ginette, you are the only one with a Physics Major, under the circumstances, you are the only one I trust near the Engine Room::
"Computer, what is going on?" began Rylie, trying to overlook the computer's remarks and the reveal that "Bubble-Head" Ginette was a Physics Major. "What happened to the Captain and the crew? Why are we in space? Who's chasing us and why?"
::The Captain and the crew are in the hands of the Rebellion." answered the computer unperturbed by the ladies' collective gasp. "We must reach Federation controlled space without delay and contact any Fleet Admiral available, ASAP. We are being chased by a Rebel Fleet; because the Captain uploaded a data packet with crucial information concerning the Rebellion::
"Captain Coupe, what have you gotten us all into this time?" sighed Anika dropping her shoulders and hanging her head.
Rylie released her crash-webbings and stood up annoyed. "Computer, I demand to know what we're risking our necks for. What's in this data packet that's so important?"
::You are not authorized to request this information. I can only disclose it to a Fleet Admiral or Higher-Level Personnel::
Ginette stood up too, and placed herself next to her friend. "Well, if you don´t tell us, we might not want to cooperate and just land at the nearest Space Station and change ships." she said with a smile.
::This information is vital to the safety of the Federation. Not complying amounts to treason::
Suddenly alarms started sounding all over the ship. Warning signs popped up in every screen. "What's happening? What's going on?" shrieked Anika amidst the unbearable noise.
::I have opened the exterior hatches. Oxygen levels will become insufficient to sustain life in 2 minutes, 32 seconds::
"OK, OK, WE GET IT! WE'LL DO IT!" pleaded Rylie at the top of her lungs in panic. Just as quickly as it had started, the alarms went silent and the systems went all back to normal.
::I do not wish to harm you, I need a crew to command the ship. I will not lie to you; the odds of making it to Federation controlled space with an inexperienced crew are 200,542 to 1. The odds of making it with you three as crew are even lower, but I don't want to elicit a depressive state of mind on any of you, so I won't tell you the odds::
"Gee, thanks." muttered Anika a bit resentful of being repeatedly insulted by a computer.
::The Federation is more important than me or any of you. Leave the ship and I will transmit to every local law enforcement agency that you are Rebel terrorist in a stolen Federation ship. Please, refrain from attempting to sabotage the mission or my systems. I do not sleep, I do not rest, I don't 'turn off'::
Anika watched as several lenses flashed bright orange as the computer spoke the last statement. "Will you help us?" she asked meekly.
::I will guide you all the way. Listen to my advice and I will make your survival a priority, second only to completing this task::
*Ding*
::The FTL drive is charged. Miss Rylie, Miss Ginette, please man your stations::
The three young women exchanged one last look. Anika nodded in approval and the other two started to head out the door.
"Wait," said Ginette at the doorframe, "Since we're on first name basis, how do we call you, or is 'computer' fine?"
::My A.I. designation is Model WiNDOS 6600. For the sake of simplicity, you can call me WiN::
"Nice to know your name, Win." said Anika with a smile. "Now, let's get Faster Than Light!"
--And so, the flight of the Kreme Belle begins--
Anika paced back and forth with her brow furrowed and her arms crossed. Captain Coupe had left the ship with all of the remaining officers two hours ago. Rylie monitored Anika's path every time she finished a chapter of the ebook she was reading. The only other sound apart from Anika's footsteps was Ginette's munching; which was a fairly accurate indicator of her level of stress.
::Flight attendants, please report to the bridge immediately::
The monotonic digital voice of the ship's computer startled the young women, who screamed in unison.
::Time is of essence, the Captain's signal is weak and the transmission will most likely brake any minute now::
The three women dashed from the kitchenette; the doors automatically opening as they got near them. Anika reached the bridge first and got a glimpse of the Captain's face before the screen became a sea of static and then turned blank.
"What happened?" asked Rylie while catching up to Anika.
::Download complete. Transmission interrupted by hostile force. Engaging Emergency Protocol 2247 dash 321. Flight Attendant 001, please take the pilot's seat and initiate Take-Off Sequence::
"Wait, what?" asked Anika in disbelief. "What do you mean 'Transmission interrupted by hostile force'? And who are you calling Flight Attendant 001?"
"Also, clarify that whole 'Take-Off Sequence' deal, we're not pilots!" chipped in Rylie with a tinge of panic.
::To clarify: the one with the tangerine hair and the giant udders is Flight Attendant 001... :: "Hey!" protested Anika, while Rylie and Ginette busted out laughing.
::The one with the pink hair and overtly thick thighs is Flight Attendant 002... :: Rylie jumped and hit the surveillance camera in the corner of the room. "My hair is peach, not pink!" she retorted offended.
::And the heavy one with amethyst hair is Flight Attendant 003:: finished the computer, with all three women wishing it was alive so they could kill it.
"Our names are Anika, Rylie and Ginette," stated Rylie angrily "not Flight Attendant 001, 002 and 003! And if you think you can insult us-"
::Miss Anika, please take the pilot's seat, buckle your safety-harness and flip the row of toggle switches on the right side of the main panel in ascending order:: interrupted the main computer's voice with a trace of urgency in its habitual monotone. ::Miss Rylie, Miss Ginette, standard protocol recommends both of you to find the nearest seats and buckle-up as well. Although, I require only one of you to fly the ship, having all three of you is preferable::
The young women stood baffled by the computer's sudden compliance. It had never addressed them by name before; or treat them politely for that matter.
::Perhaps you prefer to share the Captain's fate at the hands of the Rebel insurgents. They might be merciful and sell you to slavers; but most likely they will torture the three of you to learn how much you know about the data transmitted by the Captain just a while ago::
"But we don't know anything!!!" interjected Ginette shaking.
::Irrelevant. Best case scenario, they will think that Federation spies are tougher than rockmen. The sensors detect a small force approaching; no Federation beacon detected... ::
Anika jumped into the pilot's seat and fired up the Auxiliary Power Units, the Main Reactor and the Gravitational Thrusters; while Rylie and Ginette desperately buckled the crash webbings of the seats they took. The women felt the rumbling of the powering-up reactor, and the ship lifted slowly, hovering in place.
::Good job Miss Anika. Now, slowly push the Throttle Lever, the one shaped like a 'T', while gently pulling the Control Stick towards you-::
*Crackle* "Starship Kreme Belle, turn off your engines. This is your only warning." *Crackle*
::Miss Anika, get us out of here::
Anika pushed the throttle lever forward and the ship accelerated faster than three shakes of a lamb's tail. In a few tense minutes that felt like hours to the young women, the blue sky was replaced by the cluster of stars and nebulae. After a few more minutes, the computer asked Anika to cut the engines so it could charge the Faster-Than-Light Drive.
::Very well, after careful study of your personal files, I have assigned your new posts according to your personal aptitudes. Miss Anika, your trusting nature is ideal for you being the pilot of the ship; Miss Rylie, your natural aggressiveness makes you the best candidate for the gunner post; Miss Ginette, you are the only one with a Physics Major, under the circumstances, you are the only one I trust near the Engine Room::
"Computer, what is going on?" began Rylie, trying to overlook the computer's remarks and the reveal that "Bubble-Head" Ginette was a Physics Major. "What happened to the Captain and the crew? Why are we in space? Who's chasing us and why?"
::The Captain and the crew are in the hands of the Rebellion." answered the computer unperturbed by the ladies' collective gasp. "We must reach Federation controlled space without delay and contact any Fleet Admiral available, ASAP. We are being chased by a Rebel Fleet; because the Captain uploaded a data packet with crucial information concerning the Rebellion::
"Captain Coupe, what have you gotten us all into this time?" sighed Anika dropping her shoulders and hanging her head.
Rylie released her crash-webbings and stood up annoyed. "Computer, I demand to know what we're risking our necks for. What's in this data packet that's so important?"
::You are not authorized to request this information. I can only disclose it to a Fleet Admiral or Higher-Level Personnel::
Ginette stood up too, and placed herself next to her friend. "Well, if you don´t tell us, we might not want to cooperate and just land at the nearest Space Station and change ships." she said with a smile.
::This information is vital to the safety of the Federation. Not complying amounts to treason::
Suddenly alarms started sounding all over the ship. Warning signs popped up in every screen. "What's happening? What's going on?" shrieked Anika amidst the unbearable noise.
::I have opened the exterior hatches. Oxygen levels will become insufficient to sustain life in 2 minutes, 32 seconds::
"OK, OK, WE GET IT! WE'LL DO IT!" pleaded Rylie at the top of her lungs in panic. Just as quickly as it had started, the alarms went silent and the systems went all back to normal.
::I do not wish to harm you, I need a crew to command the ship. I will not lie to you; the odds of making it to Federation controlled space with an inexperienced crew are 200,542 to 1. The odds of making it with you three as crew are even lower, but I don't want to elicit a depressive state of mind on any of you, so I won't tell you the odds::
"Gee, thanks." muttered Anika a bit resentful of being repeatedly insulted by a computer.
::The Federation is more important than me or any of you. Leave the ship and I will transmit to every local law enforcement agency that you are Rebel terrorist in a stolen Federation ship. Please, refrain from attempting to sabotage the mission or my systems. I do not sleep, I do not rest, I don't 'turn off'::
Anika watched as several lenses flashed bright orange as the computer spoke the last statement. "Will you help us?" she asked meekly.
::I will guide you all the way. Listen to my advice and I will make your survival a priority, second only to completing this task::
*Ding*
::The FTL drive is charged. Miss Rylie, Miss Ginette, please man your stations::
The three young women exchanged one last look. Anika nodded in approval and the other two started to head out the door.
"Wait," said Ginette at the doorframe, "Since we're on first name basis, how do we call you, or is 'computer' fine?"
::My A.I. designation is Model WiNDOS 6600. For the sake of simplicity, you can call me WiN::
"Nice to know your name, Win." said Anika with a smile. "Now, let's get Faster Than Light!"
--And so, the flight of the Kreme Belle begins--
I recently discovered FLT: Faster Than Light on Steam; and boy am I hooked! I love the game, the graphics and the intense drama of life or death situations.
I do think, however, that the "be the captain" premise is false advertisement. Even Picard took a phaser and kicked butts when the Enterprise was boarded. But in the game, when you lose all your crew members it's game over. The only character with a similar role to what I do in-game that I can think of is HAL 9000. And this is the main reason why I love the game!
So I play as WiNDOS, a mildly homicidal A.I. that would make GLaDOS proud. And quoting HAL 9000 when intruders trespass on my ship, and I open the hatches depleting the oxygen in their area is just icing to a very delicious and moist CAKE!
This little story is how I justify having 3 crew members with 0 experience on the ship; and how I explain the absence of a Player Avatar on the ship. When I play I always name the ship "The Kreme Belle" and I always name my crew "Anika, Rylie and Ginette". I plan to do this until I finish the game with them. So far it has been a Massacre-Fest...
...In Easy-Mode. (T-T)
But the journey is so much fun, I don't mind at all!
I do think, however, that the "be the captain" premise is false advertisement. Even Picard took a phaser and kicked butts when the Enterprise was boarded. But in the game, when you lose all your crew members it's game over. The only character with a similar role to what I do in-game that I can think of is HAL 9000. And this is the main reason why I love the game!
So I play as WiNDOS, a mildly homicidal A.I. that would make GLaDOS proud. And quoting HAL 9000 when intruders trespass on my ship, and I open the hatches depleting the oxygen in their area is just icing to a very delicious and moist CAKE!
This little story is how I justify having 3 crew members with 0 experience on the ship; and how I explain the absence of a Player Avatar on the ship. When I play I always name the ship "The Kreme Belle" and I always name my crew "Anika, Rylie and Ginette". I plan to do this until I finish the game with them. So far it has been a Massacre-Fest...
...In Easy-Mode. (T-T)
But the journey is so much fun, I don't mind at all!
© 2012 - 2024 E-2-PA
Comments4
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... I would love for you to write A successful run with this.