Chronicles of a Jin-Mei Pilot: The Spoils of War (with ‘roids)

Elizabeth awoke late in the afternoon, bones aching after a long night of working hard on the family business’ first official job.  She silently cursed as she looking at her chronometer and realized Alarus must have been up for several hours already and will probably have something rude to say about her sleeping in.  No matter…as the only two members of the Summaires lineage to take to the pod, it is not like he would fire her for a few extra hours of beauty sleep. 

GSCs as far as the eye could see

As Elizabeth entered the corporate hangar, she took in the amazement of the local refinery’s efficiency and professionalism.  Ten hours later and they had already processed over fifty percent of the raw ore and refined it into precious tritanium.  She admitted her brother has a good head for business and this first job will definitely bring in the ISK that Summaires Mining and Space Junk Removal (SMSJ) needs to get a good start.  She surveyed the hangar as she looked for her brother, expecting he would have orders for her to begin the loading process into Survey 3 for the haul over to the client’s manufacturing base.  The giant secure containers (GSCs) were stacked as far as the eye could see.  Elizabeth realized that this is going to take several trips and it may be prudent to focus some of her studies into other details revolving hauling ships or future jobs could take a lifetime to deliver the goods.  Alarus was not hanging around the corporate hangar so she went looking in the station’s entertainment ring.  As rigid as he comes off in business, Alarus is not afraid to have a good time. 

An hour later, Elizabeth found her brother studying  a datapad at one of the friendlier bars towards the seedier end of the deck.  

Without looking up Alarus announced, “You’re late.” 

“Nice to see you too, brother,” she replied with a smile.  “Buy me  a drink and we’ll talk about work later.” 

Alarus laughed and replied, “I’m afraid not little sister.  The client is expecting delivery of the tritanium within two solar days at their manufacturing base.   I need you alert and ready to leave with in the half hour.  Here is your flight plan and instructions on who to contact once you reach Arant.” 

He tossed her over a datapad detailing a specific route taking her around the client’s supposed rival manufacturing corporations as she groaned at the thought of a lengthier journey due to petty corp politics. 

“I’ll let mother know you’ll be home in time for her birthday party.  She’ll be glad to see you and father will want to know what his ‘crazy pod-daughter’ has been up to lately.” 

The thought of their parents made Elizabeth smile.  “It is always funny how père signs off on all our corporate dealings but likes to pretend he doesn’t know what goes on.  I’ll see if I can find mère a souvenir from the terraforming project that started off in Arant last year.  You remember how much she talked about it?” 

“Yes, that is a good idea.  See you in a few days, fly safe.”