Name notwithstanding, the speed of the Petrachelys Patrol Frigate had left Hao Ren grinning from ear to ear. It was so much faster than civilian transport ships—it took them just an hour to complete the eight-hundred-light-year journey, and that also included photo stops, sightseeing at reduced speed, and detour-adventures. In short, it was incredible. In fact, speed wasn't an appropriate measurement: once fired up, the superluminal engine drove the spacecraft at faster then light speed. Hao Ren didn't know if he should call it a 'cruise' as when they were cruising in the hyperspace bubble, it was like spatial shift.
But this was just in cruise mode. The frigate had another capability—warp jump. It could hop between two worlds as well as between two point in the same world. But warp jump required charging and charging took time. Using warp jump capability would place additional load on the frigate's drive system. Raven 12345 had suggested that, unless it was absolutely necessary, short distance journey of a few hours should be in cruise mode. This was to ensure the frigate was always at its best and be ready to respond to any circumstances should it arise—a SOP every captain should know.
However, Hao Ren was still a long way to becoming a real captain. At least he needed to get a crash course on all the information contained in the MDT. He might be the owner of the frigate but was on name only; what he did was just set his destination, and the main flight computer and his MDT would handle the rest. Was he a captain? Not yet.
After passing through the anti-reconnaissance shield, the guidance lights of Kuiper Station were within view. The last time he depart from here by hitch-riding, but in just a short span of two days he came back with his own official spacecraft. Excited was an understatement, he actually couldn't wait to flaunt it.
Luckily, there was no-one here whom he could show it off to.
"Landing request sent—landing permission granted. The spacecraft will land on a special docking zone." The main computer reported with a soft but monotone of voice in the cockpit. Petrachelys was flying slowly toward a detached building at the side wing of Kuiper Station. The MDT was exclaiming excitedly, "Hurrah, hurrah! What a perfect first flight! I am made for this spacecraft! Quick, weld me down into that hole permanently!
Hao Ren grabbed a bottle of '502 Superglue' pretending to tip it all on the MDT. "Say that again? You want me to give you a hand, huh?"
The MDT immediately shut up like a church mouse.
"From now on, your spacecraft will dock here." Raven 12345 came up and looked in high spirit. I fact she just woke up—she dozed off as soon as the spacecraft was departing for Kuiper earlier. Pointing at the hologram of the Kuiper Station side wing she said, "The special docking station's reserved for agents and official spacecrafts of other empires' use. Remember, you have special privileges in the world of human civilization, that include priority right of way in any flight paths, exemption from transit inspection, usage rights to Stargate and unlimited docking time at any space station. But that doesn't mean you could become a bully, you must act according to the prescribed rules, like strictly dock at the prescribed bay only, not to hang around the main flight path for non-official duty, not to expropriate civilian spacecrafts and facilities in the space stations for personal use, and strictly no shooting at neutral party. I don't want to get any complaints about you floating these rules. I knew what you were thinking the moment you were overcome by your own excitement."
Hao Ren was cracked up, he was happy for Raven 12345's business-like approach. "Don't worry, you can trust me. By the way, that's a lot of privileges!"
He did not have a clue what 'priority right of way', 'exemption from transit inspection' and all that stuff meant, but he knew these were coll privileges. He now became even more curious.
"An agent is the protector who ensure the universe works normally and civilizations develop safely.
Don't be surprised. I know what you're thinking. You think the things you do are trivial but I've got to tell you that there are more to what I've assigned you than meets the eyes. But let's talk about that later. In short, authority follows accountability; you've got to live up to the name and the privileges you have and earn the respect. Notice the crew at the pilot aircrafts and port facilities? They're working for the empire with a sense of honor. You've got to show you're worthy of their hard work."
Though Raven 12345 always sounded loud and harsh, but not without reason. After having an earful, Hao Ren was feeling heavy with his sense of responsibility fired up. Because of his lackadaisical attitude, he felt sorry for the crew at Kuiper Station and the 883 transport ship which had given him a free-ride. A fire was now within him, he felt like going out there and finding some villains of the dark force to perish together with them. The fire had burned for a mere six seconds before Raven 12345 confided. "But these people work overtime because the pay was good and the parvenus from Fairy Void Consortium were the shareholders of Kuiper Station. I was just igniting your fire, the sense of responsibility—and I got it all from corporate management self-help books..."
Hao Ren: "...Can't you let my fire burn a little while longer?"
Raven 12345 chuckled. "Just mind you own business. If you screw up, I'm going to screw you, right and proper."
As they were speaking, the spacecraft docked. The port was a large facility similar to the No. 4
Connecting Port. The interior was so huge that it could easily put another five spacecrafts in here. Hao Ren hadn't done with Petrachelys yet but he had to leave it. As he disembarked, there were a few crew at the personnel platform and one of them was the lady guide.
"Welcome back, sir." The lady guide smiled. She bowed politely as the personnel behind her saluting him. Hao Ren was flattered: he wasn't a hero, he was just bringing back an egg from a foreign planet—and egg was more important than him as well...
"Oy, didn't you should greet me?" Raven 12345 jumped to her feet. She pulled up a light ring behind her head as she yelled. "I'm your Goddess, your Highness!"
"Yes, yes, Your Highness. We actually noticed you," The lady guide smiled as she looked at Raven 12345. "but we weren't sure whether you were playing layman or not, so we didn't dare to speak a word... guys, please greet our Goddess: Welcome Goddess, the omnipotent, the almighty—"
Raven 12345 quickly stepped aside and said, "Ease up, I think I better pretend to be a layman now. Just act you don't know me."
Hao Ren was surprised: another side of the Goddess' personality? She seemed to know everybody in Kuiper Station. Hao Ren was more the curious to know more about her every life.
Meanwhile, an old man with overgrown white hair and moustache pulled up to Hao Ren; the man looked like he was in his senior year but still energetic, dressed in a crease-free blue uniform reached out to shake Hao Ren's hand. "Sir, I'm the station master. You can call me Dan Moss. Sorry for not greeting you earlier, I was busy."
Then the old man pointed at the lady guide. "Let me introduce. She's my grand daughter, Lulu. I guess you've met her before."
"Nice to meet you." As Hao Ren and the old man shook hands, he sensed a strange aura in the man. But before he know what it was, Raven 12345 broke in with her introduction. "Dan Moss was the commander of the empire. He's from Pan Galaxy Commonwealth. He was dead in a battle but resurrected and left the army to become the station master here. You might want to know him more, because you might need him in the future."
Hao Ren was left in a maze after the introduction: "Dead? Resurrected?"
"Yes, I died four times. The last time I died I was barely brought back to life." The old station master sounded as if it was a routine matter. "When going into battle with Xi Ling Disciples, dying a few times wasn't unusual. But they told me that if I died again, I'd certainly die for good, so they discharged me. Don't worry, I know the empire affair inside out. I'd be happy to help if you need my assistance."
By now Hao Ren was already as confused as a bee, he nodded his head and uttered repeatedly,
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you..."
An old man who had died four times. Could you believe that?!