Alaine pushed off from the engine room hatch, and flew across the cargo hold towards the crew area. He'd not had much experience in zero-g, and missed the hatch at the other end. He did, however, manage to snag one of the tie-downs before he rebounded.

He felt the vibration of the number one turret launching a spread of chaff and pebble canisters. They would burst like shotgun shells in an attempt to distract or intercept incoming missiles. He didn't like the odds.

Reaching the bridge, he cycled through the internal airlock. The bridge crew - captain, navigator, and gunner - looked at him. Everyone appeared much older than earlier that day. Even the navigator, who Alaine knew was only two years older than him seemed aged in the emergency lights. The captain, normally a bundle of energy, looked past retirement.

"Cap? Sparks says the drives are down, and she can only give emergency power. Three of the reactors have scrammed. She might be able to get one back up in an hour."

The captain of the little trader cursed "Damned pirates! OK, we've got about four hours before they can get alongside us to board. Tell Sparks to do whatever she can, and give her what help you can. Go!"

Alaine didn't bother saluting, just turned and hit the airlock button again. As he did so, he heard the radio crackle. This would be the pirates demanding their surrender. As if. They'd never let them live, even if they did surrender.

"Trade ship Athena, Trade ship Athena, we have you on radar and are closing to provide assistance. ETA two hours."

Alaine paused. That did not sound like a pirate ship. That sounded like some sort of in-system patrol. But this system was supposed to be uninhabited. What was going on?

The voice continued, "Unidentified vessel, this is patrol ship Findottire. Stand down and cease fire. Failure to do so will result in your destruction."

As the airlock hatch opened, he heard the gunner call out "Captain, I have multiple launches on radar, but not from the pirate ship - they are from in-system. Trajectory indicates the pirates are the targets. Time to target is thirty minutes."

Maybe they would survive today after all.

#SF #SFF #SciFi #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #ShamanScout #IAmWriting

Misty.

#bushlife

The year is 1992.
I’m employed by Waldenbooks in the mall.
I’m stocking the shelves with the copies of “The Pelican Brief” that have recently arrived.
Dave with the beard (not to be confused with Dave without a beard who was also working that evening) yells across the store that my mother is on the phone.
I’m 16 and this is still embarrassing to me.
“Hello?”
“Honey, it’s me.”
“ Hi mom, what’s up?”
“I need you to translate something for me.”
“Right now?”
“It can’t wait! I’ll forget again!”
“Okay sure mom, what is it?”
“There’s a song that keeps coming on the radio and I need to know what they’re saying, here quickly before it finishes!”

The phone is put near the radio

“Could you hear it honey?”
“…Yes?”
“Oh thank God! Are they really singing, ‘God Bless Gravy’ or am I losing it?”
“…I’m sorry, what now?”
“Gravy. God Bless Gravy. Is that what they’re saying?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as only an exasperated teenager is capable of doing before I answer.

“The song is ‘Constant Craving’ mom…by K.D. Lang…did you really think they were saying ’God Bless Gravy’?”
“Well that’s what I heard! Thanks honey, see you tonight!”

I keep hoping that I will some day meet K.D. Lang so I can convey the story. My mother continues to be a fan and when she still cooked, sang that song any time she was making gravy.

The Shop bell rang, and a familiar wheelchair rolled over the welcome mat. Meph beamed.

"Miss Angela! It has been so long since Meph saw you!"

"Hello, you little demon!" Angie smiled, moving over to give him a loving horn rub. "Is the big bugger around?"

"Sure! One moment!"

Rith came out shortly after.

"Ho there Ange! What brings you to my neighbourhood?"

She smirked. "I'll remind you that you get brought to mine. I think Shop knew we hadn't hung out in a while."

The wyrm laughed. "Shop likes you as well! Even made themselves accessible for your visits. I thought you'd gotten a new fancy exoskeleton now, though? The Korps isn't exactly short on tech to help you get around."

"I'd never give up my chair. My first gift to myself when I turned 18, it's my pride and joy."

Rith nodded. "So... Book club?"

"YES."

#tootfic #microfiction

It seems self-evident to me that a sharp increase in petrol prices will be almost immediately effective in reducing 'excess demand' in the economy.

But I'm not a sociopath commited to a discredited economic orthodoxy, unlike five members of the RBA's Monetary Policy Committee.

#AusPol