Fabula Sidus Infinitum - Silentium Universi

Chapter 1

"The darkness of vast empty space. Spanning in what seems as infinity. Stars in every direction, but the distance is far. Amidst the chaos and entropy, human's dream to reach the star. Rumina Restwell 'Dream among the star'"

"You call that a poem?" says a man in a spacesuit to his communicator, drifting in zero gravity among a ship's wreckage. Behind the ship wreckage is huge debris field composed of various metals, ship wrecks and small asteroids. All moving slowly because lack of external gravitational force. Near the wreckage is a huge freighter ship. It's paint job are faded. While the ship christened name 'IMANEN' and it's ship code in red can be seen at it lateral side. A cable straddling across from it's cargobay into the wreckage. While two man in spacesuit are busy tearing apart the wreckage.
"Do you have any problem with that Rual? I think this is a nice poem." say a woman voice from his communicator. Rual smirk as he rummaging the ship's damaged weapon hull.
"You know Si, Rual won't understand cause he don't have any sense of art." says another man in spacesuit beside Rual. Rual try to kick him but the man dodge. The man give hand gestures as if he try to insult Rual with 'you can't hit me stupid'.
"Shut up Om! Just do your job detach this Recoiless Cannon." Rual yell at his communicator. This is the only thing he can do, vacuum space can't transmit voice with normal means like in atmosphere after all.
"It is not good if you got angry Rual." say Sintia, the voice owner, sitting inside the ship's bridge while her hand hold a tablet display with old poems showed on it. Multitude holographic display and LCD monitors display various ship conditions and surrounding space can be seen around her. The ship helm is empty.
"Aw, shut up. Why in the world you suddenly recite poems anyway?" ask Rual.
"I thought you guys will be bored." answer Sintia. "After all, space is silent. If you hate poems, how about if I play a music?"
"Don't be so noisy, you interfere with my concentration Si!"
"But..."
"No buts. Why do you need to board our ship in the first place? You just need take care the office."
"I just want to tag along. When I'm in office sometime I develop a wish to join in one of your voyage. Gus can take care the office by himself and this place are not too far from office."
"If you just tag along, don't be so nosy and noisy."
"You guys never stop being ear-splitting huh? Anyway, it's done." says Om when he finally detaching the 5 meter long cannon barrel from its weapon pod. The cannon already tied with multitude cable that come from another ship.
"Good job Om. Si, tell Erru to roll the cable, bring this piece of metal into ship."
"OK, Rual. Erru you hear what Rual said."
"OK, Captain." The response come from a man with small build that stand inside ship cargo bay. The fetched cannon now join another various fastened piece of metals. after he finished secured the cannon in cargo bay, he report, "I think that's all captain?".
"Yes Erru. We salvage as many salvageable parts from this wreckage. Time to hit the road." Say Rual as him and Om riding a small transportcraft back to their ship.
"I never think that there were this many wreckage in this place." say Sintia. "How do you know?"
"I only hear rumors that there was a battle between huge pack of Centauri pirates and Corporate trade convoy 1 light minutes from this place about 1 months ago. I figure that sooner or later the wreckage will trapped by Firlo's gravitational influence and ended up as Trojan objects."
"And we lucky the most Centauri ships blew up, so we can get a living selling their scraps." reply Om while reeling the excess cable that still hanging from ship.
"You can say that. I think the Centauri are reckless. You can't beat a fleet of 12 Ronins only with 20s Raider and headlong attack without proper tactics. It's suicide. I can't decide if they brave or just plain stupid." Rual closing the cargobay door after Om finished reeling the cables. After the door finished closing and the airdocks secured the cargobay undergo compression.
"But I wonder why the Centauris come this far to Lalande? Isn't Lalande are one of the central systems of Commonwealth?" ask Sintia.
"Beats me. Maybe because the Charon pirates recently increase their area and the Centauri hunting ground are now dwindling. Who know?" answer Rual while he unclothe the spacesuits.
"Still, they shouldn't die like this."
"This is their job risk, they knew that. It just happens. In space human lives is cheap."

Suddenly ship alarm goes off. Emergency lamp blinking in the corridor.
"What happens?" ask the startled Rual.
"Wait a moment." Sintia then head to Lisanne that sit facing displays that shows ship surrounding space. "What is it Lis?". Just then, Rual and Om had rushed to bridge, Om haven't finished take off his spacesuit and still wearing his innersuit pants. "What happened?"
"Captain, we detected ships signals heading here. From it's visual characteristic, we have analyzed that they are 8 Centauri Raider-class ships. Bearing 48-138. Distance 20.000 km and closing. ETA to this location 6 minutes." say Lis with calm voice and calm face.
"Syhal! Must the remaining Centauri packs that survive the Corporate counterattacks. They must be trying to salvage their friends ship." shout Rual.
"Man. Why they pick this time to show off." Om cursed.
"Captain what are your command?" ask Lis with still calm face and calm voice.
"Run away off course! Initiate our engines, full thrust. Set our course to Unont Habitat Cluster in Firlo."
"Acknowledge Captain. Begin engine initiation procedure. Main reactor engine core commenced. Ready to launch in 5 minutes." report Lis with still a calm face and voice.
"5 minutes!? When that time arrive we will get criss-crossed by hot metals by then. Damn those Centauris." Om cursed again.
"Rual what will happens?" ask Sintia anxiously.
"It's will be allright, it's not like we can't fight back. Lis ready the shield. Om ready the laser cannons. The Centauris has a date with the lasers."
"You don't have to order that. Cannons already online, safety off and ready to blasting! It has been sometime since the babies shoot anything. "
"Sintia you better sit tightly, it will be a bumpy ride."
"Acknowledge Captain. Shield output 100%."
"The Centauri is in weapon effective range. Distance 80 km. Detecting 8 small moving objects identified as enemy projectiles attacks. Evasive maneuver impossible. Hit in 30 second." Lis still with her calm voice.
"Brace for impact!" yell Rual. Then a violent tremor sensed inside the ship with loud metallic voice growl. Although vacuum space can't transmitted explosion sound but, the ship can transmit the vibration caused by it.
"Damage report!" ask Rual.
"6 projectiles are deflected by the shield but 2 of the enemy projectiles attack hit the ship in 20-40 degrees ship side. Detecting hull breech in CargoBay No.2. Shield down to 56% capacity." report Sintia. "How things going there Erru?" ask Sintia.
"This is Erru. There is fire in Compartment B-2. Compartment B-1 has been sealed. I now containing the fire. I think nothing structural major damage happens. I think I'll plug the hole in the hull with Plates later. This is Erru report off."
"Enemy in range!" shout Om.
"Counterattack! Fire!" shout Rual.
Imanen's Two laser cannon shoot several beams of high intensity laser to the enemy ships. Some of them are dodge it, but one is sluggish enough to get hit in the engine. The engine then malfunctioned and without abiding the pilot control the unfortunate Raider ship crash into one of the debris and shattered. The remaining Raiders then turn their course and begin to attack again.
"Captain, engine online. Full thrust applied." report Lis.
"Nice, now get our ship out from this place."
Imanen main engine exhaust light up with ionic blast. It send light vibration across the ships and the crew undergo sudden acceleration. It slowly moving away from debris field.
"Good, I had enough with this goddamn Raiders in this goddamn debris field. Die you all!" shout Om while throwing laser volleys to foes that fly into Imanen directions while shooting their Recoilles Cannon.
"Captain, second enemy attack volley detected." Lis still say calmly without any tense in her voice.
"Begin emergency evasion maneuver. Apply thrust to lateral drives. Yaw our ship 130 degrees and then blast off." order Rual.
"Emergency evasion maneuver applied. Begin applying new ship bearings."
"Om will you shot them down yet?" ask Rual.
"It not easy you know. This little bugger are fast." answer Om without looking Rual. His brain busy calculating weapon trajectory with predicted enemy course that computer gives while his finger turn those information into action.
Then another tremor sensed inside ship but this time it is smaller.
"Damage report!"
"Most enemy projectiles missed. The ones who didn't missed hit our shield. No damage sustained from last attack. But shield output down to 33%. If we get hit again, the shield wont last long." report Sintia.
"Understand. Routed all power from non-essential compartment to shield generator. Lis are we all set to run off yet?"
"Engine output normal. Thrust already maximum. Intended course set. We already set to escape Captain."
"Good. Om keep shooting them, that way they will scared and flee. After all I think they are here not to hunt us down."
"Don't need to ask. I already blast 2 of their ships. The others are all started to pulling away." Om seems relieved, he lied on his chair.
"Affirmative, Captain. Enemies Centauri Raiders are exiting combat space. Distance 300 km. They are not chasing, Captain." Lis say with her usually calm voice and face.
"Good. Maintain our current course."
"Acknowledge Captain. Current course maintained. Destination Unont habitat Cluster. ETA 32 hours."
"Good job crew. You all can get some rest."
The tense atmosphere in bridge faded as the foes disappear from sights. Small smile can be seen in Om's face, relieve in Sintia face, and Lis with her still calm demeanor.
"I'll get some drink." Om rise from his chair and head toward crew's lounge.
"You should get rest Sintia. This is your first battle, isn't it?" Rual says to exhausted Sintia.
"Yes, I think I will. Thanks Rual." Sintia stand and head to her quarter.
"Lis, set the ship to autopilot. You also can get some rest."
"Acknowledge, Captain. Autopilot set." After tidying her console, she stand and head to lounge.
"This is a very out of ordinary event." grumble Rual. "What a day."

The crew gathers around the crew lounge. As the lounge and crew quarter are in rotating chamber it has small artificial gravity that keep various trinkets in the room from floating in zero gravity.
Om and Erru just coming back from finished welding Titanium Plates to teared hull in Cargobay no.2. When they enter the lounge, Lis drinking in the small bar while Rual sit in couch watching news on holomonitor. Rual turn when he hear the door open. "How its go?"
"Not so good, we have temporarily sealed the breech but that hull armor section are not so good anymore, I think we should replace it with a new hull armor." answer Erru he sitting in another couch in the lounge corner and start reading some books from display tablets.
"I'm beat." says Om, lying on the bar. "Lis, pass me a Red Nebula."
"Didn't you already drank couple hours ago?" ask Rual with astonishment.
"Blame my liver for metabolizing alcohol faster than other people." answer Om casually and then drink the beer from a large mug.
"Yeah right."
At that moment, the door from crew quarters open. Sintia wobbly walking, just awake from her sleep.
"Nice sleep space princess?" tease Rual.
Sintia shakes. "You know I never comfortable sleeping at microgravity Rual. Are we at Unont yet?"
"No. We still very far. Lis say it takes another 3 hours."
"I never understand how you guys don't get bored waiting that long. I just sleep again and again and again but we still haven't arrives."
"Well, we have hobbies that keep us sane. Om with his drink, Erru reading his books, me with my holo film collections, and Lis with... with... whatever she does. What you do to spend your free time Lis?"
"Sleep, readying data for ship simulations, and acquiring new navigational information, Captain." answer Lis with flat intonation.
"Well you hear her Si, always a hard worker."
"Maybe I should get a hobby too. How about reciting poems?" she smile.
"Don't you ever try that." Rual didn't amused.
The holomonitor that previously showing the news about new shuttle service suddenly interupted by a male voice announcement: "We interrupt the news to give you new update from the Ares war front lines." A female anchor read the news while displaying films of exploding giant commonwealth star carrier (CSC) from afar.
"We just get unofficial report that CSC Europa was lost in a fierce battle against Ares Orthodoxy fleet at Zheling system 3 days ago with no survivors. When ask for confirmation to Commonwealth Fleet, fleet spokesman Captain Swihart today officially acknowledge it." An middle-aged woman with heavily decorated Commonwealth Fleet uniform stand behind a tribune with Fleet emblem behind her. She speaks with dignity.
"We are sad to confirm that indeed CSC Europa fell in battle with apparently her whole crew. Rescue operation mounted by Point Juno to search for survivors were held back by strong Ares presence in that Area. But we assure you, their sacrifice is not for vain. Fleet Command issues order for 4 CSCs including America, Pasifica, Terra and Antartica with hundreds squadron of Centurions to expel Ares from that region. As we speak now, they already began their counter assault. We assure you citizens that we will bring victories. May Gods help us win this war."
"Currently no further information available as the Fleet has ordered information block and media blackout in this affair as they said it contains high level military secrets."
Sintia face began to pale when she hear CSC Europa, she trembles, the room seems spinning and the next thing she knew, she pass out.
"Sintia!" Rual panicked with the others, except Lis with her still calm attitude.

The crew surrounding the unconscious Sintia in medical bay (that happens to be Lis room). Lis has done several basic examination with portable autodoc equipment.
"How is she?" ask Rual to Lis.
"No life threatening condition detected. It seems that miss Sintia had severe mental shock that cause vasovagal syncope. I already administrate some tranquilizer to her. But we still need professional medical help, just to make sure no major condition missed. That is all Captain." answer Lis flatly.
"Thank you Lis. Erru, please watch her for a while."
"All right captain. You can count on me."
Rual and Lis head to bridge. The monitor shows several huge circular structure that composing space habitats in the distance. Around the structure, numerous light flashing that comes from the engine exhaust from small and large ships traveling from and into colonies.
"Destination at last." says Om happily.
"Lis set our course to Colony Unont-3." order Rual.
"Acknowledge, Captain. Course set. ETA 1 hours."
"Hey Rual, I want to ask before but I hold it back then. You know the reason why Si fainted when she heard about CSC Europa?"
"..." Rual silent.
"Hey, Rual?" ask Om again.
"Her father was one of the non-commissioned officer in CSC Europa." answer Rual slowly then descend into silence again.
Om didn't say a word again, so does Lis. The bridge enthralled with a sudden silent spell.

"Father, do you have to go again? You just come home. You will go for a long time again?" Sintia asking her father, Fleet Major Asrav that just come home after all long time.
"I just come to see you Sintia. This time father's ship will engage in a major operation and yes it will take some time. But if we succeed this war will surely end more faster." Asrav soft voice soothing his unease daughter.
"Father, please come back safely." Sintia just have uneasy feeling inside her. "Please do come home."
"I promise. Come here, Sintia." Asrav hug his daughter. The just instant moment seems a long time for the two of them. Just then a soldier stand in the main door and say, "Sir, it's time."
"Give us a moment please." Asrav give his order to the soldier. "Yes, sir!" The soldiers walk outside.
"Sintia. You know uncle Gus right? Father has arranged you to stay with him."
"But why father? It is not the first time father left me alone in home." Sintia confused.
"Father mission is very top secret. This is only to keep you safe, just in case. Do you understand?" Asrav gently pat his daughter.
"All right father. I understand." Asrav then walk to the main door and weaving goodbye.
"Father! Father! Wait! Father!"

"Father!" Sintia screamed and make Erru shocked dropping his tablet display to the floor.
"What happen miss Sintia? Do you feel not well?" ask Erru.
"No. I'm all right Erru. It's just a very bad nightmare." Sintia trying to compose herself. Where are she now? She saw white-colored walls, various shelf with medical equipment and various personal trinkets, a closet with woman clothes. "It's must be Lis room". Oh yeah right, she remembers why she lost consciousness. "Where we are now Erru?"
"I think we are now nearing Unont-3." answer Erru that now restarting his reading again.
"Thank you. I'll go to bridge." Sintia start to stand but his head still fell light.
Erru stand and asking again, "Are you sure you feel well miss Sintia?"
"I'm fine now. Thank for you're concern."
"Even so, Captain ordered me to watch you. Let me guide you to the bridge."
"Sorry to become a burden."
"It's allright. It is my duty."

Sintia slowly entered the bridge, Erru behind her. The other crew looks quite surprised (minus Lis off course).
"Si, are you feeling OK right now?" concern Rual.
"It is OK Rual. Thank you." Sintia sit in the empty chair while Erru sit in previous Sintia position as internal ship operator. "Just let me sit here."
"If that your wish. Lis send our request for internal docking permission." The monitor show a very large docking bay in the center of colony, various ships are coming out and in from it.
"Acknowledge Captain. Unont-3 control center. This is IE-300 Freighter-class ship, call sign 'IMANEN', ship registration CLS-152-F-297, requesting automatic internal docking permission and guidance."
"This is Dock Control. Requesting ship authorization."
"Ship authorization send."
"Transmission received and confirmed. Internal docking available in Bay 21, guidance activated. Welcome home, Imanen."
"Thank you control. Guidance received. Begin automatic docking procedure." and the ship automatically adjusted it's vector and velocity. The ship entering a very huge corridor that even a spaceship can easily cruised inside it. The walls are strewn with various prominence that acts as docking pod and numerous alcoves that acts as ship's garage. As the ship nearing the destination docking bay, a huge robotic arm reach for the ship and stabilized it. Then the arm take the ship into a huge wall recess that function as docking bay, when the ship are inside the recess, a huge door closed and sealed the recess from outer space, then pressurized it with breathable air. All of it are automatically processed by central AI that guide ships. But in emergency cases, manual drives and docking are available, but not many pilots are trained to do such thing as computers has taking over the role of pilot in docking.
When the bay are pressurized, the Imanen crew start exiting the ship and heading to the dock lounge that connected with the docking bay.
"Ok then crew, we're home and you guys have free time while I start looking for our cargo buyers."
"Good, I need to hit the pubs and get some drinks." say Om enthusiastically.
"Then I'll go home. I think I'll read my left behind books." says Erru.
"OK if you're done or get my call let's meet up in office." order Rual. "Lis, can you take Si to hospital?"
"It's OK, I'm fine. Just take me to office. I want to rest." plead Sintia.
"Ok. Lis take Si to office."
"Thank you, Rual." Sintia says with nearly silent volume.
"I contact you all again when I finished selling the cargo. Keep your handcom (personal communicator) online. OK, you can go now."
The crews send their affirmatives, then they go their separate ways. Meanwhile Rual standing silently, "Who want to buy our cargo hmm? I can't think anybody else than that woman. How bothersome. Better than no one at least."

Cekali Service seems deserted. The front desk is empty while various paper scattered in unused office cubicle. The lone occupant was an old man that cleaning the dust that start to accumulate in the corner. Suddenly, the main door slide. The man walk to the door and trying to say, "Welcome to Cekali service, may I help you." But cut short when he see that the visitor was two woman. "Oh it's you girls. I thought you was a costumer." says the old man.
"Good day, Gus." greet Lis. "We back, Gus." says Sintia faintly.
"Welcome back." says Gus. "Where's the other?"
"Captain went to seek our cargo buyer. Omli went to the pub. Erru went to his home." answer Lis while Sintia lying in the sofa.
"Oh I see." reply Gus. When Gus see Sintia he ask, "Why little Sintia looks so unwell?"
...
"I see. So you already heard that." say Gus.
"Do you think father still alive uncle Gus?" ask Sintia.
"I'm sorry. I don't know. But I know he is."
"Yes, he must be. He has to." say Sintia. She try to held her tears when in ship, but now she can't hold it anymore. "What should I do uncle Gus?" say Sintia, her tears flowing without her consent.
"I. I don't know. I'm sorry." Gus say in his most soft voice. "Lis, please get Sintia a drink."
"OK." Lis goes to canteen in the back room. Gus trying to console Sintia, but he can't synthesized any good sentence in his head, he only can watch Sintia crying.
"Asrav, what should I do?" ask Gus to himself.

Meanwhile back to internal docking Bay no.21. Rual seems arguing with a woman wearing neolinen suits.
"Come on, Shirlai. 200 credits per piece? It should be at least 300."
"That a rip off! 200 credits. Take it or I leave." say Shirlai coldly.
"Come on Shirlai 200 credis per piece doesn't even cover the fuel cost. All right... 250 a piece! "
"You know, nobody want to buy this junk in this place at that price other than me."
"Done. 250 it is. You said it your self. The Market price is 350, I shall get 100 profit per piece."
"What? Syhal. I get conned again by you."
"Don't cuss on me and I never con anybody. I just using creative speaking."
"Yeah right. So how the final deal?"
"Let me tally first. 8 Recoilles Cannon for 250 a piece so that's 2000. 2 Recoilles Cannon for 200 a piece so that 400. Then..." Shirlai citing her list of soon to be goods.
"Wait a moment I thought we agree the price was 250?" protest Rual.
"This 2 gun has extensive barrel damage. We need to calculate the repair cost so for this article 200 is what you can get."
"Nothing escape your eye huh? You such an avaricious didn't you?"
"I'll take that as compliment. Let's me continue. 20 Light Titanium Armor for 15 a piece so that's 300, 2 tons various metals scraps, I give you 100 for them. So you get 2400 credits. I throw 100 credits as bonus, so you get 2500 credits. I'll transfer it to your accounts. Thank you for your business. If nothing else, I'll beg your pardon." Shirlai then give her orders to a couple of man with powered suits and transporter that take out the cargo and move it to a large elevator.
Rual look with disbelieve. "2500 credits? Minus fuel and supply cost 300 credits only 2200 credits profit? After nearly get shot down by Centauri? Really not my luck. Anyway, why is she so stingy?"
"I heard that."

Rual entering his office main door. Erru sit in the front desk reading from his tablet display. "Is there still no costumer Erru?"
Erru shakes his head, "None Captain. Not one since I take the shift."
"Is that so? Business is surely slow as usual." sigh Rual. Rual scanning the office and then ask "How's Sintia?"
"She's sleeping in her room, Rual." answer Gus that just come down from stair. "She's exhausted after crying, Rual. Poor girl. Leave her for a moment until her sadness subsides."
"Yes, nothing what we say will be useful after all." say Om that sitting among numerous beer can's.
"Still, it will be better if someone console her." reply Rual.
"Don't worry, Lis is with her right now." answer Gus.
"I don't think that will change anything." reply Om sarcastically. "Anyway, hows the selling Captain?"
Rual slams his body into his chair. "It didn't goes as planned. That Shirlai is very tight with her money, we only get 2500 this time."
"I thought you say we can get at least 5000 back then?" Om seems disturbed.
"Well, there is a little less useful wreckage on that place than I expected. Scavenging rarely gives lot of money you know."
"Man, it sucks. Garbageman never prosper. When can we do a proper job?"
"Business in this time and day is slows Om. Nobody wants to send precious cargo with our tiny company. Nowadays, most people ships their cargo with bigwigs like Korolov." said Gus, reminiscing the long gone good time.
"As long you give me our salary, I won't say a word, Rual." say Om while drinking the last beer cans.
"Don't worry, this month profits should cover your salary. More or less." answer Rual while looking their company financial report. "Don't worry. I'll look another opportunity to make money." say Rual while he making a paper plane and then tossed it across the office. "But first thing first, we should repair Imanen. I'll go talk with Shirlai tommorrow."

Later that day.
Rual searching for job opportunity in Info-Net but he seems to struggling get his hand on it. Om has gone to CommonMarket to buy some beer again. Erru goes attending his engineering class. Lis still with Sintia in upstair. While Gus watering his potted bonsai.
"Why almost every job on this space is cluttered with word 'Expecting Armed Carrier or Escort'? What are we supposed to take, deadly weapon of mass destruction?"
"Maybe that related to increasing pirate activity in Commonwealth space. You already heard that in just this past month there has been 10 attempted raid on Corporate Convoy right, even when this system is one of the Central Commonwealth systems? I just heard that in other system it is even worse, the pirates even takes over and occupied a whole station. Even the Militia has a hard time controlling it." reply Gus.
"Even so it is preposterous. What are we? Battleships whip ten cannon turrets? How can they hope civilian stand against armed outlaws? Did they hope to create a market of mercenaries? This is like some ancient shooting cowboy and swashbuckling pirates flatscreen film even when men reach the sea of stars."
"Is that means to be a sarcastic?" suddenly Om appears with bag full of beer can and various grain based snacks. "Cause you doing a very terrible job." Om sitting on the couch and babbling, "You should say it with more catchy phrase, like: "Corporate scum wear neolinen su..." His sermon is cut sort when Rual throw a file holder to his head. "What the?"
"Shut up! Nobody want to listen to your useless lesson course 'How to speak like idiots'" say Rual with his usual bossy tone.
"Why you!" Om rising from his seat, but someone tap his shoulder from behind.
"Now. Now. Now. Calm down both of you. So Rual do you succeed in getting some prospective job?"
"Not really, nothing suitable for our ship. Maybe we need to do some major rehauling. Another costly thing to bear."
"You also need to change the laser cannon, I think I overheated one of the barrels when we shooting some Centi yesterday."
"Yeah right." Rual slurred on the table. "Another expenditure. It's a miracle we didn't go bankrupt."
Steps were heard from the stairs, a women with very long straight black hair descending from second floor. Her long pink linen longdress combing the stair steps. But her face was emotionless, she are Lis.
"Woa, Lis. It is rare to see you without your jumpsuits. Now you look like a women. You should wearing this more often in ship." tease Om. But Lis didn't care about his rumbling, she is occupied searching for certain someone. Then she walks to Rual.
"Captain. Do you see miss Sintia?"
"No. Didn't Si sleeping in her room?"
"She supposedly so, but when I finished changing I didn't see her, Captain."
"Did she going somewhere? She didn't come out thru the main door so we didn't see her."
"Maybe little Sintia wants to be alone for now. The girl must be pretty sad." say Gus.
Then Rual hear the sound of main door opening, it's Erru. When he see Lis with her longdress, his initial response was, "WHUA! Who is she? A costumer?"
"She is Lis, bookfleas. Is this the first time you see her?" Om responded with disbelief.
"It just. She didn't wear a jumpsuit, or tying her hair or wearing HMD (head mounted display) glasses. I shocked. I think she is a completely different person. She looks dazzling and, and very beautiful."
"Hahaha, do you hear that Lis. Someone actually praising you." laugh Om, but Lis isn't affected.
"It's OK Erru. I also once surprised when I see her dress like this. Nevertheless, do you by any chance see Sintia?"
"Miss Sintia? I see her just some time ago. I think she walk to section 32. Is something wrong, Captain?"
"I think I know where she headed, I take her back. Guys watch this office for me and Lis nice dress."
"..." Lis pause for a moment and then say, "Thank you, Captain."
As Rual walking outside the door, he realized. "Isn't that Si's longdress?" But it's a moot point trying to figure why Lis wear something like that and why Rual know and care for something like that. It send him shivers.

In the Sideview Plaza, countless people are enjoying the serene gentle dim light that deliberately done so to emulate night as artificial colony lack proper day and night cycle. The night 'sky' is another inside part of colony as it was essentially large cylinder. The 'star' in the 'sky' is the lamp light from the other side of colony. In some section in the colony, there are several huge portal that covered with mirror arrays that function to spread the red sun light inside colony to emulate daylight and several layer of thick crystal glass to filter the harmful radiation. As for this time the mirror are not activated lest the night become day. The outer space and true stars can be seen from this hole althought somewhat occluded by the thick layer of glass. To prevent anyone from falling or stepping on it, the portals are surrounded by tall heavy railing to prevent people who reckless enough. Sideview Plaza is the name of no-building area around this large portals and the proper city, that reused as public plazas or parks. But in someplace, the section of the railings are opened (illegally off course) so people can see the outer space directly from the portal edge, but nobody stupid enough to walk or throwing something on the glass or caused other major incidents, except they want to publicly trialed. So the local authority didn't bother fixing the railing. On this edge, a silhouette of young woman sitting near the edge, staring into the nightside view of the Floris' moon, Torin. Torin seems to dotted with lights that come from the domed city below, as if it was a black diamond with bits and bits of stars it's surface.
"I know you'll be here." tell Rual.
"How do you know?" ask Sintia.
"I'm the one who tell you about this place." Rual also sit on the edge and throwing his gaze at Torin. "You always coming here when you feeling sad, so I figure you'll come to this place."
"..." Sintia still silent.
"Isn't it pretty? You always like to seeing a planet nightside lights. In this case it not even a planet only a small moon, but it still pretty isn't it?"
"..." Sintia still silent.
"..." Rual didn't know what to say anymore. He gives up, he never a good speaker in the first place, he only staring at the Torin for some time until the moon disappear beyond the portal of glass angle of vision. Afterthat Rual decide, maybe Sintia wants to be alone for the time being. "Anyway, you seems want to be alone for now. I only come here to see if you are really here. Don't linger here for too long, if you have finished, quickly come back to office OK? The others are also worried for you." Just as Rual trying to leave, Sintia speak, "Rual, wait..." Hearing Sintia words, Rual halt his step.
"I think they are very beautiful. When I'm a child, back at St. Kats arcos, father always show this view. The planet Incandescent nightside lights. It sparkling like star glitter. He said, he become soldier to protect those beautiful light so I can always see this view. I know that just a pretty words to console me whenever he going to someplace afar. But, whenever I feel sad and I'll see this view, I feel like everything will be OK because father seems to beside me somewhere also seeing this kind of view I see. But now..." Sintia fall into silent again. She trying to hold back her tears and stop herself from sobbing. "I'm sorry, my story must be seems boring for you."
"No, not at all. I find it very interesting. The space is sure beautiful with all those pretty light sparkling here and there."  answer Rual.
Sintia turn and face Rual asking, "Rual, do you think my father still alive?"
Rual pause for a moment and say, "I think there's a great plausibility. After all, a ship as big as CSC Europa should be according to Commonwealth to equipped with numerous escape pods that theoretically should accommodate 120% maximum passenger capacity. I don't believe there are no survivor. I maybe simply overly optimistic, but we can only hope for the best." Rual didn't sure everything he said himself, but he hope its true. So does Sintia.
"You maybe right. Thank you, Rual. I should thank the others too for their concern. Let's go back." Sintia rising and sweep the tears from her eyes.
"Do you fell better now?"
"Yes I do."
As they exiting the Sideview Plaza, they meet the other crew. Om, Erru, Gus, and Lis that still wearing the longdress.
"Aha, looks like what your saying was right Lis. Si really are in here." says Om.
"This is one of the most probable miss Sintia to go in her mental state." answer Lis.
"We worried about Captain after Captain left the office for more than 30 minutes." say Erru.
"Yeah I thought you was lost or something. But I never think you would going lovey-dovey." tease Om again. Rual kick his right leg to Om's direction and Rual loose right shoe then flying and hit Om's face.
"Shut up. Beer-sink. Don't talk nonsense like some person with one digit IQ."
"Hey, I'm just joking! Why do you always mad whenever I open my mouth."
"Your mouth is like a fusion core, if you talk you'll spread harmful radiation. Now let me take my shoe again."
"Why you! Pry it from my cold dead hand if you can!" Rual chasing Om , while Om try to evade Rual attempt to retrieve his shoe. While Gus trying to calm the two clashing parties.
"There they goes again." say Erru. Lis only seeing the fight from the sideline.
"Hahahahahahahahaha." Rual and Om stop bickering and everyone else also quite surprised when they hear Sintia laughing.  And they soon join in the hilarity that ensue, so does Erru and Gus. Lis only carve a small smile in her rigid face.
"Now that little Sintia has feeling better, let's us get some drink and food to cheering up our mood. Don't worry the tab is on me." tell Gus.
"Yeah!" cheer the others. "FREE DRINKS!" yell Om happily.
While they walking toward their frequented restaurant, Rual ask Sintia, something than had bothered in his corner of mind for some time. "Si, I going to ask you a simple question."
"What is it?"

"Why is Lis wearing your longdress?"
"That's a woman secret." Sintia giggled leaving Rual puzzled.

Terminology:
[Recoiless Cannon] : Lightweight cannon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling cannon of comparable size. Usually this achieved by using electrical means like rail gun or coil gun, or using bullets with propellant inside it. Even tough kinetic based weapon are start to out of favour by major space power, it is still widely used. Low power consumption, infinite theoriticaly effective weapon range and the ability to sometime penetrate electromagnetic shield are handy in some situation.
[Light Minute] : An unit of length that defined as the distance traveled by light wave in vacuum in one minute. Or ~1.800.000 kilometers.
[Firlo] : Local name for a gas giant in Lalande system, its official designation is Lalande IV. Distance from it's primary star is 3.2 AU, it's diameter is 24.000 km. It's atmosphere mainly composed by hydrogen and helium with traces of hydrocarbon, ice and methane that giving it a blueish tint with several storm systems (spots) visible from outer space. Firlo has a very thin ring system mainly composed from ice. Although gas giant typically has many natural satellites (moons). Firlo only has 12, with only 1 major moon. This is though caused by gravitational influence from it's main star. Around Firlo was 27 space colonies and stations with registered population around 1.400.000. While about 30.000.000 others lives in domed cities on various Firlo's moons. Economy mainly involve asteroid and satellite mining and processing ore.
[Trojan Objects] : Objects, usually asteroids, that ends up trapped in gravitational point known as Lagrange point 4 and 5 between a planet with it main star. In this point, the resultant gravitational influence from external force are minimal that make an object able to stay in one place for a long time.
[Centauri pirates] : A group of space pirates that originally come from Centauri systems but today it members come from various systems. They usually attack trade convoy, freighter or civilian ship to plunder it's cargo and sell it in black market. They mainly using small, very fast, fighter-class ship called 'Raider', but their pilot mainly lack professionalism and still amateur so an experienced or better equipped ship can deal with them easily.
[Corporate Hierarchy] : A congregation of various multisystemial corporations. The member corporations of Hierarchy enjoy monopoly rights of major trade goods in most Commonwealth controlled systems. Because of a rigid system and very conservative ways to ensure monopoly rights, new member admission was very hard and bureaucratic. The members mostly including shipmaker and shipweapons manufacturing like Makayev-Energia, Honoku-Tomashi, NAMI, Earth Industries, Taikon Ventures, Pasific Defense and Rasiermesser; but also include food company like Senpaku-Hogei and Cloud-9; manufacturing stations; icefarms; fuel stations; hotel chains; insurance company and various vendor chains. The economic power behind Hierarchy is thought as the shadow behind Commonwealth policies.
[Commonwealth] : A major multisystems government entity that govern most of the Human Space. It government systems is akin to Parliamentary Republics, where representatives from various planets and independent space stations can vote for bills. Recently they are in war with Ares Orthodoxy.
[Laser Cannon] : This directed-energy weapon shoot high intensity chemical or electric based laser. The laser cause heating and increase the temperature extensively. It will usually cause the target to melt, overheat or mechanical shear and cause structural damage or internal ship damage. The advantage of laser based weapon is quick travel to target (the beam travel at the speed of light), so target has little time to evade. The weakness is high energy demands so it's not applicable in small ships without sufficient power generator, inability to rapid fire without giving time for parts to cool down and after traveling long distance the laser energy will disperse (so called blooming effect) and become not effective, also ship with armor that can absorb heat very well (like armor made from ceramic) can stand a lot lasers attack.
[Shield] : A means of generating thin electromagnetic field membrane that cover parts of ship from some distance. This field then will hinder enemy attacks. If it kinetic attack then the field will bend the projectile into another trajectory or at least slow them down. If it lasers or other energy based weapon, it will cause electromagnetic interference with it and neutralized it or 'bloom' it outside the ship.
[Lalande System] : A system that centered on Lalande, a red dwarf star class M2V with absolute magnitude 10.48. It radius is 0.46 solar radius and it mass was 0/46 solar mass with luminosity about 0.025 solar luminosity. It has 6 member planets: 3 terrestrial planet and 3 gas giants. Although red dwarfs are abundant in galaxy, red dwarfs somewhat prone to undergo violent solar flare and unleash deadly quantity of solar radiation that hazardous for organic lifeforms. Fortunately, Lalande never produce flares that have dangerous radiation quantity. It's midway location between Sol system and St. Katharine system makes it full with travellers, traders and adventurers. As one of the central system of Commonwealth it enjoys relatively peaceful time if compared with his several neighboring systems. It has 3 stargates. 1 of them located in Firlo orbit, 1 in Sermo (Lalande II) orbit, and another in Cirno (Lalande VI) orbits. Lalande official capital is Yerome City in Torin, Firlo's major moon. The population in this system is estimated about 43.000.000. This number is quite high for system that lack any earth-like planet.
[Unont Habitat Cluster] : A term that refer to congregation of 6 space colonies and 2 space stations, that orbits Firlo. The colony location itself is in Lagrange point 4 (L4) of Firlo and it major moon Torin.
[Credits] : A unified monetary unit that widely used in Commonwealth systems. 1 credits can bought about 20 kilograms packed frozen food, 150 liters of water or 8 kilograms grains.
[Torin] : A small rocky moon of Firlo. Distance from its main planet is about 720.000 km. Its diameter is about 8,400 km with gravity about 0,66 g (Earth gravity). This small moon has very thin (only 0,04 atm) that mainly composed by methane and carbon dioxide. As this small rocky moon has extensive ice sheets and frozen oceans, hydrocarbon deposits, and rich metal ore, it has heavily colonized with all population living in enclosed habitats and domed cities. Its population is estimated 24.000.000, as such this little moon is the most populated bodies in Lalande system. The frozen water, hydrocarbons and metal ores then imported to other part of Lalande system and exported to other system.