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(Page 2 of 6) Discovery part 3 by Ronald Faltus
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Vergos was a system on the fringe of explored space, and it would be sometime before the planet's connection would be finished. Usual transmissions through space could take weeks to get to the next system. But the Galactic Net dramatically decreased delay time by connecting all the colonized worlds via a string of amplification buoys dropped though deep space that enhanced the signal, cutting the broadcast speed to a few hours. And since space travel was considerably faster than unaided communications, it was usually quicker to hand deliver messages rather than rely on transmissions.
The small craft streaked to the edge of the city, diving down the main avenue that crossed through dull concrete buildings towards the starport. Even though it was still early in the evening, the streets were empty. Vergos City was referred so in name only, actually only about a few thousand people lived here. Most worked at the starport, while a few more were employed in planet administration. Only a few amenities existed on this backwater planet, and form the commotion that pumped from the corner tavern, the populace was well into an evening of diversion. Gareth sped by, seeing the high walled starport come into view, hoping that he could find transport at this hour.
Sliding to an abrupt halt, Gareth cut the power and jumped out of the cockpit. The overtaxed engines spooled down, the whine fading away seemingly out of exhaustion. Racing to the main entrance, Gareth rounded the corner and almost knocked a flight-teck over. Not bothering to excuse himself, he pushed by and hurried to the departure board. The realization that the terminal was empty barley registered in his mind, but once Gareth saw the list of outgoing flights, he understood why. Nothing was leaving anytime soon, in fact the next passenger flight that world get him anywhere was days away. Such was the norm for lightly settled, far-flung systems like Vergos.
Gareth staggered back, finding comfort into a plush couch. Exhaling deeply, he sank into the seat, raising his hand and pressing it firmly against his forehead. It had been hours since his exchange with Kenneth, and Gareth was exhausted, spent from his cross county flight. The plan was frantically assembled in his mind, get to starport, find transport, and contact someone with the ATDP to countermand Kenneth's orders. He knew, but wouldn't admit it to himself, that the chances of a ship departing to a net enabled system were slim. Now, sitting in an empty terminal, Gareth tried to come to grips with the fact that he was suck here for the next few days, decreasing his chances keeping Kenneth from snatching his discovery away from him.
Gareth tried to relax, mentally unwind and accept the inevitable. Kenneth was his superior, and without anyone else in the region to overrule him, he was going to do just about anything he wanted. Sinking deeper into the couch, his mind reflected back to the hatch. The excitement of its discovery had become tainted with the workings of the corporate entity that employed him.
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