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.Satisfied that there wasn’t anything else of note on the command deck, she accessed her BC node, searching for the local biological access point, or BAP.She located a private terminal built into the CID, allowing only her brain frequency access, simplifying the decryption process required for delivering special priority or private messages.She queued a request for information on her new duchy, thinking it may be prudent to become familiar with her new duties as soon as possible.But as the restricted topics started flowing into her mind, she decided to wait until another day to fully explore them.Reports such as: Alutia Duchy’s Minable and Tradable Resources, Preliminary Habitable Planet Locations, Preliminary Earldom and March Border Estimates, and Defensive, Battleguard, and Fleet Requirements, required a little more preparation to fully enjoy.She moved on, accessing her private messages, finding nothing of interest besides a short note from her older sister, Lady Valia, who had married for love and now traveled the universe as the wife of an explorer.Not the most prestigious of vocation, Sasha recalled telling her sister, Lady Valia, only for her to laugh merrily, explaining that the excitement of exploring the unknowns of the universe was second only to one other human “occupation”.When the eight year old Sasha had asked what particular “occupation” she referred, Valia had only winked, leading Sasha on a journey of discovery that ended with her being scolded by her servant and tutor, Gil’Da, and her being unable to sleep for a week.Sasha filed the message away, planning to reply with the proper candor when she'd settled in, then proceeded to seat herself in the chair of roses, finding it fit her body shape perfectly.A moment later, six, two-dimensional images appeared, at arm’s length, in the air before her, each showing a saluting officer within.Sasha swallowed her surprise, taking a moment to scan her surroundings as she recovered, finding another, larger PDU recessed in the curving ceiling, responsible for the current projections.“Your Grace, please allow me and the officers of the NHA Shuttle ABF Princess One to formally welcome you onboard your private starship.I am Flight Captain Jeb'Tol,” the old, white haired man displayed in the topmost projection said, he and the rest of the officers lowering their salutes.“We will be clearing the Tidelia gravity well shortly and will rendezvous with the Alutia Battle Fleet escort, commanded by Knight Admiral Bhool, within the next 47 minutes.We will then travel to the Tidelia SJS Gate hub, and from there, on to the Vn'Oco Kingship.Total travel time should be a little over one period, or 11 days, Your Grace,” Flight Captain Jeb'Tol finished his report with a salute.“Thank you for the kind greeting and update on our flight status, Flight Captain Jeb’Tol.It is a pleasure to be traveling aboard such a fine vessel,” responded Sasha with the gentle, but commanding tone she planned on using during formal discussions.She paused briefly, pushing aside a wayward lock of jet black hair that had fallen across her brow.“Flight Captain, I am unfamiliar with this particular shuttle design.Are all private shuttles this opulent?” Sasha asked, continuing to push at the lock that refused to stay in place.“No, Your Grace.This shuttle is.special.Unfortunately, I must return my attention to the flight operations.We are still working a few kinks out of the shuttle’s matrix systems and I'd like to be prepa-” The Flight Captain froze.It took Sasha only a moment to realize the reason.her.When she heard the word, kinks, she uncharacteristically lost control of her expression.“The kinks are nothing major, Your Grace, just some minor fluctuations in the NSD core and LPA systems.Both well within fleet operating regulations.But this is the Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia's private starship and even the most minor, inconsequential fluctuation is taken seriously,” he finished quickly, lowering his head in reverence.He’s good, Sasha realized as the flight captain recovered wonderfully.It was never wise to make a noble patron feel anxious about their safety and Jeb'Tol recognized, and recovered quickly from his minor foible.“I understand quite well, flight captain, and I am relieved to have such a capable crew running what appears to be a very fine vessel.” she said honestly.“You are very kind, Your Grace, I will let Flight Supply Officer Xin'Eir provide a more thorough explanation of the shuttles capabilities.if that would please you?” he asked as the attractive, sharp faced young woman, with cropped blond hair, being projected on the bottom right, moved next to the image of Flight Captain Jeb'Tol.Flight Supply Officer Xin'Eir’s expression was one of utter fascination and uncontrollable fear; most likely born from being thrust into a situation she was not wholly prepared.Sasha, noticing this immediately, decided to take steps to alleviate her understandable concern.“That would be fine, flight captain,” she activated the PDU situated in her armrest, taping a command to prepare a private channel, “In reverence to you and your crew I will move my discussion with Flight Supply Officer Xin'Eir to a private channel.I would not want to be held responsible for you missing the appearance of a kink or unexpected fluctuation,” said Sasha with a hint of humor.She waited for the officers salutes to fall before closing the open channel and transferring Flight Supply Officer Xin'Eri and herself to the encrypted, private channel she’d prepared
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