Journal of First Mate Asher Landerson: Excerpt 1

I signed on to fly to TT Epsilon, drop off and pick up special cargo, and fly back.  I signed on to be paid wages.  I did not sign on to shoot past TT Epsilon going somewhat over the speed of light, going to some distant colony, with the rest of the crew thinking it’s some sort of great adventure.  I didn’t sign on for adventure, I signed on to do a job.

But no.  Instead the cargo turned out to be supplies and fuel for long-term travel.  Instead I have been told that my wages are a sham, and I am to be paid some minuscule percent of the venture’s profit.  The captain thinks this miniscule percent will be larger the agreed-upon wages.  I don’t care.  If I wanted to maybe make more money, at higher risk, I’d have asked for a percent of the profit.  But no.  He can’t even guarantee that he will pay my wages out of his profit.

Worse, I can’t get off this damned ship.  It would have been nothing for them to drop me off on TT Epsilon, pay me my damn money, and be on their way.  The captain doesn’t even seem to want a first officer.   But no – they want this to be a secret.  Well, it’s a secret alright – it’s a secret kidnapping!

But I am a professional.  Even if the rest of the crew spends their time daydreaming about glory or shagging in the engine room, I’ll be doing my damn job.  And I better, too, since the captain is some rich brat with more dreams than sense.