For one reason or another I found
myself in the Olo station again as it was roughly in-between where I
was and where I wanted to go, a short detour was not a problem. I've
not moved most ships and material to the new alliance location,
partly because it's not really all needed and also my ingrained
cynicism about anything new.
“These carbon based life forms will
never last!”, I say to myself, a little laugh, almost a grunt
escaping my lips.
I knew Roku would be in station, or at
least close by, and I'd organised a meeting in the flesh, the first
in over two and a half years. The obvious venue is one of the
station pubs. Thinking back to when I stepped upon this stations
floors again after all the null security operations, I compared the
stations down there to here, it was remarkable how much like home it
seemed here. The problem with null security stations is they are
either filthy or empty and almost haunted by capsuleers of the past. However the majority of your time is spent in a ship dispensing death, or more
often these days, watching the bad guys while cloaked up and hoping
to get in a sneak attack before you're once again out numbered and
out gunned.
Olo station was clean for the most
part, but it looked lived in, it had a life over and above the people
moving about. It has shops, clubs, pubs, and a myriad of other
attractions for whatever your desire. While I'm not a huge fan of
people as a rule sometimes it's useful for a pod pilot to be reminded
they're around and ultimately they are what this is all about in the
end.
I find the pub I'm looking for and
locate Roku, he waves me over.
“Roku!”, I loudly call out, even
though I'm close to the table, it's noisy in here tonight.
“Hey Yos, good to see you! Damn I'd
almost forgotten what you looked like as it's been nearly three
years!”, he says putting an emphasis on the “three years” part.
I sit down and try to look sheepish,
and fail.
“You know how it is. A week goes
into a month, that month goes into a few and before too long here we
are, nearly three years down the warp tunnel, although it's more like
two and a half years for the record.”, using a rather amused tone.
“So how do you like the changes to
the warp governors? I heard CONCORD made them make the change New
Eden wide to try and slow down our expansion.”, Roku has sort of
leaned over by this stage and tries to say this in a conspiratorial
manner, he's not very good at it.
“Well they've made space bigger
that's for sure, as it now takes what seems like a hell of a lot
longer to get anywhere in any ships that matter. How is it with the
Orca and Freighter?”
“Not great to pretty damn boring,
it's certainly slowed down the hauling operation, but we get there in
the end”, mumbles Roku.
I'm wondering how much he had to drink
before I arrived.
“Although on the bright side I can
now catch up on heaps more Holo Porn while in transit from gate to
gate!”, he adds rather unnecessarily.
It's at this stage my communicator
starts buzzing, surreptitiously I have a look and the news isn't
good, it is time to go. I bid my farewell, by this stage Roku's
actions are confirming the earlier drunk suspicion, I recommend he
call it a night.
As I'm leaving, and on the threshold of
the establishment I give a flourish with one arm while saying, “Time,
tide and wormholes wait for no man. I bid you adieu!”
I'd be surprised if anybody heard me or
cared.
