Gamma Mining Operations, BSC

At age 28, Captain Susi Raynard-Velas was the youngest captain to be given command in the BSTA fleet. Although her mother was Fleet Admiral, no one begrudged her the commission. Everyone knew how much Susi had worked for it. No other ‘Boot Camp’ graduate had spent as much time attending BSTA Academy classes.

The BSTA Iron Albatross, fourth chartered BSTA Albatross mining vessel, was assigned to her command June 20^th 584 PR/5 BS. Captain Raynard-Velas was introduced to the ship at Beldor V Orbital Docking Facility on the 34^th of that month. According to the terms of her commission she was under the command of Mining Admiral Kif Davis of Gamma Mining Operations, BSC. The hard, fine lettering of the GMO logo was already painted on the plasti-metal hull of the Iron Albatross. GMO was the first competitor to Mining Admiral Norm Frank’s Mining & Extraction, BSC. The Captain was glad not to have been assigned to M&E. Had she been, she knew that she would almost definitely broken away to GMO, had they offered. She was certain Kif Davis, a 45-year old ex-Jewelry salesperson, had requested her specifically to command GMO’s first vessel.

Kif Davis walked into the ODF’s Main Meeting Facility only ten minutes after she had. Kif smiled her warmest smile and took Susi’s hand. “Thank you for working for me, Captain,” she said.

“I feel that the pleasure is all mine, Admiral Davis. I know certainly that I will be much happier working for you than for Admiral Frank.”

Kif blushed and ...

The Beldor Space Transit Authority

Post Republic Year 579; Beldor Space Year 1

Captain Jon Velas was the obvious choice for the Chair Person of the Beldor Space Transit Authority. He approved of the plans and offered to market them, but did not wish to take the position. He suggested Vice-Captain Erin Raynard, his wife.

The BSTA Falcon was the first train put into service. It was ten years of hard labor to see it off the ground, and much of the planet was there at its launch. Based on ATS’s Hawk class, the train was a sight that put tears in many eyes on that day.

The most memorable experience for most of those gathered there that day, wasn’t the witnessing of the reopening of the main rail (the secondary had remained active throughout the interim), or that slow acceleration of the Falcon itself. The Governor-Elect, Mr. Jamis Tylor, gave his heartfelt and ad-libbed speech, which we now know as his Incredible Visions speech.

For all of us this is a momentous occasion, but little do we realize the significance of it… In this moment of great despair we seek hope. It is a decision that we shall not regret.

“Beldor IV Command, this is the BSTA Falcon requesting dock.ââ ...