Elsewhere...
"[I'll need your credentials, please. What's you're intended destination?]" The Federation Navy trooper eyed the android standing before him on the other side of the counter. Clad in almost all black, and wearing a long flowing robe-like outfit with an extravagant hood, the android tilted their head ever so slightly. A moment later a card appeared in their hand. The card itself was ivory in color, bearing odd gold markings and an image of an elaborate looking black mask etched into it near the right side.
The Federation trooper raised an eyebrow. "[Uhm...that's not a--]" he started to say, before being cut off by the android. Though in a polite manner.
"[Oh, but it is. Simply scan it, good sir.]" she said, her voice bearing a rather calming tone. The trooper hesitated for a moment, eyeing the android, before lifting his handheld scanner. He pointed it at the card, and made a slow sweeping motion across it. A moment later, there was a beep from the scanner. He inspected its small holoscreen, and his eyes widened. She apparently had special high level political privileges, but what she actually WAS was listed as classified by the Federation's
Office of Naval Intelligence. It did register a name, though.
Eve.
"[...Everything seems to check out. Destination, Miss Eve?]" he asked afterwards, setting the device back down.
"[VOC-1, Vileas. I have a particularly urgent issue to attend to.]" responded Eve, as she slipped the card beneath her robe. "[Alright. Let me see if I can get you a transport. Should only take a few minutes.]" The trooper then shifted about, turning to a holocomputer and beginning to clack away on the mechanical keyboard in front of him.
Eve took a step back from the counter, clasping her hands together as she waited. She looked about the large hall, glancing to the various other patrons wandering about. This was a central terminal for public transportation through one of the many
jumpgates scattered around
Nyx, the homeworld of the Upyri. Here, one could purchase tickets for public shuttles to other locations around the galaxy. It was perfect for the average citizen who could not afford a private ship. Jumpgates were also useful for those that simply lacked FTL engines, as well as for mass cargo transports between the Federation and other galactic empires like Sol, Kosokom, and YsCom. Really the only price for using a jumpgate was a small gate toll, paid using credit chits.
Eventually, the trooper spoke up again. "[Miss Eve?]" he asked, catching her attention. She moved back to the counter, and he delivered the bad news. "[It seems the jumpgate on the Vileas side is down for maintenance. I can keep an eye on things and schedule your transport as soon as I know it's back up and running, if you'd like.]" he stated, to which Eve quickly shook her head.
"[Thank you, but no. I'll be able to use a warp engine equipped ship. I simply enjoy using public transports from time to time. Please, have a pleasant day.]" she replied, before quietly turning about. She soon walked away from the counter. Moving down the hall towards the grand archway that was the exit, her metal heels clacking across the tile floor.
It was the truth, really. She enjoyed using public transport. You got to meet and interact with all sorts of people. A bit refreshing, compared to traveling alone in a personal vessel. But she wasn't picky at the moment. She needed to get to VOC-1, and quickly. Two of the people she cared about most were in danger.
A few minutes later, Eve emerged outside onto a large metal platform. Rising high into the sky around her were hundreds of buildings with thousands of ships flying two and fro. Common place on Nyx, a world that was quite literally covered in an endless city. Home to billions of people, from various races and classes. Quite a remarkable thing.
She turned, moving towards another platform where a cluster of ships were parked.
Her personal craft among them. It was fitted with a warp engine, allowing it to easily jump to VOC-1, but she didn't care for using it too much. A simple perk for her employment with one of the most secretive organizations in the galaxy. Once she arrived at the black W shaped craft, the purple canopy of the cockpit opened silently by itself. And with a simple jump, she landed right inside. It sealed itself without her input, and soon the craft was powered up and lifting off the ground.
The ascent through the atmosphere of Nyx was rapid, Eve easily making her way through the numerous streams of incoming and outgoing vessels and transports before arriving in the blackness of space. And then, it was simply a matter of imputing coordinates. Not VOC-1 directly, but near it. The warp engines warmed up, preparing to jump as Eve hummed along to the music playing softly inside the cockpit. Moments later, warp was engaged, and Eve's little craft disappeared in a flash.
