Captain Snowe stood near the seat of the ship's internal controls. As captain, he was indisposable, but at this stage of the ship's approach, it was best to let each crew member do their duty without intervention. Nevertheless, the trip from Luna to Daedalus was four months, and he wanted to keep an eye on the crew to be sure that overeagerness prevented simple mistakes. He didn't fear the tremendous forces at play in his ship's docking approach, nor did he fear the explosive fusion reaction a mere two million miles from his ship. He feared that which was not feared: a faster-than-normal approach, a small overextension of the docking pads, or a hasty cargo connection with the station. Everything ought to go by the book if his crew knew that he was watching them. As Snowe turned to face his own imaging screen, he heard a small click in his right ear - a sign that the bridge staff was receiving a transmission from the dock.
"Orator, this is D.J.A. 5-10, confirming request for docking. We expect a solar flare in the next three hours. Request slow approach and halt at forty miles." Snowe did not reply. The Orator's own sensors had predicted a flare building on the approach, and the crew was already taking matters carefully. Moreover, the appropriate comm was in the rear bridge, where he had left his first officer in charge.
"D.J.A. 5-10, this is Orator, confirming approach request. Thank you for the update, we'll see you at forty miles." Snowe heard the transmission from his own ship. He laughed at the propriety afforded the station by Baroe, the officer. They owed no such thanks, but it certainly didn't hurt to stroke the ego of their hosts. Snowe turned to watch the approach, which continued as expected. They were now within one hundred and fifty thousand miles of the station and closing the distance, albeit slowly. It would be four hours before they finalized the docking sequence.
