I arrive on the edge of the solar system, the high pitched whine of the hyperdrive fading to a deep, distant hum, the central star is visible out of the left viewport while it’s lone orbiting planet is a distant disc of green.
Engaging the jump drive, the nearby stars turn into long streaks as I speed towards the planet and it’s orbiting space station.
Suddenly, the drive becomes mass locked and as I look at my nav computer, three yellow flashing blips representing pirate vessels appear and are approaching at speed. Pivoting the ship towards them, I unleash a fearsome barrage of laser fire. One Krait attack craft bursts into a fiery explosion, the tenrils of flame licking the hull of a second Krait, which decides the risk is too great and turns tail, running from the fight. The third ship, a Gecko - fast and highly maneuverable - bobs and weaves towards me with an agile, eerie grace.
It shoots past my starboard side and I brake and turn, hoping to catch it from behind. Unfortunately it is too fast and I turn and turn, eventually crashing into it (as these things seem to happen), depleting one of my four shields, but destroying the pirate vessel. I shrug. My on board computer contacts the Galactic Navy and my account is credited with the bounty offered for the pirate’s destruction.
I turn back towards the planet and once more engage the jump drive looking forward to the profit I will make on the contents of my cargo hold and making a quick mental calculation as to how many more runs will be required before I can fit that beam laser to the front gun mount.
Soon I approach the space station and expertly pilot my Cobra Mk III towards it. I approach at dead slow speed for the last hundred metres, when suddenly the businessman next to me turns the page of his overly large newspaper, nudging my arm and sending the stylus skidding over the screen of my PDA. My ship slams into the side of the space station destroying my cargo, my ship and sending another Commander Jameson to an early grave.
Shit.
I hit the pull down menu button and reload my game, hoping to be a little more fortunate this time.
My name is Alex, I have Elite on my Palm, and I no longer dislike travelling into work.
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