Opeyemi Hazen - Tanker 2,190 (4679)

Note from the Facilitator:

"Opeyemi Hazen is the administrator of an astropolis, the Soaked Aerie, orbiting Tandua. This is one of his letters "to no one in particular." This one documents Hazen's daily ritual of observing a tanker dock at the Soaked Aerie."

To no one in particular,

Every day or so, when a fuel tanker regularly arrives at port, I briefly suspend my duties as Station Administrator to observe, which, I suppose, is a duty in its own right, though not something that needs my supervision. Today was the 2,190th tanker I have witnessed dock at the Soaked Aerie. Today marks my ninth year as Administrator. Today's tanker was no different than normal. A great orange cylinder, dotted with uniform silver spheres and RCS thrusters, sporting an Indrine logo on either broadside, decelerates, and holds position at two kilometers until traffic control clears it to dock. The automatic docking systems boot and the ship begins its slow crawl toward its reserved berth.

Due to the volatile nature of the ship's contents, at least a half-dozen guns are trained upon it during approach. The docking program is run on a computer that has no authority beyond its hull and can only be accessed via wired connection. These two precautions are some of the most important among many that ensure that this station endures.

The smallest vessels swarm the docks, eager to get their fix of fuel as fast possible; time is money, after all. The larger ships, which are held to a higher standard of safety, can afford to wait their turn. Large freighters spend the most time of any ship in port, loading and unloading expansive cargo bays and refilling high-capacity fuel tanks all while performing necessary maintenance and repairs.

I don't return to my work immediately after the tanker's been seized by the clamping arms. I first admire the liquid azure marble that is Tandua, its crashing waves reduced to a smooth blue from the altitude of orbit. From the dark side, its cities' lights glow a soft yellow. Sometimes, the previous two items are obscured by clouds, which are beautiful in their own right.

It is incredible what has been accomplished here.

Administrator Opeyemi Hazen, 4679.