June 2951

From: Richard Mercier <rmercier@i-mail.com>
Received on: 06/23/2951, 12. 15am
Topic: Just got home

Good morning,

it is me, Dad… I just came home from a night trip with Stella.

You think that I am kidding with you? No joke… I decided to take her out for a small walk before sunset…. And ended in an eight hour night excursion, taking me up to Bilton Heights in the south. And now? Jesus, I really need a bed.

But anyway, what I wanted to ask you – are you really sure that Stella-girl is a doggy? I mean, she doesn’t bark, she doesn’t howl, she doesn’t pee at the nearest tree or pole. Not really usual for a doggy, don’t you think so too?

By the way – when Stella decided to take me to the night trip, I also recognised something strange – something like small hissing and clicking sounds, which she emitted in a regular pattern. And no, it was no fart or so. The sounds were so silent, that you could hardly hear them… And it also didn’t came from her bum, but rather from the upper part of her throat.

But well, so far, so good… How is your training proceeding? Should still be a while until you come home, right?

Huggies

Dad

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To: Richard Mercier <rmercier@i-mail.com>
Send on: 06/28/2951, 2.39 pm
Topic: Hmmmm…

Good morning, Dad…

How are you doing today? And sorry for the late reply.

We just got home to green circle quite late yesterday. It was a fun evening and I simply loved it 🙂

Indy and me decided to do a small sightseeing tour at Orison. I mean, it is almost five years since we met there. So it is something like a good and romantic dive in lovely memories.

I mean – you remember? I met Indy at Orison during my genesis type rating course. She instead was in one of the the flight attendant classes for the Starliner. I still love to remember these days. It is just amazing how far we came.

But back to Topic – Indy wanted to do some shopping in the evening hours. So we first made a trip to Orison Business Center, then to the Chamber of Trade and finally to stratus mall.

I can’t say, that I was overwhelmingly impressed by the shopping centre. See – yes it is a mall… But for Orison Standards it is rather tiny and small. And the four shops in it, did not made the place a candy, too. So if you ask me, Stratus does not belong to necessities of Stanton sightseeing tours. Especially if you are hot for shopping, then there are better places for that – the best one in Stanton system definitely being New Babbage.

Okay, but at least I have to confess that I got some Orison and Crusader Industries t-shirts. I guess they were worth a purchase as souvenirs. I mean you know me in this matter – I can still be a “good ole’ fan boy when it comes to Crusader starships.

Okay, we also looked at some fashion shops. But those typical Crusader couture is more something for Indy. For me Orison fashion is not really an issue. It rather looks stereotypically boring. Okay, it is elegant. Yes, that is true. But sexy looks different. And last but not least – I hate grey as colour. Nothing is more depressing and boring than a bunch of dull grey clothing.

After the shopping tour we went to Crusader Industries Headquarter, where I could finally arrange a sightseeing trip through the production facilities. For me it was not that bad. We had the chance to catch a glance on the assembly of a Starlifter C2. The last time I saw such a stuff was during my advanced engineering course for the Starliner. You know how much I like the technological stuff. Although it was the boring hell for Indy.

Otherwise, I am still in Hercules Type rating course. So far it is proceeding nicely, although I also have to confess – there is no real big difference between the Genesis and Hercules systems. Both ships share the same design and usage philosophy; they just have a different layout. So the type rating course is mostly something like a match in my own arena.

After the Hercules Type rating, I will also jump straightly into mercury type rating. I guess this ship will be a different number. The Starliner and the Starlifter are both cargo and passenger haulers. On the contrary, the Mercury is a data runner, mostly relying on range and speed. So I need to get used to another kind of methodology this time. But anyway – varieties keep the brain fit.

But anyway, I don’t want to talk about the job too much. So you think that Stella is no dog? Oh come on, Dad, be more realistic. I mean, she looks like one, so she should also be one. What else should she be – a lethal murderer penguin? Just kidding with you. I guess I will make some researches about Stella once we are back on Cassel. I guess you will still be able to handle her until we are home. Will you be?

How are things at home? And what are the girls doing…?

Huggies, Nick.

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28.06.2951, 2.52 pm

Nick, as soon as you say, you are doing it when you are home, I know that you will do it somewhere next year.

Anyway, I have an appointment at the animal hospital tomorrow with Stella. This will be easier and faster than waiting for you :-p

So far Stella treats me well, except that she runs like a bunch of bisons.

Anyway, I will soon tell you what the veterinarian said.

Hugs,

Dad

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29.06.2021, 2.30pm

Good morning, Nick…

I am Stanley McDermott from your local Goss Constabulary. Your dad contacted us this morning… Or what means contacted… We had a more or less extended conversation this morning about your “doggy”. So, do you want to have the good or the bad news initially?

Okay, let us start with the bad news first… Your “doggy” is no doggy at all… It is a Pashbara… A psionic tracker and hunter from Magnus-System. So if you ever wanted to know why “Stella” was so nice and well trained concerning to you, there is a simple answer… Because Stella knew at any time what she was expected to do… She could read most humans minds… Yeah, that is right – she is a telepath.

Anyway, that is the bad news… Amongst others… See, her species also brings some “special” habits. On the one hand the usual territory of a Pashbara pack is around 40 x 40 km, and her body and senses are developed to cover this area in a tight, regular tracking pattern …

This is also the reason why Stella runs you to death currently. At least your dad told me, that you stumbled over this habit already. But we can speak about that topic later.

Another issue is her way of communication… See your dad told me that Stella did not bark or howl. Instead she leaves some smooth sounds like clicks and hisses…

Well, in fact those sounds aren’t silent at all. In fact they are just difficult for the human ear to hear. Normal, a Pashbara can communicate over wide distances, ranging from one corner of it’s territory up to it’s opposing end. And depending on situation they can be quite easy to hear… At least occasionally… But this usually means that they found a track or prey.

Next thing about Stella is – see, Pashbaras don’t have a sexual bimorphism like humans do. Usually during mating ritual it is decided who is “boy” and “girl” – easily described.

But to be true – Stella could also be Hector, or however you want to call him or her. It simply does not matter… Pashbaraughs are sexual monomorphs.

And now comes the really biggest issue at all. As said Pashbaraughs are Trackers and hunters, roaming in packs from 6 to 8.

On their home world they chase prey that is from 4 times to 7 times their size. Their senses and bodies developed to purpose this aims. Even if Stella is quite small, she will explosively gain weight and size over the next few years. An adult Pashbara will weight three to five times of your wife…

And last but not least – it’s bite can crush through your upper leg with ease… To be true – in Stella’s world, you would be pretty much on the lower end of her food chain. Okay, an easy snack or so… But nothing she will her Appetite with completely.

Okay, that were the bad news now. I know they were hard to swallow. So I want to push some good news too.

I made some checks with Stella. She is a healthy and fine young Pashbara, approximately one year old. From the way she behaves and reacts to humans, I assume that she was raised by a trained Pashbara – that means one was used to live with humans. That doesn’t make things better, but for you very much safer.

See, I have a guess about Stella. Trained Pashbaraughs are known to drop their youngest near humans when they are sick, or wounded, or about to die. So tell me, where did you find her?

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