"Oh you won't be disappointed there. Orbital only spares three and a half expenses with our flagship liners, and unlike a dead squirrel they're just as lovely once you start playing around in all the squishy bits. They're like the opposite of a geode..."
The captain stared off to the side for three seconds before a quick shudder brought him back to some semblance of reality.
"In any event, you're be able to judge for yourself soon enough. As magnificent as Puddle Jumper is, she's only a runabout for that."
Seabourne pointed to the liner in front of them. As long as a battleship, she sat decidingly on the opposite end of utilitarianism. Instead of armor plating and intimidating weapons, the vessel sported superfluous curves and delicate fins and arches. If everything on a dreadnaught was designed to send the message "Try me and see what happens," everything on an Enterprise was there to send the exact same words but with decidingly different inflection.
"Hold this"said the captain as he handed Scotty the pillowcase."When I give the signal, start jingling that around, in waves getting louder and more consistent each time. We're going to tricksy our way in and step one is a convenient communications issue."
