Looking to Go Home

One advantage of having audio records from past centuries is that accents don't change nearly as much over time as they apparently used to before the twentieth century, so I wasn't having any difficulty in understanding him. "That's actually not so bad," I told him. "We've made a lot of progress in space exploration since you left. Known Space now extends to about seventy light years from Earth in most directions within the Galactic plane. Within another thirty or forty years, I should think that you'll be contacted. But I don't want to wait that long. The trouble is, that a thirty light year journey in one hop is rather too far for the Princess Astra. Would you perhaps be interested in sending one of your own ships on a mission to establish contact, with me acting as your guide and intermediary? Do your ships have that sort of range?"

Whilst I waited for his reply, I took a sip of my drink. It really wasn't at all bad. That gave me an idea. They obviously appreciated good quality spirits here. Perhaps they would be interested in buying my cargo? The only trouble was that, if I could get back to civilisation, the local currency would be worthless. If I wasn't going to go home on my own ship (and leaving the Astra behind would break both my heart and my bank balance), then most trade goods would be of no use either, since they would be too bulky. Maybe they could pay for the Farscape whisky with a case-full of jewels or gold bullion? But I was getting ahead of myself, I realised.

After a moment's thought, Tam answered my question:

1. "I'm afraid that's too far for us just yet."
2. "We do have one experimental ship currently undergoing her test flights that might be capable of doing it."

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree