Chapter 1 - Captain Smollet

Finally! Delbert Doppler finally made it! After getting through every known pub at the Cresentia Space Port, he now had found a captain for his voyage to Treasure Planet. And the best thing is, that this captain had his own ship, so Delbert would get around paying for an "extra-ship". No extra expenditure, no extra costs.

But he was just bewildered by looking at the paper the host gave him, that offered the directions to the captain's whereabouts. Because after following it, he now found himself in front of the second largest building of Cresentia. He looked at it and gulped.

"What the…!? The interstellar academy?! I think this host maybe got too much fumes through his head while pouring the alcohol!", he said to himself.

What for heaven's sake should he do here?! Was it indeed that the host wanted to make fun of him and now send him to a rookie-captain?!

Doppler was absolutely sure, that this was more than just questionable. But he decided to go to the administrative office first to get some information about this captain.

Now he was standing there in this big hall and was waiting at the information counter for the secretary, a young woman who was about twenty-four years old. She looked at him friendly.

"So, Mr. …?"

"Uh, Doppler. Dr. Doppler."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Well then, Dr. Doppler. How can I help you?"

"Well, uhm… to tell the truth, I hoped that you could help me. I am looking for a special captain and the host at the pub Black Inferno gave me this paper and now here I am."

Doppler gave the paper to the woman. She read it and then smiled.

"Oh, I see. Captain Smollet. Well, the Captain often comes here for a little visit while the ship's stay, but at the moment you should better try it at the R.N. building. There you should find the Captain."

"The R.N. …? Wait. You mean the Royal Navy?!", Doppler shouted aghast.

The woman seemed to be a little bewildered, but right at the next moment her look changed into a knowing one.

"Ah, I see. It seems, that you haven't met Captain Smollet yet. In that case I would recommend you to go to the management section of the R.N. to visit Mr. Trounstedt. He knows every single member of the Navy. Even the newest cadet."

Doppler was astonished. He cleared his throat and then nodded to the woman thankfully.

"Thank you Miss", he said.

"You're welcome. And good luck."

Doppler, who was almost far away to heart it, turned around once more.

"Sorry, but what did you mean by that?"

"Oh, well, how should I say… Captain Smollet sometimes seems to be obstinate in some way."

Doppler's astonishment grew with every word. Because of what he didn't know how to answer. So he just cleared his throat, thanked her again for her help and then left the building.

"So… the Royal Navy… oh well I do know where the building but the management sect-WHOA!?"

The thoughts of Doppler were suddenly interrupted, when someone teared him down. As he looked up he saw a young man, not older than 19, who tried to collect up the papers that fell to the ground when they collided.

"Excuse me sir! I was so badly thinking that I didn't see you!"

Doppler stood up and brushed off the dirt from his clothes.

"Oh, that's not lost on me", he said.

It was then, that Doppler noticed the clothing of the young man.

"You're … a cadet of the Navy?", he asked him.

The young man, who now get all papers together again, straightened up.

"Yes sir! My name is - OH WOW!", he broke his own words, "You are Dr. Doppler!"

Surprised of the beaming expression the young man had, he was just able to look at him without saying anything.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for erupt so suddenly, but… you are, aren't you?"

The rhetorical undertone in his question, remembered Doppler of speaking. He smiled and then shook hands with the young man.

"Indeed, that's me. Dr. Delbert Doppler. Astrophysicist and -"

"- and mentor at the interstellar academy for the astronomical and astrophysical departments. I've read all your studies about undiscovered Creatures of the universe and observatories of the imperial levels!"

"Oh, you did?"

Doppler felt getting a little embarrassed. For sure he was very proud of this title but the truth was, that very few people in his environment thought the same way of him like this young man did. Even his father wasn't able to just shake hands with him, when he get awarded his doctor.

But back to the young man.

"Well, so cadet…?"

"Janson! Patrick Janson! Always at your service Dr. Doppler sir!", the young man saluted.

Doppler felt himself flattered. But at the next moment he had an idea.

"Well Mr. Janson, indeed you could help me with some business."

When Doppler looked at the young man getting more excited, he continued.

"I have to get to the management section, to ask for -."

"Oh, the management section? No problem! Just follow me, doctor. I have the same way as you, because I have to submit a report."

"A report?", Doppler asked after he started to follow Janson.

"Oh yeah. It's from the last voyage I went on. I'm coming directly from the Roger Permont. We were on the way for about three weeks with this cargo ship. We had to deliver some merchandise to the planet Werungia. And this here is the report from my captain."

After Janson paused for a moment, he now continued, as he stopped the door for Doppler: "There you go, doctor. The management section. Is there something else I can do for you?"

"Oh yes indeed. I am looking for a special captain."

Janson nodded.

"No problem doctor. Then you have to go to the same room as me. Come on, follow me."

Doppler agreed and then followed Janson, who saluted in front of everyone they met. Lastly they stood in front of the door of the room at the end of the corridor. Janson knocked and then entered, followed by Doppler.

"Good morning Mr Trounstedt. I've brought you the report from Captain Riggins. The Roger Permont has docked successfully and also completed the mission without particular incidents, sir!"

Janson saluted and then gave the report to Mr. Trounstedt, who first stamped it and then placed it on a stack for incoming reports. Then he turned back to Janson.

"Now Mr. Janson, is there anything else?"

The cadet cleared his throat and then answered: "Yes sir. May I introduce you Dr. Delbert Doppler."

Mr. Trounstedt gazed at Doppler and then at Janson again.

"Well?", he then asked.

Then Doppler had a voice: "Allow me Mr. Trounstedt, sir. Like Mr. Janson already said I'm Dr. Delbert Doppler. I'm here because I'm looking for someone."

Mr. Trounstedt raised an eyebrow and gazed at Doppler.

"Well doctor, that's what we all do at some times. Would you please be so kind to tell me who it is?"

"Oh yes, excuse me."

Doppler handed the paper he got from the host to Mr. Trounstedt. Then said: "I'm looking for Captain Smollet."

The look that Janson and Mr. Trounstedt suddenly gave him did not escape him.

Janson had winced noticeably by hearing this name, while Mr. Trounstedt raised his eyebrow even higher. He took the paper Doppler gave him and looked at it exactly. Finally he said: "Where did you hear about Captain Smollet, doctor?"

Doppler seemed to be confused.

"Oh, I was in all the pubs to find a captain and a crew to hire and at the Black Inferno the host wrote me this paper. Then he said, that this captain would be the best one of all galaxies. But when I found myself at the interstellar academy first, I really thought the host was trying to recommend a rookie to me…"

Doppler stopped. Janson's loudly swallowing was heard well and Mr. Trounstedt's look seemed, like he wanted to reprimand the doctor with a mere glance. He'd said to much, for which reason he now cleared his throat nervously.

"And what for, if I may ask, do you need Captain Smollet?"

"Well, as I said I want to hire Captain Smollet for a special voyage, that will take at least two months."

Mr. Trounstedt thought for a while. Then he said: "Well Dr. Doppler. Unfortunately Captain Smollet isn't here at the moment, but I do know, that there isn't another mission yet. So I can set you as the next orderer."

He reached for a formula and a pen.

"When do you want to start?"

Doppler thought about it for a moment. Then he answered: "Immediately whenever possible tomorrow. I've already hired a crew and I've heard that Captain Smollet has its own ship?"

"Indeed", Trounstedt confirmed while he was writing. After he was done, he gave the formula to Doppler.

"Now doctor, would you please sign this form?"

Doppler signed.

"Well then, doctor. Be tomorrow at ten a' clock at the port. The ship will be traveling with you, is the RLS Legacy at pier number 7. You will then meet with Captain Smollet on site."

"Thank you, Sir."

Doppler sketched a bow to Mr. Trounstedt, then said goodbye to Janson and then left the room."

Now he had to pack up.