Date:	October 9th, 2349
Location: Gamma Draconis, Alpha Station 1

	Commodore Veronica Christensen looked out the thick window, only a few centimetres of dura-glass separating her from the cold vacuum of space.  Her flagship, the GTD Eternity was just pulling out of the Ganymede class shipyard, under full power for the first time in six months.  She lifted the warm mug of tea up to lips and gently blew steam away.

	The flag officers mess on Alpha Station was lightly populated, only Commodore Karl Wittmann from the GTD Illustrious sat nearby.  The lights were dimmed, as was customary at the late hours of the night shift.  A small construction pod whisked by the window, Veronica didn't even notice.

	"I don't see why you're so concerned.  I would be ecstatic if my flagship had just been equipped the latest in warship technology." Karl remarked, his German accent thick even after centuries of cultural mixing.

	Veronica sighed.  "The latest in *experimental* warship technology you mean."

	Karl stood and walked over to stand beside her.  "You were there during the weapons testing, you know what your new main gun can do.  I mean the beam sliced through an asteroid with heavy duranium deposits.  What else do you want?"

	"A proper shakedown cruise, not guarding the civilian fleet when we evacuate in two months."

	"A shake down cruise?  To where, the Nebula?  Do you really want to die that badly?" Karl glared at her.

	She sipped her tea, still a little too hot for her.  The temperature of the tea didn't really bother her, the station was perpetually cold anyways and the mug served as a great way to warm her hands as well.

	"Three years ago, I had never even heard of disruptor beams, or HE beams, and this new type of armour plating.  If you ask me, taking an entirely new technology from the drawing board to full deployment in that short of a time is asking for problems.  The only thing I have any faith in is the new small craft shield generators and they're not even ready yet."

	Karl nodded, Veronica had a point after all.  Proper testing of new technologies would require years of testing and development.  Even he had to admit that he was a little skeptical about the new hardware.

	"I take it that you aren't too thrilled about the GTXCv Prometheus then either."

	Veronica snorted.  "No.  The entire front end of that ship is a weapon and even then its guided by some new type of targeting computer.  To top it off, the corvette needs an entirely new design of reactor just to power the main gun.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that ships wrath but I wouldn't want to serve on board her either."

	"I agree.  Those new classes of cruisers are also something to look at.  The Orc is considerably more dangerous than the Aeolus to both fighters and warships.  But we were both at the briefings so I don't have to tell you."  Karl turned and began to walk out of the officers mess, he stopped and looked back at Veronica.  "Come, you really must get some sleep before you ship begins system trials tomorrow."

	She nodded and walked away from the window.  There was much to be done with so little time for rest.  Best get as much as sleep as you can when you can, because you never know when you'll get another chance.