Starship pilot who is about to show the fighter jocks how a REAL ship flies
The radio chatter at Foxtrot station is always interesting. It is one of the few stations in the system where both civilian and military ships can dock. Sometimes the civilian ships ask for a deceleration confirmation from the station, and frequently this turns into a pissing contest. Normally the fighter jocks win, but not today.
Cessna 573 shuttle: We have started our deceleration burn and estimate to be done in 10 hours.
Foxtrot station: We see you are decelerating with 0.1 clicks/s^2 and can confirm your estimate. Contact Foxtrot Approach on channel 4 in 8 hours.
Not to be outdone, the commercial shuttle also asks for a deceleration check.
Panam 2707: Our deceleration estimate is 3 hours, please confirm.
Foxtrot station: Your deceleration speed is 2.5 clicks/s^2, and we confirm your estimate. Contact Foxtrot approach on channel 4 in 2 hours.
This is the point where the fighter pilots come in. Their training profile makes them come in hot, and because they like their brains a bit scrambled they tend to brake late. They do not have to communicate with station for their docking procedure, but can't resist showing who's boss.
Fox 43: Decelerating at 17.3 clicks/s^2, estimated time of arrival 30 minutes, please confirm.
Foxtrot station: In our system your deceleration speed is 17.4 clicks/s^2, estimated time of arrival 31 minutes. Please contact Foxtrot Military Space control for further instructions.
This would make them kings of the station. But they did not count on us.
We are flying the RS-12 reconnaissance vessel. A ship in a long lineage of spy planes made to take photos while moving very fast. Like a significant portion of light speed fast. It only runs economical at those speeds, which also means that getting to docking speed is a bit of a ride. As the pilot this means holding on for dear life while monitoring all engine and guidance systems. This leaves no time to react to the radio chatter. The cockpit also does not offer a way to make eye contact with the RSO, so I could only hope she does the right thing.
Then the microphone of the Reconnaissance Systems Officer clicks.
RS-12: Decelerating at 68.5 clicks/s^2, estimated time of arrival 45 minutes. Please confirm.
Foxtrot station: We have your deceleration at 67.7 clicks/s^2, with an estimated arrival of 50 minutes. But with the distances involved we think your estimate is more accurate.
Foxtrot station: Please contact Foxtrot Military Space control and welcome back to Foxtrot Station.
And that's the way we showed the fighter jocks how a REAL ship flies.