This week with Arlene and Jeff:
...While she had been lecturing, Arlene had brought Ship up to 35,000 feet in a matter of ten seconds, which allowed her passengers to get a feel for the speed, though in reality, it was only a small percentage of what Ship was capable of. Nevertheless, for those who had not had the experience, and also knowing, approximately, how long it takes for an airliner to reach cruising altitude - generally around 35,000 feet depending on direction or other variables - there were several people who were quite impressed.
Arlene went on, "Now, we just dawdled up to 35,000 - or flight level 350 in pilot speak - but we want to get a good view of the Earth, so we're going on up to stay slightly lower than the lowest satellite. Oh, I'm not worried about running into any of them - Ship can maneuver around them with ease, and will remain invisible and undetectable, but I want us to remain low enough to give a really good view of the planet." While she spoke those few sentences, the view on the holo screen changed, and within seconds, they were in space.
"That was rather quick, wasn't it?" she asked. "But really, Ship could have done it many, many times faster. Ann and I frequently ascend to synchronous orbit, twenty-two thousand miles and change, in just a few seconds in our interceptor. Without the inertialess drive, such acceleration would smear our bodies across the bulkhead, of course."
As she lectured, day turned into night, the cities appearing as sparkles of light below them. As they continued, Arlene told everyone to watch the horizon. Moments later, there was a hint of light that soon changed into a crescent before they were quickly in daylight again.
A little later, the screen showed the blackness of space with billions of pinpoints of light as Arlene ordered Ship away from the planet. "Navigator?"
"Course verified and laid in, Commander."
"Stand by for warp," Arlene said over the intercom.
Have a goodun;
Roust