Homesick

Vlad inserted his key once again into the chief pilot’s console. The board glowed a familiar blue. Then he attached the lead to his hand-held and fingered the menus. The console display flickered wildly as the program passed instructions down the lead. Vlad smiled when the main display lit up gold.

Click!

“Release navigational control.”

“To whom do you wish to transfer navigational control, Captain Sally Buds?”

Click!

“Vladimir Coronov.”

There was a pause.

“Do you confirm Vladimir Coronov’s promotion to command level?”

Click!

“Yes.”

“Transferring navigational control to Vladimir Coronov.”

Vladimir nodded and laughed like a bad card player with a good hand.

“Personal security lock detected. Please insert personal command key or enter security code for final authorization.”

“What?” Vlad said out loud, his smile vanishing instantly. He stared vacantly at the words on the screen in a stunned silence. Then he roared in frustration, kicking savagely at the panels below the console.