Every flight deck is the same. This, of course, is within reason and accounting for manufacturers own flourishes. The simple practicalities of Lakon Spaceways vehicles compared to the exotic richness and sleek lines of Gutamaya ships. Nevertheless there are certain core elements to flight deck controls. Their use and implementation comes down to nothing more scientific than personal preference.
Ever since obtaining my Pilot’s Federation license, this particular commander has enjoyed and swears by the precision of an antiquated QWERTY keyboard and a pointing device for all things flight, trade, combat and exploration. My fingers dance across the keys activating, attenuating, disintegrating and propelling various controls and systems. I could, and probably have, done this is my sleep more than once.
In a galaxy swarming in variables, transitions and inconsistencies the one constant of the Milky Way would be this commander’s love of the skip’s keyboard. However this last weekend my perception of flight was changed irrecoverably by a fellow trucker, CMDR Daman1122, after discussing our most perilous tales of combat. I was convinced I would never change, standing stubbornly against the tidal swell of the other members of the Pilot’s Federation. However my eyes have been opened to the subtleties of the H.O.T.A.S. control system. I now glide through star systems, executing grandiose arcing turns which eclipse the orbit of the stars and planets of the SpyGlass III exploration mission. The old muscle memory has given way to new graceful movements that flow as one with the path of my Asp Explorer. The Cantankerous Astrolabe and I are more connected than ever before as we communicate through the pressure and feedback of the new control system.
My sincere thanks to CMDR Daman1122 for this game changing opportunity. Now onward, and the second star to the right to complete the trilogy of the SpyGlass mission.