After returning from Community Goal work at LP 128-32, Commander Altsain was looking forward to a few relaxing days tending to various business interests – a bit of hauling in the Heffalump, maybe some salvaging with the Bonepicker, fast short haul runs to LQ Hydrae in the Princess Fufu and, of course, sight-seeing in the Cosmic Flipper.

However, the commander had not counted on the Thargoids. Having tussled with them in the past, Commander Altsain knew how nasty these mysterious aliens could be. They had struck at several outposts among the Pleiades, and the Cobra MkIII Bonepicker had been purchased specifically to rescue drifting life pods from their clutches before the salvaging company had been properly founded.

Now news was coming in that the Asami Orbital station at Pleiades Sector JC-V D2-62 had been hit – a mere 298 light years from Rhea, and way too close to the core systems for comfort. Looking at the pattern of burning stations on the galactic map, it seemed very clear that the Thargoids were making a beeline for civilised space.

Anyway, people were still trapped in the Asami Orbital so, after quickly swapping the point defence system for a heat sink launcher, the Cosmic Dolphin boosted out of Rhea and began the 12 jump journey to the Pleiades.

There might be other ships far more capable for a rescue mission of this nature, but Commander Altsain remembered an old Earth legend about an evacuation at some place called Dunkirk – people were rescued not just by big transports but lots of smaller traders and pleasure craft, all massing together in a fleet to bring everyone back. If enough commanders joined in the effort at Asami Orbital then everyone could be saved, and the Cosmic Flipper would do its part!

Besides, what is better than being rescued? Why, being rescued in first and business class comfort, of course!

When the Cosmic Flipper finally arrived, the Medical Ship was already in orbit close by the station, but Asami Orbital was clearly in a bad way.

Traffic Control was broadcasting an emergency message, pleading for help, which the Cosmic Flipper was all too happy to provide. Flying down the length of the station, it was obvious it had taken a real battering. Huge parts of the superstructure had broken away and nearly every section was raging with fire. Those that were not were covered in Thargoid gunk.

It was worse inside the hangar.

Automatic docking controls were down, so Commander Altsain had to perform manual docking and was thankful of the time recently spent in the Antimony Sun during the Community goal (the Type-7 has no docking computer).

Inside, everything was on fire, and the Cosmic Flipper had to pick its way carefully through massive pieces of floating wreckage that dwarfed the tiny ship, jettisoning heat sinks as the temperature on board soared with terrifying speed. The Cosmic Flipper caught a lump of burning debris on a fin and was sent reeling, Commander Altsain fighting the controls to bring it back on course to the landing pad.

Once landed, the docking mechanisms kicked in, bringing the Cosmic Flipper down into the maintenance area that, while also burning, was thankfully a lot cooler.

The doors of the Cosmic Flipper opened and a deck officer immediately ran in, asking Commander Altsain how many people the ship could carry out of the burning station. Twelve, Commander Altsain said proudly, not entirely sure why the officer looked a little disappointed.

A dozen civilians dived on board and quickly made themselves comfortable, though they did not seem all that interested in the complimentary peanuts that Commander Altsain feels are a signature of Cosmic Flipper Tours. Safely strapped in, the Cosmic Flipper was rotated to the launch pad and granted permission to leave.

Just as the ship started rising on its thrusters, a huge explosion erupted just to its port flank, sending the Cosmic Flipper tumbling. Seeing the exit corridor spinning to the front of the ship as sparks started spitting from the overheating cockipt, Commander Altsain battled with the controls desperately, popped another heat sink, then boosted forward.

Trailing smoke, the Cosmic Flipper flew arrow straight for the exit as flames licked all around – and was then outside in the cool, sweet void of space!

The Medical Frigate was just a few seconds away in supercruise, so the Cosmic Flipper quickly hopped over and docked. Some of the passengers were so pleased with the ship’s high-end cabins that they left sizeable tips behind (Commander Altsain guessed they had been impressed by the peanuts after all).

Knowing there were still a few million people left on Asami Orbital and that a complement of 12 evacuees were just not going to make any real dent, Commander Altsain saluted (o7ing, we call it) the crew of the Medical Frigate, then blasted off to make another run.

The Cosmic Flipper made several runs that day, rescuing more than fifty people overall (that is going to look really good in the company brochure when the ship returns to the core systems). However, larger and better equipped ships started to show up, so Commander Altsain figured they might do better without the Cosmic Flipper getting in the way.

Satisfied that a good job had been well done, Commander Altsain turned the Cosmic Flipper back for Rhea, intent on giving the ship a new coat of paint to remove all the scorch marks it had sustained.

Once again, the Dolphin-class had demonstrated its amazing versatility…