Hate Is Not a Strong Enough Word

Rolando hated space travel, he hated everything about having to strap in and prepare for weightlessness. He hated having to wear a suit just in case things went badly. He hated how small and cramped things were and how often you were just as likely to bang your head off something despite being weightless. It was the worst thing. Everything about space travel pissed him off, he always guessed he had inherited this from his father since his mom never seemed to have an issue traveling.

Trezlan hated space travel, it was one of the first clear memories he had of his father, the man clenching his fist as the ship lifted off. Trezlan used to openly curse when any unexpected shake occurred. And he was the worst passenger on any trip, Rolando at least prided himself on not being that guy when he was traveling, he just kept his mouth shut and thought in his head about all the places he'd rather be instead of traveling through space. Like say sailing on the ocean, or sitting on a beach.

This particular trip through space was to investigate the last ship the freighter full of dead people had come in contact with. Rolando didn't like the mission, partially because Hanlon had told him this was somewhat of a trap, and partially because he told them it was nothing magical, but he had been assigned to the squad to give his "magical expertise". Brubaker was especially proud a hound had been invited, even though Rolando was not happy to be there.

All told the squad consisted of twelve other soldiers aside from Rolando, and the two pilots who were commanding officers and officially running the mission. Rolando's position was to remain on the ship until the other ship was secured. Which was fine with him, he didn't want to go on the ship, he didn't want to be anywhere near it, but being on the other ship while the big tough soldiers secured it felt a lot better than having to go himself. Even more so because they refused to release his shackles for fear of him.

So there he was shackled up, locked in, and hating every minute of it as the ship slowly approached on the horizon with a bit of foreboding building as it got bigger and bigger.