As Carbonated Beverages Consultant (Xeno Division) for the megacorporation QuarrixCo, your role is varied. Take today, for example. Today, you're in a cozy, albeit nearly empty, medium-class passenger shuttle, heading to the Outset Colonies -- or more specifically the space station that orbits them -- to attend a tribunal held by the Kalranthi Rosette* to answer for the "corporate crimes" your megacorporation has allegedly committed.

Even thinking about it renders you somewhat breathless.

Or maybe that's the 7% reduction in atmospheric oxygen, mandated for all medium-class passenger conveyances to be Vurb 20 compliant.

There are still a number of questions buzzing around your head. First, why you? Second, why not someone from the legal divison? A smooth-talking lawyer must certainly be a better choice for this assignment! Third, why did the company insist you take two heavy, military-surplus satchels jammed to the brim with QuarrixCola with you as your only hand luggage?

There's probably a simple, easy answer to all of those things. Shame it was missing from your briefing.

Well, you've got some time... approximately 0.4 standard hours until docking. What will you do?

If you decide to read the pulp western novel you snuck onboard in your jacket pocket, turn to page 9.
If you want to walk around the cramped shuttle and get to know one or two of the other passengers, turn to page 15.
If you think it prudent to reminisce about the briefing you were given, turn to page 32.
If you want to converse with your wrist-mounted AI unit TRUDI, turn to page 41.

* Kalranthi are renowned for their poor quality translation technologies. They probably think "rosette" means "council" or "carbonated drink legal team" or, ulp, "execution squad".