Captain Prej ran onto the bridge, summoned by the Navigator.
- Sir, unknown planet detected!
- Perfect, set course on these coordinates, prepare for orbiting!
- But, Sir, we need to...
- Shush, dumbo! I understand your excitement at discovering a new planet, but let the pro handle things, ok?
As the ship approached the coordinates provided by the Captain, the screen failed to show any signs of the planet.
- What sorcery is this? An invisible planet? Thank god I invested in these brand new PlanScan sensors I got off this sucker on Capella.
- But, Sir, I think you should...
- Zip it, map monkey! What I should do is lock you up in the cargo bay for interfering with orbiting procedures! Your yapping is putting my Wobbly Goblin in danger!
- Sir, I would never dream of threatening your Wobbly Goblin.
The Science Officer chuckled.
- Got something to say, nerd?!
- No, Sir!
- Good, I'm still looking for volunteers for loo duty. Now, where are you, little planet?
He looked at the nav computer, trying to figure out the phenomenon he was facing.
- Sir, what if, hypotheticallly, you pressed the "Rear View" button?
- Listen up, navigation numbskull, what I need right now is a way to decloak this planet, not have a look what is going on behind us. There are lightyears of nothingness back there, nothing else.
- But, Sir, you really need to push...
- You know what, you pencil biting, coordinate mumbling fool, I discovered new solar systems when you discovered how to have a crap while not wearing your pants! I fought space pirates when you fought your sister over who was wearing the pink sports bra that day! You want to tell me how to run my ship and which buttons to press?! Fine, here you go, Mister Hot Shot Straight out of Backwater Navigation School for Slow Children, have it your way!
Captain Prej slammed the "Rear View" button on the nav computer with primeval fury.
The nav comp locked onto the planets coordinates and calculated the distance, putting the shiny white globe a fair jump away of the Wobbly Goblin.
The Navigator stared at the Captain, not knowing what would happen next.
The Captain stared at the nav comp, his face without expression.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he stood up.
- Ha, gotcha there, kiddo!
The navigator looked puzzled.
- This was the final test! You passed it! Of course I knew what the "Rear View" button was for, I use it all the time! Now, set speed to 2000, transfer power to the shields and let's get this planet discovered!
- Sir, I am honoured to have passed your test!
The Science Officer took the opportunity to perform a perfectly executed facepalm while regretting the day he boarded the Wobbly Goblin instead of becoming a hot dog vendor in Deneb.
To cut the story short, I discovered the function of the "Rear View" button in the meantime, which made finding the planets way easier.
As for the "halo", it all makes sense now. I never noticed that on other planets in the universe.
Anyway, thank you very much for your input, The Wobbly Goblin is in your debt, eternally.
I also wanted to say, that I'm very happy to have joined this community, seeing how friendly the people are around here. It's good to know, that there are still some civilized places in the vast space of the internets.
[Edited on 1-7-2014 by Prej]