[L-2 Colony Cluster, 2338 A.D.]
'No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of this view.'
Even after all this time, Elias couldn't help but marvel at the sheer vastness of what is commonly referred to as "outer space". From his spot within the ship's modest observation deck, the young man silently watched as the cosmos passed him by. All while a smile graced his lips as he took note of each distant beacon of light within the endless void. But, even as he tried to calm himself down with a bit of leisurely stargazing, Elias couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of both awe and anticipation. A combination of emotions that he had only ever felt a few times before.
Now that he was a full-fledged naval officer, things were much different for Elias than they were before. Especially now that he was aboard a ship surrounded by a bunch of new faces.
The Shadowstrike wasn't much in comparison to the massive capital ships and cruisers that were the most popular among the vessels within the colonial fleet. It was a relatively small ship, one that was just large enough to support a ten-person crew. And its mission was a simple one: patrolling the trade routes within the local colony cluster and keeping the area safe. For the most part, this meant keeping an eye out for pirates, smugglers, and any other threats to the delicate flow of goods that so many within the colonies depended on. In the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty bland assignment compared to working aboard one of the fleet's larger vessels.
But to Elias, it was everything and more. This was the life he had dreamed of ever since his aunt first took him on that joyride inside her ship all those years ago. He was now roaming the stars, with a world of possibilities in front of him, just like he had always wanted.
That being said, there were still a few hurdles that the green-eyed man would need to face. And the main one that currently plagued him was his new crew. After all, Elias was the newest person on the ship, and every sailor here had far more experience than him. They'd seen things, fought in battles, and carried the weight of the fleet's reputation on their shoulders. Elias wasn't quite sure if he was ready for that kind of responsibility just yet. However, he was determined to rise to the challenge and avoid making a fool of himself.
And as fate would have it, the Shadowstrike just so happened to be one of the ships under his aunt's command within the 2nd Fleet. The same fleet that was in charge of protecting the L-2 colony cluster, where his home colony of Trafalgar was located. Elias wasn't dumb, he knew very well that the woman pulled some strings to have him added to her roster. And if he knew, the others did as well. And although the young man did have a deep respect for his aunt, he didn't want to be seen as someone who got by on family connections. He wanted to prove that he deserved to be here.
"Ensign Thorton!" A voice suddenly called to him from behind. Elias almost instinctively straightened his posture before turning around.
Lieutenant Verra, the ship's second in command, stood in the doorway of the observation deck. Her dark brown hair was tied into a neat bun, and her blue-grey eyes held a steady intensity. The woman was older than him by about five years, if Elias remembered correctly. However, despite her age and cool demeanor, the man knew that she wasn't one who tolerated nonsense based on the few short interactions he had with her so far.
"Yes, ma'am!" Elias said with a stiff salute.
The woman quickly returned the salute before approaching the rookie. "We're going to be extending our patrol today. There have been rumors of smugglers in the area, and the Commander wants us to check the sector out before regrouping with the rest of the squadron."
Elias nodded. "Understood, ma'am."
For a brief moment, Lieutenant Verra regarded the young man with a sharp gaze. The kind of gaze that made the hairs on the back of Elias's neck stand on end.
"Try to relax some more, rookie. You're here to learn, just make sure you do so quickly. You won't be any good to the crew if you're too stiff." She then gave him a slight smile before turning toward the door. "Anyways...hurry up and report to the bridge. We're on a course adjustment, and Commander Brix wants all hands on deck."
Elias would be lying if he said that he wasn't a bit nervous about these new orders. The Shadowstrike was headed to one of the more remote sectors of the colony cluster on the far side of the Forten colony. It was an area close to a debris field that was known for its high levels of smuggler activity. However, despite his nerves, the young man knew that this was going to be his first real chance to prove himself. So, with his resolve steeled, Elias squared his shoulders and followed Lieutenant Verra down the narrow, metallic corridor toward the ship's bridge.
Once he was in his assigned position, Elias took a moment to take stock of his surroundings. The ship's captain, Commander Brix, was sitting in the captain's seat, his gaze firmly fixed on the glowing panels in front of him. Petty Officer Mera, the ship's helmsman, adjusted the coordinates on her console with a swiftness that only came from years of experience. Petty Officer Jor, the communications technician, was monitoring the comms feed for any potential distress signals.
"Thorton." Commander Brix's deep voice called out as Elias looked up from his screen. "How's the calibration of the ship's targeting systems? We need to make sure that they're good to go before we adjust course."
Elias briefly froze before recomposing himself. He had reviewed the targeting specs half an hour ago before taking his break, so he had a clear idea of what needed adjusting. "The targeting systems are set for standard ship-to-ship combat, sir. However, it looks like the energy coupling needs to be replaced soon. There's a notification on my screen saying that it's due for maintenance."
Commander Brix rolled his eyes before giving the rookie a small nod. Their Shadowstrike was due for servicing any day now. "Good. We'll check it once we're through. Keep an eye on it, Ensign."
"Yes, sir." Elias nodded in response.
After wiping the sweat off his palms, the rookie sailor focused his attention back onto his monitor. The weight of responsibility was firmly pressing down on him. He was surrounded by people with years of experience, people who had faced dangers and challenges that Elias could only imagine. But he wasn't here to be a passenger, he had a job to do. And he intended to do it well.
For the next four hours, Elias focused intently on his duties. Doing his best to make sure that the ship's weapon system was properly calibrated and running smoothly. All while the entire crew worked in sync, like a well-oiled machine. Every so often, someone would glance at him, probably to gauge how he was handling his responsibilities. Elias took it in stride, though. The Shadowstrike may have been on a routine patrol, but that didn't mean the mission was without its risks. Pirates and smugglers were unpredictable, and at any moment, they could be catapulted into danger. Such was the nature of their chosen profession.
Sometime later, just as the ship came to the end of its patrol route, Lieutenant Verra turned to Elias. "You did well today, rookie. Keep that up and you'll fit in just fine."
Elias felt a burst of pride after hearing those words. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him motivated. For the first time since joining the crew, Elias felt like he belonged. The stars were still out there, waiting for him to explore them, and this was just the beginning of his journey.