Ethan leaned back in his seat, savoring the last sips of his Kynaran darkbrew, the rich, slightly bitter aroma still lingering in the cool, filtered air of the Obsidian Wraith's dining area. The ship's recent refurbishments had left it feeling sleek, modern, and efficient. Almost too efficient, as if the familiar quirks and flaws of his old vessel had been erased. A part of him strangely missed those imperfections, but he couldn't deny that everything ran smoother than ever before.
He tapped the screen of his holo-tablet, its soft blue glow illuminating the polished metal surface of the table. With a flick of his fingers, he accessed the Galactic Net, pulling up the latest news feeds.
Headlines scrolled past in rapid succession:
Federation Patrols Under Fire In Certain Resource Rich Sectors – Resistance forces had ambushed a convoy near Draken's Maw, destroying two escort frigates before vanishing into the nebula.
Trade Disruptions Spark Economic Strain in Border Worlds – Shipping lanes along the Azure Belt were under constant harassment by pirate factions, forcing merchants to pay exorbitant protection fees or risk complete losses.
Bounty Increased on Infamous Smuggler 'Tarek Es' – The name rang a bell, but Ethan hadn't crossed paths with him personally.
He sighed, rubbing his thumb against the rim of his mug. Same chaos, different day. The galaxy never changed. Galactic Governments waged wars, mercenaries capitalized on them, and pirates thrived in the cracks between.
Swiping away the news feed, he switched over to the Mercenary Guild Network which was his real source of income. Unlike the carefully curated propaganda on the news, the Guild's listings painted an unfiltered picture of the galaxy's underbelly.
The screen populated with job offers, bounties, and contract requests:
Cargo Escort Needed – Hazard Pay Included (Route passes through disputed space, high risk of attack)
Elimination Contract – Rogue Operative Wanted for Treason (High payout, but target suspected to have allies outside the Federation)
Covert Extraction – Hostage Retrieval Mission (Requires discretion, payment negotiable)
Black Market Intel Request – Need Inside Info on Federation Movement in Sector 9-Barriandis
Ethan skimmed the details, mentally sorting through the jobs. Most were dangerous gigs as usual and some he hadn't done before as it required a functioning ship. One particular mission caught his attention. The bounty payout was significantly higher than average, and the target's name looked familiar. He tapped the file, pulling up the dossier.
The holo-image flickered to life, a grainy surveillance still of a man in a dark combat suit, his face partially obscured by a mask. No name, only a codename. But something about the mission felt off. The payout was too high for a simple bounty, and the client details were deliberately vague. That usually meant one of two things:
The target was more dangerous than advertised, or someone was willing to pay extra to keep the details buried.
Either way, Ethan had learned to be cautious about jobs like this. He didn't need unnecessary complications right now.
Not now. His priority was leaving Kynara.
With a quick command, he saved the contract for later. Maybe once he was off-world, he'd give it another look.
Exhaling, he pushed back from the table and stood. The last remnants of his drink had gone cold, the faint traces of spices and bitter grounds clinging to the ceramic. He placed the used dishes into the high-efficiency dishwasher, watching as the machine's automated arms whirred to life, seamlessly processing the cleanup.
Everything on the Obsidian Wraith worked perfectly.
No malfunctions. No lag. No stubborn machinery refusing to cooperate.
It was definitely better to have things running smoothly, minimizing risks to his life in space was more than welcome.
He stretched his shoulders, letting the last of his tension roll away before heading toward the cockpit.
The cockpit of the Obsidian Wraith was a masterpiece of precision engineering. A far cry from the battered, glitch-ridden control center it had once been. Though Ethan had personally overseen some aspects of its repairs and modifications, there was still a certain unfamiliarity to it. The ship felt renewed, sharper, more responsive, almost like piloting a completely different vessel.
The once worn-out control panels were now sleek, polished, and seamless. The holo-displays no longer flickered with occasional static interference, instead casting a crisp, crystal-clear glow that bathed the cockpit in soft blue and amber hues. Every lever, switch, and button had been recalibrated, fine-tuned to perfection. Even the flight yoke responded with a satisfying precision, as if it were an extension of his own hands.
Ethan slid into the pilot's seat, adjusting his posture against the reinforced cushioning. The material was firm yet comfortable, still carrying that newly manufactured texture. He ran his fingers along the armrests, taking a brief moment to appreciate the small luxuries that came with the upgrades.
A soft chime echoed through the ship's intercom, followed by the smooth, synthetic voice of his ship's AI, Iris.
"Good morning, Captain. Pre-departure system check in progress."
Ethan exhaled, watching as the holo-display materialized in front of him, cycling through final diagnostics.
Ship Status – Pre-Departure Report:
✔ Fuel Reserves: Optimal – Full capacity, calibrated for long-range travel.
✔ Weapon Systems: Fully operational – Plasma cannons, railguns, and countermeasures in prime condition.
✔ Shields: 100% efficiency – Energy barriers stable, no fluctuations detected.
✔ Life Support: Stable – Oxygen flow regulated, temperature and pressure balanced.
✔ Navigation Systems: Calibrated and ready – Coordinates for departure locked in.
Everything was green across the board. No flickering screens. No sluggish response times. No warnings.
Ethan's fingers hovered over the console, scanning the data one last time. He was finally going to pilot a space ship properly. It almost felt… life changing.
"All systems green," Iris confirmed. "We are clear for takeoff."
Ethan let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle in his chest. This was it. The start of a new chapter.
He curled his fingers around the flight controls, taking a final glance at the polished dashboard, the pristine screens, the softly pulsing energy indicators.
The ship was waiting for his command.
"Alright," he murmured, voice steady. "Let's do this."
Ethan's fingers curled around the ignition switch, his grip firm but hesitant. This was it, the final moment before departure. He took a brief pause, exhaling slowly, steadying himself before turning the switch.
A sharp click. A fraction of a second of silence.
Then the Obsidian Wraith came alive.
The newly reinforced fusion-drive engines roared to life, sending a deep, resonating hum through the ship's structure. The powerful thrusters pulsed beneath him, their energy coursing through the hull in steady, rhythmic vibrations. It was different now, smoother, heavier, more refined.
Ethan flexed his fingers, feeling the gentle tremor of raw power vibrating through the armrests of his pilot seat. The instrument panels flickered momentarily before stabilizing into a crisp, fluid interface, displaying every minor fluctuation in the ship's performance.
He let his hand hover over the throttle controls, running a final systems check before departure.
"Iris, initiate takeoff sequence."
A brief pause before the ship's AI responded.
"Acknowledged. Synchronizing with hangar clearance systems."
A series of soft beeps and chimes followed as the autopilot and external communications linked with the hangar's central hub. Beyond the cockpit's reinforced viewport, the massive hangar doors began their slow, mechanical slide, the thick reinforced plating parting to reveal the vast expanse of sky beyond.
Ethan's gaze lingered on the horizon of Kynara, bathed in the low-burning glow of its twin suns. The golden-orange light reflected off the metallic surface of Valeris City, casting elongated shadows over the high-rise docking structures. In the distance, a few ships were visible, their thrusters igniting in streaks of blue plasma as they broke through the upper atmosphere.
This was home.
But not for long.
A low hiss of decompression signaled the ship's detachment from its docking clamps. The gravitational stabilizers activated, sending a faint pulse through the deck as the Obsidian Wraith smoothly lifted from the hangar platform. No jolts. No sudden shakes. Just seamless, calculated movement.
The ship hovered momentarily, its flight systems adjusting to the external conditions. The thrusters expelled controlled bursts of energy, keeping the ascent steady. Ethan tightened his grip on the controls, his knuckles faintly whitening as he braced himself for the moment ahead.
A vast, open sky stretched before him.
He was feeling a mix of anticipation, resolve, and the ever-present uncertainty that came with every new departure.
Once he left, there was no turning back.
With a deep breath, Ethan's fingers found the throttle. He pushed it forward, smoothly increasing acceleration.
The Obsidian Wraith responded immediately, surging into the sky, its thrusters leaving behind a burning blue trail as it tore through the atmosphere. The city below shrank rapidly, its towering spires and neon-lit streets fading beneath the swirling clouds.
Within moments, Valeris City and Kynara were behind him.
Ahead, the stars awaited.