7 Hop, Skip, and a jump across the galaxy

The Prowler's engines roared lifting the ship in the air majestically and then began its taxi to the starport exit gate. Crew stowed the loose gear and cargo before making their way to the various launch stations to get locked down and secured in preparation for leaving the planet's gravity.

Instructions blinked on Theo's and Azamir's comlink's to get into the vac suits and secure themselves in their cabins launch position to reduce the G-forces when exiting the planet's atmosphere.

Azamir followed the instructions and noticed Theo struggling with his vac-suit. He chuckled and after securing his own suit, moved to help him seal it up. One of his father's many lessons growing up insisted on the importance of helping yourself be protected before you help others.

"Thanks, mate, now let's get settled before the ship paints us on the bulkhead yeah?"

They both rolled in their bunks as machines clicked and they shifted into restraints to keep their bodies from shifting around as the ship started to rumble. Finding himself with a moment and nothing to do. Azamir checked his system menu and skipped over to his stats.

[Scan complete: displaying status]

[name: Azamir Ternum]

[age: 20 years]

[physical traits]

[Dexterity: 0.8, Strength 1.22, Vitality: 1.1]

[Mental Traits]

[Intelligence 0.9, Critical thinking 2.2, Will: ???]

[Skills]

[Tactics: Beginner 1

[Analyze: Beginner 1]

He sighed in relief that his mini coma was not for nothing. Seeing his critical thinking adjusted so easily to double a normal human was odd, Azamir did not feel different from how he was beforehand. He wondered how best to utilize his highest trait to his advantage in the upcoming days.

[System query: Critical thinking.]

[This trait exemplifies the user's ability to gather disparate information and bring it together to solve complex problems. Typically utilized with tactics and planning, unconventional solutions to issues, business moves, and many other situations.]

He grunted to himself, at least the system saw fit to answer his questions to a degree. Azamir could not imagine having to figure out every feature on his own merits and not mess with something important. A shudder throughout the hull shook him out of his reverie as the ship exited the hangar and departed Ostacre.

The gravity exerted on Azamir lessened with every moment passed as the internal dampeners of the ship kicked into gear. The Prowler quickly broke through the atmosphere and a fleeting feeling of weightlessness was all Azamir experienced for the first time before the artificial gravity asserted itself on the interior of the ship's crew and cargo.

As quickly as the launch began, it was over and the Prowler now traveled his local planets airspace.

"CLANK" The locks disengaged from the trainee's bunks, and the restraints retracted back into their hidden off positions.

A soft bell chimed before an alert played across the ship intercom with Dawson's voice. "Good job on the launch prep crew, this is your Capitan speaking and we will be engaging FTL travel shortly. Please stay at your stations or within your cabins until we have transitioned safely. After FTL is engaged we will have a four day travel period in FTL space so it will give you plenty of time to stretch your legs. Engineers, please run your pre-checks on our FTL drive."

Both got up and tested out their space legs, Theo sported a disappointed look on his face and shrugged. The trainees moved about the cabin sorting through their meager belongings and starting unpacking appropriately. Theo spoke up as he was stashing his clothes.

"So are you from Ostacre officially or were you a layover too?"

"No my family lived in the residential district pretty much my whole life. My father is the only one of us until now that's ever been off-planet before. How about you?"

"Ah, the residential district is too quiet for me. Especially after growing up in the industrial and manufacturing zone of the commercial district. My father is a miner and my mother was a factory worker. They wanted me to follow their footsteps with a studious life but I couldn't just accept that blank look they had each day as my future you know?"

Azamir nodded, he understood all too well after seeing his mother return home from her two part-time jobs with the same look on her face. He wondered when his family would notice what he had done. Azamir intentionally suppressed messages from his parents for the time being until he could find a better way to explain. Regardless of what they did now, it was his debt and burden to bear for them.

The two became more familiar over the next hour finding common ground in the stories from their shared home planet. Theo became more and more energetic and open the longer they conversed with each other. Azamir noted his thin frame as he told him about his life, it was pretty clear he was used to labor-intensive jobs.

He had that lean physique that you could only get from hard hours and substandard nutrition within the state. Nobody who worked in the industrial zone was fat. He had curly brown hair and warm green eyes, with a tan complexion that exuded youthful innocence. It made Azamir wonder why Theo chose this line of work. He was about to ask when suddenly there was a sinking feeling in each of their stomachs before a subtle pop could be heard in their ears.

"FTL travel engaged, Trainees please meet in the briefing room. Crew to resume standard duties"

Notifications pinged their comlinks and Theo and Azamir exited the cabin and made their way back to the bridge and the separate briefing room. When Azamir and Theo entered, the other two trainees were already present standing in the corner of the room.

The man was definitely what most would consider handsome on Ostacre, his peach white skin had no blemishes or marks along with a sparkling white smile and chiseled jawline. It was almost as if someone picked his looks straight out of a catalog. Rounded out with blonde hair and pale blue eyes, his broad frame made him stand out in the room.

He was actively trying to engage with the woman trainee who had soft features and an oval-shaped face. She had pale-medium brown skin and symmetrical features with deep brown eyes and full lips highlighted by her light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Along with that, she had a toned body lined by the vac suit that left little to the imagination. Azamir could tell that she was disinterested in the other male trainee's advances and kept a serious look on her face while she waited for the briefing to start.

Both trainees acknowledged Theo and Azamir as they entered the briefing room. Dawson walked in moments later and turned on the briefing table. He motions for everyone to gather around as he pulled up each trainee file and looked at them for a moment.

"Ok, for a few of you it's your first time in space and I don't want any accidents on this ship so familiarize yourself with these rules before you find yourself breaking them. Your job over the next four weeks is active training and development before you touch down at the MRB induction center."

"Sir," The broad male cut in. "Didn't we already pass the tests? what are we getting ready for?"

"I was getting to that Trainee Borridin," Dawson shot him a silencing look before turning back to the rest. "All of you earned an offer based on different means. Some directly tested to get in, others were on recommendation from our associates or are returning from a previously accepted offer. No matter how you arrived at this point, you will leave it with the standard knowledge and basic instincts it takes to be a successful mercenary. The Wayland's Raiders has a reputation to uphold and you four are walking billboards for my stamp of approval."

Dawson made a swiping motion to send files to each of the trainees in the briefing room. "Based on what our company observed directly and what we found in your personal files we drafted these training plans. It is designed to make it as easy as possible to pass my final assignment where you will have the right to exit my ship as the official recommendation."

The plan that appeared on Azamir's commlink showed extensive physical workouts and videos of military strategy and training on the various equipment he would be expected to use with everything from a stun baton to an automatic laser rifle. Azamir frowned after looking at the plan and thinking over what the Captain said.

"Sir, what happens if we fail this final assessment?"

"That's simple recruit, you lose my recommendation and our contract is rescinded. Anything less would be irresponsible and likely would end up in your death or a failed career as a freelancer which could arguably be worse than the former. I would get to work if I were you lot."

"When does the plan start sir?"

Dawson looked at his commlink before answering.

"That would be right now," The Captain said with a devilish smile.

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