Finalizing the Voyage

Osritch led them to the inside of the ship where Kita saw a few more peoples walking about or performing their duties.

"How much crew did you hire?"

"Around 170 people altogether. But that's just the barebones needed to keep the ship running and functioning into the future. If you want to properly run the ship, you should think about at least doubling this number. Many of the departments are severely understaffed."

"I'll see what I can do about it."

"Do you want to head inside to take a tour of the ship?" Osritch asked.

"Nah, I'll have plenty of time for that later on. I've already seen the wireframe anyway. Let's get the rest of the procedures finished and complete the handover." Kita replied.

"Okay then, let's head over to the meeting room." Osritch guided him and Mr. Junta to a nearby meeting room where they signed the remaining documents and completed the handover.

Kita forked out the payment for the ship, and all the charges that came with it.

Altogether, The Jeager had costed him about 700 million credits. Which seemed like a huge sum, but Kita could afford it.

After the handover was complete, he and Mr. Junta shook hands and the latter left the room leaving only Kita and Osritch in the room as they had a few more business.

"I see you've already completed registering a entity. that makes thing easier. I'll just need you signatures here" He pointed to a few places in his tablet.

After Kita signed everything, the Jeager would be registered under the Kolld and Kita would be given the operating rights to the ship. Although this slightly changed the ownership structure, but he was essentially the sole owner of the Ship.

And this would recognized by all the other states as well as the empire. So even if the ship was to be attacked and taken, as long as Kita was alive, he could make a claim as long as certain conditions were met.

"Well, that settles it. Everything seems in order. I've already filled the papers to the necessary authorities." Osritch said with a smile.

Kita looked around the meeting room. He touched the huge table in front of him as he asked.

"She's mine?"

"She's yours." Osritch said with a slight nod.

"Congratulations on your new ship. Mr. Thiels."

"Thank you for everything."

"No the pleasure was all mine." Osritch replied as he reached to a nearby cabinet. He had prepared a bottle of Champaign beforehand.

"Don't bother, I don't drink."

"But this calls for a celebration."

"Then I'll celebrate with this." Kita had glass of water in his hands.

"I'll join then!" Osritch said as he put down the bottle and grabbed a glass of water.

They toasted and then down the glass of water.

"Let's go and meet the crew, I think they've already assembled in the bay. After I introduce you to them, My job is finally done."

"Let's go then." They both got out of the meeting room and headed towards the Bay. Osritch had already given the instruction when they began the meeting. The crew should have gathered by now.

After they reached the Bay, Kita could see all the people standing in the bay in a formation. This was the first time Kita was meeting them, and This would also be the first time They were meeting Kita. So this was a bit nerve wracking for them. Officially, they were employed by the ship and it's owner. Which was Kolld and Kita by extension. But he didn't want to lord over his crew. He hoped to keep everything in a friendly and professional fashion.

Osritch and Kita stepped on a platform that started elevating after they got on. This gave them some height to work with and enabled them to address everyone.

After the platform stopped, Osritch took the lead as he moved to address the crew.

"Hello everyone. You already know me. I'm Osritch. And I want to introduce you guys to someone." He said as he indicated towards Kita who was standing beside you.

"This here is Mr. Kita Thiels. Although I don't want to use the term. But the fact is, He's your employer. Although you guys don't know him, You'll be under his care. Mr. Kita Thiels needed a crew to help him run this ship and to help him on the voyages that she's destined to go on. So I wish you guys all the very best for what future holds you. And I would like to ask Mr. Thiels to say a few words to you." He said as he took a step back. He gave the stage to Kita.

Kita felt his nerves when he was put on the light. Everyone's attention had been directed to him as the owner of the ship and their employer.

Although he had previous leadership experience, He didn't have any experience leading the ship by himself. He was just a researcher until a few months ago. His experience running a research project didn't help him here.

He suddenly understood that he needed more people that he knew and he could trust with him. He himself wasn't cut out to handle various stuff that would undoubtedly popup after the ship started it's voyages. But that didn't take from the fact that he was the last man that should be running the ship and ordering around the crew.

After he realized this small but crucial fact, he already had a few candidates in mind. He could try to approach them to see if they were willing to join him.

But all that could wait until later. Because right now, he needed to address the Crew with a clear resolve. He needed to show confidence in both himself and them so that they didn't take him for a pushover who would take them down with him.

So he straightened his posture as he prepared to address them. He cleared his voice before started speaking.

"Hello everyone. As you guys already know. The Galaxy is a huge place, most of which we haven't even been able to see properly much less explore. We've long known that we humans aren't the only one around. There have been empires long before we took to the stars and there will be empires that existed much before that. There's so much to see in this vast Galaxy that even with a hundred lifetimes, we humans can't expect to see everything. My goal for purchasing this ship was to take it on voyage to see the unseen." Kita said in a relatively calm but confident pace.

"But, I can't hope to do that alone. For that I need your help. Although I am the said owner of the ship, but I know far less about her than some of you present. I want to borrow your knowledge and expertise to full fill my goal. So, Tell me. Will you lend it to me?" Kita said as he put out a hand forward.

"We will!" The atmosphere had gotten pumped all of a sudden and that caused the crew to become excited alongside as they yelled.

"We will see what no human has ever seen before. Unearth what remains hidden. And find what no one has managed to! Will you stand with me?" Kita also got caught up in the moment as he increased both his pace and volume.

"We willl!" Echoed a loud cheer of the crew who were excited about their future prospects.