Chapter 6: New Beginning 

Kia had never liked the smell of engineering decks. The sharp scent of metal, oil, and machine grease mixed in the air, and no matter how many times he had found himself in a ship's engineering bay, the scent never got easier to tolerate. The clatter of tools and the hum of machinery felt like an eternal backdrop.

Yet here he was, standing in the sprawling, chaotic heart of the Destiny, the massive warship that had become his temporary home. His stomach churned with a strange mix of apprehension and anticipation. What would his new role be? What would the Union have in store for him now that he was officially a soldier—one assigned to work on a ship designed for war, the likes of which most civilians would never see up close?

Elias, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the environment. His usual smirk was plastered on his face, and he moved with an air of familiarity among the engineers working around them.

They reached the command office of Engineering, where the nameplate outside read: "Lieutenant Commander J. Johnson, Head of Engineering." Elias rapped his knuckles against the door before stepping in, his casual demeanor matching the informal tone of his knock. "We're here for our assignment, Lieutenant Commander," he said cheerfully.

Inside, the room was filled with various blueprints, digital screens displaying ship schematics, and scattered reports. A tall, broad-shouldered officer in his mid-forties, Commander Johnson, stood over a terminal, scrolling through data with an intense focus. His graying hair was slightly disheveled, and his uniform was slightly more worn than most, as if he'd spent more time on his feet than sitting at a desk. He didn't look up immediately, but after a few moments, he paused and scanned the newcomers with an appraising eye.

"New recruits?" he asked, his voice deep and slightly gruff.

Elias gave a half-nod. "Yeah, we've just been assigned to Engineering. Ensign Mercer and Ensign Reeves. We're here to get our assignments for the first shift."

The Lieutenant Commander's brow furrowed as he looked back and forth between them. "Mercer, you say? Don't know that name... Reeves, I know. You're the technician from the short-range comms team, right?"

"Yes sir, that's me." Elias gave a thumbs-up, unfazed.

But then Lieutenant Commander Johnson's gaze settled on Kia, his expression sharpening. "And you... Mercer, was it? I'm not sure I recognize you. Are you a mechanic or an engineer?"

Kia stiffened, feeling an odd discomfort at being questioned so directly. He had always been an excellent engineer, a ship designer, but the Union didn't like people to stand out too much. They preferred to reduce people to titles and ranks, and his unique skillset had always been something of an outlier in the civilian world.

"I'm... not exactly your typical engineer," Kia began slowly. "I've been more involved in ship design—specifically civilian vessels."The Lieutenant Commander blinked, clearly surprised. "Ship designer, huh?" He looked at Kia for a long moment, then stood up straighter. "I see. That's a new one. I've got a lot of engineers to assign, but... ship design?" His tone shifted as realization set in.

"I think we might have just the right assignment for you. I'll tell you what—wait here for a moment. I need to finish the orientation for the other new recruits, and then we can figure this out."

Kia's heart raced, but he nodded, trying to hide the nerves that suddenly took hold of him. Elias gave him a sidelong glance, mouthing "good luck" as the Lieutenant Commander motioned them to wait outside.

A half hour later, they were still waiting in the hallway. Kia leaned against the wall, his thoughts swirling. He had been trained for years in ship design, working under a variety of civilian projects—space liners, research ships, cargo vessels. But the Union's fleet was something else entirely. The military's needs were different. They were far more complex. He wasn't entirely sure what kind of work he would be doing, or what the expectations might be.

Kia shrugged, though the unease gnawing at him didn't abate. "Maybe. Maybe not."Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lieutenant Commander Johnson emerged from his office, his face looking somewhat satisfied. "Alright, Mercer, it's time. I've got a little something for you. Come with me."

Kia followed him into the depths of the ship, past more labyrinthine hallways and maintenance tunnels, until they reached the Research Deck. The door slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a large, sterile room filled with holo-boards, digital design stations, and teams of scientists and engineers huddled over data terminals.

"Professor Roman is in charge of the research division," Lieutenant Commander Johnson said, gesturing to a thin, gray-haired man at a workstation in the center of the room. The Professor looked up from his screen, his expression unchanging as the Lieutenant Commander led Kia toward him.

"Roman, this is Ensign Mercer, our new ship designer. He's a civilian with quite a bit of experience. I thought you might be able to put him to use."

The professor adjusted his glasses and studied Kia with a calculating gaze. "Ship designer, you say? Interesting. You look young."

"I'm capable," Kia replied, trying to keep his tone steady. "I've been involved in several largescale design projects before. I specialize in defense systems and flexible ship architecture."

Roman hummed thoughtfully, clearly intrigued. "Hmm. Very well. Let's see what you've got. We're currently working on several projects related to planetary defense systems. If you think you can handle it, I'll assign you to one of our design challenges. You'll need to show us your concepts, your designs, your ability to think on your feet."

Kia felt his pulse quicken. This was it. His chance to prove himself.

Roman led him to a nearby holo-projector, where a massive schematic of a planetary defense grid was laid out. Kia's mind immediately began to race as he took in the details—battleship-class weapons, shields, orbital defense platforms... this was exactly the kind of work he'd always wanted to do.

"I want you to design a ship specifically for planetary defense," Roman continued, pointing to various components of the grid. "Think of it as an exercise. Prove your skills. After that, we'll see if you have the potential for a more permanent role on one of our high-level projects."

Kia nodded, already formulating ideas in his mind. "Alright. I'll get started on the design right away."

The professor watched him for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Very well. We'll give you the resources you need. When you're ready, bring the concept to me."

As Kia turned to leave, the professor's voice stopped him.

"Ensign Mercer," Roman said, his tone softer now, almost conspiratorial. "If I like what you come up with, we might have a place for you here. But if not, don't be surprised if you're reassigned."

Kia's stomach fluttered, the challenge both thrilling and terrifying. He knew the stakes. This wasn't just a simple exercise—it was a test. And he wasn't about to fail.Back in his quarters later that evening, Kia spread out the plans on his desk. His fingers moved rapidly over the datapad, sketching out ideas for the planetary defense ship—a hybrid of long-range artillery, heavy armor, and quick-response capabilities. It needed to be both offensive and defensive, adaptable for a variety of scenarios. But most importantly, it needed to be something that would impress Professor Roman.

Kia hadn't realized how much he missed designing ships until now. The process was instinctive, almost second nature. He let his mind flow freely, trusting his intuition. Each idea built upon the last, as the sketch of his design began to take shape.

It wasn't just a test of his skills. It was a test of his future. By the time he leaned back in his chair, his eyes were tired, but the design in front of him was one he was proud of. He had done his best. Tomorrow, he would present it to Professor Roman and he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.