Noah Collin was watching the TV show that talked about The Nebula, the newest VR game that is said to implement real life physics in it and could even possibly give real life scientists the answers to real life space travel. The show was obviously the one Malcolm appeared on; Noah has idolized Malcolm for a long time hearing from his dad how great he was, his dad was one of the rare few that gained Magus Puppeteer in Second Life and learned how to create the puppets himself.

(yes, some time in the future I will add the father)

Now retired from the games Noah’s dad just watched from the sides and taught others in-game and enjoyed the peace and quiet whenever he wanted. Noah on the other hand was roaring to go in the new game by Virtual Works. Noah’s dad had taught him that VR games are just like reality as such he was always made to learn martial arts to be used in game if needed. Though not a master he is quite skilled in Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu and Aikido. His father, a friend of Malcolm, had been able to preorder a few of the first copies of The Nebula through Malcolm and was planning to play with his son or at least start out with his son.

A week before the game went live, the games were released to pick up and were quickly sold out in the game stores, but thanks to the weeklong shopping spree they were able to distribute a large number of copies. Noah and his father were able to get the game on the first day and were cleaning the capsules in their house getting ready and reading up on the possible starting locations. Though Noah’s dad suggested they begin at the capital Noah’s eyes were on frontier zones of the liberation faction. It was so plain to see that even from far away Noahs dad could see it.

Dad: Noah where are you going to start?

Noah: Frontier Station Maximum.

Dad: Haven’t you seen that frontier zones aren’t available as starting places?

Noah: WHAT?! Since when?!

Dad: In every game you normally start in larger towns, also the frontier doesn’t have an established asteroid mining station, did you forget what Malcolm said when he was on the show? Players begin in mining stations to learn about the game.

Noah: Ahh… I wanted to go to the frontier… I guess it’s not so bad at least… let’s see in the liberation zone the closest I can go is… Kelha II station, it has a large mining zone near the station and it’s one of the larger producers of ores in the region.

Dad: That’s more like it, search for a few other options just to be safe that it’s the best one.

Noah: I don’t want a place everyone will go like the capitals.

Dad: Hmm, true… The impatient ones will go and do stupid stuff near there and get everyone in trouble.

After we looked through the areas that the company released beforehand we installed the game, which took a long time for the system to finish.

At the end of the week there were news saying that exactly at noon the game would go online and we could wait in the capsule for the time to pass as there are tutorials for the game which will let you learn the basics. Dad didn’t want to, but I was interested. I recently turned 18 so this will be the first time I play a Virtual Game since most of them are for 18+ players.

I lie down in the capsule, which has a gel-like seat that is amazingly comfortable, and watch the lid close, sealing me inside.

Would you like to log into The Nebulas?

Noah: Yes.

My vision goes black as I feel myself fall until I end up and a white room.

Scans of your brainwave and iris show that you are a new player.

Do you want to activate your account?

Noah: Yes.

Suddenly I appear in a large white room.

Time until game begins 2:30:42

Would you like to do the character creation now or later?

Noah: Now.

Suddenly a 3D model of me appears, it was of a young man with a lean muscular build which was made from all the martial arts I had done during my life, he had brown hair and navy blue eyes.

Currently only humans (Terran) are available other human like races must be unlocked in the game.

You can customize your characters face as long as 70% stays the same as the original, you can only make yourself taller or shorter by 20%, which is 194cm for tallest and 134cm for shortest. Your body can only be changed 10% by increasing or lowering muscle mass or fat.

Noah: Change the eyes to silver color and the hair to red.

The changes appear on the character, it looked cool with the color but it felt odd so I changed it back and felt that my normal look was fine.

Please which faction you will support and the location you wish to begin.

A map appeared showing the info that the Official site had released. I pull the liberation area closer, find Kelha II station and clicked it.

Do you wish to begin in Kelha II station in the Orthion Sector under The Liberation?

Noah: Yes.

As I confirmed, the map vanished and my character gained some cloth made of leather which was dark grey with blue lines along the edges.

Please choose your character name.

Noah: Noah. “my name isn’t that common so it will work for a character name”

Please choose your set of skills you will start with.

Note: you will not be given a job just skills.Mechanic Skill SetFighter Skill SetTechnician Skill SetShip Maintenance

Ship Repair

Weapon Maintenance

Weapon Repair

Scrap Ship Creation

Scrap Weapon CreationLaser Weapon Mastery

Missile Weapon Mastery

Piloting Skill

Evasive Maneuver MasteryProgrammer

Tech Maker

Weapon Planner

Ship Planner

System Manager

Noah: Wow those are impressive skills… Why does a Mechanic have more skills?

They are needed for a larger variety of tasks than other jobs. While Technician works only with the ship system.

Noah: Oh cool. I didn’t know that, if that’s the case then I’ll go with the mechanic skill set since it seems the most useful.

Character creation complete.

Time until game goes live: 2:05:10.

Would you like to do the tutorial?

Noah: What can I learn in the tutorial?

How to control your body, exercise to get accustomed to your game body and how to pilot a ship.

Noah: …pilot a ship? But doesn’t the fighter set give that?

My creator says that those that choose fighter set are cocky and don’t do the tutorial but those who don’t choose it might choose to do this… at least some smart ones will.

Noah: …I guess it pays to be not be a muscle head and be born with a smart dad. I’ll do the tutorial.

The large room suddenly lit up and when I opened my eyes again I was dressed like my character and was inside a large room that looked like a mix of a gym and an airplane hangar.

Your objective is to complete the obstacle course as fast as possible, you can do it as many times as you like for as long as you like.

Noah: Cool that’s convenient.

I took my time at a leisurely pace to see how well I did which took me three minutes to do so.

For completing the tutorial course in three minutes you gained:+1 str

+1 vit

+1 sta

+1 dex

Noah: …I can get stats here, it seems low though but since I was going at a slow pace I wonder if I do this faster how much I’ll get.

Next round I did it seriously which resulted in one and a half minute.

For completing the tutorial course in one and a half minute you gained:+2 str

+2 vit

+3 sta

+2 dex

Noah: So it does rise with the speed.

I make a wide grin that goes ear to ear and repeatedly do the course seriously, each time I do it the stats I earn gets lower until finally I didn’t get anything.

Total stats gain I got from it:

(Note: all players start with 10 for all stats.)

Str +35

Vit +32

Sta +30

Dex +20

Noah: heh heh, if ever I get in a fist to fist while still level 1 I will definitely win.

Time until game goes live: 30:56.

Noah: Wow! Even after all that I still have half an hour…can I begin the piloting course?

Suddenly at the spot that looks like a hangar the floor opens up and an old looking ship comes up.

This is called a Dingy and it is the first ship a player gets for mining purposes. You will gain ownership when you have mined enough to buy it.

Price: 5000 credits

The ship looked like it would fall apart but I guess it was better than I was thinking considering we are talking about a spaceship, to give a huge ship to an unknown man would be stupid.

I go up to it the back opens like you see in military ships. It had a decent enough storage for a beginner ship though I’m sure its small compared to larger ships. When I reach the pilot cabin I see an somewhat old leather chair and while the control looks much newer it is very dusty. I sit down and after getting as comfy as possible and strapping in the seatbelt I confirm that I’m ready to the AI.

For ship ignition search for the button on your left side near the left handle.

I look a bit and find a dirty green button and press it. When I press, the monitors and lights come alive and so does the engine.

For lift off pull both handles slightly up then press the blue button next to the right handle after you have stabilized the ship to retract the landing gears.

I pull slightly up and I could feel the ship lift off the ground, after I was high enough I pushed it back to its original place then looked for and pressed the blue button.

“Landing gear retracted” said a computerized voice.

The ceiling will soon open, please lift off and experiment with your ship.

After I received that message the ceiling above me spread open and I could see the expanse of space all around me. I pulled the handles and lifted the ship up until it was out into the space. I looked around bit looking for a pedal and found one. Just like in a car there were two pedals I pressed the left and nothing happends so like in real life it must be the brakes. When I pressed the right one I heard the ships engines roar and started to move forward. I took control of the handles for some reason and wondering how to turn this I pushed the left one forward while keeping the right in place and like I hoped the ship turned left which meant if I pulled the right one back it would do a fast turn which it did but I lost control for a few seconds. It took a few seconds to regain control. I needed to brake the ship and counter the momentum by pushing the right handle forward and pulling the left one slightly back.

Through smart intuition you have gained 3 int and wis.

You have gained the pilot skillSmall Craft Pilot SkillThrough intuition and natural skill you have successfully learned how to pilot a small craft through the frictionless void which many fail to do so.

Increase control when piloting a small craft by 10%

Noah: Heh that was intense. I thought I would vomit before I got this under control… I guess intuition is the right word for it.

Time until game goes live: 1:10.

Would you like to enter the game after countdown is done?

Noah: Yes.

I watched inside the ship as the countdown got closer and when it got to 3 everything around me began going dark, 2 I was in the void, 1 a light appeared all around me and 0 I find myself inside a large station.

I was in a daze by how that all happened. I snap out of it when various players began appearing. I started to look around and found a man waiting at the door of the room so I walk up.

???: You guys must be the new recruits, we’ve been in need of men for mining and I was told there would be thousands of you to teleported in.

Noah: I think they will be coming at different times.

???: True. The teleporter room probably can’t hold more than 100 men in here without crowding, everyone come on, my name is General Marcus Snocon, you can call me general or Marcus I don’t care, follow me so that we can have you assigned to a ship.

He started walking and I followed behind, the same could be said for everyone behind me, we walked through a huge space station for a good ten minutes, there weren’t that many people though and it felt somewhat abandoned which caused me to think that players would be playing the part of all the techs.

After a bit we arrived in a humungous hangar easily 100 meter high, all around there were ships but only about 20 were worth looking at, the rest were junkers like the ship I trained with.

Marcus: Alright, just walk up to any ship you feel comfortable with, they are pretty much the same so it doesn’t matter, I will come around to those who call when they find the ship they want.

Everyone spread then, some even ran, obviously those would be the ones that crashed first. I walk around calmly and look from one ship to the next. After five minutes I spot one I want, to the naked eye it would look like the others but I could tell it was in a better state of repair than the rest so I call out to the general.

He comes over after a few seconds.

Marcus: So you choose this one huh… I was watching you look around, you have a good eye, this junker is the one in least disrepair, good eye kid.

He scans the ship and me and after a bit he confirms my ownership. The number on the side said BR545 which I think was the registered number plates for it since most of the others had a similar one.

Marcus: Work well so you can keep this one, it’s already mounted with a mining drill and basic storage compartment so you’re ready to go.

Noah: Thank you, Sir.

I salute him and get into my ship, I could easily see the different to the ship I had trained with, the chairs weren’t ripped and there wasn’t much dirt and dust on the panels. I put the headset on and started the ship. Just so you know, until now only three other people have started their ships and no one has lifted off yet. With me starting the ship right up a few people looked towards me. Before I continued I called the tower to get permission to lift off.

Noah: Ah, h-hello is the pilot of BR545 looking for permission for lift off.

Tower: Permission to lift off granted, safe travels.

With the permission given I pull back the handles lifting off the ground until I was a good 10 meters up when I stabilized the ship and pulled the landing gears in. I then looked around for the exit and found it to my left, it was wide open, which made me wonder how there was air in here but then I though “this is the future they can easily make an artificial atmosphere”. I pull the left handle and push the right one slightly and make the ship turn until it faced the exit then I accelerated and left behind the other players.

I didn’t go too fast while inside for safety measures and to ensure that I don’t destroy my ship leaving the station but it was a safe exit and I’m sure the other players are desperately trying to turn their ships on. Heh newbies.

After exiting the station I stop my ship and open up the computer screen that is mounted on all ships, (hologram ones, sweet) it showed a map of the surrounding areas with the base at the center and me as a red triangle. As I looked I suddenly hear a call from the radio.

Tower: Hello BR545, this is general Marcus, the man that registered you up, what’s the hold up.

Noah: I’m searching for the asteroid field on the map sir, I’m not about to fly blind in the middle of damn space just to get lost.

Marcus: Heh heh a smart one for sure, you must have trained with the ship a bit but you don’t know how to use the map yet.

Noah: No, Sir. I was only given instructions on how to pilot the ship not about the functions of the system.

Marcus: I see, then let me explain how it works.

For the next 10 minutes he explained how to find the map and how to mark waypoints which then appear on the windows of the ship thanks to the AI system installed in the ship. I was even taught the commands for the AI to auto lock on a certain destination.

It didn’t take long for me to find the asteroid field and point my ship in that direction.

Noah: Thank you for the help sir, I will need help later as I don’t know how to activate or use the mining drills.

Marcus: Get to an asteroid first then call back. Someone will help you.

With that the call shut off I accelerated towards the fields. During that whole time I didn’t see a single ship leave the hangar which I found funny. It took a bit of time to reach the asteroid field it was much further than it looks, even when going 200m/h it took me 10 minutes to reach the first few rocks which were tiny. I slowed down as I moved deeper since the rocks were now the size of my ship. I kept going until the rocks became sparse but the at least four times my ship’s size. I then sent out the call to the station.

Noah: Hello this is BR545, requesting assistance for first mining operation.

Tower: BR545, it’s Marcus. I’ll help ya out since most of those idiots are having trouble even getting their ships off the ground, from the readings it says you’re deep in the asteroid field near the larger rocks, right?

Noah: Yes, Sir.

Marcus: Good. Now I'm going to need you to fly up to and land on the nearest rock, every ship has a hook shot around the ship they use to fix the ship into the rock, you just need to get into place and give the command “Launch Landing Hook” and it will do so. Also to lift the beak of the ship, instead of pushing the handles forward turn them up or down, this will lift the half of the ship from that handle.

I give it a try and twist both right and left handles upwards and the ship begins lifting the beak up.

Noah: Alright sir, I get the motion now, let me try getting closer and land.

I start up the ship and move close, when I was about 100 meters away I lowered the speed and lifted the beak of the ship until I was at a 45 degree angle and moved closer. At 5 meters I stopped the ship and put it parallel to the asteroid.

Noah: “Launch Landing Hooks”

“Launching Landing Hooks”

The AI parroted my command and I heard the sound of the hooks being shot out at very fast speed and the sensors in the hooks indicated they were fixed in the rock. Before I gave the command to retract the line I lower the landing gear then give the order. Slowly the hooks pull the ship in until it landed successfully.

Noah: Sir, I’ve landed on the asteroid successfully. What now?

Marcus: Release the scan probes, they will scan the asteroid and see how much ore is in it. Just say “Release Scan Probe” and the system will do the work.

Noah: Ok, then, “Release Scan Probe.”

“Releasing Scan Probes, scanning commencing, time estimated until total scanning: 10 minutes”

I hear the sound of doors opening and I look back to see two doors on the side of the ship open up and small old circular probes appear, there are around 10 of them. When they leave the ship a blue light appears below them on the rock and on the hologram of my ship it appears as well the small speck. After all the probes are out they all fly in different directions. On the hologram a number appear showing 0% which I guess is how much they scanned. After a bit, when the percentage reached 10%, the area around me had been mapped out and under the number appeared the word “Iron” in bold letters.

Marcus: Hey boy you there? My sensors say you have scanned 10% of that asteroid, right? What ore is in it?

Noah: It says iron.

Marcus: Thank god, we are in desperate need of some iron, many of the ships can be repaired now thanks to that. Well boy, time to get digging, say “Activate Mining Drill.” Don’t be afraid when your chair lowers, it will take you to the drill controls.

I say the command and just like he said the chair disconnects and I ride down until I’m below the ship inside a large circular area. The controls are similar to the pilot controls. No pedals but there are two handles which have a larger range of movement. As I move them the drill on that side moves in a similar manner.

Marcus: Get ready kid, there’s about 1 meter of rock before you hit the iron, your ship can handle 8 tons of cargo, the drills will deactivate once you’ve filled your ship, I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that the controls are simple. The red button at the end of the handle is to spin the drill, just move it on the rock and get smashing.

Noah: Yes, Sir.

The channel cut off and I was finally alone in space.

Noah: Wow this game is much more complicated than what I heard others say about VR games, I really have to learn how to drive the ship and use all the equipment, I can totally understand the 18+ restriction now.

I turn my attention to the drill and press the buttons to test the them. They were pretty new which meant that only the ship itself was old. I guide the left drill first and while spinning I drive it into the rock. The drill hits the surface and quickly burrows through it making large cracks. I drive it 1 meter in but then feel large resistance from harder material so I pull it out. After it was out I noticed something on the window, it was some small bars that stacked on top of each other, every few seconds one vanished.

Noah: …maybe that is a gauge of the heat, that’s useful.

While the left one cools down I drive the right drill in and the cracks that had formed on the first drill spread further and large rocks begin floating out which a few system-controlled claws pulls on and throws them into space, “that explains how I’ll collect iron and not rocks”. As I drill I shove the left hand and pull the right one out to cool down. After five minutes I expose a large 2x3 meter area of reddish rock. Not deterred I press on and begin drilling, iron I must say is much harder to drill into and I have to change every few second to keep the drills from overheating that was until this.

You have gained new skillsDrill MasteryBasic1Through effective use of mining drill you have learned to use them in a way that speeds up digging and lowers the amount of heat up it suffers.

Drilling will be 5% more effective

Drills will cool down 5% faster

Mining SkillBasic1One of the oldest known skills and still widely used in the galaxy to gain precious metals.

You can now see weak points in rocks more easily; they will appear as small lights

Mining into asteroids or on planets is 5% easier

If you think 5% is very little let me tell you it isn’t, also the mining skill is a blessing from the heavens, I can now see small cracks that with just a bit of drilling create huge cracks in the surface. It took possibly another hour before I collected 8 tons of iron ore and filled my ship. As soon as the AI pulled the last ore into the cargo, the drills deactivated and stored themselves away.

Noah: Hahaha finally I’m done, that was a productive day I think, and I still have a ways to go.

After I lay back on my chair it returns to its place in the pilot’s cabin, as it hitched into place I heard the sound of the hooks that came loose from the rock and were returning to the ship that began floating into space. I pull the my ship away, the landing gears up and have the AI mark the coordinates to the station on my map, it appears a few seconds later and I begin on my way back.

Moving through the asteroid field I spotted another Dingy ship like mine coming from the direction of the station, I just passed it without calling and go off at a slow pace passing the large rocks carefully until I was out of the field and then I put the petal to the metal.

I soon reached the station and sent a call to get permission to land.

Noah: Tower, this is BR545 requesting permission to land, cargo’s full and need to drop off.

Tower: We hear you BR545, I’m sending the coordinates to your system, your AI should show the drop zone to you, it will appear on the window as an arrow, after you land on the drop zone you will be paid and can go to the dock zone 1.

Noah: Thanks.

I close the channel and head inside the station through the opening I took to get out. I lower my speed after getting in and look for the arrow the man told me about and find it near the back, as I pass I look and see the area I lifted off from, there were about 20 of the 100 ships destroyed from crashes and players where just walking around with a few pointing up at me. After a bit I reach the drop zone and land, lots of robots appeared to unload which the ship’s system did automatically. I exited my ship to stretch a bit and was met by general Marcus and an older man.

Marcus: Good job boy, you’re the only one that was able to properly lift off and go mining.

Noah: Um… didn’t the others take the course to learn as well?

??? : Apparently not, more than half couldn’t even start their ships and then some that could destroyed their ships because they didn’t know how to control them.

The man stretched out his hand to me.

??? : Mores Cane, I'm the owner of the asteroid field you are hired to mine from.

Noah: I’m Noah, Sir.

Mores: Well Noah, you have a bright future if you keep working so well like that, I see it like this, if I have at least 1 miner I’m getting money all the rest that destroy their ships can do mechanic or technician jobs for all I care, what I need are miners.

Marcus: If you want, I would suggest finding some good friends that don’t know how to fly and teach them. Everyone in your group, the one you got here with to get a ship, flunked the test for miners. We will soon be getting a new group after we change the ships, I suggest going around and making some friends, it will help to have more miners and less flunkies.

Noah: Can do, Sir.

Marcus: You can normally find them all around, we told them that testing for miners was happening and they would get their chance soon.

Mores: Make me proud Noah, and here, this is the pay for your cargo plus a little bonus for being the only one to do his work.

The man pulled out a large packet of cash and handed it to me.

Mores: Good luck.

He then walked off, while I look at the cash.

Noah: Sir, how much does 8 tons of cargo cost at the moment?

Marcus: With the low supply, since we don’t have miners…about 120 credits for 1 ton why?

I count through the packet of money for a few seconds

Noah: there is 2000 credits here.

He get a bit wide-eyed when I say the total I got, almost double the pay is an impressive accomplishment.

Marcus: Impressive for your first pay.

Noah: Ya, I would but it’s probably the only time, since I’m the only one that did the mining… wait I was the only one right.

Marcus: Ya, why?

Noah: On my way back I spotted a ship like mine coming from the direction for the station

Marcus: Oh, that must have been from group two, there are several groups around that must have been the first one after you to get out.

Noah: I see, what can I buy with 2000 credits.

Marcus: Hmm, let’s see.

He touches something and a hologram appears in front of me. I looked closer and could see many names, but there was also a 0 next to them showing the stock, only a basic laser and armor plate had 10 next to it.

Marcus: I think you can buy it, both a Basic laser and armor plate, also the plating comes with a refurbishing of the interior of the ship to remove the rusty parts.

Noah: That’s a big upgrade.

Marcus: Only hard workers can afford the armor plate so we give an extra service

Noah: How long will both take?

Marcus: Hmm if we start after you land it should be done next morning, so you can rest for the rest of the day.

Noah: Ok, then I’ll take the laser and plating, better safe than sorry.

I hand over 1800 credits for both of them and get in the ship and take off. The landing zone for me was in the same place as before, the AI already had the spot marked so all it took was a bit of skill for me to land the ship. When I arrived there were already droids ready. As I got out the droids moved in and began removing the old plate off the ship while some went inside and checked wiring and the structure inside. Once I moved out of range of my ship I was swarmed by players asking how I flew, if I was a pilot in real life or if I had some cheat.

I just push my way through saying I just practiced and to get off. Thankfully some armed droids got in the way and blocked the players from me just as Marcus appeared. Man he is fast on his feet, maybe they have teleport devices to move around

Marcus: Alright you newbies, stop annoying the only person qualified to be a miner, all of you can head out and find another post around the station.

The players were completely pissed off after hearing this, shouting at Marcus saying he couldn’t do this, that they had a right, but they were silenced quickly after he spoke.

Marcus: This was a test, one to see if you could ride a ship or not, you had many years to learn the bare basics and you couldn’t, so stop complaining.

I could hear some of them whispering about his comment then just hung their head and walked out with me following behind. There were some people waiting outside when I left.

??? : What did he mean we had years to learn the basics, we just started playing?

Noah: It’s called tutorials, I’m sure you guys were rushing so you didn’t do any, you could have done the tutorial before the game began, there was plenty of time.

They all facepalm themselves realizing their screw-up and walking away. I went to the cafeteria and bought some food and sat down, it was peaceful until an older man sat next to me.

??? : So how was it flying, heard only one person was able to actually fly.

I stare at him for a bit until I tilted my head.

Noah: Do I know you?

??? : *sigh* Can’t even recognize your old man with just a few changes to his looks.

As soon as he said that my mind made an image of my dad and overlapped it and I could see the similarities, only difference was that his hair was full black now and not black and grey and he looked younger.

Noah: Wha… Sorry Dad, you made yourself younger and I couldn’t recognize you.

Dad: No problem, so now are you stuck on the sidelines like the rest of your group?

Noah: Nope, I’m having my ship upgraded right now, flying in space was fun but a little hard since you need to know how to drive the ship before actually doing.

Dad: How… how did you learn?

Noah: Tutorials, they teach the basics and give you small craft piloting skill.

I made sure to say this quietly to my dad.

Noah: Let me eat then we can go somewhere, we can talk and I can teach you what you need to know.

I finished up the soup and we left. Instead of heading to some rooms we were assigned while we work here, I walked into the hangar to see my ship.

Noah: Over there they removed the old plating and are going to put new ones.

I pointed at the skeleton of the ship that was having old plates removed. I then told him about the ignition, lift off, lifting gears, controlling and turning. As I finished Marcus came in with a new group behind him.

Marcus: Oh Noah, you’re here, and this is?

Noah: My father.

Dad: I’m Noland Blank nice to meet you.

Marcus: You should be proud, your son is the first to fly and return with a cargo full.

He turned around and gave the same speech he had given my group.

Dad: Mind if I join this group?

Marcus: Sure go right ahead.

Dad: I’ll be off, be seeing you later, son.

He pats my head and leaves towards the ships. I watch him look around and enter a Dingy that is somewhat beat up. Soon enough the engines start and after a bit more it lifts off, then turns and leaves.

Marcus: You taught him didn’t you?

Noah: If I didn’t I would be a horrible son.

He laughs at my reply and walks off, this time I continue watching and this time there were about four that took off and left the station, and six that took off but couldn’t control the ship and crashed.

I got bored quickly and walked off. I took the time to explore so I went to the observation deck and found quite a few people. There was one group that was crowding around a young woman. She had platinum blonde hair with sky blue eyes and was dressed in the pilot jumpsuit. Her friends on the other hand had different cloths which meant they were the flunkies from her group. As I looked our eyes met and she came over.

??? : Hello you’re the first one that got in the air right, ship BR545

I nod while looking at her, she was really beautiful.

??? : I’m Jessica, I saw you when you were returning to base, I’m in group three…where are your mechanics and techs.

Noah: …my mechanics, I haven’t met anyone to do that for me.

Jessica: Haven’t you gone to your quarters yet? There are people from your group there that you can make a crew with, I joined up with some friends.

Noah: Really I didn’t know, thanks for the heads up, I’ll go check that out.

Jessica: Sure and one more thing.

Jessica has sent a friend request.

Noah: Sure, out here you need friends to survive.

I then leave and head to the quarters. When I arrive I find a large apartment complex filled with the people from my group. When I walk in the others look my way, no one else is wearing the original suit they had but now some had guard cloths, while others were wearing mechanic and technician cloths. The ones dressed like guards didn’t care much but the others looked at me while I search for my room, number 1. I found it relatively quickly and entered. It was a somewhat plain room, had a bathroom, a living room with a sofa and a room with a single bed and a closet in the corner. All in all it was a very plain room that didn’t have much decoration and colorwise was mostly grey or white. Before I could leave I heard a call from outside, when I looked there was a tall elderly man with grey hair and strong muscular build that betrays his age, standing there in mechanic cloths.

??? : Hey there kid, so you’re the only ship worthy man here, name’s Ernest, thought you might want a mechanic.

Noah: Hi I’m Noah, I was actually hoping that someone would be willing, I have the mechanic skill set but I haven’t trained with it so I’m not too confident in using it much myself until I train more.

Ernest: Hm, you got a tech as well?

I shake my head to his question.

Ernest: Let me introduce you to some friends, we actually do similar jobs in real life.

He called over 4 other men over, it was kind of intimidating, they ranged from 30-68 years old, not counting the years they packed on in game, and they were big each of them stood a above me at 180cm to 190cm tall and muscular, the two mechanics were rightfully so, another on was a tech and were similar to me, lean muscular, and the last was a guard that looked more like a pro wrestler than anything else. Of the mechanics, there was Ernest, Jonas, who had short black and white hair was easily the tallest in the group and James was a large man with red hair and almost pale skin, he looked a bit Irish. Of the techs there were Morgan, he looked more like a model than anything, with slick black hair and similar black eyes and Adam, the shortest of the group with shoulder length blonde hair and slightly tanned skin. Last but not least was Basil, he is an African-American and is a very strong looking man and the most muscular with biceps a bit smaller than my head, the others say that he is an ex-army commander and a very good shot with large guns and is also good at training others in weapon maintenance and construction which made me happy since I have those skills and I need to train.

Ernest: So kid, mind letting us join your crew?

Noah: I don’t see a reason why not, but just so you know we all just started, so I won’t have a ship to carry everyone for quite a bit.

Adam: Don’t worry, we are station hands anyway, well everyone except Basil.

Basil: Damn, it’s going to be boring working the guard shifts for a while.

Morgan: If his ship had any kind of guns you can take secondary control of it from inside.

Noah: Um, the droids are currently installing basic laser guns can that be used.

Basil’s eyes lit up when he heard this; it was easy to see that he was excited to leave the station even if he didn’t do anything.

Basil: Heh heh, guess I get to ride in space earlier than you boys.

He gave a loud laugh that showed his enthusiasm.

Noah: The ship should be ready by tomorrow, it’s being refitted with better armor and the guns.

He whistled hearing it was being refitted.

Jonas: If I’m not mistaken all the people that were able to get to mining got a bonus and are refitting their ships, there are 10 groups in all, I think, and the company here will continue testing until all the ships are occupied.

Noah: Really, I guess you can call it an investment from the boss; he came and met me since I was the first to unload.

Ernest: Hmm, got lucky kid, to meet the boss out here isn’t easy.

Jonas: True, they say he calculates all his gains and losses and I think he sees paying us extra the first time as a gain and not a loss since we will be armed to defend ourselves against bandits.

Noah: Hmm… I didn’t see any bandits when I was out there.

Basil: That’s cause the games system is preventing them from approaching while testing is going on, when all ships are occupied then we will see if the bandits will continue hiding.

We continued talking for quite some time until the clock showed it was time to sleep, the others left so I could get some shut eye and to get some for themselves. I lie down on my bed and look up at the white ceiling wondering about my ship that had been taken apart to fix up.

Noah: I wonder what my ship will look like tomorrow, wonder if they are going to make it better than before or just fix it up.

I fall asleep while thinking about it, excited to see it in the morning.

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