[Mothership Serenity will begin boarding procedures in 60 minutes. Please ensure you have all your luggage before making your way to the Landing Deck. Those planning to use shuttles are to remain on stand-by until the station gives the go signal.]

The announcement was heard loud and clear throughout the SDF, the Federation's largest, state of the art Space Station.

Dozens of heavy cargo ships, trade ships, cruise ships, and even warships travel in and out of the station every day. Whether it was to refuel, pick up cargo, or undergo repairs.

However, today was different. Special, even. All major decks from A to T were reserved for just one vessel alone.

The Serenity.

Twice as large as than the station itself, it was an engineering marvel. One that was capable of jumping a hundred light years, in a single charge and supported by several hundred nuclear and ion thrusters.

At a 110 kilometers in diameter, it was a miniature planet of luxurious suites, pools, restaurants, casino's, hospitals, parks which doubled as a nature reserve, shopping malls where everything was free, amusement parks, on-board factories, facilities and expansive cargo holds. If needed, she was also capable of drilling material from asteroids and harvesting other resources like space ice, mid-travel.

It had almost everything anyone could ask for, in the highest quality possible.

Except weapons. Not a single one was fitted onto the ship.

"... Instead, the ship would be escorted by three carriers, as well as nine Dreadnaughts and many more smaller vessels. Any questions?" Inside Serenity's bridge, was a man speaking to a group of men and women in identical white uniforms with sky blue as the secondary color.

The man was Captain Mahdane, who donned an ironed, clean and decorated uniform. He had a well-trimmed beard and graying hair on his temples. Yet with one good look at the log-like limbs which his uniform desperately tried to cover, it was clear that was in top-physical condition despite approaching his autumn years.

"Captain." One of the individuals seated, raised her voice. "What's the point of having a thousand-strong security force when we can only arm a sixth of them?! And yet, passengers are allowed to bring their own? Where is the logic here?!"

"Ever the worrier, Sentya." The Captain nodded and gave a wry smile to the fierce-eyed caramel-skinned beauty. "I understand why you are apprehensive, but the war is long over. Our voyage to the edge of our spiral arm and back, is to be the symbol of lasting peace in our corner of the galaxy. We need to believe in each other."

"... But Captain!"

"We have our orders. As part of this crew, It is your job to act as directed. Am I understood?"

"... understood, Captain."

However, as dismayed as Sentya may have been. So too were the rest of his crew.

Everyone here had served under Mahdane during the bloodiest period of the War between the three galactic territories. None of them believed that the war could ever be over. Not even the Captain itself. Especially not after knowing everything that happened during and after the fighting.

If it was, then why did they spend so much resources and a decade to build this ship, in the first place?

"Your worries and intuition have saved us many times, Sentya. But our hands are tied, this time. Any other concerns?"

"""No, Captain!"""

"Alright, meeting adjourned, everyone man your stations." Following those orders, everyone except the Captain and Sentya left the bridge.

"Captain. I'm going to go help supervise the boarding procedure."

"...That might be for the best. Thank you." The two exchanged nods and Sentya promptly left the room, as well.

[Captain.] It was then, while Mahdane sat alone, that the computer behind him came to life and bathed the bridge in a soft blue glow. [The Head of Security did not have sufficient reason to leave her post. Why was she allowed to do so?]

"It's similar to the reason that you hid yourself during the briefing." He answered calmly as he placed his captain's hat on the table. "Imperial AI was the bane of our existence. Sentya lost her entire family to one of you."

[But I am not Innocence. I am Serenity. I am neither fully-autonomous, nor capable of ship to ship combat. I was never once used for war and all three sides had a say in my reprogramming. My chances of going rogue and attacking a civilian transport vessel is infinitely close to zero.]

"But it isn't zero."

[...]

"Don't worry, she'll warm up to you, eventually. Why don't you try and help out with the boarding procedures, as well? There's bound to be a lot people getting lost or contraband being snuck in."

[Very well, Captain. I thank you for this opportunity.]

"As do I. Keep an eye on everyone for me."