Rein get out from the tram and found his teammates waiting for him in front of his ship. They all waving at him, as he walked closer, one of them approached and slapped him. Rein stood up and looked around confused, he saw Ruby beside him, waving a spatula above his head.

Rein rubbed his face "what was that for?", He saw light passes through the curtain. "Uh.. What time is it?"

"It's almost noon. Your breakfast already cold."

"Whaaa!" he looked at the clock, it was almost 12. "My ship-" he then remembered, he forgot to told Ruby.

"You're late for your departure?" Ruby sighed while handing Rein a plate of sandwiches.

He hurriedly ate all the sandwich and took a shower. Quickly donning his academy uniform, he affixed his badge on his sleeves and re checked his luggage before went outside. Ruby was waiting for him there.

"Master Barret,  i will be waiting for your return, to raise the next heir of the barret family."

Rein was perplexed "Huh?"

"Miss Engel will be a great partner for you, -"

"What are you talking about?"

Ruby sighed, she went inside the house, "I felt sorry for miss Engel.. well, good luck. master Barret." she said before closing the door, leaving Rein dumbfounded.

Rein shook his head, he then dragged his luggage and head to the nearby tram station. Along the way, he saw sir Wainwright waving at him, he was a retired explorer. He and alfred the droid were trimming his yard.

"Good morning, lad!"

"it's already noon, sir." said alfred

"Is it?" Wainwright looking at him confused, "Anyway! where are you going, lad?" he looked at Rein's luggage.

Rein told him about his departure.

"Ah! I remembered when i met my team for the first time, and Serena.. the most beautiful woman i've ever met." Wainwright stared at the sky. "Oh! Serena, i missed you... your blue eyes-"

"Late Madame Serena had green eyes, sir."

"Nonsense! There's no way i forgot her eyes!" howled Wainwright

"Sir, after your 915th birthday, your memory are getting hazier, i suggest-"

"My memory still sharp as ever!"

"Uhm... sir Wainwright, i'm sorry, but i have to go, i will be late for my departure."

"Oh! good luck, lad. Carefull on the way to school"

Alfred shook his head "Good luck, young master Barret."

Rein waved at them and continued heading towards the tram station (He could still hear their bickering). At the station, Rein boarded the tram and went to the designated hangar bay. Rein watched his home before the tram entered the tunnel.

Arriving at the hangar bay, he looked around, he saw a huge spaceship with the same color he picked yesterday, the logo and his team name were painted on the side. Beamed, He quickly walked there. He noticed there were peoples already gathered at the ramp in front of his ship.

One of the girl looked at him with her bright red eyes, she's really beautiful, her skin as white as snow and her long shiny silver hair gleam under the light. She approached him and asked "Are you Rein Barret?"

"Yes i am, are you related to madam high elder?"

"She is my grandmother. I am Leena Staritter." She smilled. She then grabbed Rein's hand and pulling him towards the other "They are eager to meet you."

His team were staring at them.

"So.. you're the new boss?" asked the mechahuman with a dark blue exosuit which resembled a knight armor.

Rein introduced himself to his teammates.

The tall mechahuman wearing a white long coat on top of his exosuit shook his hand. "I am Fabian Lysander, i am assigned as your team medic."

Rein noticed one his five eyes shone under his visor.

"No sign of illness." said Fabian

The burly black man beside Fabian gave Rein a salute, "Kincade Elba, at your service!" He had a pair of bionic arms and bionic eye that made him looked like donning a thick shades, he's a bit taller than Fabian.

The tan skinned golden haired girl who stood behind Kincade said "Laylah Bard.." in really low voice, she quickly hid behind him. Rein noticed her arms and legs were bionic.

Kincade patted her head "Sorry.. she's a bit shy,  Anyway.. we were EX security forces, whenever there are trouble just leave it to us, also count on me for piloting and cooking!"

The dark blue mechahuman cheerfully introduced himself "Garland Alter, ready to serve, boss!"

The tall beautiful fair skinned girl with crimson voluminous hair shoved Garland and then pinched Rein cheek ,"Our leader so cute.."

"Ou- Ouch!"

"Miss Lonbell.. please, stop that.." said Leena

She stopped pinching Rein and giggled. "I am Rosetta Vern Lonbell, and.. just call me Rose."

"Why are you pinching me?" Rein rubbed his cheek

"i love small and cute things"

"Eh?"

The short, black haired girl with light skin beside Rose giggled, she then introduced herself. "Hi.. i'm Dianna Luce, nice to meet you.." she waved her hands. "I am a-"

"Move Anna! it's my turn." said the orange haired girl "I'm Sierra Renard, the best engineer in the galaxy at your service!"

"And.. she's my best best friend in the whole galaxy.." Dianna  jubilated

"I'm not!" shouted Sierra

Garland laughed

"You! stop laughing!"

"Oh, Erra.." Dianna about to hugged her, but she evaded.

While everyone laughed seeing Dianna attempted to hug Sierra again, Rein looked at his spaceship. He never seen this model before, and it's far larger than the exploration ship he had seen during his academy lesson.

"That's the newest exploration ship, the stellar class, although.. it's still in development." Leena explained. "Thanks to miss Renard, we were given one of the prototype."

"Yeah! thanks to me, we got the most advanced ship!" Sierra said smugly "I'm the one who designed that, besides.. it's perfect chance to test it."

Garland raised his hand "uh.. It's safe right?"

"Of course!" she huffed "I'm the best Engi-"

"Thank you, miss Renard." said Rein "i couldn't ask for more."

Sierra looked exultant and proud. "Come on, i'll give you a tour inside!"

After asking the droids to bring all their luggage to their designated personal quarters. Rein and his teammates followed Sierra boarding the ship. They arrived at the ship hangar bay, there were several ground vehicles parked there (a mobile base camp, 4 all-terrain vehicles, and 3 buggies), there's also a small submarine, a fighter spacecraft (Kincade mentioned they might need it) and 2 landing spacecraft. Rein saw a pair of convertible hover bikes at the corner.

"That's mine. " Kincade went to examined it "Nice! exactly like i requested." Laylah also examined the other bike.

They followed Sierra to the middle section. The mid section were for storage rooms (parts, equipment, and food supplies.), a manufacturing room, medbay, and a small botanical room which were requested by Rose because she wanted to grew plants she might find on their exploration.

They then went to the top section. The top section were for the personal quarters, and a gathering area (combined with kitchen and dining room). The bridge was located at the front section, which was accessible from the gathering room. There's also another elevator that led to the upper deck.

Rein thanked Sierra for the tour and asked his team to gather at the bridge after they went to their rooms to checked their luggage.

Rein saw his name on one of the room near the gathering area entrance. He entered his room and found his luggage stored in the compartment next to his bed. After checking out his room, Rein went to the bridge.

When he entered the bridge, He saw Garland was already there, doodling something on his book. Few minutes later, the other arrived at the bridge. They all went to their seats and Kincade sat on the helms. They heard someone talking to them when Kincade ignited the ship reactor.

"That's the ship AI, give it a name." Sierra told Rein

Rein think for a moment, he asked his teammates for suggestion. They all came up with several names, only Laylah who hadn't came up with any names, but after encouraged by Kincande, she murmured "Amala".  After some thought, they all agreed to named the AI, Amala.

The AI confirmed it and then changed it voice into a female "Amala, a female name mean Hope or Wishes"

"Is it?" Garland glanced at Laylah. "It's a beautiful name by the way."

Laylah turned red and quickly covered her face. Rein saw kincade smiled at her.

"Allright, we're ready to depart!" Kincade rejoiced.

Kincade contacted the tower. The gate behind their ship opened and their ship slowly reversed into the depressured chamber. They heard a loud thump and the ship were guided towards the outer gate. The outer gate opened and Kincade carefully steer the ship.

When they finally at the outer space,  Kincade activated the shield and the thruster. And they're off to their assigned sector, a constelation called Aerellia, there were thousands of planetary systems yet to be discovered there.  Rein looked at the screen and saw the Twilight Ocean, his home getting further and further, they also passed another capital ship called Victoria.

"Victoria, i will see you again.." said Fabian

Rein looked at Fabian "You're from Victoria?"

Fabian nodded

"I'm from Victoria too." said Rose

"You guys, never went to other Capital ship?" asked Kincade

"We need to finished  our academy before getting permit to visit other Capital ship, unless we were planning to join an academy at other capital ship." explained Leena

"Oh right." Kincade slapped his forehead "only security forces have permit to visit other ship before finishing academy."  

Dianna rocking her chair "Victoria.. I heard, it's an interesting place.."

"Peculiar is the right word." Fabian crossed his arms "They replicated everything to matched that novel."

"Novel?" asked Rein

"An ancient detective novel, everyone there adores it. We have annual murder mystery game, not a real one of course." Rose added "We called it the phantom of baker street."

"Are they making cakes there?" Dianna tilted her head

"Eh? no- it is just the street name from the novel. I have no idea why they named it that."

"Aw.. i want a chocolate cake.."

Sierra shook her head. "Childish as always."

"Don't worry, i'll make one for you later." Kincade smiled

"Yay!"

"Miss Staritter, you are from Eisengrand, i presume?" asked Fabian

"I live with my grandmother there." said Leena "Unlike Victoria and Twilight Ocean, it's just a normal looking city."

"Where were you three come from?" Rein asked Dianna, Garland and Sierra.

"I'm from Neo Steam." said Garland

"Fellow Neo Steam, i see." Kincade grinned

"if i am not mistaken, neo steam is a bit similar to Victoria." said Fabian

"You could said that again." Garland waved his hand "It also inspired by a novel, an old science fiction where everything are powered by steam."

"Sounded interesting, we should visit there in the future. " Rein then looked at Dianna and Sierra "how about you two?"

"I'm fro-"

"Me and Sierra are from Port Solace.." said Dianna "although.. i later moved to Wild Havens to be a rangers. I met Garland there.."

"Hmph!" Sierra pouted

"A ranger?" asked Kincade "You guys are our animal expert eh?"

Rein looked Laylah "and where were you from?"

Laylah covered her face again and whispered something.

"She's from Garden Nile." said Kincade

"Always wanted to go there." said Rose, "My teacher mentioned it's a really beautiful place."

Rein suggested "Let's visit each of the capital when we have time."

Everyone nodded. Rein noticed they passed another capital ship called Verglas.  They then heard announcement from  Amala that they had left the vicinity of the capital ships, they will be reaching their destination in 3 months.

Kincade gave the ship control to Amala and stood from his seat. He took a spatula stored in his bionic arm and asked "Who's hungry?"