Voidwalker Requiem

Chapter Four: The SC Dreadnought's New Crew

The crew settled into their new ship, a sleek and well-armed vessel that promised both speed and stealth. The hum of the engines was a soothing background noise as they took a rare moment of peace. Hana and Eve were in the cockpit, discussing their next steps, while Ditto and Asulan explored their new home. The Dreadnought's AI, named "Lielle," introduced herself via hologram.

"Welcome aboard," Lielle chimed in a cheerful, slightly sarcastic tone. "I'm Lielle, your ship's AI. I handle navigation, system diagnostics, and, occasionally, witty banter." Hana chuckled. "I install her on every ship I find myself in." Eve smirked. "Just what we needed."

Meanwhile, Ditto and Asulan were in the training room. Ditto morphed into various criminal kingpins and objects, her form shifting seamlessly. "Impressed yet?" she asked, grinning.

Asulan watched her, arms crossed over his broad chest. "You've got skills, I'll give you that. But can you handle yourself in a fight?"

Ditto's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Try me Titan."

Asulan smirked. "Maybe later. For now, let's get to know each other better. We need to trust each other if we're going to work as a team."

Ditto nodded, her form settling back into her usual appearance. "Fair enough. So, what's your story, big guy?"

Asulan leaned against the wall, his expression thoughtful. "Not much to tell. I'm an orphan. I grew up on Drakos, discovered my abilities early on. Joined a few crews, did some mercenary work. But I've always been looking for a cause worth fighting for."

Ditto's smile softened. "Looks like you've found one now."

She paused, considering her own past. "I grew up on the fringes of society, always on the move. My parents were smugglers, always in trouble with the law. I discovered my shapeshifting abilities when I was a kid—it scared the shit out of me at first. After my parents were caught and imprisoned, I had to fend for myself. Used my abilities to survive, took on different identities, and did whatever it took to stay under the radar. Eventually, I realised I could do more than just survive. I'm doing better now though."

Asulan nodded, his respect for Ditto growing. "Sounds like we both found that place with this crew."

Ditto grinned. "Definitely."

Back in the cockpit, Lielle's voice interrupted Hana and Eve's conversation. "Incoming transmission from the shipyard. They want to know why one of their ships is missing."

Eve rolled her eyes. "Great. Just what we fucking needed."

Hana sighed. "I'll handle it. Put em through, Lielle."

The holographic display flickered to life, showing the stern face of a shipyard official. "This is the shipyard. We've detected unauthorised movement of one of our vessels. Identify yourselves."

Hana leaned forward, his expression calm. "This is Subcommander Hana. We're on a mission authorised by the Galactic Council. Check your records."

The official hesitated, then nodded. "Very well, Subcommander. We'll verify your information. If it checks out, you're clear. If not..."

"We understand," Hana said, cutting the transmission.

Eve raised an eyebrow. "Brilliantly executed, sweetie. I'm impressed."

Hana shrugged. "Desperate times, desperate measures."

As the day turned into night, the crew gathered in the common area. Ditto and Asulan shared stories from their past, while Eve and Hana listened, occasionally adding their own anecdotes. The atmosphere was relaxed, the tension from earlier easing away.

Ditto stretched, her form shifting slightly as she did. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"

Eve leaned back in her chair and calmly replies. "First, we find a high-value target. Then we slit their throat. Simple. We need to build our reputation and resources if we're going to survive out here."

Asulan nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'm ready for action."

Hana looked around at his new crew, a sense of camaraderie forming. "Alright then. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow, we start making our mark."

As the crew disbanded for the night, a sense of purpose filled the ship. They were a mismatched group of individuals with different backgrounds and abilities, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with.