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Jace continued, “This will be challenging. The most challenging thing you’ve ever done in your lives. But, like most challenging things, it will be the most rewarding too. We’re taking humanity into the stars. We’re going to make an alliance with other species. And then… then we will defeat the Khul. This is just the beginning.”

Last Night

This was the last time there would be a mostly human crew on the Osiris. They would be leaving for the Gate to Haseon tomorrow. Jace had determined that they needed to celebrate before going into the great beyond and everything really changed.

As much as they all thought their lives were different now, including himself, heading towards the second star to the right and straight on till morning would really change things. They would go to their first alien world. They would take on different species as crewmates. They would then be on a mission to destroy the Khul, but also to explore, to see what they could find and understand it.

Jace gazed out at his new crew as they milled around the large ballroom that the Osiris had set up. Drinks and food were distributed by silent robots. The food was made of space paste, but with the help of the chefs that Jace and Khoth had brought aboard the Osiris’ understanding of human, at least, taste buds had been significantly enhanced.

Every dish had been tasted, evaluated, and improved by the human palates. Alien foodstuffs would be brought aboard as they traveled for the chefs to learn about and create new dishes that would delight the crew and supplement the space paste. Some of the ingredients might have medical uses and also scientific breakthroughs. So not only the chefs were excited about that.

Everyone was in their formal crew uniforms. Jace’s was all black with a slice of neon green at the throat of his Chinese-style collar jacket. Over his heart was a simple logo stitched in that same neon green of a stylized ‘O’ with another ring around it to represent the Osiris. The ship was working on different logos, which he found almost cute.

Imagery is very important for most of the species we will be dealing with, the Osiris sounded waspish as it did when he was teasing it.

I know, I know.

If you think of powerful regimes from the present and past, images flashed before his mind from the stars and stripes to the sickle and hammer to the Nazi swastika, which he wasn’t happy to have them compared to at all, you can see the psychological impact they have even on you.

Yeah, the swastika--

Your instinctive negative reaction is proof that I’m right, the Osiris pointed out.

Okay, you’re right. I concede. Jace almost put up his hands.

There was a mollified silence then, But I have not found anything that symbolizes us yet. Nothing satisfactory. It should also be something that can be used to replace the selchitte--

How did you know I wanted to do that? Oh, wait, what am I saying? Only one of us has privacy. Jace though smiled.

He didn’t really mind the Osiris or Gehenna in his head. With everything that was on his shoulders, he was glad that they were there to help him lift it and give advice. He was never alone and he was happy about that.

You are the Pilot that is both to be and never be alone, the Osiris answered softly.

Yeah, tomorrow I’m taking all of these people into the great unknown, Jace reminded the AI unnecessarily. I’ve asked them all to just ‘trust me’. Every single person on this ship is relying upon me.

They know the risks. It was explained in great detail in the packet that they had to review, initial each page, and sign at the end, the Osiris sounded piqued.

Jace sighed. Being in my head hasn’t taught you the simplest fact that no one reads contracts or terms of service or whatever? I mean, lawyers do, but not everything put in front of them for daily life. Besides, it doesn’t matter what anything says. The promise is there: that I know what I’m doing and I’ll keep them safe.

The Osiris seemed to be considering this as there was a long pause before it answered, We will keep them as safe as it is possible to be while adventuring on alien worlds and facing the Khul.

Jace grimaced. The Osiris was right. Even if the crew hadn’t read the fine print--or even the large print--they did all understand the innate danger in both those things. No one aboard the ship was here with the blind belief that this was a safe mission. They accepted the risk. But, still, he had to do his ultimate best.

Your skills are improving with every moment. Your training continues as you enter your rest cycles, the Osiris informed him.

And that was comforting. He wanted--no, needed--as much experience as he could get.

He plucked a piece of lint of his slim-fitting black pants that were tucked into highly-polished, knee-high black boots. He wore his soft suit underneath this so if he had to change into the form-fitting armor it would be easier.

In case something happens, he thought.

Maybe he would just wear his armor all the time. That seemed almost reasonable. But not even Commander Shepherd had always worn his hard suit. And people expected things to be like on Star Trek where there were different uniforms for different occasions. If he constantly wore his armor, that might make people more nervous.

Or more aware of what’s coming. He grimaced. No, no, this mission is only about killing Khul. It has to be more than that.

He wasn’t the only one dressed up, of course. Military personnel were in a dark gray uniform, similar to his own but with different slashes of color based upon rank. The pilots all had red slashes, accepting Khoth whose outfit was different as he was the Commander. Science personnel had a slate blue uniform with lighter blue slashes at their collars. Medical personnel had clean white uniforms. The chefs were dressed in dark brown outfits, similar to ones on Earth, except they were cut differently to have a sleeker, cleaner look and the material was truly space age. It wouldn’t stain, cut or burn.

One of those chefs--an Indonesian woman in her mid-thirties with short dark hair and a pleasant face named Adiratna--brought him a platter of tiny rolls of rice paper around carrots, cucumber, basic and shrimp with a sweet dipping sauce. Jace eagerly grabbed two as they were fast becoming his favorite.