It seemed like just another normal day, well as normal could be for any one aboard the Legacy, a six maned crew Fj-interceptor exploration star ship, roughly the size of a modern-day light cruiser, luckily most of the systems where automated except for the key systems like navigation, weaponry for the occasional pirate raid, and of course engine systems.
A small holographic alarm clock ticked away the time reading 09:15. Am. As it sat on a nearby storage creating a simulated voice began to speak.
"Good morning, Erick the time is O Nine Fifteen am, it is Thursday September fourth today's reminder is to clean the ships O2 filters of any carbon oxide build up." A hand slowly emerged from the near by military style cot that was welded into a small person sized compartment, the thick comforter like blanket as white as snow with a yellow triangle logo with the words property of intergalactic enterprises written across it in bold yellow letters.
A young man in his early twenties slowly emerged from under the blanket his platinum white hair was a total mess sticking up in all directions, the right side of his head the hair was shaved and as he fixed his hair into a pixie style cut, he looked at a mirror built into the wall by the foot of his bed. Erick had bright sky-blue eyes pale skin, and a small blue line tattoo that went under his left eye up along the check to the tip of his left ear. He pulled the covers off him and swung his legs over the edge of the cot.
He slowly stood up standing about five foot seven in nothing but his boxers and quickly stretched out, his body was very athletic in its build the start of a six pack, clear muscle definition on his arms and legs, he scratched along his jaw before grabbing a black and red utility IE-Tech flight coverall utility jumpsuit and putting it on as he zipped it up in bright yellow words on the back were the words Erick Vega engineer dept., after words he slide his feet into heavy duty IE-tech combat style magnetic boots and grabbed a tool belt with dozens of different pouches and tools inside them looping it around his waist.
He slowly moved to the hatch style door that separated his sleeping compartment from the rest of the legacy and slowly stepped out into the white sterile hallway.
"On your left." Came a familiar voice, Erick stepped back just as a large man about six foot five clearly a weightlifter by the size of his biceps and wide shoulders, it was Commander Tariq Solano the Legacy's security officer, A large Egyptian man with a bald head doing his laps around the ship like he did every morning.
"Get a move on Vega you know the captain doesn't like when we sleep in." Tariq turned running backwards as he addressed Erick in his usual serious tone.
Tariq was in his mid-forties and was a retired naval officer from the Earths stellar defense fleet and was the Legacy's security officer for the last three years. As Erick walked down the hall another hatch opened with a hiss as a slender woman who stood about five two walked out her, black hair was tied into a ponytail, and she wore her utility jumpsuit with the top half tied around her waist and wearing a tight fit sports top as she yawned her arms stretched above her head.
"Hey, Erick, don't listen to the old man he is just a bit stubborn in the mornings." Said the young woman who was the same age as Erick, her name was Elari Solano the ships pilot and navigator and was Tariq's daughter, he pulled a lot of strings to get her assigned to the same ship as he was.
"Hey Elari, your old man isn't the problem I'm just exhausted after having to swap out the thermal pipe regulator yesterday, it took me the whole day to repair that thing, your guy's last engineer really lived by the law duct tape fixes everything." Erick said as he was still trying to wake up.
"Yeah, and now, you know the reason why you're here instead of him, but hey, don't forget me and you have the gym reserved later today." Elari playfully punched Erick in the shoulder as she walked past him finial pulling her jumpsuit up over her arms as she headed for the ships bridge.
Erick may have a heavy workload as the ships only engineer but at least the company wasn't half bad, Elari, much like her dad had a military background as did Erick in fact he first met Elari in basic training but that was now four years ago. Must of the people employed by Intergalactic enterprises or at least had a master's degree in their field of study or years of experience much like their Captain Kendrix "Dex" Talor who was a cargo freighter captain for twenty plus years a grizzled old hard ass who was also a military veteran of the last war almost forty years ago so yet again another former military man.
The last two members of the Legacy's crew were Nova Jiang a Chinese communications specialist but had a small issue with his temperament the legacy was actual the third ship he had been transferred to in the last five years, and this was his last chance before he was fired, then there was the ships medical officer/ Exobiologist was Dr. Sylah Ren, a petite Hispanic women who had eight years of schooling and only about two years of actual field experience.
Legacy's mission was to explore uncharted territories in space and planets that Intergalactic Enterprises had purchased for resources mining. IE was one of the largest space tech industry power houses in the year 2133 making everything from military star ships to tourist resorts on alien planets. And this six-man crew ship had served for the last ten years with a minimal crew and a mechanic that could care less about their actual job, now Erick had an old ship that had too many problems and not enough parts to fix properly.
"Erick!" a large image flashed on the wall next to Erick the voice harsh and firm. The image on the wall was of an elder man in his mid-fifty's white hair under a sharp military style captains hat a thick bushy mustache.
"Captain Talor sir." Erick snapped to a parade rest position almost saluting but having to remind himself he wasn't in the military anymore nor was captain Talor.
"Airs been getting a little thin the past week I know who have a lot on your plate, but I and the rest of the crew would appreciate some clean breathable air in the near future." Captain Talor let out a small cough as if to emphasize his statement.
"I'm already on my way to clean the carbon off the air filters though as I've already said we need to replace them." Erick scratched the side of his nose as he spoke.
"I've already read your parts request but until we get back to another IE space dock, we will have to make do with what we have, we have another month till we reach K-719B and begin examining the planet for anything of value so just bear with it until then."
"Yes sir." Erick said as the image disappeared off the wall.