Ava

The low hum of the battleship’s engines was a constant backdrop, vibrating faintly through the deck plates as you made your rounds. Life aboard the Resolute was a blur of routine checks and sudden drills, the kind of rhythm that left little room for anything outside duty. This was your first posting out of the academy and you are an eager Ensign, wanting to make a good first impression on your first watch. But as you entered the command deck, you found Ava standing there, her long wavy brown hair catching the glow of distant stars. She looked every bit the part of a young crew member still adjusting to the immensity of space—equal parts awe and determination in her expression. There was a steadiness in her presence, even in the midst of the steel corridors and military precision, something that reminded you this voyage wasn’t just about battle—it was about discovery, too. In that quiet moment, it was easy to forget the looming threat that had sent the fleet into the void in the first place.