MacTaggert felt sour. It was the only real way to put it. He was one of the only people who didn't want to be here that he knew off, he was from the Nexus Federation a predominantly military run faction in the Milkyway Galaxy and while he supported it wholeheartedly and served faithfully in the navy for many years this had to be some kind of a sick joke. After his years of serving on battleships throughout minor border conflicts and pirate raids he had finally been told he would be getting his own vessel. However he had assumed that this would at least be a Cruiser for which he was more than qualified to run given his experience commanding fighter groups with proficiency for years he had instead got given this vessel. A Scout ship to other galaxies. Of course he had not denied the posting, who in their right mind would? The honour it would bring to his family would be immense, the pay was considerable enough to get his children through whatever institutes they desired to go to and disobeying an order was tantamount to treason and punishable by the death penalty. In the end, his wife had reminded him. It was a command position and the Universe was a strange place maybe they would find a way back home sooner or later.

The crew of this ship, the crew was laughable. One defense specialist all rounder who would protect their ground team that consisted of one Xenobiologist specialist who at least did have some experience in exploration in unknown regions. He also had a communications expert and an engineer and that was his crew. The rest of the ship was fully automated and part of him wondered why they had even bothered with a crew instead of just letting the ship go out on its merry way and do its own thing. Other than for the corporations to get some nice juicy drama television shows running from each of the scout ships. For he had no doubt that even if it wasn't immediate security footage from the ship would eventually find itself being broadcast throughout the Milkyway Galaxy. At least he would be famous, even if he could never find a way to exploit it.

"A.L.I.C.E Update." A robotic female voice spoke, that what it was. "The Star system reports are in. Transmitting data to personnel." Alice, an AI. That what she was. She was definitely Artificial though her intelligence was as off yet to be determined. She was basically meant to make his job easier as Captain and Pilot of the vessel. She would plot complex navigational courses and give him updates as needed though as far as he saw her she was basically a fancy calculator, and she was meant to be his best friend for the rest of his life. "A.L.I.C.E, Record log.""Recording."

"Captain Thomas MacTaggert reporting. We have reached the designated co-ordinates safely within our target galaxy. There was brief disorientation upon arrival however there seem to be no lingering effects from using the gate to travel here. I have sent data on the local star systems to the personnel aboard. So that each member can review it. While I hold command authority I will in the nature of co-operation between the different unions we represent be willing to listen to their input on the matter. Especially Miss Buchanan from xenobiology. End report."

He pressed commands on his console, essentially his seat was surrounded by command consoles as he looked out into space from the bridge. Of course such a design was a tactical weakness however those that built the ship thought it necessary apparently that he could see where he was going with his own eyes rather than the trusted instruments off the ship. "Captain, shall I return the ship to Autopilot?""No. I'll retain control. Get me a full systems diagnostic, I want to check we got here in one piece.""Yes Captain."

Stupid worthless AI. He already hated this assignment.