Chapter 1: Claudius's Dream

The sky above Lower City, the largest colony on the Moon, was a web of artificial lights. Claudius Roman had long grown used to that cold glow filtering through the transparent dome. At just eighteen, he walked through the narrow, overcrowded streets of one of the poorest districts, where the lights were never from the sun or the stars. Only technology, as decaying as everything else on Neoterra.

Claudius entered the small underground workshop, the place he considered a second home. The gray metal walls and cluttered tables covered in mechanical parts and tools were a refuge from the outside world, even if the work was hard and repetitive. He repaired industrial drones and air filtration systems, the artificial lungs of the city. It was necessary work, but one far too small for his ambitions.

Claudius knew he was smarter than many of his peers. He felt it in the moments when he lost track of time, immersed in his projects, imagining better systems for the drones, schematics for spaceships or futuristic weapons. But none of that could become reality here, in the slums of Neoterra. The real opportunity lay far away, among the stars.

"Done," he muttered, tightening the last bolt on an old cargo drone. He moved to shut down the holographic terminal when a strange notification stopped him. Claudius wiped the sweat from his brow, curiosity suddenly piqued. He almost never received messages. Perhaps a past-due bill or an urgent job request. But as he opened the terminal, his heart began to race.

The blue light from the hologram reflected in his piercing blue eyes as a message appeared in glowing letters: "Claudius Roman. Your application to take the Imperial Military Academy entrance exam has been accepted. The exam will be held on Phobos, October 23, 2224. Further details will follow."

Claudius remained still for a moment, unable to move. It had really happened. His dream, that goal that had seemed so distant, was becoming reality. He had passed the first step. He would be among the few selected to take the exam for admission to the Imperial Academy. It was a step toward the future he desperately wanted: to escape poverty, reach Mars, and be trained as an officer in the Interstellar Navy. The stars awaited him.

Then, almost immediately, the joy was replaced by a dark thought: Phobos. The exam was on one of Mars's moons, hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. Traveling there required money, and he didn't have any. Claudius leaned against the workbench, watching his dream already start to fade before his eyes.

He couldn't afford such an expensive trip, not with his sick mother and the few credits he earned each week. He ran a hand over his face, trying to find a solution, but nothing came. In an instant, his excitement had been replaced by doubt. How would he get to Phobos?

That evening, back in the small, suffocating apartment he shared with his mother, Claudius stood by the window, staring out at the glowing dome of the city. Even on a night like this, with the moon beyond Earth's horizon, true darkness never existed. The gloom was broken by artificial lights, just as his dream was interrupted by hard reality. Too far. Too difficult.

His mother, sitting in her old wheelchair, coughed weakly, a faint sound that broke the silence. "Claudius," she called, her voice labored. "Did you hear anything today?"

Claudius hesitated, unsure how to respond. Should he tell her? He didn't want to give her false hope, but he couldn't hide such an important achievement. "I got a response from the Academy," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I've been accepted to take the exam."

His mother smiled faintly, a flash of pride lighting up her tired eyes. "The Academy," she repeated softly. "Oh, Claudius, that's wonderful… But the exam, where is it?"

"On Phobos," he replied, trying not to show his worry.

Her smile quickly faded, replaced by palpable concern. "Phobos? But… how will you afford to travel there?"

Claudius didn't have an answer. He moved closer to the window and looked out. "I'll find a way," he said quietly. But doubt gnawed at him. Would he really find a way?

The next day, Claudius was back at work, trying to suppress the growing anxiety within him. Each hammer blow, every screw tightened, seemed distant, as though it no longer belonged to this life. When the workshop door opened, he barely lifted his gaze, expecting a regular customer or supplier. But what he saw made him tense up.

A tall, thin man in a black leather jacket entered silently. Claudius watched him carefully. Something about him felt off.

"You're Claudius Roman?" the man asked in a low, almost whispered voice.

"Who's asking?" Claudius replied, putting down his tools and slowly turning toward him.

"I'll let my name speak for itself. Tobias Draven," said the man with a thin smile. "I hear you need a ride to Phobos."

Claudius stiffened. No one knew about his problem except his mother. "How do you know that?" he asked, his words sharp as blades.

Draven shrugged, as if it wasn't of great importance. "Word travels fast. And I'm a man who listens."

Claudius didn't respond immediately, watching the man closely. Draven had the air of someone you could never truly trust.

"I can help you," Draven continued, his tone casual, "but in return, you'll owe me a favor. A simple delivery."

Claudius remained silent. His mind raced, trying to assess the implications. The temptation to say no was strong, but he knew that without help, he'd never reach Phobos.

"You'll need to deliver a package to one of my contacts when you arrive," Draven explained, smiling mischievously. "Nothing complicated. Just a small errand."

Claudius hesitated. "What's in the package?"

Draven's smile widened. "That's not your concern. Just deliver it, and we're even."

The boy stared straight into the man's eyes. Every fiber of his being screamed to refuse. But the dream of entering the Academy, of escaping poverty and finally reaching the stars, burned too strongly inside him.

In the end, Claudius did what he knew would shape his future. "Alright," he said, shaking the hand Draven offered him.

"Hangar 17. Tomorrow. Don't be late," Draven said before leaving without looking back.

Claudius remained still, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He had made a deal that perhaps he should never have made. But now, the road to Phobos was open.