After leaving the GSG Headquarters in virtual reality and mulling over the design of the Victor-class frigate, Ethan decided to exit the simulation and return to reality. Sitting up in his cabin, he glanced at the time on his quantum watch: 9:30 AM.
Realizing it was time to head to the Nexus Academy spaceport, he prepared to catch a shuttle to one of the three moons orbiting Indra IV. These moons, designated Alpha, Beta, and Gamma—with Alpha being the largest—were the only locations permitted by the Indra Empyrean to house shipyards and star forge facilities.
Ethan left his cabin and began the short five-minute walk to the spaceport, located conveniently close to his residence. Upon arrival, he headed directly to the GSG counter, where he stated his purpose and was promptly directed to the shuttle that would take him to the Alpha moon. Within minutes, the shuttle began its ascent, powered by its anti-gravity engines. It swiftly moved through the atmosphere, reaching the outer orbit of Indra IV—a distance of approximately 200,000 kilometers—in just five minutes.
As the shuttle traveled, Ethan's thoughts returned to the Victor-class frigate. He considered the considerable time and resources required to complete the project. While he was confident in his abilities and the funds he had accumulated, he knew that producing the frigate under his own name, even with the prestige he had garnered as a GSG member, would only grant him brief recognition in the Tier-2 market. This realization spurred him to think beyond just creating ships. He needed a brand—a company—to truly establish his presence in the Galactic Domain.
Pulling out his self-designed quantum watch, Ethan connected to Skynet and began researching the requirements for starting a company in the Galactic Domain. Within ten minutes, he had a clear understanding of the process. The primary requirement was shipyard ownership, which he already fulfilled with his newly acquired star forge on Alpha. Other conditions, such as forming a board of directors or bringing in additional founders, were optional. He could establish the company as a sole proprietor and expand its structure later when it felt right.
Determined, Ethan began drafting plans for his company. He envisioned it as a reflection of his aspirations and talent, a beacon in the shipbuilding industry. This was the first step in making his mark not only as a shipbuilder but as a visionary in the Galactic Domain.
Ethan came out of his thoughts and, through the viewport, caught a glimpse of the sprawling expanse of space, punctuated by the gleaming moons of Indra IV. Alpha loomed ahead, its surface glittering with the lights of numerous industrial complexes and shipyards.
As the shuttle neared Alpha's spaceport, Ethan's anticipation grew. The star forge had been constructed to his exact specifications using a significant portion of his accumulated resources and connections. Now, the challenge lay in transforming this state-of-the-art facility into a thriving center of shipbuilding innovation.
Stepping out onto the hangar floor, Ethan noticed a small group of individuals waiting for him. Their uniforms and posture marked them as technicians assigned to initiate the operations of the forge. The leader of the group, a middle-aged man with sharp features and a confident demeanor, stepped forward with an extended hand.
"Ethan Wright, I presume?" the man said with a firm handshake. "I'm Xavier, lead technician here at the star forge. Welcome."
"Thank you, Xavier," Ethan replied with a polite nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you and the team. Seeing this place in person feels surreal."
"Brand-new facilities tend to have that effect," Xavier said, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Let me introduce the rest of the team."
Xavier gestured to the technicians behind him, introducing each by name and role. Ethan shook hands with each of them, offering friendly comments. "I appreciate all the work that went into getting this ready," he said. "Building something like this from scratch is no small feat."
One of the technicians, a young woman named Kara, smiled and said, "It's been a privilege to work on a project like this. Starting fresh gives us a lot of flexibility."
"Exactly," Ethan replied. "It's a rare opportunity to do things right from the very beginning."
Xavier motioned for Ethan to follow him. "If you'll come this way, we'll conduct the standard biometric registration. Once you're linked to the system, the forge's AI will respond only to you or authorized personnel."
As they walked, Ethan asked, "What's the current resource status? I didn't place any initial orders yet, given the limited storage capacity during setup."
"The forge's storage bays are empty for now," Xavier admitted, "but the pipelines are ready to connect with suppliers. Once you arrange the orders, we'll have raw materials flowing in within 48 hours."
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "Good. It gives me time to finalize the requirements for the Victor-class frigate," he thought to himself. "No point rushing a supply order if I don't know exactly what I need."
"Smart approach," Xavier said approvingly. "You'll also have the AI assisting with resource optimization. The core system is designed to learn and adapt as you work."
"Perfect," Ethan said. "The last thing I need is wasted resources on a project this ambitious."
Reaching the control station, Xavier and his team initiated the biometric scans. Ethan stood patiently as the system performed a series of checks, confirming his identity and registering him as the official owner. The holographic interface displayed a confirmation message, accompanied by a soft chime.
"Congratulations, Mr. Wright," Xavier said with a smile. "The star forge is now officially yours."
"Thank you, Xavier," Ethan replied, his mind already racing with possibilities. "This facility is incredible. I can't wait to get started."
Xavier nodded. "We've prepared everything for you. Let me give you a quick overview of the forge's capabilities."
As they walked through the hangar, Xavier pointed out key features of the forge, explaining the advanced AI-driven production lines, the resource management systems, and the adaptive engineering modules. Ethan listened intently, occasionally asking questions.
Once the tour was complete, Xavier and his team boarded the shuttle that had brought Ethan, leaving him alone in the hangar.