At last. The day had come.

Under the glimmering morning sun hovering over Star's End Starport, the purple hull of the Nexus Traveler glistened majestically as she rested supported over the deep hangar she was housed in. The alien design, truly, for no other existed in this part of space, perhaps even this galaxy, cast strange shadows and lights over the window overlooking Hangar 698, where already a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered to witness this momentous moment.

But the action, as it should be, existed on the inside. Crew rushed about to make the final preparations to the vessel that could, perhaps, unravel the mystery of the Nexus that had so long held Rhy'Din, along with the rest of reality and time, in its clutches.

Buram oversaw the action on C Deck, blue jumpsuit covering his hulking form, the only evidence of his discrimination from the rest of the crew beside the Captains badge that rested proudly on his sleeve below the Rhy'Din flag. The cargo space, dimly lit, was mostly empty for now, but by the time they come home... who knows.

The Sangheili's eyes glistened with glee and pride. Even now, especially now, the weight of his achievement, and his responsibility, was coming down on him. But unlike most, he was happy to bear this burden. This is what he has dreamed of ever since his encounter with Captain Laren inspired the construction of this ship of wonders.

Deep in his reverie, Leftenant Commander Rithmussk spoke to him after inventory was loaded into the ship database. "We're ready, Captain," the draconian right hand of the Marines and unofficial quartermaster said, to which his Sangheili commander nodded. "Then it is time."

The pair went towards the nearest access chute and started the ascent up. After breaching the pair of airtight hatches, currently open, of course, and taking their seats on the commander's platform, along with hopefully their fellow commanding officers and pilot and navigator, Buram looked at Commander Loren. "Commander, open all ship channels."

The human nodded and did so, then the Captain spoke, short, to the point, but pride and a certain solemnity in his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for launch in ten minutes. Leftenants, make final crew checks."

After ending the message, he looks to the Commanding Officers, contacting first Rakki across the shipboard channel. "Commanders, give me the go no or go for launch. Engine," he signalled.

Then Commander Zeravah. "Medical."

Commander Blackthorne. "Comp-comm."

"Navigation," he continued, directing at Junior Leftenant Yamba.

"Propulsion," Buram than said, signalling Leftenant Wheeler.

"Defensive," he then asked of Leftenant Commander Rithmussk.

*We are go, Captain," would reply the draconian.

Rakki was waiting down in his quarters, drinking a small glass of who knows what it could be.. most likely a carbonated drink, or water...

"Just a tad bit at a time makes you savor it more is that not right mister Aowo?" To his side was a small floating robot that was quickly crafted from spare parts from the mech, very rough looking buy efficient enough to help him with the essentials.. he planed on upgrading it when they reached his home station with some favors the others owe him.

The Small drone moved about before beginning small welding on the Mech, as Rakki observed the drone and took small statistical reports on its performance... looking gold he smiled and nodded softly looking at it perform the maintenance check and returning to a small rack where it would rest and power down..

"Well this will help.... A lot..." He chuckled and looked side to side before heading off toward the common quarters to wait till the launch was performed... Since the last maintenance check the engines and all other possible problems were in check the crew spread out into three different shifts to allow for efficient over lapping work to ensure there was no down time.

Silence,

5 minitues, 8 minitues, 9 minitues. The time kept ticking toward the time for the go no or go for the captain.

"A new ship, a new journey. This is gonna be interesting" 30 seconds.

It felt like an enternity for zeravah to say he was ready. He was scared and nervous. This was an eniterly new expierence for the protoss, all brought together over a squablle at a bar. All over pride.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3..2 "Captain the medical bay is ready when you are, all systems are go and ready for launch"

He yelled, full of thrill and excitment.
1....

With the confirmation of his people, Buram nodded to the Communications Officer.

"Nexus Traveler to Star's End, we are go for launch."

~Proceed at your pleasure, then, and Godspeed.~

As gravity pulled back on the Captain, the ship was raised to an almost 90 degree angle by the advanced anchorage system built within the bay, and as the accompanying countdown from the base AI came to a zero, the holographic image of a button appeared on the Captain's chair, which was soon pressed with long alien finger.

The roaring of engines against the distant floor of the bay filled the air of the starport as the charged ions are directed into the focused ion, and then out.

"Take us away, Leftenant Wheeler. She is all yours."

"So this is it..." Rakki was siting in his quarters his hands linked like a spiders web before he smirked. "The day i tell the council that the warp drive they had me use failed."

"Sir, what about your family does that not take priority?" He had his second in command as a guest for this fine accomplishment.

"No fine sir, For all the Yordles are family!"

"Wait you inbreed?"

"It all depends on how you look at it! If you go bye some human religions you all came from Adam and Eve, but i don't judge!"

"Right, i see..."

"Now lets get to that observation deck to hopefully not die... You know my cousin was a terrible pilot till he got drunk! lets just hope Ellie is not the same don't need us crashing into a planet or another spacecraft!"

"Well i suppose if she does then well have a lot of work to do."

"A lot? Pfft, it takes a yordle Fifteen minutes to draw out a plan and only a day to build something! well, depending on how many times we blow ourselves up."

They remained silent for a little while while they moved out of the room and down the halls, hoping to get a good view of outside into the vast expanses of space itself, now it was simply a waiting game.

As the ship roared through the atmosphere, technicalities and certain other vitals flashed across Buram's relay. The hull, though specially built, rumbled and shook under the pressure of Rhy'din's atmosphere, filling the Captain with anticipation and excitement as he had not felt since coming here.

To think, this thrill ride was going to be a semi-regular occurance.

But with a sudden stop and the disappearance of the heat that surrounded the windows, generated from the friction of atmosphere and gravity against the scientific vessel, the ship broke through.

They were met with the vast blackness of space, with only distant stars in front of them. The sudden peace was comparable, at least in Buram's mind, to the after-time of a great war, and it filled Buram with awe, respect, and, strangely enough, a sense of dread.

Somewhere out there in the infinite cosmos rested the secret of the Nexus, and untold wonders. And the Traveler was the vanguard of those excursions into places unknown except to the most powerful of telescopes or cosmic mages.

Suddenly, Buram had a human reference pop in his head, which elicited a short laugh from the professional commander.

To boldly go where no man has gone before.

Every member of this crew, from the highest Commander to the lowest Apprentice, was a brave soul, seeking glory and discovery in the vast universe.

And now, the moment of truth.

With a button press, the galactic map of Rhy'din's local galaxy appeared before the platform, an orange pulsating ring indicating the system that was the subject of their maiden voyage.

"Leftenant Yamba, input the coordinates of the waypoint, and take us into slipspace."