Lee Minho

The year 2247.

Earth had long since ceased to be self-sufficient. Resources were depleted faster than humanity could replace them, and now the fate of the entire planet depended on regular expeditions to distant colonies.

For Captain Lee Minho, this has long become routine.

At thirty-five, he had been commanding a starship for almost a decade. He had dozens of successful voyages under his belt, thousands of light hours, and a reputation for always bringing his crew home. This latest flight was no different from the previous ones: the course had been set, the engines were running smoothly, and the target was a mining planet in a neighboring system that held strategic reserves of rare elements vital to Earth.

The bridge was filled with the steady hum of operating systems. The crew lined up in two ranks.

Minho walked slowly down the line, his hands clasped behind his back. His footsteps echoed dully on the metal floor. His gaze lingered on every face.

Some were already on their tenth flight with him. Some had survived accidents, meteor showers, and navigation failures with him. These people understood him without words.

But today, among the familiar faces, there were also newcomers.

"Aboard my ship," Minho began calmly, stopping before the line, "discipline, not recommendation. It is a condition of your survival."

"Every order is executed immediately. Any action that could jeopardize the crew or the mission is considered a gross violation of regulations."

He took a few steps forward.

"If you have questions, ask. If a problem arises, report it. Do-it-yourselfers end badly."

Minho was looking around the crew when suddenly the captain's gaze stopped

The young man clearly stood out from the crowd. While the others stood motionless, he could barely conceal his delight as he surveyed the bridge, the control panels, the viewscreen, and even the overhead communications. His eyes literally glowed.

Minho lingered in front of him.

"You," his voice was even. "Name and position."

"Han Jisung, Junior Navigation Officer, sir."