The waning moon hung high in the night sky. It was a freezing midnight, and Locky was still in his office, buried in paperwork.

  The room was simple: a metal desk, a small lamp, a bookshelf, and a blackboard.

  Just as he was about to drift off, he heard the hiss of the door’s pistons as they engaged and slid open. From the light but hurried footsteps, he recognized her immediately—his girlfriend, Alice Madeline Donner.

  She wrapped her arms around him from behind and spoke softly.

  "My little Locky… are you ready for the expedition?"

  Locky slipped his pen into his pocket and answered dryly.

  "No."

  Alice smiled faintly at the blunt response. She kissed his cheek and tightened the embrace, her voice lowering to a whisper.

  "Neither am I. Not Zenny, not the others either. After what happened… we're all worried. But… it’s for a good cause, isn’t it?"

  Locky lowered his gaze, the dread of what lay ahead clear in his eyes.

  "It is, love," he said quietly. "But if we… die, the SFS won’t be able to send another team. After all, we’re the best they have."

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  Alice was about to answer when a robotic voice crackled through the base’s communication system.

  "All members of Team Omega, report to the training room. I repeat: all members of Team Omega, report to the training room."

  Alice released him and walked toward the door. Leaning against the wall for a moment, she looked back at him.

  "Locky… we’ll make it."

  He simply nodded.

  The automatic door opened with another hiss of pistons, and she disappeared into the corridor.

  Before leaving, Locky glanced at the small oval mirror mounted on the side wall.

  He stared at his reflection.

  He was a young man of average height, one eye red and the other blue. His hair was messy and slightly long, with blue roots visible beneath the dark strands. Small earrings lined his ears, and he wore the official uniform of the Exploration Corps.

  Locky turned and stepped out into the metallic corridors of the base.

  By the time he reached the training room, the people who would accompany him on the expedition were already there.

  Zenny — their General and commander. A tall, muscular man who wore contact lenses for his severe myopia. His expression was stern, his face marked by several old scars.

  Jack Lenis — the youngest member of the group, a Third Lieutenant. A combat scythe made of titanium plates rested across his back, its serrated edges gleaming. He had brown eyes and short, spiky hair.

  Oliver Clint — a cowboy who looked like he had stepped straight out of the Old West, armed with a pair of plasma pistols. His green eyes carried a calm, almost detached expression.

  Heloá Madeline Donner — the Vice Lieutenant and Alice’s sister. She had pink hair, dark sunglasses, and a short, compact build.

  Alice Madeline Donner — similar to her sister in many ways, but with white hair instead. She stood out immediately, with amber eyes, a gymnast’s physique, and a sharp, calculating demeanor.