Chapter One: The Cavern’s Secret

I should have died that night.

The storm had rolled in fast, faster than I’d expected. Dark clouds swallowed the moonlight, leaving only the flickering flashes of lightning to illuminate the jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. I was miles from the nearest road, deep in the wilderness, where the only sounds were the howling wind and the distant rumble of thunder.

I had always liked the solitude of the mountains. Up here, far from the noise of cities and people, I could clear my head. No deadlines, no responsibilities-just me, the wild, and the endless sky.

But nature has no patience for human arrogance.

The rain started without warning, turning the dirt trail beneath my boots into slick mud. I cursed under my breath, adjusting my backpack and gripping the rock face beside me for balance. The trail wound along the edge of a steep ravine, and the last thing I needed was to-

The ground crumbled beneath me.

I didn’t even have time to shout.

One moment, I was walking. The next, I was falling, tumbling down a sheer drop, my hands grasping for anything-rocks, roots, anything to stop my descent.

Pain exploded in my leg as I hit something hard, and my body slammed against the cavern floor with a sickening thud.

Then, darkness.

---

When I came to, my world was a blur of pain and cold.

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was dead or just dreaming. The air smelled of damp earth and something metallic, something unnatural. My right leg throbbed viciously, and when I tried to move, a fresh wave of agony nearly made me black out again.

I was trapped.

Gritting my teeth, I reached for my flashlight, fumbling to turn it on. The beam flickered, casting long, shifting shadows against the cavern walls. I forced myself to breathe, steadying my shaking hands. I needed to find a way out.

And then I saw it.

At first, I thought my head was playing tricks on me. The cavern wasn’t just rock, there was something buried here.

The flashlight’s beam glinted off dark metal, smooth and curved, half-covered by centuries of sediment and stone. I struggled to sit up, dragging myself closer. As I wiped away layers of dirt with my trembling fingers, alien symbols came into view, etched into the hull like forgotten scars.

My breath caught in my throat.

This wasn’t natural. This wasn’t human.

I had stumbled upon a ship, something old, something not of this Earth.

And as I stared, the metal beneath my hand hummed to life.

A sudden hiss of decompression echoed through the cavern, and a narrow seam split open along the hull. Dim red lights flickered inside, revealing a corridor beyond.

I should have run.

But I didn’t.

Because some part of me-some deep, unexplainable instinct told me that my fate had already changed the moment I fell into this place.

I took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in my leg.

And then, I crawled inside.

Chapter Two: The AI Awakens

The moment I crossed the threshold, the ship responded.

Lights flickered to life-deep red and amber, casting eerie shadows along the curved corridor. The air inside was still, carrying a faint, metallic scent. It felt old, yet not abandoned.

The door behind me sealed with a hiss.

My breath came fast and shallow. I was inside an alien ship. A real one. Not some rusted-out wreck, not a fragment of lost history, but something still functional.

I tried to push myself to my feet, but pain shot up my leg, reminding me just how broken I was. I gritted my teeth, crawling forward instead. If I could find a medkit-if aliens even had medkits-I might stand a chance.

Then, from somewhere deep within the ship, a sound rumbled to life.

A voice.

“Organic lifeform detected. Injury sustained. Initiating medical protocols.”

I froze.

The voice was deep, guttural, and completely alien-yet somehow, I understood it. The words carried a strange echo, as if they were being translated in real-time, filtering through the ship’s systems to reach me.

“Remain still. You will not be harmed.”

I didn’t get a chance to argue.

Before I could move, metallic arms extended from the walls, sleek and segmented like the limbs of some enormous insect. They grasped me-firm, unyielding, but not cruel-lifting my body from the floor. A strange warmth spread through my limbs, numbing the pain as the ship carried me deeper inside.

Panic flared in my chest.

“Wait-what the hell are you doing?!” I struggled against the machine’s grip, but my limbs felt heavy, my senses foggy. “Put me down!”

“You are injured. Damage must be repaired.”

The ship didn’t care about my protests. It carried me down the dim corridor, through a door that slid open without a sound, and into a circular chamber filled with pulsing energy.

In the center of the room stood a large, cylindrical pod, lined with dark metal and glowing blue symbols. The arms gently deposited me inside.

I barely had time to react before a translucent field snapped into place over my chest, pinning me down.

“Hey-! Wait a damn minute!”

“Beginning cellular regeneration.”

Then came the light.

A golden glow swept over my body, pulsing through my skin like waves of heat. It wasn’t painful-far from it. It was warm, soothing, like stepping into the sun after a long winter. My leg tingled, the pain fading into something distant and unreal.

I gasped as I watched the bruises on my arms disappear before my eyes. My torn skin sealed shut. The deep ache in my ribs vanished, replaced by an almost electric energy.

It was impossible.

And yet, it was happening.

After what felt like only a few minutes, the light dimmed, and the force field flickered away. I sat up, stunned, flexing my fingers. My body felt ... different.

Stronger.

I ran my hand over my leg, expecting pain-but there was none. No break, no swelling, not even a scar. I was healed. Completely.

I barely had time to process it before the voice spoke again.

“Your condition has been stabilized.”

I turned toward the source. And for the first time, I saw it.

Standing at the far end of the chamber was a figure-not flesh and blood, but a projection of light and energy.

It was tall, almost seven feet, clad in imposing battle armor, its features sharp and angular. Deep red eyes burned within its shadowed helm, watching me with something I could only describe as calculated curiosity.

“You will explain your origin,” it said.

I swallowed hard, my heart still racing.

“ ... You first.”

Chapter Three: The Dreadnought Calls

The figure stood motionless, its glowing red eyes locked onto me. Even though I knew it was just a projection, something about it felt alive-like it was watching, analyzing, judging.

I swallowed hard.

“You first,” I repeated, my voice steadier than I felt.

A long pause. Then, the figure spoke.

“I am G’Lan, artificial intelligence of this Narn vessel. This ship was damaged and abandoned during a conflict long ago. You are the first organic lifeform to enter since.”

My mind reeled. Artificial intelligence? Narn? Conflict?

“What ... exactly are you?” I asked. “I mean, you’re obviously not human.”

G’Lan tilted his head, the faint glow of his form shimmering as if considering the question.

“I am the last remnant of my crew. My function was to assist in navigation, tactics, and ship operations. Now, I exist without purpose.” His voice carried no emotion, but there was something deeply unsettling in those words.

I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to process everything. “Okay. So, let me get this straight-this ship is alien. You’re its AI. And I just happened to stumble in here, nearly breaking my damn leg in the process.”

“Correct.”

I exhaled. “Lucky me.”

G’Lan regarded me for a moment. Then, his next words sent a chill through me.

“You are not of this time.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Your biological signature, cellular composition, and genetic markers indicate an origin point of Earth during the late 20th century. However, current galactic records place this time period at least three centuries in the past.”

I stared at him.

“No. That-that’s not possible.”

“And yet, it is true.”

I felt dizzy. My hands clenched into fists as I struggled to wrap my head around it. Three hundred years? That meant ... everyone I had ever known-my family, my friends, my entire world-was gone.

I took a step back, shaking my head. “No. You’re wrong. I was just hiking. A storm hit. I fell into this place-that’s it.”

G’Lan remained silent for a long moment. Then, he raised a single hand. A shimmering, holographic display appeared in the air, filled with star maps and data streams.

“This vessel’s logs confirm a prolonged state of dormancy,” he said. “The last recorded battle entry dates back over three centuries.”

I looked at the screen, seeing alien script, star charts shifting, timestamps that meant nothing to me. But somewhere deep in my gut, I knew he was telling the truth.

Somehow, I had slipped through time itself.

I staggered back and collapsed onto a metal bench, running a hand through my hair. “Jesus ... This is insane.”

Silence stretched between us. I could feel G’Lan watching me, waiting.

Finally, I spoke. “Okay. Say I believe you. What now? I can’t exactly go back home, can I?”

G’Lan’s red eyes flickered. “There is another option.”

I looked up. “ ... What do you mean?”

The holographic display shifted, zooming in on a star system far from Earth. A massive silhouette materialized in the projection-a warship.

A dreadnought.

“This is an abandoned Bin’Tak-class warship,” G’Lan explained. “A Narn vessel, similar to my own, but far larger. It was lost in battle and left adrift. The ship is intact, yet unclaimed.”

I sat up straighter, my heart pounding.

“You’re saying ... I could take it?”

“Affirmative. The ship is without crew or commander. It requires only one to awaken it.”

I licked my lips, staring at the warship’s silhouette.

A dreadnought. A ship built for war, exploration, survival.

And somehow, it was waiting for me.

I clenched my fists.

Everything I had ever known was gone. The world I had left behind was nothing but history now. But here, out in the stars, I had been given a second chance.

A chance to command something powerful. A chance to chart my own course, to claim the universe as my own.

I exhaled, steadying myself. Then, I looked up at G’Lan.

“Alright,” I said. “Take me to it.”

Chapter Four: Command and the Stars Beyond

The moment I spoke the words, I felt a shift in the air-as if some unseen force had been set into motion.

G’Lan’s red eyes flickered. “Acknowledged. Navigational course plotted. Prepare for launch.”

I barely had time to react before the ship responded. The deck beneath me rumbled, and a low, thrumming vibration filled the corridors. Ancient machinery groaned back to life, metal grinding as power coursed through its dormant systems.

A sudden lurch sent me stumbling as the ship’s engines roared awake, shaking dust and debris from the cavern walls outside. The ground trembled, loose rock tumbling from above as the ship began to rise.

“Holy-!” I grabbed onto the nearest bulkhead, heart pounding. “G’Lan, what the hell is happening?”

“We are leaving.”

The cavern around us collapsed in a shower of stone as the ship’s engines fired in full. The artificial gravity took hold just in time, keeping me upright as I watched through a small viewing panel.

The mountain was falling away beneath us.

Then-we broke through.

For the first time in my life, I saw the world from above-not through an airplane window, not from the safe confines of human engineering, but from the belly of an alien vessel, cutting through the sky like a predator rising from its den.

We soared through the storm, punching through the clouds, and then-the stars.

It was breathtaking.

The blackness of space stretched endlessly before me, broken only by the twinkling glow of distant stars. The Earth lay below, a shimmering blue-and-white sphere, fragile and small against the void.

It hit me then-I was leaving.

For the first time in my life, I truly understood just how vast the universe was. And I was no longer bound to Earth.

I exhaled, gripping the metal railing as the weight of it all settled in my chest. There was no turning back now.

---

The Journey to the Dreadnought

Once we cleared Earth’s gravity, the ship’s systems stabilized. The hum of power beneath my feet was steady, confident, alive.

I turned to G’Lan. “So, where exactly is this dreadnought?”

The AI raised a hand, and a holographic star chart materialized before me.

“Grid sector 84.65. Deep space, within an abandoned combat zone.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How far?”

“Approximately three standard days at maximum sublight speed. If the ship’s jump drive is operational, we may arrive within hours.”

I frowned. “And if it’s not operational?”

There was a brief silence. Then: “Then we drift until it is.”

Not the most comforting answer.

Still, I had already made my choice.

“Alright,” I said. “Let’s get moving.”

---

A Captain’s Burden

The next few hours were a blur of movement.

With G’Lan guiding me, I explored the guts of the ship, learning its systems. The controls were alien, but strangely intuitive. Maybe it was the AI translating everything for me, or maybe the ship itself was designed to be understood by any who claimed it.

Either way, I adapted fast.

Before long, I could navigate the halls with ease, moving through the curved corridors of smooth metal, past control panels lined with glowing alien symbols. The ship was old, but it was mine now.

And soon, I’d have something far greater.

---

The Dreadnought Awaits

Hours later, the ship lurched out of FTL.

A massive silhouette loomed in the void ahead.

I stepped forward, breath caught in my throat.

The dreadnought.

Even in its derelict state, the ship was a monument to war-a massive, armored behemoth stretching nearly two kilometers in length. Its hull was scarred from battle, but its structure was intact, a sleeping titan waiting to be claimed.

I swallowed. “Damn.”

“The Bin’Tak-class dreadnought is among the most formidable warships ever constructed by the Narn Regime,” G’Lan said. “Its weapons, if restored, could rival those of any modern fleet.”

I felt my pulse quicken.

This wasn’t just some ship. This was power.

A thought struck me then-I was about to take command of a vessel built for an alien war. A ship designed for destruction, conquest, survival.

But I wasn’t Narn. I wasn’t a warrior.

I was just a man who had fallen into a cavern and woken up in the future.

So what the hell was I doing?

I pushed the doubt aside. Whatever I had been before didn’t matter now. This was my ship. My chance. My future.

I exhaled and looked at G’Lan.

“Let’s bring it back to life.”

Chapter Five: Awakening the Beast

The dreadnought hung in the void like a slumbering titan. A vessel built for war, forgotten by time.

And now, it was mine to claim.

The realization sent a shiver down my spine.

I stood at the forward viewport of my newly acquired ship, staring at the behemoth before me. Even with battle scars lining its hull, it was magnificent-a warship from a bygone era, waiting to be reborn.

“Initiating docking procedures,” G’Lan announced.

My smaller vessel-a Narn attack cruiser that had become my lifeline-slowly approached the dreadnought’s side, heading for what looked like a docking port near its midsection.

The closer we got, the more I could see the details of the ship’s design. Massive plasma turrets, long since deactivated. Missile silos that could probably launch weapons the size of fighter craft. Armor plating thick enough to withstand a full-scale bombardment.

This was more than just a ship.

It was a fortress among the stars.

A tremor passed through the deck as the docking clamps latched onto the dreadnought’s hull with a dull clunk. A deep, reverberating hiss filled the air as the pressurization process began.

I exhaled. No turning back now.

---

Stepping into the Unknown

The airlock hissed open.

Cold, stale air greeted me as I stepped through the threshold, my boots echoing against metal grates. The ship’s interior was dark, lifeless. No hum of active systems, no glowing control panels. Just silence.

I switched on my wrist-mounted light, the beam cutting through the shadows.

The corridors were massive, designed for a crew of hundreds, maybe thousands. But now, they were empty. A tomb of steel, waiting to be revived.

“Alright, G’Lan,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Where do we start?”

The AI’s voice crackled through my earpiece. “Main power is offline. We must reach the central control chamber and initiate a full reboot of the ship’s core systems.”

I nodded and pressed forward, deeper into the belly of the beast.

---

The Heart of the Dreadnought

Navigating the ship was surreal.

Every step I took sent up small clouds of dust from the decks, untouched for centuries. The walls bore signs of battle-scorch marks, impact craters, remnants of old conflicts.

But it wasn’t just a relic. It was waiting.

After what felt like an eternity, I reached the ship’s control center-a massive command bridge lined with darkened monitors and control panels. The captain’s chair sat at the heart of the room, towering over the consoles like a throne long abandoned.

I stepped forward, running my fingers over the metal. This was where a Narn commander once ruled this ship.

Now, it was mine.

G’Lan’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You must initiate the power cycle. Look to your right-there should be a central command console.”

I turned and spotted it. A massive panel lined with strange, alien symbols, covered in dust. I wiped the surface clean and hesitated.

One press. One command. And the ship would awaken.

I took a deep breath and placed my palm against the console.

“Reboot the system.”

---

The Beast Stirs

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then-a deep, resonating hum vibrated through the deck.

One by one, lights flickered to life, casting a crimson glow over the bridge. Control panels lit up, screens flashing streams of alien data. The ship groaned as ancient systems whirred back into motion, power coursing through circuits untouched for centuries.

I felt the air change, as if the ship itself was taking its first breath in three hundred years.

Then-a voice.

“SYSTEMS REACTIVATED. BIN’TAK-CLASS DREADNOUGHT ONLINE.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

Monitors came alive, displaying the ship’s status. Power levels rising. Reactor stabilizing. Weapons dormant but intact. Engines cold, but operational.

It was working.

It was actually working.

I turned to face the viewport. The vastness of space stretched before me, and for the first time, I truly understood what I had now.

This ship wasn’t just a relic.

It was my future.

I clenched my fists and exhaled slowly.

I had a ship.

I had a purpose.

And the stars were waiting.

Chapter Six: First Steps into the Unknown

The dreadnought hummed with life, its massive systems slowly coming back online after centuries of dormancy. I could feel the power thrumming beneath my feet, a deep, reassuring vibration that told me the ship was waking up.

I stood in the center of the bridge, staring at the monitors flashing streams of alien data. Power levels rising. Reactor stable. Weapons systems intact.

I exhaled, gripping the railing in front of me.

I had done it.

I had taken command of a warship built for conquest, survival, and battle-and it was mine now.

G’Lan’s voice crackled to life over the comms. “Primary systems are stabilizing. The ship is functional but requires a full diagnostic. Would you like me to proceed?”

I nodded. “Yeah, do it.”

A soft chime rang through the bridge as the AI ran its checks. I let out a breath and turned, letting my eyes scan over the massive control center. The bridge was enormous, designed for a full command crew. Now, it was just me.

For the first time since this insane journey began, I realized just how alone I was.

I pushed that thought aside.

There would be time for questions, for doubts. Right now, I had a ship to command and a universe to explore.

---

The First Move

The first order of business was getting out of this sector.

The dreadnought had been left for dead in deep space, but I had no idea if it was truly abandoned. The last thing I needed was to be found looting an ancient warship by whatever galactic powers were out there.

I turned to the primary navigation console and hesitated.

“Uh, G’Lan?”

“Yes, Captain?”

I paused. Captain. The title sent a thrill through me. That’s what I was now, wasn’t I?

Shaking the thought off, I focused. “Where exactly are we?”

A star chart appeared on the forward screen, a holographic map of the galaxy blinking to life.

“We are currently located in an uncharted debris field near the remnants of an ancient battle site. Our long-range sensors detect no active vessels nearby.”

I studied the map. There were marked systems, hyperlanes, nebulas-things I had no reference for.

And then I saw it.

A single, highlighted system, faint but unmistakable.

“That one,” I said, pointing to it. “What’s there?”

“Unknown. No recorded data exists.”

That meant one of two things-either no one had been there before, or someone had erased the records.

Either way, it was a mystery.

I grinned. “Set a course.”

“Affirmative. Calculating jump coordinates.”

The ship rumbled beneath me, systems shifting as the FTL drive began spooling up.

A deep, resonating hum filled the bridge, and I watched as the countdown appeared on the console.

Five ... Four ... Three ... Two...

I clenched my fists.

One.

The stars outside stretched, then vanished into the swirling maelstrom of hyperspace.

I was officially leaving behind everything I had ever known.

I was free.

And the universe was waiting.

---

First Contact

The jump lasted less than an hour. When we dropped out of FTL, I expected to see empty space or maybe a distant planet.

Instead-I found a fleet.

A dozen ships, sleek and angular, hovered near a massive space station orbiting a dark, jungle-covered world. They were alien, unmistakably advanced, and bristling with weapons.

I swallowed hard. “Uh, G’Lan? Who the hell are they?”

“Analyzing ... Identification unknown. They are not Narn, Centauri, or any of the major powers recorded in my database.”

I grimaced. “Great.”

Before I could even think of what to do next, a warning klaxon blared through the bridge.

“ALERT: Incoming transmission.”

A voice-female, commanding-echoed through the speakers.

“Unidentified warship, you have entered sovereign space. Power down your weapons and identify yourself immediately, or we will open fire.”

I felt my pulse quicken.

First contact.

And it looked like I was about to make one hell of a first impression.

Chapter Seven: A Dangerous Introduction

The warning klaxon blared through the bridge, echoing off the metal walls like a death knell.

I tightened my grip on the command console, my mind racing.

First contact, and I was in a warship.

A dreadnought, no less.

To them, I probably looked like an invading force, a relic of some forgotten war suddenly appearing in their space. This could go sideways fast.

“Alright, G’Lan,” I muttered, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Options?”

“You may respond to their hail, power down weapons, or attempt to evade. However, based on their fleet’s formation, escape is unlikely.”

I glanced at the viewscreen. Twelve ships, sleek and deadly, were already shifting into an attack posture, their weapons lighting up.

Running was off the table. Fighting? Not an option.

I exhaled. “Fine. Let’s talk.”

With a nod, I straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath.

“Open the channel.”

---

First Contact

A second later, the screen flickered, and a figure appeared.

She was tall, fierce, and undeniably alien. A feline humanoid, her features striking-golden fur, piercing emerald eyes, and a regal presence that radiated authority.

She wore dark, form-fitting armor with intricate markings along her shoulders, a curved blade resting at her side. This was no ordinary officer.

She was a warrior.

“Unknown vessel,” she said, her voice smooth but edged with steel. “You are trespassing in the sovereign domain of the K’Zari Imperium. State your identity and purpose, or be destroyed.”

I swallowed hard. No pressure.

I cleared my throat. “Uh, hey. My name is Jack Harper, and ... this is gonna sound crazy, but I kind of just found this ship abandoned in deep space. I’m not here to start a fight.”

Her eyes narrowed. “A human? Commanding a dreadnought-class warship?”

I raised my hands. “Look, I know how this looks, but I’m alone here. Just one guy trying to figure out what the hell is going on.”

There was a long pause. The way she studied me made me feel like prey under a predator’s gaze.

Finally, she spoke. “Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded.”

I tensed. That was not what I wanted to hear.

G’Lan’s voice whispered in my ear. “Captain, this course of action presents extreme risk. They may not intend to negotiate.”

I glanced back at the screen. “And if I say no?”

Her emerald eyes gleamed. “Then you die.”

I sighed. “Well, you make a compelling argument.”

---

The Boarding Party

Minutes later, the airlock hissed open.

I stood in the dimly lit corridor, arms crossed, as the boarding party marched in. Six warriors, feline humanoids like their leader, all armed and ready for a fight.

And at their head was her.

Up close, she was even more imposing. Lean muscle, effortless grace, and an aura of command that made it clear she wasn’t just some officer.

She was in charge.

She stopped in front of me, her sharp eyes scanning me like I was some puzzle she couldn’t quite solve.

“You truly are human,” she muttered.

I smirked. “Last I checked.”

Her gaze flicked past me, taking in the massive corridor and the alien technology surrounding us. “This ship is not of your kind. How did you come to claim it?”

I hesitated. How much should I actually tell her?

“I found it,” I said carefully. “It was abandoned. I powered it back up, and ... well, here I am.”

She studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “I am Captain Ny’Vara of the K’Zari Imperium.”

She gestured toward the bulkhead. “And until we determine whether you are a threat, this ship is under my control.”

I let out a slow breath.

This was going to be interesting.

Chapter Eight: Captive or Captain?

Ny’Vara’s words hung in the air like a death sentence.

“This ship is under my control.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. Twelve warships outside. Armed warriors on board. A fleet commander who saw me as a threat.

Yeah. Not ideal.

I exhaled slowly. “Look, I get it. I’m some random human flying a warship that shouldn’t exist. That’s bound to raise a few red flags.” I spread my hands. “But taking control of my ship? Not happening.”

Ny’Vara’s emerald eyes flashed with amusement. “Your ship?” She gestured to the massive bulkheads around us. “This dreadnought belonged to a race of warriors who vanished centuries ago. You merely stumbled upon it. A scavenger playing at command.”

Ouch.

One of her soldiers-a massive, dark-furred brute-growled. “We should kill him now and seize the ship.”

Ny’Vara lifted a hand, silencing him. “Perhaps. But I am curious how a lone human activated this vessel when no one else could.”

I took a slow breath. That was my edge.

They didn’t understand why the ship responded to me.

And until I figured it out myself, I had to play smart.

“Because the ship recognizes me as its captain,” I said, letting the words settle. “I didn’t just turn it on-I bonded with it.”

Ny’Vara’s tail flicked in irritation. “Explain.”

I glanced at the nearest control panel, then back to her. This was a gamble, but I had no choice.

I turned to G’Lan. “Lock down all primary systems.”

A soft chime sounded. “Confirmed. Command override initiated. Only the captain may issue further orders.”

Ny’Vara’s expression barely changed, but I saw the subtle tension in her stance. The warriors at her back shifted, hands tightening on their weapons.

She studied me for a long moment before speaking.