Ensign Year 1

Seventeen-year-old Montgomery Hale, a talented but resourceful forge operator, impulsively stows away aboard a prestigious space fleet ship to fulfill his dream of joining the fleet's academy. As an untrained ensign on a mission to reconnect isolated colonies and deliver vital aid, he must navigate the challenges of serving aboard a massive starship and working with a diverse crew. This competence-driven science fiction story highlights themes of teamwork, trust, and learning to rely on others, all set against a backdrop of exploration and urgent humanitarian goal.