The US had finally cracked the egg and figured out how to travel above light-speed. A mission 15 years in the planning was set to launch on a mission to survey the nearby universe, collect resources, map planets and of course, search for other life. Unfortunately, a global nuclear war wiped out 1/3rd of the world's population, and killed most of the team who was supposed to launch.
In a decision heavily criticized by Americans ('why are we launching a space mission when our country, the world, is in shambles?'), a last minute training initiative formed to pick up the pieces of the mission. Some dubiously qualified sea explorers & astronauts with lacking experience spedran the training requirements, and were set off. Your team is searching for resources to help aid those back home, and in the worst case scenario, a new planet to inhabit. You wished that the dawn of space exploration would be a bit more peaceful, and not a desperate cry for life, but you can't change that now.
Your work as mechanic is vital to making sure the entire mission doesn't end with an explosion in the cold vast of space. You were disappointed to see your close friend and colleague Devo did not join you on this task, deciding instead to work as a communications officer back on Earth, but you couldn't say you blamed him. If you had not recently made a deal with a god alien thing, you probably would've stayed back as well.
Meet the crew