The protagonist awakens in the cockpit of a spaceship, initially disoriented by the cold and the unfamiliar, breathtaking view of a star-filled sky. He quickly recognizes the cockpit as belonging to his ship, "Krishna," from the online game "Stella Online." Despite the surreal situation, he confirms it's not a dream through physical sensations and the ship's functioning systems. He realizes he has somehow entered the game's universe.
His immediate concerns are survival and understanding his predicament. He activates life support, narrowly avoiding suffocation and freezing. The ship's status reveals no bounty on him, but his finances are zero. However, he discovers a significant cargo of rare metals, a valuable commodity in "Stella Online" that attracts pirates.
Shortly after, his ship is scanned by an unknown vessel, which quickly reveals itself to be a pirate ship. Three pirate ships emerge, demanding his cargo. The protagonist, despite his initial apprehension, decides to fight. His ship, Krishna, a powerful custom military vessel, easily defeats the pirates in a brutal, one-sided battle. He loots the wreckage for cargo and data caches, which reveal the location of a pirate base within the current star system, known as the Tameen system.
He then travels to the main trading colony, Tameen Prime, to sell the rare metals and the pirate data. At the port authority, he faces interrogation due to his unknown origins and the suspicious nature of his cargo. However, a high-ranking military officer, Serena, intervenes, clearing him after he explains his situation and offers the pirate base coordinates. He receives a substantial payment for the rare metals and the intel.
While exploring the colony, he encounters Elma, a seasoned mercenary who offers him advice and guidance. Elma helps him register with the Mercenary Guild, revealing a ranking system and that he's provisionally ranked Bronze, with a high potential for Silver. He also learns about the Tameen system's resource richness and its strategic location near the border of the Grackan Empire and the hostile Bererem Federation, making it a volatile but potentially lucrative area for mercenaries.
During his exploration, he witnesses a young girl, Mimi, being accosted by thugs. Despite Elma's pragmatic advice to leave it be, the protagonist intervenes, using his laser pistol to incapacitate the attackers without killing them. Mimi, orphaned and burdened by her parents' debts, is facing eviction from her home sector. The protagonist, moved by her plight and Elma's subtle encouragement, decides to take her aboard his ship, paying off her substantial debts with his newfound wealth. He also learns that carbonated drinks, a favorite of his, do not exist in this universe, a fact that deeply disappoints him. He sets a long-term goal to find a planet where he can enjoy them. Elma, despite her initial reluctance, agrees to help him navigate the complexities of his new life, acting as a reluctant mentor.