Posted by Civilian Jessa Novar (Child) in Galactic Union- Path to Redemption - Four weeks prior to the arrival of the Elders… When the past doesn’t match the present or the future

Posted by Civilian Jessa Novar (Child) in Galactic Union- Path to Redemption - Four weeks prior to the arrival of the Elders… When the past doesn’t match the present or the future
Chancellor Pellan Vell sat in the conference room of the Redemption ignoring the reports being delivered from logistics. He did not care about the hydroponic frigates or water reclamation efficiency rates, although it should have been paramount in his thoughts. This expedition was unlike any the Galactic Union had embarked on in its known history. They traveled to other galaxies but this distance was farther and there were no known outposts or colonies along the way. This necessitated the two days of preparation and the size of the fleet that was going.

Looking out the window of the vessel, even Pellan was awe-struck at the sight of the assembled vessels preparing for departure. The scale and design of this mission was twofold. The public mission was to spread the word of God deeper into the universe. The citizenry of the Galactic Union rallied behind this purpose with celebrations planned across every planet, outpost, colony, and moon christening the journey. The covert mission was to find the Elders and ascertain if their disappearance had to do with defection to the Undevouts or some other purpose. Pellan did not care about any reason that was slapped onto the mission. All he cared about was finding Jessa.

“Chancellor,” Adar Vyce, the Supreme Commanding General’s voice cut through the room like a knife silencing any side conversations being whispered at the table. “If you are ready to send the Sacrament?” Vyce knew Vell was ready but given their very public oppositional relationship and the fact the two men would be trapped on the Redemption for the next month, it was best to keep up appearances when possible.

“Of course,” Pellan stood up and moved from the table towards the bridge of the Redemption. No one else moved from the table and all spared side glances to Adar. The Chancellor was not part of the military so he did not need to be dismissed or ask a by your leave from Adar. Still, the abruptness of Vell’s departure and the fact he did not wait to be joined in his departure from the room with Adar at his side caused a wave of tension to ripple throughout the room.

Adar sat stiff-backed watching the Chancellor leave before rising from his seat. Staring down the length of the table at his officers, he nodded a curt dismissal and followed the same path Pellan had moments before. His anger was not noticeable because Adar Vyce was always perceived to be angry. He was a career military man which meant he walked with a purpose as if always on the way to an official engagement. Stepping on the bridge, it was not hard to miss Pellan already waiting and in place for the proclamation of the Sacrament. Taking his spot next to but slightly behind Pellan, Adar assumed the pose of attention. This was followed by the bridge officer calling the rest of the officers to assume attention. The snap of fifty pairs of boots sounded like a snap of weapons fire. No one was out of place and the movement was well-drilled synchronicity.

Pellan had delivered this Sacrament more times than he could count over the years. It fueled the ravenous citizenry into prayer and praise to the almighty and his teachings. Across the breadth of the Galactic Union, the citizens would partake in parades, pageants, and bonfires that would light up the night as if that world looked to be ablaze from space.

“O God, source of Eternal Enlightenment, we ask thee, to bless and sanctify this mission. It is by your law, ordained in heaven, before the foundations of your universe, that we embark on the path of enlightenment to bring peace where there is war, blessings where there is suffering, and hope where there is only despair.” The rhythm and pace of his speech created almost a hypnotic effect for those listening to it. Many held their breath and appeared to be frozen in place. Not a single eye deviated from the screen nor muscle moved as they stood in rapture watching Pellan’s image from every monitor and console around them.

“We ask thee to bless and sanctify the souls of all those who partake in this holy mission, to spread Enlightenment, to those dwelling in the obsidian hell of ignorance and darkness. For if we fall in your holy mission to bring light to the darkness, we perish knowing we have your Spirit guiding us on the path to everlasting enlightenment.” Slow, soft murmurings began to resonate throughout the crowd from the most devout. Their hands made gestures of faith or reached out with their eyes closed starting to sway slightly to the cadence of Pellan’s speech.

“We pledge,” Pellan dropped to his knee along with the crews on the ships, and all in the Galactic Union with a precision that seemed to be more of a choreographed dance than action, “not only our lives but our very souls to you O God. We fight with the knowledge your hand guides ours in battle, your truth spills from our lips, and your faith in us becomes a light so bright it blinds all who stand against us. We shall bring Enlightenment to the universe in your name O God until there is no crevice for Angra Mainyu to hide.”

The crew of the Redemption began to chant in perfect military cadence the same verse now behind heralded across every planet, city, town, and village by the inhabitants of the Union. As the video feed ended, the viewscreen on the ship showed the planet blow starting to glow as if continental forest fires were engulfing every square inch of land. The bonfires and pageants were lighting up the skies of those worlds in a night cycle like the one below. On worlds where it was daytime, the fires were replaced with colored flames giving the surface a rainbow-like effect. Pellan was still moved by the scene no matter how many times he witnessed it.

“Chancellor,” Adar’s voice barked out his name, “with your permission.” Vyce did not need to ask permission for anything on his ship. Vell, along with those in his entourage, were nothing more than glorified stowaways in his opinion. They did not have a purpose on the ship except to be waited on; still, it did not serve a purpose to give credence to the rumors Vell and Vyce were mortal enemies.

“Supreme Commander,” Vell nodded to the man before taking a seat next to but slightly behind Vyce’s command chair. “My faith is in God and you.”

Vyce sat down in the command seat and gave the order for the fleet to enter the celestial web.

Pellan Vell (Chancellor of the Galactic Union) and Adar Vyce (Supreme Commanding General of the Galactic Union Military)

Three weeks prior to the arrival of the Elders on the Atlantis

Pellan Vell stood in the observation lounge staring out into the kaleidoscope of colors swirling around the ship. Poems and songs had been written about traveling through the Celestial Web and yet none of them seemed to capture the true experience. One could get lost for hours thinking as they stared out a window or viewport. Quasars, black holes, galaxies, planets, comets, and a plethora of other galactic objects: Each was a swirl or streak of light from an object they passed.

Pellan’s thoughts focused on the alien civilizations the GUS Redemption was passing. The Galactic Union had conquered so many worlds and continued to do so. One day some or maybe all of these civilizations could be brought under the heel of the Union. Pellan would not live to see it but his mind contemplated the number of civilizations that had under his lifetime. Twenty, thirty, fifity....it made his head hurt. Moving to one of the large chairs, Pellan ordered a strong drink. He had no idea how long it took the dark purple drink to arrive but nodded a thank you instead of speaking one.

“Have you come up with an angle for damage control,” a deep bass-toned voice broke the silence around Pellan like a hammer shattering glass? Singaling for a drink of his own, Adar Vyce sat down next to the Chancellor. Both men were aware all eyes were trained on them and gossip would fire up the rumor mill of why they were in the same room without an order. “We have no idea what we will be walking into with this Federation when we emerge from the Web. We can not afford to be taken by surprise nor leave without our people.”

Downing the rest of his drink in a single gulp, Pellan set it down harder than needed. The clank of the glass on the metal table echoed throughout the entire room which was eerily silent as all the occupants eavesdropped on the two men. “No one is going to be left behind and we will shatter them into a billion specs of dust if they try to stop us.” The tone in Vell’s voice was icy and deadly. Rising from his seat, he abruptly left the small alcove he was seat in and left the room without another word.

Pellan Vell (Chancellor of the Galactic Union) and Adar Vyce (Supreme Commanding General of the Galactic Union Military)