Chancellor Pellan Vell held his breath as the Galactic Union Ship Redemption broke from the celestial web and exploded into the Milky Way. For weeks the ship had traveled with only the prism like rainbows cutting through the pitch darkness of the universe. While mesmerizing, it made one feel off balance and dizzy when staring out the view ports of the ship. No crew in centuries had traveled this far. Secretly, in the silence of night, Pellan had let his thoughts wander to the what if’s of the mission. What if there was nothing to find when they exited the celestial web. What if they could not find the PRISM or the lost Elders. What if they could not eventually return home to Vela Astria at the end of the mission. These inner thoughts were kept private and out of public consumption. The crew had volunteered for this with rabid fervor. The several hundred thousand had been hand selected among millions who clamored to be part of the crew.

The moment this ship settled into the space of Milky Way galaxy, an audible exhale erupted from throughout the Galactic Union fleet. It was not in awe of the tiny spec of metal off their port bow. It was in awe of the stellar landscape. No one on the ship had ever seen this array of stars. Everything was foreign but exhilarating. For the Galactic Union, this part of space did not even have a name or designation. Pellan felt a sense of exhilaration fill his body he had not experienced since his youth: full of possibilities and adventure.

“All ships report,” the voice of Supreme Commanding General Adar Vyce broke through the silence of the bridge. It snapped the bridge crew into action. Within moments voices began calling out the statue of each ship exiting the Celestial Web behind the Redemption.

Chancellor Pellan Vell and Supreme Commanding General Adar Vice.