CHAPTER 1

  Gravity shifts in on itself, the sector of space warped and inverted as the ship emerged. Its design holds a ball shaped mass of electrifying plasma in the middle connecting to the rear and stern. Directly in front of space occupying the area of space that had once been inverted. As it slows to impulse the words “Vanity” can be seen embroidered on both sides along with the English flag with its white backdrop, red templar cross on the hull. The massive craft shifted closer to the planetary orbit where it rested above the foreigners’ world. “Spatium."

  In contrast to the vessel’s exterior, the decks are decorated very exquisitely. Inspired by the late era of human history in architecture, most notably Baroque. Walls are covered with paintings. The furniture has the same eloquent feeling of traditional carvings; golden trimmings adorn the tables. A cultured fellow, a being of the same nature, can be seen pacing frantically, as he’s holding his tablet dressed immaculately in his pristine dark navy-blue buttoned uniform, with a shoulder piece golden epaulette. Bold strong facial features cling to his skin, a broad bushy beard and moustache are present representing an affinity of adulthood.

  Eventually the captain decided to sit closer to the computer to read the reports. He delved looking back and forth each time studying every ounce of detail in the system. The intercom called, alerting him to the bridge. Before exiting he looked around his room for a small period of time. His attention is brought to a large frame, the painting of the Battle of Trafalgar Square 1805. A portrait of Admiral Horatio’s final moments. The captain speaks in a rich grovelling manner “a fine reminder of why all of humanity will serve England.” The captain boldly claimed the pinnacle of earth's forces, Dean.

  Exiting the lift Dean traverses to the centre of the vessel's overpass to survey the situation. The bridge was adorned in the same fashion, walls aligned with carvings and various mixed gold-silver accents, and engraved ornaments dotted around the place. Elements of futuristic consoles plus tactical consoles were positioned at the front side facing the viewpoint window. The captain demanded. "Report! What is our situation on the matter at hand?” as one of the crew close by offered him a tablet listing the information necessary. The bearded fellow’s expression sunk again. "You could have just told me. Whatever return to your post. With haste" he added.

  The captain brought his focus to the viewpoint in front of the ship watching as the ambiguous planet span before him. While the Commander arrived by his side, Dean only caught a glimpse in his eye. He doesn't turn as Blake the commander speaks. “Perhaps one day earth will colonise this system too, some day.” Dean nodded, fully agreeing with his fellow officer’s statement. “Someday Blake, perhaps, if there is no life, its free for the taking, no doubt.”

  Without warning, three pulses of bright white light flashed around the Vanity. Then Dean found himself among the foreign crafts that appeared within the space around him. Their design is traditional to starships but shaped like scaly dragons. Caught slightly off guard he narrows his eyebrows. His tone is full of arrogance. "I can only conclude that it is the welcoming committee, hail them!"

  Unexpectedly a voice boomed throughout the whole bridge of the vessel of Vanity. An unknown language spoke showing no obvious visual transmission, then he patiently waited for the voice to settle, ceasing his demand as the tone implied.

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  "You shall surrender to the English Empire, relinquish this sector of space."

  The alien spoke again in a harsh quickened manner but of course to no success. To Dean’s discomfort, his impatience rose. "How incompetent of a crew do you have to be?” His tone increased to anger. Addressing the officers responsible for comms “WHERE ARE MY COMMUNICATIONS?” He commanded in a forceful tone.

  The front row crew jittered immediately focusing on the captain stunned for words. They just blankly stare in his general direction. Moments later, as the alien spoke for the third time part of his message was finally translated.

  ---- “Vessel violating our space, explain yourself defiling our sacred space or be prepared to be fired upon.”

  The captain retorted back "I believe you are mistaken, failure to comply, we will not hesitate to take what's ours” in a smug tone the impatience on both sides glaringly noticeable.

  "Do not negotiate with outsiders, LEAVE! No relations, too primitive. Species far too undeveloped.”

  Dean's face hollowed, once again he finds himself muttering under his breath reacting to the alien statement. The captain was taken aback by the irony. “Primitive?! US?! The nerves on them-... I assure you, humanity with the technology it has developed over the years has substantially grown. So has our leap in weaponry. Care for us to demonstrate?”

  The alien ceases their comms abruptly, the 3 ships present with magnitude of power turn to face the Vanity starship. He immediately orders evasive manoeuvres. “Deflectors up, arm the battery rays! Let us prove how earth's mighty flagship deals with resistance, perhaps they will be persuaded otherwise.”

  Hesitant to engage in combat, the order was very bluntly shared among the crew unsure to execute the command. The Commander stepped in. “Sir may I remind you, it would be a foolish act to engage in combat, we haven't time to study their offensive capabilities.” His feeling surged, frustration rose again.

  “Your concern will be noted Commander, they’re practically asking to be fired upon, batteries to bow, fire on my mark. “Dean commanded with ease. Tension grew among the uncertainty of the orders. The three alien crafts crept into firing range, powering up their shields and weapons. The Vanity stood motionless in the vastness of space waiting for its captain to respond. Dean curses under his breath, having second thoughts but very eager to prove Britannia’s might in the coming space age. “Damn it Blake you’re right. I will not risk my crew on a whim, disengage, take us out full U-turn maximum velocity.”

  As space again inverted collapsing in on itself shifting the gravity among its vectors. The craft repelled in an instant at warp escaping the menacing threat that once loomed.

  The Commander engaged in conversation. “Do you suppose those ships were using illusion, possibly even magic? Those vessels could be seen by the naked eye, but scanners couldn't register any applicable mass or material to suggest otherwise.” Dean turned, rose to meet him. “None? None at all? I refuse to believe those ships weren't real, I saw them with my eyes, you saw them, the whole damn crew saw them!” His frustration was obvious after the ordeal he was met with. “But nevertheless, you made the right call, my emotions got the better of me. If that voice was a projection of magic, and those ships were using remnants of sorcery… evidently, magic coexists throughout the galaxy, perhaps humanity is not the last species to use such abominable notions.”

  Blake responds in an intrigued manner. “I concur that their techniques. Elude us. Sorcery, it's something to fear, if magic is something that is tangible at all. I suspect it would shift the balance, even the tide of power, the practices haven't been seen since the age of enlightenment, roughly 17th, 18th century, especially witchcraft”, Dean stroked his beard pondering the facts. His realisation struggled to grasp what occurred. “If what we saw was real… if it was sorcery we were witnessing… What readings did we register? If any at all?”

  The tactical officer confirmed their fears the faint English accent present. “I'm puzzled I’m as you sir. As the Commander previously mentioned, it's impossible to track, there’s no constant matter to lock onto or read from. How do you suppose that is possible?” the captain overshadows the officer, expressing confusion. “Preposterous, these readings are impossible, none of this makes any sense…”