All of us gathered on the main deck in front of the ship's wide viewport.
I stood at the center, facing forward, while Primus, Steve, North, and Aurora flanked me on either side. None of us wore masks. There was no attempt to hide who we were or what we represented. The black robes of our newly formed organization hung cleanly from our bodies, threaded with faint runic lines that reacted softly to the Essence moving through our bodies. The insignia of interlocking gears rested clearly over our chests, visible and deliberate.
This was not an approach meant to be subtle.
"All right," I said.
The ship answered immediately.
The engines powered up with a deep, steady hum, Essence flowing cleanly through the engines. The vessel moved forward at a controlled pace, inching closer to the invisible boundary ahead. Space remained calm until the moment we crossed it.
For a brief instant, the void flared red.
