Chapter 1
Surenit had never really appreciated the vast, inky blackness that was space. This was probably due to the fact that he was only a teenager, and such things simply did not cross the minds of teenagers. But now, as he stood on the bridge of the Republic Hammerhead Cruiser Endar Spire, he could see the stars up close, count the rings on the planet next to them, and feel a chill run up his spine as he examined the vast nothingness that was a Black Hole.
But suddenly out of the black hole came… Something. No, several somethings. The large gray hulking masses drifted towards the Endar Spire. Then, the masses moved out of the shadow of the planet beside them and were illuminated by the system's sun. The masses were revealed to be ships. Large and triangular, these were easily five times larger than the Hammerhead that was currently one of the largest and most powerful ships in the Galaxy.
There were six of these giant Capital Ships, and each of them was moving directly towards the Spire.
"Sir, what are those things?" Variations of the question echoed around the bridge from most of the technicians who had been until now maintaining the ship's position in orbit of the planet.
Before Surenit could reply, the ship jerked forward. Everyone who was standing was thrown to the floor or into a panel or seat.
"Sir, we appear to be caught in a tractor beam. Orders?" The technician looked up at Surenit.
"There's nothing we can do. If we try and fight, they'll vaporize us before we can get off a second shot. Let them pull us in." Surenit looked resigned but determined. Inside, however, he was screaming for someone to stop the ride so he could jump out the airlock.
"Sir, there's a transmission coming in." said a new technician, who was working at the communications screen.
"From the capital ships?"
"No, sir. It appears to be coming from a small ship called The Phoenix, on the other side of the planet. Should I accept it?"
"Go ahead."
Instantly, a screen obscured all vision through the bridge's plasteel viewport. On the screen was a messy-haired teenager with sparkling green eyes and a strangely shaped scar on his forehead.
"This is Harry Potter, captain of the Phoenix…"