Chapter 1

North America, Human Empire

Date 21.7.2120

Palace Old Washington, formerly White House

"So, what is your solution to this catastrophic situation? We have lost just about every foothold we had on the old continent. Our spies are getting caught in the dozens. Failures over failures and here we are and no one, not a single one of you has a solution to those fay pests in Europe. Do you see those pictures?" High Inquisitor Benedict a thin man with a gaunt face stood there, at the head of the table, almost screaming, while pointing at the outspread map before him. "already they have reshaped half of Europe with their magic. England, know is known as the everlasting Island, and ladies and gentlemen look at it! It's a damn jungle, their settlements are more or less invisible. The cities we humans left behind are buried and overgrown by if our remaining spies are to believed, trees as big as the Eifel Tower. So, if we're being quite honest, we are losing the war over there. We need to find a satisfactory solution now and fast or I'm going to have to advise the emperor to pull back from the fairy conflict. We can't waste our funds on just the fairies while we are still fighting on multiple fronts. If any of you have an idea, I'm waiting for your suggestions Inquisitors."

Taking a deep breath after this tirade, he pulled himself together and looked about the room from his position at the head of the table. Except for him, there were four other people sitting around the massive table. All were people who like him, belonged to the New Church. The "New Church", an invention after the so-called cataclysm in the year 2021, was at the beginning invented as a tool for propaganda, but time and power shifting's within the empire over the last century made the church an organization of undisputed power. Now, while strictly speaking they were still "just" the church, it was universally known that the Inquisitors were the ones who pulled the strings of the Empire out of the shadows.

"What is with our Contacts from within the Kingdoms of the Djinn, with their support we should be able to move actively against the Fairy Courts. Not even the Fey can withstand an attack from two sides." Inquisitor Akezir spoke up. He was an impressive man, heavyset and in full battle armor one knew with one glance what branch of the Church he commanded. The look in his eyes spoke of confidence, gathered in many battles. "If we coordinate with them, the Djinn attacking Spain and Greece and at the same time we attack France and advance on England over Ireland, this should be enough to let us breakthrough their border regions."

"You are a fool Akezir, it does not matter on how many fronts we attack" a sneer on her face the woman sitting next to him laughed. "We will only succeed if we are able to counter their magic. Are we? No? Then don't speak about attacking them so lightly, the only thing you will succeed in is killing your own soldiers." Someone else as well spoke up. Spymaster Raphael looked rather bored, laid back in his chair, black hair disheveled, eyes half-closed as if he would fall asleep any second. "Regardless of the ability to protect our selves against magic, the djinn will not support us in any case. It seems that they have to fight with internal struggles at the moment. If I had to guess I'd say it's rather likely that we will see a civil war break out in the next few months." With those words, his eyes closed completely and with a hand wave, he gave to understand that he at least was still listening.

For a second only silence reigned, then clearing his throat Dr. Matthew Carlson straightened his back and decided that now would be the right time to give them his news. "I, well rather we have probably found a way to counter our enemies magic, but the method itself is still somewhat unreliable and varies in effectiveness from person to person."

High Inquisitor Benedict head tilted, regarded the young man who was the latest acquisition to the council. While not a firm believer like Mother Evangeline, Dr. Carlson brought other things than faith with him. He was a scientist who danced at the very edge between genius and madness. Benedict shuddered, he himself had done things many would find appalling, would send grown man fainting to the ground. But Carlson, now he was another matter entirely, experiments on humans, fairy, just about on anyone or anything that brought his forth curiosity. The stories told were many fold, and not a single one of them didn't go about some poor creature being cut open while being awake. The thing, however, was that he did not look mad at all, rather he looked like the college student who lived next door. The fact that he looked actually quite attractive, with his high cheekbones and a Roman nose, his brown hair tousled, made it more disturbing yet.

"So do tell us about your way." They all stared at him, looks of expectation on their faces. He inclined his head. "The problem was that our soldiers once on fairy ground became essentially useless, or rather than saying they became useless, it would be more precise to say that they became a liability to those others around them. Fairies, the ones who protect their border, use mind manipulation. In fact, they, the Fairies that is, did not kill any of our people personally, our men themselves did that for them. One after another, sometimes suicide, sometimes they shot each other. We lost tens of thousands in the border alone through the madness they are spreading there. Since the problem was obviously the human component, so we just choose to do the obvious thing." The pause that followed was filled anticipation so thick, you almost could get the feeling of being able to touch it. "Oh, do spare us your dramatics Matthew, we all know that you are quite the genius, so please cut the theatrics and get to the point" Again Mother Evangeline spoke out, Grey eyes narrowed, small lips pinched. "We are not here for your amusement, even if you do seem to be of the opinion." With a frown on his face, Dr. Carlson looked at her, obviously disgruntled about being interrupted. She shivered at the expression in his eyes. Whatever was going on in this head of his while he was looking at her, she was sure she did not want to know, for nothing good could come out of knowing the thoughts of such a disturbing person. Then his face suddenly cleared. With a not quite reassuring last smile, he took his eyes off of her and nodded "I apologize, you are of course right Mother. So, in any case, since the human was the problem or rather how magic is able to influence us humans, so we took a closer look at how magic infers with the human body. It took some time and we had quite a few failures, but in the end, we found the solution. Magic itself while sounding fancy, is actually nothing else than a different kind of energy which like air surrounds us at every time, we humans obviously can't use directly. Our bodies are just not made to conduct magic, our brains not able to control or guide it. In the end, we simply choose to try and recreate a faraday cage around the human body, the vaccine so to speak once injected into the subject mutates the body of the affected in such a way he becomes more or less immune to magic that directly influences body or mind. The Magic will be guided around the body, quite like water flows around a stone in the river. But we still are of the opinion that a being with enough energy at his hand will still be able to break through this shield if you want to call it so." Benedict nodded. It seemed as if bringing Dr. Carlson in was indeed the right decision. Ah well, I suppose if he does cause us more trouble than he is worth, we still can get rid of him. "And when do you think you are able to mass-produce this vaccine of yours?" Dr. Carlson thought for a moment. "If all goes just right, and we are capable of getting rid of the last quirks, I gather we could start mass producing it in about four to five months."

Outwards still showing a reserved expression, inside the High Inquisitor was celebrating. Since the moment he took the place at the forefront of the church he knew he would bring humanity back to old greatness. And now we are almost at the point where we can claim that what was stolen from us! A hundred years since we were driven off the old continent, for so many years the mark of shame lied on us. But not much longer and we finally can again claim the glory of the olden days. Shaking his head, he gathered his thoughts. "If that was all I suggest that we postpone the meeting to a later date. Master Raphael, you are to gather all the information about the state of the djinn realm you can find." A still close eyed Spymaster just inclined his head in the positive. "Mother Evangeline, please assure our people that we are still on the advance and let our preacher call out the word that we will bring a reckoning to the fay." "I will do as you say High Inquisitor."

"Inquisitor Akezir you and Doctor Carlson will work together to get our soldiers ready as fast as possible." Akezir a slight grimace on his face also inclined his head, even though it was obvious what he thought of this collaboration. The Doctor on the other hand just smirked knowingly.

"I will go and inform the Emperor and the Empress of our progress. Now go and do what I ordered my Hands. Glory to humanity!"

"Glory to humanity" As if of one mouth the four Inquisitors returned the hailing. Then after bowing, they left the room. Now again alone with his thoughts he smiled to himself.

Five month.