Another Old Eric Intro

By V. Ravencroft BOOK III: ERIC OLAFSON Authors Note: Special thanks to Michael Howard for Beta Reading and editing my story for Punctuation, spelling and Grammar errors.(This is an ongoing process and not all Chapters have been edited yet). Furthermore thanks to Fusionbeam for his ongoing support.

NILFEHEIM 2nd Planet ,Solken System. 452 LY from Terra. Year: 5012 (OTT - Old Terran Time) Mr. Flensburger was a little late as usual. He came into the classroom dressed like a Harpooner in the middle of Long night. A Heavy hooded Fangsnapper fur coat, over a padded Iso-Tex Jacket and beneath the hood a heated wind mask. That was far from all, underneath all that a Fleet Issue extreme suit with active heating. He was dressed like that despite the fact it was almost spring and he had to walk less than 1500 meters in the open. It was only ten below zero and light wind. Bare chest weather my Uncle Hogun would say. It would take him long moments to get undressed and I was certain the pile of clothing next to his desk grew just a little bigger every day. “It is exceptionally cold this morning, class," he greeted us and twenty two Neo-Vikings would say:”Good morning Mr. Flensburger.” I couldn’t help myself and said, "You have been on Nilfeheim now for over thirty years, Mr. Flensburger. Haven’t you gotten used to our weather by now?”space. He took off his cold mask, revealing his slate ice gray eyes and his long pointed nose and looked at me close up space, then shook his head. "Mr. Olafson, it took me all this time to get used to the barbaric customs of you Neo Vikings. I had no time to get used to the weather yet.” That caused the class to laugh. He walked to the windows and looked over the churning waves of the ocean. "It is a beautiful planet. Lots of cold water, teaming with an abundance of life, blue oceans and very, very long winters you got here. I come from New Algiers, almost no open water. Deserts as far as you can see. You have winds bringing ice crystals, snow and rain. Our storms bring dust, lots of it, but the temperature never drops below 30 and is usually at 48." I tried to imagine how it would be, to live in bread oven conditions like that. I glanced at my I-Board and checked on New Algiers. Our teacher turned to face the class. "It is your final year and some of you might actually leave this world and it will also be my last school year. Thirty years teaching you Neo Vikings about the rest of the Universe was a challenge to say the least.” His eyes became dreamy and he smiled.” First I am going to Para-Para and simply sit on the beach for maybe a year or so. I believe it will take at least that long for my bones to thaw.” Leif Swenkjard sitting across the aisle from me waved his hand.”I’ve been there actually. When my Father had to go there for an ocean produce tradeshow he took me along. They don’t even have a little snow and their largest fish is about the size of a Surface Finner. On Para-Para there are no weapons allowed, if you use your fist to make an argument stick you get in trouble and arrested. No one wears much clothing and all they do is smile all the time.” Ygral Anders next to him drew the outlines of a woman into the air.”How about the girls, do they wear little?” “You could bunch up what they wear in your fist and nothing showing.” Ygral now grinned from one ear to the other.”I think I go there for a visit too!” “You wouldn’t like it. Because the guys don’t wear much either and you barely see any blonde tall girls with braids anywhere. Those girls can’t cook a decent meal, won’t clean up after you and want to be equal to men and sit at the same table!” Flensburger shook his head putting his right hand before his eyes.”You are hopeless.” Then he sat down on the edge of his desk and he stared at me.”You look different today, Eric. What are you wearing on your head?” “It is the Helmet of the Hunt; I received it this morning from the Eldest.” “I am somewhat familiar with it. I was under the impression only someone completing the hunt was allowed to wear one.” Leif turned and gave me a hateful envious look.” Eric killed two Tyranno Fins this morning completing the ancient challenge. I can't understand why someone like him is such a good hunter.“ Flensburger got up and came closer.”Just consider me an ignorant Off-worlder for now, but would you explain that to me again? I thought The Ancient Challenge was considered too dangerous even by your standards and no longer required.” Leif still being addressed answered.”In order for a Viking to be accepted as a man he must complete three tasks. Only by completing these three tasks, closely observed by the Circle of the Eldest, one may sit on the table with the warriors, drink mead and wear a helmet. The three challenges are: to walk the Tunnel of Skill where your fighting skills are tested, recite the entire Poem of Odin without faltering, and to slay a Tyranno Fin. To slay a Tyranno Fin even in a modern Sub is no easy task, but to do it the old way by diving and using a Hand harpoon is almost suicide and because so many sons died that way the Ancient Challenge is no longer required. However anyone can still do it the old way and that is the highest honor and test of skill.” “And you killed two of them this morning?” Flensburger asked visibly astounded. “Yes Sir. I had not planned on killing two. I was stalking a young Twi Halfer and when I speared it into the mark its brother or father showed up and it was a Six Double I think, I had to kill it or it would have done so with me.” “I heard the Eldest say it was an Eight Tri,” Ygral interrupted.” And no Eight Tri has been slain by hand in over 200 years. It is all over the radios this morning too.” Flensburger shook his head once again.”You are one crazy species of humans. Going against the biggest and fastest Predator fish in the Galaxy armed with a toothpick and hope to kill it by hitting a fist size target behind their eyes.” I made a circle with my hands. ”The Mark was about that big on the Eight Tri, not fist size.” He rolled his eyes and sighed. ”Right, that makes it so much easier. Now I wonder does it not make you a man even in the eyes of your family and most certainly among your class mates. Would this not fix things between you and your father?” I lowered my head. ”No it won’t and I'd rather not talk about it!” “Very well then.”He turned to the class and said, "Have you ever wondered why we have school? Why we have classes? Why we don’t simply use neural uploading for everything, like we do for language and general knowledge?” There was silence. He pointed at Sven. ”You questioned the need for schooling many times before. Would you not rather have all what you need uploaded in your brain and be done with it?” Sven shook his long red hair. ”No I don’t see the need for all this off world garbage in my head in the first place. I am going to be a harpooner like my Father and my brothers and my son will be a harpooner too. I will be a very good harpooner and one day, if Odin wills it, I start my own boat and have a clan of my own. What do I need to know about the rest of the Galaxy?” “I know you think that way. Many Neo Viking’s coming to school think that way. But you are members of the Union and you do business with the Union. What good is a harpooner without a Harpoon? Or what good is a Hunt boat that can’t sell its catch?” Sven was still not convinced and crossed his big forearms across his barrel chest.”We make our own Harpoons and we can eat our own catch.” Mr. Flensburger sighed. ”Your skull is as dense as the ice out there. What is your harpoon made off? What do you use to propel your boats and hunting subs?” Sven was not so sure about himself anymore and his voice changed as he answered: ”Harpoons are made of Ultronit, and we use Zero point cubes to power the boats.” I could see Sven was suddenly thinking. We all knew Sven wasn’t the sharpest harpoon on the boat. "And where does the Ultronit and the power cubes come from?" He responded to the question, saying, “My father orders metals, knives and boat parts on GalNet.“ “How does he pay for it?” Mr. Flensburger asked. “With Union Creds of course.” “How does he get Union Creds?” “We’re selling Tyranno meat, Flasher fish and lots of Fanger Fur to the Exchange in town.” Even Sven realized what he was saying and nodded. ”Alright we do need the Off-worlders. You made your point, Mr. Flensburger, but why do we have to learn it this way?” The skinny teacher sat down on the edge of his desk. His favorite position when he was about to explain something to us. “Our Union is a little over 3000 years old and we have over 4,500 member civilizations. There are millions of settled planets and locations. There are non humanoids, methane breathers, insectoids, and even a non corporal species. There are a very few things that are common to all. One of those things most societies have in common is the need to educate the young, to prepare them for the world. There are only a few species we know of who do not need to educate their offspring. The Klack for example, those Insectoid friends of ours have a collective mind they share all experiences, a Klack hatches with all knowledge he needs. But even the Klack send their young to Union schools mostly to prepare us to interact with them. ”Mr. Flensburger folded his hands. ”For most civilizations however schooling is necessary and after many millennia of experience and experimenting with all those various other education techniques it turned out that the old way of class interaction resulted in the best education.“ Again he looked across the class and pointed at Peter. ”Why do you think these old methods might be superior?” Peter, the son of a Fish merchant and one of the few who would leave Nilfleheim after graduation for college answered after a short moment of thought. ”I believe even the smartest computronic can’t answer a real question by analyzing the reason for the question in relationship to the environment and background of the student. Only a real teacher can do that.” “Not bad at all, Peter. I would give you a straight A for that answer. Except that this is the textbook answer you just read. But finding the right answer so fast and skillfully hiding your E-Pad under your sleeve I still give you a B.” He nodded more to himself than to anyone in particular. ”It is the environment in which we learn that makes the difference. Uploaded knowledge and implanted memories can supply you with all the data you need. While you won’t find a Data head here on Nilfleheim, having your mind direct linked to GalNet is not uncommon elsewhere. So knowledge isn’t the reason for schools and teachers but the environment in which you take it in to give you the tools to use the information your mind processes.” He stabbed his finger at me.”Mr. Olafson, what happens when you graduate?” “We become citizens, Sir!” “Very good, now regardless of your grades that determine your further career and education options, everyone becomes a Citizen after graduating Basic school. This is why you are here; this is why your parents want you here to become full citizens. Only as a citizen can you freely travel, open a bank account, transfer UnionCreds, use GalNet, vote, get free health care and most of allcomma get the full protection of the law! “ Sven still wasn’t convinced, “I still don’t see why an Off-worlder like you has to come and teach us all that. My father told me that before we were forced to join the Union we would learn all that we needed from our Clan Elder.” “So you think you were forced to join?” “What else do you call a fleet of Battleships with Planet-Buster bombs ready to vaporize our planet in orbit?” “Before we go into that and since it seems you are quite the history expert, do you know the reason why the United Stars send Battleships in the first place?” “Yes of course! Our glorious forefathers caused mayhem and terror by raiding other colonies and spaceships for everything we needed. ”He laughed loudly. " Neo Vikings were feared in this sector!" “Indeed. Your glorious forefathers realized they would not survive another decade without things the outside world could supply. So they hijacked a freighter and a few Gunboats and resorted to piracy.” Sven shrugged. ”We just were stronger and better warriors and so we had the right to take it.” “Well since the Union Fleet was stronger than your pirate boats and arguing entirely by your logic, they had the right to bomb you. But your forefathers where given a choice, no one forced them to join. The choice was cease all pirate activity and remain isolated on this planet of yours with no contact with others at all, or to join the United Stars and accept Federal Law. Your forefathers didn’t even debate one hour and filed for membership.” As he turned to the window Sven leaned over to Peter. ”One of these days I'll stuff his face with my fist. That arrogant Off-worlder, such a wimp has no right to teach us anything!” Flensburger turned. ”So you want to stuff my face and you think I am a wimp. I accept your challenge.” Sven looked around as if he wanted to make sure everyone heard the same. ”You can’t be serious. A tap of me would kill you.” I said, ”I would not do it, Sven. He’s from New Algiers.” Sven snorted in my direction. ”When I am done with him,you're going to be next. Your father kicked you out of his clan; you are not worthy to even breathe the same air as I do.” Leif sitting next to Sven Yelled, "He might have a strange disease I don't understand, but by our laws and traditions Eric was pronounced a warrior born and a man by the Eldest today! I will not sit idle while you insult a Viking Warrior. Even if I don't like him, I will kill you!” Sven got up, showing everybody his muscles and then stepped forward towards the teacher. "I am going to rip your head off, Mr Flensburger. Then I will take care of a few others around here!” “Then do it Sven and don’t talk too much!" our teacher said. " You challenged me and all you do is boast and talk." Sven literally flew forward and swung his huge fist. Mr. Flensburger caught Sven's wrist and stopped the punch right before his nose, then twisted it fast and in such a fashion that Sven had to go to his knees. The smaller teacher held the massive arm of Sven with no effort and said to the class, “You see Sven, on New Algiers we have a gravitation of 3.6 that means my muscles are 3.6 times denser than yours and before I became a teacher, I served the Navy and received intensive combat training. It does not have to be an Off-worlder that teaches you, but every teacher in Basic School has to be a Citizen with a service record. No Neo Viking ever served in the fleet. Now I could break every bone in your body without losing a drop of sweat.” He twisted Sven’s arm even more and Sven groaned. ”I am going to kill you!” “It is unwise to make threats to someone holding your arm in such a fashion.” Mr. Flensburger twisted a little more and this time Sven yelped in pain. The teacher let him go. Sven immediately lunged forward but the teacher stepped aside in a swift, elegant move and grabbed Sven by the shoulders, added to the momentum and made him crash into the wall. Sven shook his head dazed, got up on shaky legs and turned raging with anger, pulling his Harpooner Knife. I jumped up and so did almost everybody. Peter yelled. ”This is not honorable. He beat you fair and square, put your knife away!” Sven’s face was deep red and he pointed the wicked knife at Peter. ”I will slice you like Tyranno-bait, after I am done with that Off-worlder!” I jumped forward holding my chair like a shield. ”Mr. Flensburger get back!” Sven laughed. ”Splendid! Your Father will reward me if I kill you. He’ll give me a boat for sure!” Flensburger was completely calm. ”I appreciate your assistance Eric close space, but let me finish this. I ask you all to sit back down. I also give you Sven a chance to sit down and we will continue with our discussion. Do that or I am forced to take that knife from you and expel you from school.” “No one takes my knife and I could care less if I fail your stupid class.” “I didn’t say fail class. I said you will be expelled.” Sven attacked and again Flensburger moved fast. He got hold of Sven’s wrist again, just like before and with his other hand he grabbed Sven by the throat. Sven gargled, the knife fell and Mr. Flensburger lifted Sven off his feet holding the heavy teenager by the throat without any effort. ”You had your choice and you made it. Now I have no other choice. You are expelled! Do you know that this means you will not become a Citizen? Now I give you a second choice: Yield and surrender or die!” Sven now turned purple struggled and gargled. ”I give in. I surrender!” The teacher let him go and said. ”You are to leave school immediately. You got your wish; there won’t be any school for you anymore.” Sven grabbed his knife and stumbled to the exit. ”Who needs to be a stupid citizen anyway? I am a Neo Viking!” With those words he left. Mr. Flensburger sat back down on his desk as if nothing happened and said, ”Dial your E-Pads to Blank page and write me a one page report about what Citizenship means to you.” It was in the second hour, as Mr. Flensburger was reading the first reports when the class room door opened and Sven’s father Elik Swenson stepped in. Elik was known for his foul temper and it was said he had smashed more than a few skulls, but he appeared with his harpooner’s helmet in hands. “Mr. Flensburger, I apologize for the interruption, but it is true that you expelled my son?” “Indeed. He had made his choice. I gladly show you the visuals of the incident. So you can see how it came to this.” To us he said, "While I discuss these matters with Mr. Swenson you can take a break.” The school was built on a rock that stuck out the ocean about 25 clicks from the Main Island. The courtyard was half exposed to the open and ended at one side into a piled up tumble of huge rocks and below those rocks was the ocean. Sven was right; my father would have given him a boat or money if Sven killed me. Since I didn’t have friends among my classmates and it usually ended with a fight if I stayed in the courtyard I climbed to my accustomed spot up the rocks and stared out into the seemingly endless ocean. Thinking about my situation. I was born to Isegrim Olafson, a rich patriarch and clan chief of the Trondheim Clan. My mother died when I was just five. He had then chosen another wife and had two more sons with her, my half brothers. As the first born it would have been my duty to follow the lead of my father and become a Tyranno Fin hunter, pilot the family sub and fight with other Nilfeheim men for the honor to be in the circle of clan chiefs. It didn’t work out and my father almost killed me twice for what he felt were transgressions against honor and tradition. Everything was always a transgression against honor and tradition with him anyway. He disowned me when I was 15, after he had almost killed me that fateful night when he became aware of my condition and declared me unfit to be his son. Making my second brother his heir. I had spent the last 2 years with my uncle in Harstad Fjord, where Uncle Hogun, brother to my father owned a Tavern. In less than two weeks I would graduate and then nothing would hold me on this planet. I had already seen the Navy recruiter many times and during my last visit I had signed up. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted as I saw Mr. Flensburger and Mr. Swenson come out of the classroom, both smiling and shaking hands and Sven appearing between the rocks holding a Harpoon Gun aiming it at Mr. Flensburger. He was less than 5 meters below me and ready to squeeze the trigger. I yelled a warning and jumped. The harpoon gun fired, I didn’t see where the explosive tipped steel dart went, because I had picked a fight with the strongest kid in school, almost twice my size. Fighting was second nature to us Neo Vikings and I could not have counted the times I had to fight with other class mates or with my own brothers. Instead of hitting me, he pulled the reload lever on the harpoon instead and that gave me the chance to hammer my fist as hard as I could against his chin, while simultaneously slamming my knee in his groin. He sank to his knees; I could not let him recover. He was much stronger than me, so I kicked him hard against the temple and kept pounding him with both fists. “Stop it for Christ’s sake!” Flensburger yelled, angrier than I ever heard him before. You are going to kill him!” I turned still kneeling on top of Sven. Mr. Flensburger and his father had crossed the yard. Elik said. ”Go ahead kill him! He brought shame on the clan. ”I noticed Elik bleeding from a shoulder wound. ”Kill him! I said. Crush this failure! He is no longer my son!” “If you kill him now, Olafson you will be guilty of murder!” The teacher interjected with a warning voice. I looked at my bloody fist and at the bloody mess I made of Sven’s face, ashamed of my own savage act and got up. Mr. Flensburger pointed at me.”You will report to the principal’s office now. I'll deal with the rest here.” I had been sent to the principal’s office before but not lately and didn’t look forward to what he had to say. I truly hoped it would not cause me to fail graduation. I needed to leave Nilfleheim! He already expected me holding open his door and motioned me to take a seat across his desk. His name was Lothar Valthim and while he was not from Nilfleheim, he certainly looked like a Neo Viking, he even braided his dark hair the same way we did. ”Take a seat, Mr. Olafson. I just finished watching the events of this day so far and I was impressed by your heroic acts. I know of your particular story and why your father disowned you. Down here on Nilfleheim it is a very bad affliction indeed, out there it is nothing at all and would not raise as much as an eyebrow.” “I would appreciate it if you do not mention my problem, Sir. It is something I have to work out myself somehow. I certainly don’t want to talk about it!” “I understand. However you did save a life today. That harpoon would not have missed and would have killed without a doubt. So I decided to graduate you today. You are as of today a full citizen of the United Stars with all the privileges and rights that come with that status.” I was completely perplexed as he pointed to a very official looking machine at the corner of his office. It had the Federal Seal on it and several bright red labels, warning anyone from unauthorized use. He got up and walked to the machine. ”Here will you get you CITI, your Citizen Implant. This is actually quite a solemn affair and there are millions of beings who would kill for a chance to get one. Normally this is done in a great ceremony with your friends and family present.” He sighed. “I know in your case no one would be there, so here and now it will happen.” He motioned me to put my arm upon the machine. A light came on bathing my arm and the Hymn of the United Stars played. A voice from the machine said, ” On this day the 5th May, 5007 Eric Olafson of Nilfleheim becomes a full registered citizen with all rights and privileges of said status. DNA, Brainwave pattern and biometric data have been stored at the central Citizen registry.” He shook my hand.”Welcome Citizen.” I looked at my arm, nothing looked different, but I knew a CITI had been implanted (Citizen Tag Identifier).”Thank you.” “So what are your plans exactly? Your grades are above average and you have a few choices.” “I spoke with the Navy Recruiting Office. I hope they accept me at the Academy.” “There will be a long way ahead of you then, but I can’t think of a more rewarding career. I did 12 years myself.” ARSENAL GATE Gigamon Class Space Station, 1 LY to Arsenal System

United Stars Naval Installation- Military Installation- Extremely Limited Civilian Access. 34,000 meters diameter. I woke from a dreamless sleep. That meant the sleep inducer of my seat had been turned off. So I swung the seat in its upright position and deactivated the opaque privacy bubble. I saw other passengers of the Space bus do the same. One of the flight attendant robots floated down the middle isle and started to announce: “Dear passengers we are approaching Arsenal Gate. We will dock at the station in 25 minutes. All passengers with destinations beyond Arsenal system are asked to remain in the lounge area. The space station is a military installation and is off limits to non military personnel. Passengers with destination Arsenal System please gather your personal belongings and prepare for debarking. Gray Lines Incorporated cannot be held responsible for items left behind.” The robot had reached the end of the isle of this passenger compartment, turned around in a fluid motion and continued. “Arsenal Gate maintains a nitrogen oxygen atmosphere and living conditions suitable for oxygen breathing carbon life forms. Non humanoid life forms with special needs are asked to remain in their protective suits or keep their life support devices’ active. “This space bus will remain docked for three hours and resume its journey to the next destination. Our next destination will be Barrows System and we will reach Point Barrow in seven standard days.” The attendant robot repeated his message. I rubbed my eyes and dialed for a drink of water at the Serv-matic installed in front of me. Moments later and half a credit poorer I sipped the cold water and looked around. “You’re getting off at Arsenal as well?” asked a male humanoid sitting next to me?” “Yes!” I answered, putting the film cup into the waste recycler. He was about my age, had almost white blond short cropped hair. His skin had a rosy shine and his face was covered with freckles. ”I am Derek Simmons from Harvest 12.” “I am Eric Olafson and I am from Nilfleheim.” “I am guessing you never heard of Harvest 12, but then I wouldn’t blame you, no one ever has.” “Nope I never heard of Harvest 12, but then I don’t think you know about Nilfleheim.” He smiled. ”Actually I think I do. I saw a National Galactic show on Gal Net. Isn’t that the planet where they have those really big fish?” “Yep, sure enough that’s Nilfleheim, we call them Tyranno Fins and they are the biggest carnivorous fish in the known galaxy. Why don’t you tell me about Harvest 12?” He sighed.” we don’t have anything exciting on Harvest 12. It’s a boring planet, entirely dedicated to raise agricultural products. The planet is owned by SII Agra Corp and completely terra formed. If there ever was any native life in the past, there isn’t any now. Our entire planet was sterilized, homogenized, leveled and plowed over a thousand times. We have no seasons, weather control and collector mirrors see to that, but we have wheat fields as big as continents and that’s all there is to Harvest 12, Identical cookie cutter world to Harvest 1 through 56.” He sounded cynical, sighed and he continued:” My father is an Agra Bot technician, my Grandfather was an Agra Bot technician and so was his father. I simply had to get away or I would have ended up doing the same thing.” “Nilfleheim isn’t all that exciting either. We have really long winters, lots of snow and lots of water. All we export is fish and Agra Marine products.” He smiled. “So are you going to apply for the Academy or are you going to enlist?” “I am going to apply at the Academy” “So am I! I want to become an Engineer! One day I will have my own Engine Room on a battle ship!” “That is a tall goal! ”said a dark skinned being, leaning over the back of his seat. ”That’s what I am dreaming about as well!” The being was humanoid proportioned, had two arms and three fingered hands, but his eyes were huge and his ears looked like dinner plates glued to the side of his head. The lower jaw was pronounced and he had rows of sharp looking teeth.”I am Mix.” He introduced himself.” And I am from ThreeOz.” “I never meet a Threeozian. ”Said Derek.” Where is your planet?” “I am from across the Bridge. I come from M32. My race is one of the newest members and I am the first of my species trying to become a Cadet!” “You come from M32?” I repeated. “That’s sure a long way from home!” He looked at me for at least a minute without any reaction and then nodded. ”Yes it is a long way indeed. I am also sorry for my delayed answer. I had to remember that nodding your head means yes to most humanoids.” “Oh don’t worry about that. Most is just as alien to me and I am human. What gesture do you use for saying yes?” “Like this!” His dinner plate shaped ears spread away from his head like opening hatches. “I doubt I could move my ears that far away from my head, even with a lot of practice.” “They are too little anyway. The first time a Terran smiled at me and I thought he was angry at me and wanted to eat me!” “Eat you?” “The display of teeth is a sign of extreme hostility where I come from and usually means I am so angry at you I will eat you!” “Does that happen? I mean do folks eat each other where you come from?” ”Not anymore but in the old days it sure did. It is against the law to eat anyone now.” “I am sure glad they outlawed it. Otherwise I might smile at a ThreeOz and end up on his dinner table.” I said with a smile. Our attention was diverted by someone pointing at the big view screen that provided passengers. "And speaking of disappearing... " He turned with a sensor enhanced view of space and saying,” Arsenal gate is in visual range now.” “I’m sure glad we’re through that darn corridor. A space bus would be an easy target for any GC raider!” Derek said with a gloomy undertone. A passenger across the aisle, looking older than most of the other passengers turned. “There haven’t been any GC incidents in the corridor for as long time. I live on Nome in the Barrow System, that’s even closer to GC than Arsenal and much less protected and we don’t worry too much. They haven’t forgotten that we almost wiped them out twice.” Derek was not so convinced and answered. ”Maybe that should be even more reason to be at least a little worried.” “You forget we still have Admiral Stahl and the Devastator. Whatever else might fail, the Kermac sure don’t want to mess with him!” The man crossed his arms and looked pretty confident. Evoking the name of this mystical immortal Admiral made Derek smile.” You are right of course! The Galactic Community would not want to make him angry!” “Who is this?” Asked the ThreeOz. Derek almost glowed as he said. ”He is one of the 200 Immortals. A man picked by the Guardian over 3000 years ago! He is the greatest warrior of all time. They even once chased him away, didn’t heed his warnings and he left for centuries but when everything looked lost and it seemed we would lose to the Y’All he returned with a huge battleship of unknown origin and incredible powerful weapons and saved us all.” “I am sorry for my ignorance. We ThreeOz have joined only recently and we do come from another Galaxy. How can it be that he is 3000 years old?” The Older man across the aisle smiled. ”We always welcome new members in our Federation. No need to be sorry. As for the Immortals, that is an old story and no one knows the details, except of course the Immortals, but it was at a time when Earth was still isolated and Terrans had not discovered faster than light travel. A very hostile species called the Xunx awoke from its 3000 year sleep cycle to once more conquer and destroy. One of the planets that would have been attacked was Earth. But a godlike machine left behind on Earth by an entity we only know as the Friends awoke and guided humankind to the stars. To do so this machine chose 200 Terrans and each of them a special task. In order to complete that task those 200 where made Immortal and became special gifts, powers if you will. Of those 200 Immortals only Admiral Stahl, Admiral Mc Elligott and a few others remained in the public eye. Who the others where I don’t know and where they went I don’t know.” “It’s all just myth and story!” someone behind us grunted. ”There are no Immortals, no mystic Gods or Entities.” “But Encyclopedia Galactica confirms what the man just said. ”complained yet another voice. Meanwhile the screen showed the space station getting bigger by the moment. It was a gigantic spherical construct with a thick ring around its equator. Huge illuminated letters in Standard lingo identified it as: ARSENAL GATE. The actual Arsenal system was still one light year away, but no civilian vessel was allowed to approach the system and all non military traffic to Arsenal had to go through Arsenal Gate. Arsenal was home to the Fleet and considered to be the best guarded system in the known universe. The space bus approached a huge docking gate, probably able to accommodate a full size Ultra battle ship, and slipped through the shimmering energy membrane that separated the inside of the dock from space. The robot repeated its announcement once again and added, ”thank you for choosing Grey Lines as your transportation service provider. Please consider us again. A Ticket kiosk and booking agent can be found at the Gray Line docking area aboard the station.”

I debarked with at least 300 beings from all over Union Space and we were herded to stand in line before the Station access doors. A four armed, non humanoid giant wearing Navy uniform and two heavily armed Space Marines in bulking Destroyer suits checked everyone before they let them pass. “That is a Petharian. ”said Mix. “He too comes from Andromeda but they have been members for a long time. They are as mean and strong as your Galaxies Nul-Nul.” “Is it true what I heard, that they are related to the Y’All?” asked Derek. Mix wiggled his ears back and forth. ”That’s the rumor, but not according to the Encyclopedia Galactica. They do look similar to Y’All that is for sure.” I too had learned about the Y’All in Gal History and Xeno Class, but I never heard of the Petharian or that rumor. ”How come you know so much about other species and such?” I asked Derek. “I have a subscription to the Galactic Geographic Magazine. There is nothing I’d read or watch. I have collected every issue since 3300 and my brother sends me old downloads whenever he finds them. He works at the Harvest 12 public library.” I felt almost a little ashamed for never even going to the public library we had on Nilfleheim. Derek raised an eyebrow; probably guessing what I was thinking and said: ”I didn’t mean to sound like a geek, but going to the library and going on Virtu Expeditions with the GGM was a wonderful escape for me, when I was a kid. I am no Data head or anything like that.” I grinned back. ”I know what you mean. I spend any free moment aboard Virtu Ships.” It took the better part of an hour before it was my turn. The Petharian Navy officer eyed me up and down with glowing yellow eyes, and it had six of them. Its skin looked like the surface of a barnacle and the voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a steel barrel. “State your name and your home planet. Expose your Citizen ID implant for scanning!” While I swiped my left wrist where my CIDI was implanted across the reader sensor I answered,” Eric Olafson, Nilfleheim.” It seemed to look at something beyond me; he probably had the data read out projected straight to one of its eyes.” Olafson, Eric. Nilfleheim. Citizen ship confirmed. Your reason for visiting Arsenal gate? “I want to apply at the Academy!” “Academy applicants are to follow the red line after the air lock and proceed to the red waiting room. You will wait there until receiving further instructions. Be advised that if you are found outside red marked areas you might get shot.” After saying that the being no longer paid any attention to me and barked, ” Next!” The red line was a lighted band in the floor and it lead to a red door revealing a waiting lounge with rows of bio-netic chairs. To one side of the room were large windows allowing a view into deep space and the brisk traffic of small and large space craft, the other wall was occupied by a row of Serv-Matic Vending machines. The wall facing the entrance had recruiting posters, one for the Navy and one for the United Stars Marine Corps. There also was a small podium and a lectern. The room started to fill with humanoid and non humanoid beings. I walked over to the view ports and gazed outside. A wedge shaped battle ship of the new Uni design emerged from the station dwarfing a heavy destroyer nearby as it gained speed and disappeared. “That was the USS Melbourne!” It was Derek who had stepped next to me. ”Have you ever seen a real battle ship?” “No, I haven’t” com “I wonder what mission they have, perhaps patrolling the Nul-Nul border, or hunting pirates!” Mix joined us as well and he said, ”My people fought a long war with the Biraaad and lost it. You cannot imagine our wonder and awe as we saw an entire squadron of those Ultra battle ships appear in our system, blasting through the Briaar invasion fleet like a Nastooh wind through a Nolch forest.” Mix eyes became even bigger, ” We joined the United Stars the very next day and one day I will be aboard one of those ships visiting other worlds. Repaying with my service what you all have done for us.” A fish-faced Ult overheard Mix and said, ”The Briaar made one big and fatal mistake; they fired on a Terran Explorer ship and made Terrans angry. Everyone in this galaxy knows you don’t make Terrans angry!” Before anyone else could say anything, a humanoid female in black uniform stepped behind the lectern and her voice was obviously field amplified as she said: ”Welcome aboard Arsenal Gate, Academy applicants. I would like to thank you all for coming this far and considering a career in the United Stars Navy. By doing so you showed your willingness to serve and protect this federation of civilizations and do your share to make it work. Some have come here after visiting a Recruiting office either on Gal Net or in person. Some of you might have simply boarded the space bus to Arsenal Gate to see what will happen. "Here you are all equal. Before we ship you to Arsenal we need to test you for some pre qualification requirements. Those requirements are of physical nature and mental nature. Some of the tests we have to perform are to make sure that no agent of a hostile civilization gains access to the Academy or Arsenal. "Once you step through that door next to me you are Navy personnel. You have no ranks yet but you are subject to all Navy rules and regulations. Civilian laws and rights have no meaning. You must follow orders and do what you have been told. Failure to comply can result in punishment and punishment ranges from expelling you from the Navy, losing your citizen status to interment and immediate execution.” She made a pause and looked from one end of the lobby to the other. I am not here to discourage you. We welcome you and the Navy needs Officers and Personnel. But we don’t want anyone who has doubts. Now is the time to think about it. If you feel you made the wrong decision coming here, simply remain in this room and you will receive free passage back to your home world or any other place in the United Stars territory. "You will be compensated for your troubles and receive 500 credits. No civilian record will be kept of this decision and it will not affect your Citizen status.” A man dressed in some sort of transparent purple plastic film and not much else raised his hand:” Excuse me; did you say we get free passage to anywhere and 500 credits?” The woman sighed and nodded. ”Yes Sir, that is correct!” The strangely dressed man got up. ”That’s sounds good to me! I am out of here!” To my surprise seven more decided to take the money and leave. I wondered why anyone would make this trip just to get 500 credits. Max answered me. ”They do that every 3 months Travel from Academy to Academy get their ticket and the 500 and go on. They have no intention to join. That man in the plastic garment did that several hundred times.” I gasped. ”And the Navy doesn’t keep records on that and let them get away with it? “I don’t know but I am sure the Navy keeps records and they know about it, but what are a few thousand credits to the Navy? They spend ten times as much every micro second just for floor polish” “How do you know all this?” “I read their minds!” “You are a telepath?” He nodded. ”Not as good as the Saresii but my Heidelberg Psionic Index is at 130.” “Don’t get caught. It’s against the law to read other folks minds.” “No it’s not. It is illegal to pry into it but I can’t help to overhear what they transmit. It would be same as to make overhearing a conversation illegal to any being that has ears.” “You hear everyone’s thoughts all the time?” “No not everyone. I met beings I can’t hear all the time. For example that female fleet officer or those Marines can’t detect a thing, but your thoughts are pretty clear and quite loud in a Psionic sort of sense. ” I didn’t feel quite right someone else hearing what I was thinking. I knew about Telepaths but this was the first I ever actually encountered. The female officer resumed her speech: ”All those who still plan to apply at the academy are to pass through that door. You will be asked to take off all your clothing and relinquish all your personal belongings. They will be returned to you after you completed your training or you decide to quit You will be scanned for cybernetic and genetic enhancements, bio weapons and microbes. We will evaluate your Psionic abilities and give you a physical check up before we leave to Arsenal II.” She smiled. ”We have a lot of applicants today so this process might take a while, please be patient and wait your turn. The Vent-Matics are provided for your convenience and do not require credit payments” She ended her speech and was joined by four more officers and they handed out little plastic cards with numbers, mine was 239. After a while it looked like they called 10 applicants at about every 20 minutes and from the looks of things I was among the last. Max and Derek went among the first and even the repeating visuals of the recruiting posters became boring. The Vent-O-Matics were well programmed and provided brand name snacks and drinks for every taste. I was just at my third trip to the Vent-matics, as I heard my number. Hastily I put the candy-bar in my pocket and went through the door. Behind it was a corridor with ten doors and over one door I saw my number and name displayed in bright illuminated letters. I looked for a door chime or buzzer but found none, so I knocked and the door opened immediately. A uniformed humanoid being sat behind a desk. The room was sparsely lit and the walls, floors and everything were colored in a dark gray with dark red accents. The being was about human size had two arms, a torso and a head on a neck, but there was no visible mouth or nose, and the eyes seemed just darker areas in the beings otherwise gray skin. It extended a hand and said. ”Have a seat applicant. I am Specialist Yda.” I sat down and said.” I am Eric Olafson from New Sweden.” “Nice to meet you Eric and I would like to say thank you that you consider a career in the United Stars Navy.” He moved one of his hands over a dimly lit contact area of his desk. ”Yes you are Eric Olafson, you are from New Sweden and you are a lawful citizen. I see you spoke with a Navy recruiter every year for over 9 years.” I was a little surprised to see they kept records of this, especially the calls I made when I was a kid.” I just liked to get as much information about the Navy as I could, Sir.” “It tells me that your decision was certainly not a spur of the moment thing but you planned this for a long time.” The being folded its hands and its long spidery fingers had several more joints than a regular human hand. I got almost dizzy just watching and wondered if his kind ever made knots they could not get apart. The being vibrated and made a humming sound. ”Yes actually we do. When I was young I often got so tangled up that my Sip-Sap had to help me.” “You can hear my thoughts as well?” I really didn’t like that at all. “Yes Applicant I can, and as your new friend Mix told you, your thoughts are quite loud. ”It leaned forward. ”What is your real reason for wanting to join?” “To serve and protect, to do my share to keep this Union…” It interrupted. ”Not the poster reason, why did you decide to join and be frank and truthful” “I needed to get away from New Sweden. I had no future there but ever since I could think I had no other plans no alternative ideas what I wanted to do with my life. I always wanted to join the Navy.” “What is it that attracts you?” “It’s the only place where I eventually could become a Star Ship captain.” The being made a series of whispering sounds and then it said. ”I think you are indeed at the right place then.” He unfolded his hands in what must have been a mental challenge. ”You have a very long way ahead of you. Once you leave my office you will be further tested, and scanned. From now on everything that happens might be a test and part of an old evaluation process, keep that in mind!” The being was not kidding. After a dozen more interviews, medical exams and scans. I felt as if I was turned inside out and every last molecule and thought of mine had been examined, dissected and recorded. At one point they had me undress and bathe in a milky white liquid that had a metallic odor to it. A technician explained it was to make sure no bio weapons were transported to Arsenal II. After that bath they gave me a bright orange jumpsuit with my last name stenciled across my chest and the word applicant on my back. My personal belongings so I was told would be returned to me when I left the academy, either accepted or rejected. Since I had also to give up my Multi Com, I did not know what time it was or how long all this took. It seemed to me at least 20 hours had passed since I walked through the red door.

They herded us aboard a Leyland Military Shuttle, everyone wearing that bright orange colored jumpsuit. I was tired and thirsty. They used every test and every sensor known to science on me, at least that’s how I felt. I had been bathed, sterilized inside and out. Filled out forms and questionnaires and then was probed and measured and scanned some more. “They are treating us more like penal colony prisoners than Academy aspirants!” complained Derek. He managed to get a seat next to me. Max who also made it wiggled his big ears.”To become an officer on one of those magnificent ships, I’d endure much worse.” “I wonder why they do it that way!” I said.” I mean would it hurt to show a little more respect?” Max answered again: ”It wasn’t so bad. They need to make sure no spies make it to Arsenal. Do you know how many times the Kermac and others have tried to find out just what Terrans really found on Arsenal III?” I shook my head. “Aren’t we at peace with the GC? Would they risk sending spies and anger the Navy?” Derek answered this one. “Peace is a relative thing my friend. The GC does not like the Union and they didn’t like losing this star system to the Union, especially since everyone knows we found something there, something very important. I would be very angry to lose my own front yard to a hated neighbor and then find out that neighbor found a treasure in it.” Derek shrugged. ”I think it is a ruse, there is nothing there. The real treasure was found in the Lighthouse system and all this is to throw the GC off course and it worked for the last 2000 years!” “And you read that in your galactic National Magazines?” Derek gave me a broad grin. ”Sure have, but that’s not the only thing I watch or read.” “So what did they find then?” I asked “No one that knows ever talked, but rumors persisted a very long time that they found a Celtest city or ship yard and completely intact, with the entire Tech level 11 stuff ready for the taking!” “They found that I think in 2516.” I said smiling back .Showing Derek I was not completely ignorant.” Why haven’t we have reached Tech Level 11 yet?” “2516 was when the war ended and the System was signed to us. “ Derek corrected me and Max said: ”it takes the average Civilization between 3- 5000 years to reach tech level 3 and over 15,000 to reach Tech level 7. Look at the Kermac. They have been around for almost a million years and have not advanced past tech Level 7. Some of Saresii technology is considered to be Tech level 8 and they reached Tech level three over a Million years ago. The Union in general is at Tech level 7 but many consider Terran technology already well past Tech 8. Now the Terrans are still one of the youngest and newest galactic civilizations. When my people heard of the speed the Terrans achieved this, we called it the Terran Miracle.” He wiggled his ears in excitement. ”It takes long term research to even fundamentally understand the principles of any Tech level higher than yours. I bet they found just what the rumor said and that is why Terrans and the Union advance so fast.” While we talked our shuttle left Arsenal Gate, went super luminal and we reached Arsenal II only 4 hours later. ARSENAL II Arsenal System, 4524 LY to Earth Arsenal System was an OII Main sequence star with 11 planets. Each planet was heavily developed by the Navy. The United Stars Navy was one of the biggest organizations in the known universe. There must have been Trillions of beings serving active all over the Galaxy and beyond. Millions of ship and bases needed maintenance, upgrades, and supplies. Even the three gas giants in the system and their moons had some installations on them. A Dyson Sphere that would eventually replace Arsenal system was under construction but it would take many centuries before it was complete. Arsenal System was also the most heavily protected and defended system. A cocoon of weapon platforms and space forts surrounded the system in addition to the many war ships and deep space fighters on constant stand by. Sensor installations tracked everything that moved within 100 light years. Arsenal II was a very hot water less planet with a toxic acid atmosphere, to close to its sun to develop native life and in many ways similar to the Sol systems Venus. Despite the inhospitality of Arsenal II over 5 million beings lived and worked here at all times. All this information I got from a vidi-brochure that was playing over and over again on the passenger compartment main screen. Most of the installations where underground, except for the huge landing fields and the Academy complex. The United Stars Military Academy had many branches all over the galaxy, but here on Arsenal II was Academy headquarters. A collection of buildings centered on a tall cone shaped tower. Lush green parks with perfectly groomed grass, large trees and small ponds surrounded the compound and a transparent energy-field reinforced dura steel dome encased it all. When we approached the Academy compound and I saw the complex from above and it looked strangely surreal and out of place. Green parks, trees and buildings surrounded by a stark yellowish landscape with rough looking boulders, deep fissures and sulfuric clouds, an environment unfit for most life forms. After touchdown we rode a slide-walk into the installation and joined at perhaps a thousand more identically orange dressed beings on a smooth duro-crete plaza. Marines ordered us to join the line and wait before the cone shaped building. The line didn’t move at all, even after an hour or so nothing seemed to happen. The fish faced Ult I seen on Arsenal Gate was standing before me. He even smelt faintly like fish, complained:” I hope this line is moving soon. The water in my suit is getting bad.” “Water in your suit?” I asked He turned to answer:” I am an Ult. This orange jump suit they gave me is supposed to sustain me just as a real Ult Moisture Suit would. You see I am amphibious. I can survive on land but I must return to water periodically to regenerate. In environments like this we wear moisture suits” The Ult was two heads taller than me, and really looked like a Blue Streamer fish crossed with a human being. He had watery eyes a lipless mouth filled with rows of very small but sharp looking teeth. His skin had a greenish shimmer and the outlines of a back fin under his yellow suit. He did have two hands and two legs. The legs were out of proportion to the rest of the body, as if belonging to a much larger being. “I am amphibious too.” I said and pointed at the gill slits at the base of my neck.” I can understand your love for water. Are you saying you are in any form of danger or harm because of that suit you wear?” “My own suit recycles the water much more efficient than this one. I need to exchange body waste materials through the skin, and replenish my cells with fresh water. “How long do you think you have?” As alien as his face was, he looked uncomfortable.” I am not sure, but not very much longer. I can feel the water clogging my pores!” I looked around and saw a marine not too far away and approached her.” Ma’am that Ult received a defective environmental suit and needs help his water supply is contaminated.” The Marine lowered her immense gun at me.” Applicant return into the line! Feeding and refreshment intervals will be given. Until then remain where you are. He wants to be an officer let him deal with the problem. No one will leave the red area! Those are my orders and I shall enforce them!” “Ma’am I don’t think I made myself clear. The Ult needs help!” The Marine woman barked “One more word out of you and I will shoot you!” then she said in a less threatening tone.” What you all do inside the red area is up to you! But no help will be called, until he reaches the building or the refreshment interval is ordered. If he wants to quit all he has to do is turn around and walk back. There are toilets; there are washrooms and he gets a ride home, but if he turns around no matter for what reason he forfeits his chance to apply to the academy.” I wanted to voice my anger about this extremely unfair situation, but the expression on the Marines face and the shimmering energy field at the gun muzzle told me that she wasn’t kidding about shooting me. So I turned back. The Ult and the applicants nearby had heard the interchange. The Ult’s skin now had yellowish hue and he didn’t look to good. Derek cursed:” What a bunch of ass holes! I mean they can’t let him die. We got to do something.” I looked around. We were still far back. The line before us I estimated was at last 600 beings. The line behind us was just fifty beings all the way to the Airlock door with the bath rooms and a water fountain. If anyone went back he or she would be eliminated, get a ride back and forfeit the chance to apply. Then I got an idea. With some effort I ripped of the sleeves of my suit, tied a knot in one end and said to Max behind me.” Pass those sleeves back and tell the being behind you to pass it on until it reaches those who are still next to the water fountain. Have them fill it and pass it back.” Max ears wiggled fast.” What a great idea!” The being behind him, a human female agreed. Even the female Marine watching us nodded approvingly. Derek who stood before the Ult turned and said.” If I only had some tools, I probably could fix that Enviro-suit.” “What do you need?” I asked. “Well I would need to access the Diagnostic panel first.” The Ult seemed weak and was about to collapse. I reached out eased him to the ground with Derek’s help and said:” Just do it. See what you can do.” The first sleeve came back. Derek found the drain and he fashioned a make shift funnel out of a sleeve of his suit. Once everyone behind us understood what was happening the water arrived much faster and Derek was able to exchange the entire water supply in no time. We also doused the exposed skin of the Ult and gave him to drink. His skin lost the yellow hue and returned to the healthy greenish shine. His eyes became clearer and he looked at us.” I don’t know how I could thank you all!” “Don’t worry. I bet you would do the same.” I said and turned to Derek who was looking at the tiny 2D read out of the diagnostic panel hidden behind a Velcro fabric flap on the Ult’s arm.” What’s wrong with the thing?” “One of the filters is clogged and the e - cell is nearly empty. There is not enough power for the self cleaning cycle!” I turned to Max.” Tell those behind you that the Ult is alright. Convey them our thanks.” Max made a rattling sound and I realized he laughed.” Great news! I convey at once!” A brownish furred being with tentacles for arms, three spaces ahead of us said:” I am wearing an environment assisting suit also. I am a methane breather, but I can go without taking a breath for days. The Ult can have my energy cell. I won’t be able to speak however!” Derek looked up.” I need that cell only for a moment. I think I can drain enough energy into the Ult’s empty one to make it work for a few days and leave enough in the Garbini’s cell.” Derek succeeded and both beings had enough energy to run their suits for a while. –“”-- The Ult told us about his home planet and culture. His species was the first non humanoid member of the United Stars. It was also a very old culture. The Ult had been members of the First Galactic Council and traveled space when Terrans lived in caves and competed with the Neanderthal for the dominant species spot. The Ult once ruled a gigantic empire and where considered to be among the most brutal and aggressive species. A religious event changed their behavior and they gave up their aggressive expansion. Then he asked:” You are amphibious too?” I nodded.” All Neo-Vikings are. Nilfleheim is a water world we have only a few small islands. The rest of the surface is covered in deep oceans. When Nilfleheim was settled, the colonists got some genetic tailoring.” “So you can actually breathe under water?” Max asked. “Yes I have gills that allow me to stay submerged for a long time.” “Why did you decide to join the Navy?” Derek wanted to know. “Ever since I can think I wanted to be a Star ship captain!” The Ult’s name was Webb and he said:” That is a long and hard journey. There isn’t a more difficult selection process in the Universe.” I shrugged.” I am not sure what it will succeed, but by Odin I will try. At least that was the plan. I am less certain about it now. I am appealed by the inhuman treatment. I wonder why they treat applicants like dirt.” “I guess they have their reasons.” He reached for my hand:” Humans, I learned long ago like to wish other beings luck. While there is no word or concept for luck in Ulta, I wish you luck with your quest.” “Thanks Webb.” Max then educated us about his species and time seemed to pass much faster. I t was fascinating to learn about the origin and cultures of other beings. The Marines guarding us announced a refreshment period and a hover cart came down the line with robots handing out water and food rations. From the ground across the yard rose cubical structures, bath room facilities for anyone who needed it. The Marines urged us to hurry, but everyone needing to go had a chance to do so. The line had moved quite a bit only about 60 beings where still in front of me. I estimated about 5 hours had passed since we got the refreshments and bathroom break. I counted forty-eight beings so far that had given up and returned to the rear. I needed to go to the bathroom again very soon. The water I drank had made its way through the system and pushed for a release. Arsenal, the local sun had long set and the dome was lit by flood lights now. When I finally reached the entrance door I was really tired, quite hungry and thirsty and in dire need to relieve myself. A uniformed human sat behind a desk next to the door and looked me over.” What happened to your uniform?” “I fashioned water bags out of the sleeves because my Ult friend needed water!” He snarled.” You damaged government issued property. This is a serious offense! Are you aware of that?” “Sir, with all due respect, a life was at stake and I believe my action is justifiable!” “Are you taking full responsibility for that?” “Yes Sir! I have no problems taking responsibility for helping a fellow being in distress” The officer made a notation on his desk screen and said.” You might as well kiss your chances of becoming a cadet good bye! The Commandant himself wants to see you! That never happened before! Go through that door. Take the first elevator. It will drop you of at the correct location!” I was angry and tried to keep my emotions under control as I stepped pass the transparent doors into the cool marble and brass lobby to find the elevator. Everything was so different from how I pictured it would be. The Vid-Shows on GalNet always portrayed Navy officers as noble, honorable and gallant. Everything I knew about the Navy seemed wrong. There were no larger than life heroes, no Officers who kept their cool no matter the situation, instead I met only angry, bored and indifferent members of that organization. I wasn’t sure anymore if I really wanted to be a part of it. Going back to Nilfleheim was not an option. What else was there for me? I had only 4000 credits left to my name. That wasn’t very much to start a career in some other field. And I never thought beyond this day. I never thought about what else I might want to do if the navy didn’t work out. Not being sure about anything I stepped into a quiet lobby. I felt angrier by the moment and I decided to let that Commander know what I was thinking about all of this. A woman was sitting behind a sweeping desk. Behind her, huge murals showing spectacular images of deep space nebulae. She seemed to be human, had blue hair and half her face was covered with a contour shaped mirror thing.” The Commandant is expecting you, Applicant!” She said as she noticed me.” Go right in!” A pair of wooden doors swung open and I walked into a large office with deep blue soft carpet. The ceiling simulated a star field and the transparent view ports behind the large desk allowed a bird’s eye view over the academy grounds and the stark landscape beyond the dome. The desk was a transparent surface floating without visible support before a white haired women sitting in a large arm chair. She wore a tight fitting black velvet suit with a plunging v shaped neckline revealing much of her cleavage. I would be hard pressed to guess at her age. She could have been anything between 20 and 200. Her long straight snow white hair was cut with bangs reaching her eyes and framed a beautiful immaculate face with large dark eyes and an arrogant impression. Her suit was bare of any rank insignia, except for 5 golden rings on her sleeves. The woman had her legs crossed and her fingers stapled. Her eyes looked me over and then she said:” What is your name?” “Eric Olafson, Ma’am.” “Why are you here?” “I was told to report to you Ma’am! And here I am. I was told my chances to join the Navy are nil so I don’t give a hoot why you want me here!” I was quite angry and aggravated and I let her know it.” I might be just some hick from a backwater planet, but that is not how you treat people that decided to serve this Union. I am sure there are other ways to test the resolve and dedication than to treat applicants like dirt. Not providing water and defective gear, not having the courtesy of providing bath rooms. That is uncivilized. Ever since I was a boy I dreamed of this day, but now I am not so sure if I want to be part of this. All nice and honor on the surface and rotten, bored and indifferent at the core! “ “Are you through?” She asked quietly?” “No I am not. That Uniform you and everyone else I meet wears makes you servants of the United Stars, not dictators. I don’t know what I am going to do after I walk out of here, but one thing is sure. I am going to let everyone know what a rotten and lousy place this Navy of ours is underneath all that glamour.” “Are you angry because you are hungry and thirsty and need to go to the bath room? A future officer might face much worse conditions and has to keep his cool.” She said still quietly. “Lady I come from a very harsh planet where kids from very early on learn what real hunger and thirst means. Don’t talk to me about personal comforts. I can handle much worse. It’s the attitude of the so called officers. I realize we are new to all this but what would it hurt to be a little more courteous? Is it not the foremost duty of this Navy to represent us in a favorable light with other civilizations? There is a being down there from the M 32 Galaxy, what impression will he take home. What will he tell others?” I turned.” I know my way out!” She said a little louder:” Hold it right there. I am not through with you!” I turned and looked at her and she asked: “Why did you come to Arsenal?” “I intended to join the Navy.” “And what are you going to do now?” “I don’t know for sure but that should be of no concern to you” “Would you do the same thing you did down there, knowing it cost you your chance to become an officer?” “No Ma’am. I would get the water myself.” She kept looking at me and then a barely noticeable smile crept in her eyes but didn’t reach her lips. “I see! You may leave now. Take the elevator back down and get your dorm assigned. You are accepted in the Academy.” “I am?” I was totally surprised. From the side Webb the Ult stepped into my field of sight. “Yes Eric, you passed a very important test. A test I personally conduct once in a while.” The Ult no longer wore a yellow jumpsuit but a black uniform.” Welcome to the United Stars Naval Academy, Cadet Olafson. I am Admiral Webb Stokes and I am the Commander of this place.” He surrounded the floating desk and the woman got up and exchanged places with Webb. “A test?” Was all that came to my mind? Stokes fish-like face had no skin muscles to convey emotions like humans, but I was sure he felt amused.” Yes Cadet a test. You did well indeed. Now get registered. They also going to feed you and give you some rest. Everything you experience will be some form of a test. Once every ten times or so we do exactly this routine we call the “Inmate Routine” and yes we treat you like penal colony prisoners in that scenario. We observe every applicant very closely and we can learn a lot from his or her reaction to those scenarios. Don’t judge the Navy to harsh, we doing this for over 3000 years now and we have our reasons. Now go get to the bath room or you might ruin my carpet.” “Thank you Sir!” I said and walked to the door. I heard the Admirals voice as the door opened.” When I wished you luck earlier, I meant that.” –“”-- After I was registered and accepted I received a new green colored coverall and was sent to a large mess hall. I didn’t see Derek or Max, but I saw the methane breather and he waved at me with one of his tentacles.” Over here, Eric man.” The tables where yet empty and an officer in black uniform, somewhat humanoid but with horns and a face that made him look like a ram.” This will be your first real meal as Cadets. It will also be your first lesson. An Officer of the United Stars Navy will always display the finest table manners. We will use napkins and eating utensils whenever possible. We will learn to use the Eating utensils of other cultures. Enlisted men can eat a sandwich while walking through a corridor, an officer may not. An enlisted man may yawn, scratch himself or do those many little things beings do without really thinking, often perhaps insulting or revolting to others. Officer will not. However as officers you also have certain privileges, you do not stand in line for food at the chow line, like enlisted personnel. You will be served whenever possible. The food will be served now, but don’t eat until I say so. Until the most senior officer is served and gives the toast, you will not touch the food.” He clapped his gloved hands together and white dressed beings started to serve plates with food. The Officer raised a glass.” Welcome Citizens of the Union and Welcome new Cadets, may this be the first meal you partaking the company of fellow officers but not the last. I wish all of you success and hope to see each of you one day in Navy black!” During the meal instructors walked down the tables and gave pointers as how to eat correctly. To my Methane breathing friend one of them said:” A Garbini Officer folds his unused tentacles on his back in the naglag position. Fulran morsels are to be dipped only once and with the right eating tentacle only. Don’t let me see you using your left and dipping twice again!” “Yes Sir.” The Garbini uttered even though he was quite alien I could hear he was quite surprised that a small furry being in black Uniform knew so much about Garbini proper eating etiquette.”He just sounds like my father!” I was not spared either. The same being barked at me:” Dap your lips with the napkin before you reach for the glass. Cut only what you intended to eat right away, don’t cut everything, drop the knife and shovel it like a barbarian.” I wanted to argue and tell him Neo Vikings didn’t use forks at all, but I thought better and said:”Yes Sir.” After the meal we went to a big dorm, with conformatic beds that adjusted to the body needs and sizes of any known being. The instructors where everywhere and the same ram horned Officer that addressed us at the meal spoke again: “Being an officer is not a job it is a profession. Being an officer is a status, a mindset that does not end with you taking off your uniform, you are an Officer even when you are naked, hung by your toes or equivalent body part over a boiling pot of oil. You will maintain a perfect state of dignity and unquestionable conduct at all times. Almost all sentient life forms we encountered have body hygiene procedures. The navy has standardized these procedures to accommodate all beings and none of you will die or get harmed when touched by soap and water or a sonic shower. I want you to be on top of your species hygiene procedures at all times. No one will order you to be clean and well groomed but it is expected. Tomorrow morning will be the only time in your entire Academy career where you get a dedicated time period to do so. After that you must use your free time and schedule it correctly to be groomed well. This includes your uniforms and personal equipment. It has to be clean, spot less, in good repair and put on correctly according to Navy regulations. “ He took a breather.” Well that is all for now, sleep well!” --‘’— I felt I just went to bed as they woke us and gave us what I felt way too little time to get bathed and groomed. After a breakfast conducted with the same formality as the dinner the day before we were put in groups. The instructors called names, mine was called right away and I was sent into a nondescript unfurnished waiting room. I didn’t did not see Derek or Max and I even lost sight of the Garbini. A gray skinned Shaill, a semi rigid intelligent mollusk being from a Star system far in the Core ward sector wearing its version of a black Navy Uniform floated in on a Varigrav disc and said:” Listen up, Cadets. This group is complete now. You are going to board transport 342 to be shipped out to Camp Idyllic.” “Camp Idyllic?” A greenish skinned bald humanoid next to me asked. I shrugged:”I have no clue. But it does sound nice” A humanoid completely shrouded in a green monk like garment spoke with a deep voice:” Camp Idyllic is one of the basic training camps the Navy operates. It is located in the Nardir System, one hundred and twelve light years from here on a garden world called Green Eden.” “Oh boy!” A massive looking human two heads taller than me grunted with a deep voice.” I heard of Camp Idyllic. My brother went to Camp Allure last year. He said it was pure hell and he heard that Camp Idyllic is supposed to be the worst.” An hour later we boarded the military version of a space bus and left Arsenal System. -“”- The shrouded man now sat next to me in the starboard seat row. His garment had an attached hood and he wore it pulled over his head obscuring him completely, except for two eyeholes. The massive humanoid sat in the seat on my other side. The deck plates vibrated slightly as the Leyland’s ISAH drive kicked the ship past the trans-luminal threshold. We now traveled in quasi-space a thin layer between the Planck Universe and the Hawkins Omniverse. The muscular strong guy glanced at the hooded being.” Why are you hiding your face under that hood?” “Because I am Narth.” ” I never heard of Narths. Are you ashamed of your face or something?” The green skinned one spoke from across the Isle:” Limbur let him be! He is a Narth. You don’t want to mess with a Narth!” Limbur pointed at his massive arms.” Do you think someone with guns like these is afraid of a goon in a hood?” The green one seemed to know Limbur raised his hands.” Physical strength doesn’t mean much when you’re dealing with a Narth. Trust me on that! Now Relax and come with me. I found out this ship has a refreshment bar in the lower deck! I’m buying!” Limbur readily agreed and the two left towards the back. I was quite tired but I turned to the hooded being:” What is a Narth?” He didn’t move his shrouded head as he spoke with that deep voice.” I am Narth. We are a very old species and many humans find our true appearance quite disturbing. This is why we choose to cover ourselves.” I wasn’t sure if I said anything to him after that, since I fell asleep even without the sleep inducer. GREEN EDEN 2nd Planet, Westhof System 4523 LY to Earth. United Stars Naval Academy Basic Training Facility: Camp Idyllic

Green Eden appeared to be a beautiful green, white and blue sphere. From space it looked as inviting as any garden world. The space bus descended through moderate clouds and approached a heavy forested land mass. We landed on a simple dirt field that had been cleared in the jungle. At the edge of the dirt field I saw a collection of primitive looking buildings made of wood! There were no machines, no robots, no ships or vehicles. Someone from the flight deck addressed us via the com system:” Welcome to Camp Idyllic. Grab your gear and debark through the rear air lock. Hurry up; I have a Schedule to keep and two more transports to make. Wait here! Someone will be with you shortly.” Everyone debarked and just as the last cadet stepped of the ramp, the Airlock closed and the transport ship climbed back into space. It was very humid and hot. The air was pungent with the stench of rotten plants. Strange sounds came from the surrounding jungle. Small insects buzzed all around us. The exposed dirt on the landing field was reddish in color and very moist. It stuck to the soles of my boots. I counted 150 cadets and everyone was standing there waiting for something to happen, but even after an hour no one showed up to tell us what to do. The crowd of cadets became a little restless. Limbur scratched his polished scalp.” Now what? Are we supposed to do something? Isn’t anyone coming?” His green skinned friend, his name I had learned was Wintsun seemed to like the environment judging by the smile on his face, but the smile vanished as he replied to his friend.” I don’t sense or hear any sentient being in the vicinity. I begin to wonder myself!” The Narth who was next to me agreed:” I cannot sense any sentient or coherent thoughts either, but there are life forms out there considering us for food right now.” The group became quite worried after he said that and the word spread. Three more hours passed and still nothing. I picked up the navy issue garment bag that held my spare uniforms and started walking towards the buildings at the other end of the landing field. The Narth did the same and followed me. “Where do you think you’re going?” Asked Limbur. “I decided to inspect those buildings and then wait there. It seems to be a better place to wait than here in the open. I expect the sun to set sometime soon.” Narth didn’t turn:” The Neo Viking’s plan of action is logical. I shall follow his lead.” Wintsun took his bag and said:” Can I come along?” I shrugged.” Sure you can. I am not in charge here.” “Someone has to be and you’re it! At least you are doing something!” Limbur followed us too. A cadet with bluish skin and coppery almost metallic shimmering red hair objected: “You can’t leave! We were ordered to remain here and wait!” “Wonderful. Why don’t you wait and let me do my thing? “I said and kept on walking –“”— About two clicks away from the point where we landed stood the Three buildings. The jungles edge was about 500 meters away and the cleared area packed with the same red claylike dirt. I did not see any recent tracks, neither of machines, humans or animals for that matter. Anyone not flying would have to make tracks. I surrounded the buildings first, and they kept following me. Two of the buildings looked like storage sheds and the middle building was a two story deal made of manufactured wood. There was a roofed porch surrounding the main structure. “Anyone here?” I yelled as loud as I could.”Hello?” Narth shook his hooded head.” I sense no thoughts or brain activity.” “Well there are life forms immune to Psionics, so I was told.” Narth nodded.”You speak logical!” Everything looked solid, weathered but in good condition. The door wasn’t locked so I went in. No furniture, no machinery just a flight of stairs leading up and four doors. To Narth I said:” Do you sense anything now?” He shook his shrouded head.” No conscious thoughts here, but back on the landing field things are going bad. There is confusion and some of it will soon lead to violence. The situation is quite unstable.” “It’s not our problem. Let that Admiral Kid deal with it.” Wintsun snorted at that and then looked at me.”What do you want us to do? “Let’s check out the rest of this building and then look at the others.” The entire building was empty. But it had a working plumbing with fresh water and the lights worked as well, meaning there had to be a power supply somewhere. We opened the last door and Narth said:” What matter of place is this?” “It’s a kitchen.” I responded happily.” a kitchen with a wood stove, sink and freezer unit.” “How do you know this?” “Many families on Nilfleheim prefer this old fashioned traditional way of preparing meals over Serv-Matics.” “Fossil heat, raw fish and meat; the images you transmit are, exceptionally primitive!” Narth said, slowly shaking his head. “I truly appreciate your abilities and I think you are a very nice person. I just wish every third person I run into can hear my thoughts!” “Narth do not communicate verbally at all, we do not use our vocal voices. I am very sorry if I offended you.” His usually emotionless voice had a faint note of sadness and I felt sorry for snapping at him. So I put my hand on his shoulder.” Narth I think we are going to be friends. I will never again be offended or bothered if you know my thoughts. I am sorry I barked at you.” I held out my hand.” Friends?” Narth didn’t make a sound or move for almost a minute then he slowly took my hand into his gloved one. It felt cold even through the leather like fabric.” Yes Eric, I shall be your friend!” “So you’re welcome to read my thoughts anytime. Nothing to hide really, I just need to get used to all those Psionics.” “We can change that, you know. Narth can make you so that no one can ever read you again!” “That’s something I will consider, but for now let’s check out this kitchen and see what is there.” The freezer unit was stuffed with labeled packages and the pantry held Vac-packs of vegetables, meat, fish and rice and other packs with food items I could not identify right away. There was enough to feed an army over an extended period of time!” In a drawer I found all sorts of kitchen utensils including knives. I armed myself with a large mono filament knife. It had a convenient butchers sheath as well. “Why the knife?” Wintsun asked, looking over my shoulder into the drawer. “I feel better with some sort of weapon especially after Narth told us that there might be life forms that consider us prey. Besides a knife is a tool and could come in handy.” Wintsun followed my example right away and took a knife as well.”How about you ?” Narth turned as if he stood on a mechanical turntable. Wintsun took several steps back startled by the sudden and strange move. ”Am I correct in the assumption that you addressed me?” He then snapped his gloved finger.” I believe I understand you exercised the human habit of titling me with a Nickname!” “Uh, yes exactly! That is what I did!” “I shall research that more! As for your initial question: No I do not need a weapon.” I padded him on the shoulder.”It’s what humans do. In a potential hostile environment you are better off with a weapon than without one.” One of the knifes floated all by itself out of the drawer and Narth took it and put it under his long sleeve. He then moved his hooded head to look at us both.”Simple telekinetics!” “Maybe Psionics are quite useful!” I managed to say.”And don’t cut yourself.” “Your concern for my wellbeing is duly noted, I shall not cut myself. Even though it might be an interesting experiment.” “I sure don’t know anything about your society my new friend, but cutting yourself with a Mono blade is anything but interesting.” Wintsun grinned.” It is quite messy.” “I yield to your expertise. We do not use Knives.” We went out to the back and checked on the other two buildings. They where storage huts and locked with simple padlocks but the monofilament knife cut through the wood frame like butter. “Do you think it is wise to break in?” Asked Wintsun, while I was cutting around the lock plate. “Well nobody said we can’t. This is a Navy installation and in lieu of any higher authority we represent the Navy and should be authorized.” This storage building held pallets stacked with self erecting tents, emergency food rations, construction tools and several power cubes. The other building was stacked with even more food rations, spare uniforms and water containers and stacks of boxes and crates with other stuff. A bright yellow and red painted dura steel locker with ID lock caught my eye. On it a sign in bold letters read: “Armory! Authorized Personnel Only”. Narth approached me:” A fight broke out at the landing field. Someone got hurt.” “Let them fight! We got all the food we need!” Limbur made an old but still popular and vulgar hand gesture into the direction of the landing field.” It’s not our problem.” “Does it not strike you odd, that no one showed up to instruct us? Maybe the camp personnel was attacked and killed by something in the Jungle!” Speculated Wintsun with a worried look on his face and gazing towards the dark green wall of vegetation. I shook my head.” This seems unlikely to me. We would have found some evidence of occupancy in the main building. All this stuff is stored and locked away. No one left here in a hurry or unexpected.” Wintsun rubbed his chin.” Makes sense to me but where are they? “ I shrugged:” I don’t know why no one has shown up to give us any instructions. Maybe the ship with the instructors was delayed somehow, or we got dropped off at the wrong planet.” Limbur rolled his eyes.” That is our luck, some clerk filed the wrong flight papers and the shuttle pilot has long forgotten about us. It may take weeks till they know we’re missing.” I examined the lock at the Armory. It was a state of the art ID lock. Then I looked over my shoulder and said:” Maybe this is simply another test to see how we react. Until we know for sure we cannot completely eliminate your first speculation either. We should make the best out of the situation until we can find out. It’s not like we are completely screwed. We got all this stuff! I think we should go back and tell them what we found and then see if we can find anything in here that can be used to send a Trans Dim message.” So we went back to the landing field. As we reached the others we found one of the cadets lying on the ground not moving and another one was sitting, pressing his hand over a bleeding head wound. There was a hushed silence and everyone looked at us. The blue skinned guy stood before them holding a wooden stick like a club. His other fist prodded against his hip and barked at me:” Cadet you have left this area unauthorized. I am placing you under arrest until superior officers arrive!” I gasped and said:” You are doing what? “ “I am Swybin, Son of Admiral Swybar. I assumed command. My father is not just anyone and I know everything about the Navy and its regulations” The Narth shook his head.” Relationship to a ranking officer does not give you command authority. Rank is not inherited but earned. You have no authority to place anyone under arrest or assume command. “ Wintsun stood straight with a serious face and said with loud voice:” United Stars Navy General Orders Section One Page 5 In the absence of higher command authority and during situations where only equal ranking officers are present, the first officer taking charge in the situation is by default of his action commanding officer with full authority to issue orders. The first cadet taking action was Eric Olafson and I herby evoke said General Order. You Eric are to take charge of post and all government property in control reach. I put on record on this day and this hour, by Cadet Alsher Wintsun. Service number 4523232-W-23234. That no one of rank is within communications reach and Cadet Eric Olafson in charge of all navy personnel enlisted or commissioned of equal rank or lower. Until such time he is relieved of command by proper identified command authority.” It became quiet. Narth nodded.” He is correct and he now is our superior officer.” Swybin didn’t like that and it was clear that he wished he had thought of that.” I am the son of Admiral Swybar and I am the logical choice here. When the Officers come they will listen to me alone because a single word of mine can cost their career! And I will report you all as deserters if you do not listen to me!” A female cadet held up a handbook.” It states right here what Wintsun just said!” Swybin actually raised his wooden club to strike the female.”Silence!” He was too far for me to reach him in time. But his club stopped in midair as if he hit something very hard. It splintered and he yelped in pain. The pieces of the wooden club flew in a high arc away. Narth eye slits glowed visibly with a dark red light.”You act in a highly illogical matter and your mind is clouded with self delusion of imagined importance.” Swybin held his hand in pain and growled in open hatred.” My father will have you hanged for this. No one disobeys an Admiral!” “Enough of this!”I yelled!” I don’t know many regulations or Navy orders yet. I am in this Navy only since the day before yesterday. No we are getting the injured cadets into the buildings and see if we can help them. There are self erecting emergency tents and there is food and water. It makes no sense to wait here on the landing field. If someone comes they surly will be smart enough to look for us at the buildings over there!” Swybin fumed:” Anyone disregarding my orders will be court-martialed and I assure you my dad will listen to me!” “This is getting us nowhere. I am going back to those buildings and I will take those wounded cadets along. I am taking full responsibility for my actions and you are welcome to report whatever I did to anyone you like. Anyone that wants to come along is welcome!” Wintsun barked loud and with a stern face.”Cadets follow us!” About 20 did remain with Swybin. I knelt down to the bleeding cadet and said:” Can you walk?” The wound was over his left eye. “I think so!” “Alright then, go lean against me I get you to the building.” To Limbur I said:” Can you help me with the other one?” Limbur grinned: I don’t need help with that!” He lifted the unconscious man like a weightless toy from the ground and carried him away. –“”-- By night fall we had enough tents erected for everyone. I had them arranged in a circle around the main building as close together as possible. In the building we arranged one room as mess hall and another as an infirmary. One of the Cadets, a girl with skin so black it had a bluish shimmer was a certified EMT, before she joined the navy. Her name N’Buga and she found first aid supplies in one of the ware houses. The one with the head wound seemed alright after N’Buga, the EMT treated him, but the other one was still unconscious. N’Buga bunched the towel she was holding and grinded her teeth.” He most likely got traumatic head injury from that first blow Swybin struck and I don’t have the scanners or tools to check for bleeding or fractures. We must assume the worse and there isn’t much I can do. He needs medical attention as soon as possible!” I smiled at her.” I know you do your best. We’re trying to find some way to call for help.” “If I could put him in a stasis field, which would be the best solution for now.” “I check the supplies maybe they have space suits.” Said Wintsun who was standing next to us rubbing his chin and looking like he had an idea. “What would a Space suit do? “ I asked. “All Navy space suits have an auto doc unit and are Cryostasis capable in case someone get lost in space and needs to conserve energy and life support.” “Well let’s tear those storage sheds apart and see what we can find!” Almost an hour later opening countless shipping containers one cadet held up a sealed package and said.” Not a space suit but a Cryostasis replacement module for one, complete with Auto Doc.” Two cadets with engineering skills rigged a make shift space suit out of repair tape and tent skin, we placed the injured cadet inside and N’Buga activated the Cryostasis unit. Her face relaxed as the indicator lights went green.” Well that should stabilize him better than anything else we can do until help arrives.” I was standing at the door to our improvised infirmary when Narth approached me and I realized he didn’t make any sound when he moved.” The tents are all up. Lemur passed out ration food bars and water. I posted the guards as you asked. Two are on the roof and the other two on each side of the camp. Now what do you want the rest to do?” “Are you sure no one resents me giving orders and all that?” Narth put his hand on my shoulder.” No Eric, the mood on our side has drastically improved. I do whatever you order!” “We should inventory the items in the storage buildings. Ration the food, water seems to be no problem, but until we know how long we have to be here or know what native resources are consumable. I think we should ration it. Post double guards at both storage places. No one is to help themselves to food outside of meal times.” “A wise precaution indeed, I shall convey your orders! I also suggest we open the armory case and supply the guards with better weapons than clubs and knifes. Only a few are trained in any sort of combat and I foresee we might need real weapons before the night is over!” “Alright but I am going to open it myself, in case we get in trouble for it, it’s only me they can punish!” “This is quite noble, but I will share this responsibility with you!” –“”-- The lock was state of the art, I pushed my thumb on it and a voice said.” Biometric data not on file. Access denied.” “I am Cadet Eric Olafson. I am in Command and no higher authority can be contacted. Access to the weapons is vital.” “ID chip information recorded. Access granted.” The box held ten brand new military issue Directed Energy Blasters. With Narths help I picked eight cadets with the most prior experience handling weapons and armed them with DEB’s, located them strategically so they could rest and eat yet rush to the site of any alarm in short time. Then I had them break out the Construction tools and armed the rest with Power saws and similar tools that could be used as makeshift weapons. The two cadets with engineering skills rigged an air conditioning system for the infirmary from parts they found in the store room and they were quite proud as they showed off their handy work. Both where human the taller one had black hair that lay so tight to his skull it looked painted. He had big eyes and a small mouth, his name was Alberts. The exposed skin of the other was covered with colorful tattoos in bright blues and blacks. His hair was red almost orange and his eyes where the greenest I ever saw, he listened to the name of Shawn. It was Shawn who proudly demonstrated the workings of the Air Conditioning system.” Al rigged it with four tent units and I tied it into the building energy supply box. We can keep the place warm or cold. “ “That’s a good job you did.” Was all that came to my mind? It surprised me that it caused proud smiles with both. Albert didn’t say much, but he had fashioned himself a tool belt and stuffed with all sorts of tools. “What do you want us to do next?” “We need some sort of central watchtower. An elevated place we can see everything and if you could rig something like a Trans Dim Radio anything that might be used to send a message that be good.” Shawn shook his head.” Can’t do, Sir, None of the spare parts have transdim spools and without them nothing goes past the LI thresh hold.” Albert said something to Shawn in a language I never heard and Shawn nodded.” Aye we could try that.” “What did he say?” Shawn punched the other.” Don’t speak that old German-Irish he doesn’t understand the old Engineering Language!” Albert grinned sheepishly.” Sorry Captain. I am just so happy that I found Shawn who speaks Old Irish and Old German.” I had no idea what he was talking about but nodded anyway.” That’s fine. Can you make a Trans Dim Radio?” “Not exactly, but if we can take one of the DE rifles apart and use the lock computer we can make a Morse code transmitter. No voice no images and we couldn’t receive but anyone with a Trans Dim Set in range could hear us.” “Why do I get the feeling you all know more about this than I do? Have you done this before?” Albert shrugged.” I haven’t. I thought you can only try once. I was raised on a ship and haven’t been much dirt side, but I think I know pretty much all non classified tech inside and out. Especially if your family space ship is a rust bucket about to fall apart. You learn to jury rig and improvise from early on!” Shawn explained. “Morse code is truly ancient and comes from Earth pre Astro time. But its simplicity and usefulness made it an almost universal thing. Every Com Officer aboard any ship military or civilian knows Morse code. Besides any computronic will recognize it as artificial transmission and can translate it.” Then he added.” It’s my first time in the Academy for sure, but I was born on Kikenny and being an Engineer is more than a tradition to us, it’s a religion.” The night finally came after a long sunset. Narth was confident he could calculate the duration of a local day after tomorrow. We then found out nights on Idyllic where very dark, there was no moon to reflect any sunlight. The stars however where spectacular! And soon we learned that night fall caused a sharp drop in temperatures and it was getting colder by the minute. The tents had heating elements and we found plenty of blankets and padded uniform jackets and I was certain we would be just fine. Narth told me the situation on the landing field was getting worse by the minute. The handful of cadets that remained with Swybin where cold, hungry and confused aggression and fear tensed to a breaking point. He and Wintsun also sensed aggressive hunger emotions from beings in the jungle and that there was more of that activity now than during the day. So I had the guards equipped with hand held search lights and we worked out a guard schedule. I was just inspecting the tents and talked to a Cadet from Earth when Wintsun came down the steps of the main building and said” Everything looks fine, everyone is contempt. Sure everyone is wondering what happened to the Instructors, but there isn’t any fear.” He pounded my shoulder.” I hand it to you, Viking you know your stuff!” “Wintsun, I know nothing and the more I talk to other the more I realize that.” He said nothing just smiled at me and wiped on his feet and I was about to return to talk to the girl from Terra when he said.” What do we do now?” “We wait, keep our guard up and see what happens.” “There are plenty of idle cadets with nothing to do. They want to help and do something! They are eager to do whatever you tell them.” “Alright, let’s run this place navy like! I don’t know much about it yet, and all I was instructed about was food and appearance. So I want the hallway made into a mess hall. Find chairs and tables make them out of shipping crates or something and get a group on heating ready meals. Everyone not on guard post will attend, perfectly groomed and dressed. Guard posts are to be relieved half way through dinner and also need to groom and bathe before they attend.” I smiled.” That will keep them busy!” Wintsun smiled from one ear to the other and almost yelled. “Yes Sir that it will!” I too put on a clean uniform, trimmed my beard and combed my long blonde hair, braided it as it was tradition. The empty hallway had transformed rather nicely into a make shift mess hall with two rows of tables with bed sheets as table cloth. Field mess kits had been arranged in place settings and someone found a Union flag and hung it from the far end wall. And almost every seat was taken. Wintsun pointed at the crate at the short end and I felt awkward taking this obviously prominent spot. I felt quite uncomfortable because every eye was on me. Wintsun leaned over.” Since we don’t have servers, the food is already placed but we waited on you.” I cleared my throat, took the water bottle and raised it.” Unknown is what lies ahead, let us face it like Navy officers. We and especially myself no nothing about the Navy yet, but we sure will do our best. To the Navy, to tomorrow.” I drank and sat down and began to eat looking sheepishly around. Not one face of those I could read showed amusement, but I could almost sense the collective pride. A spiny looking Cadet who almost looked like a skeleton bowed his bony head and blinked his sunken eyes.” This was a good toast, Sir.” During the sixth hour of darkness, after I had few hours of sleep, I climbed on the roof, where we had installed our makeshift Watchtower, to take my post. The temperature had dropped below freezing now. I just made it half way when a bright light finger suddenly stabbed into the darkness from the left guard position below and then came the shouts of alarm!” It was too far for me to climb back down in time. So I crawled the last meters to the actual post. Someone had taped a tent tarp between four posts and used the heating unit as blower making it not a bad spot at all. I didn’t know the names of the cadets sitting there, but they where humanoid and one asked me in a hushed voice.” Mr. Olafson, what is going on?” “I don’t know, Cadet. But we are going to find out!” I took his spot light and pointed it into the same direction as the first one. Something large with green scaled skin and six legs was caught in the strong bright light beams. It was so big I could see its teeth gleaming from up here. The beast was confused by the sudden light and had stopped its advance. It was at least 20 meters long and perhaps 5 tall, I estimated. I shouted.” Two gun men to the guard post. Others remain where they are!” The beast overcame its hesitation and started to advance towards the camp. I waited for the cadets with rifles to be in position and then I yelled:”Fire at will!” A second after that two sun bright bolts of energy lashed out, caught the beast and the sharp crack of super heated air vibrated the area. The beast was hit by pure energy plasma, millions of degrees hot; half the animal was instantly incinerated. We repelled and killed two more within the same hour and then it became quiet. Narth who was my watch partner had literally floated up to our position without moving a limb, a few moments after I had arrived:” The beasts of the jungle fear this place of lightning and thunder and won’t bother us anymore for a while.” “What about those on the landing field?” “If I would be human I wager there won’t be as many left tomorrow.” “We can’t let this happen! We have to convince them to come here or at least protect them!” “Why? The son of the Admiral thinks very bad thoughts about you and it was their free choice!” “We have to go! “ I said while climbing down. Narth floated effortlessly next to me and without making any sound. “You got some grav device under that cloak of yours?” I asked. “No I levitate myself using telekinesis. It is quite simple and I am not all that heavy! I can levitate you too, if you care” “I think I should learn more about the Narth.” “I shall teach you more of my culture and people.” “At another time though! We need to hurry! I have a bad feeling about this!” –“”-- We took two of our armed cadets along and we reached the landing field and the other cadets some moments later. We had to fire right away as four of the scaled beasts where about to attack. The blinding light and the loud hissing crack of the blasters, hitting the first animal, was enough to scare the rest away. Cold wind blew unrestricted and the wind chill made it feel even colder than it actually was. They were huddled close and looked hungry and exhausted. Two seemed delirious and another one was badly wounded and it looked as if one of the beasts had bitten of part of his arm. Swybin sat in the middle, wearing several uniforms at once and he saw us coming and hissed:” It is too late to ask to come back, Viking. The Instructors will come and you will face a court-martial and I will personally watch your execution!” “Oh shut up. You are repeating yourself.” Another cadet pointed into the dark.” Olafson! Some huge beast came and dragged Morthil away!” I said:” Save your poison Swybin. You may court martial me or have me dragged before your father, I don’t care. But right now the lives of your friends are in serious jeopardy. Take them to the camp. There is food and warmth. You can blame me for everything and say I forced you, but for Odin’s sake go. To the two cadets that had came with me I said:” Get that wounded guy as fast as you can inside and wake N’Buga so she can take care of him.” I turned to Narth.” Escort them back and see that they all get food and a place to sleep. “ “Where are you going?” Asked Swybin a little less hostile sounding before Narth could answer me. “I am trying to find that beast and see if we can do anything for the Cadet dragged away. If not he deserves a decent burial so he can enter Valhalla!” Narth said.” I shall accompany you. I can sense him. He is still alive.” Holstin give Narth your blaster and take the others back.” Narth refused.” I don’t need weapons. I relayed your orders to Wintsun as well” “Point the way then, I am sure the guy hasn’t all too much time left!” I ran alongside Narth whose feed hovered just a few inches above the ground towards the jungles edge. I glanced at him.” You are sure a spooky sight! Floating and dressed like that, you look like a real ghost.” “I wasn’t aware there are unreal ghosts!” His answer gave me the chills. I suddenly thought that if Narth believed in ghosts that there might be indeed such entities. I promised myself to ask him about ghosts sometimes later, but now we reached the Jungles edge and at first the foliage looked like a solid black wall and I wondered how we could advance, when Narth pointed to a smashed path, made by the large beast. As we followed the path, I found I didn’t have to use the flash light, despite the fact that no starlight penetrated the forest roof. Eerie glowing tree trunks illuminated the surroundings with a faint bluish light. My eyes where adapted to the dark depths of Nilfleheim oceans so I could see just fine. Narth asked:” Many of the others experience an emotion called fright. Aren’t you afraid?” “I guess I am, but it doesn’t affect me much as long as there is something I can do about it. I was raised hunting huge carnivorous fish in a very dangerous environment. This is scary I tell you, but real fear I learned from my father, so I am used to fear I guess.” We penetrated the jungle deeper, I was trying to catch my breath and still keep up with the effortless floating Narth and I estimated we already went more than a click, when Narth grabbed my shoulder and jerked me back with force. Just then something broke through the jungle floor in an explosion of leaves and wet dirt. A large maw filled with sharp fangs missed my head by less than a centimeter. I heard my own blaster roaring before I even knew it was me firing. Smoke and steam and the stench of burned flesh belched around me in a gagging cloud. My shot had cut the thing in half. A large centipede like thing with its head intact and six small eyes still fixed on me. I took a deep breath:” that was close! Thank you Narth!” “No mention is necessary. The being caught me by surprise as well. It had no detectable thoughts until we where almost over it.” I wiped sweat and pieces of foliage of my face and gasped. “Well let’s keep going. He might be still alive but not if the beast decides to slow down and eat.” After only a few hundred meters Narth stopped.” The Cadet is out of danger! We no longer need to pursue him!” “How can this be? Is he dead?” Bright lights suddenly flooded the scene. I dropped to the ground, and pointed my blaster towards the light and yelled “Narth, take cover!” A new voice out of the lights said.” No need Cadet Olafson. I am Commander Letsgo. Cadet Morthill is safe and so are the others. You may lower your gun!” I got to my feet and I saw a Navy Officer and six Marines in Heavy Battle armor step into the light. “This exercise is over. Follow us for the debriefing. CAMP IDYLLIC United Stars Naval Academy Basic Training Facility: Camp Idyllic

The real Camp Idyllic so it turned out was about ten kilometers away from the landing field and the wooden houses. A collection of buildings covered with soil and foliage, undetectable from above. The installation extended far underground and we all were assembled in a large gymnasium hall, with green carpets and windows that allowed a view of the jungle and a large lake that shimmered in the distance between large trees and underbrush. After Narth and I met Commander Letsgo we joined them aboard a floater and brought here. The other cadets where already here and standing in the reception hall. All eyes turned to us as we entered, but no one spoke. Narth and I took a spot at the rear and waited for the things to come. Commander Letsgo looked less human than he did during the brief encounter in the dark jungle. His skin had a metallic dull color and he had neither ears nor a real nose. His head was completely hairless and the eyes looked like cybernetic implants. “He is a Stellaris.” I could hear Narths whisper as if his lips where direct next to me, but he had not moved.” Bionetic engineered of Terran origin, to survive with minimal protection in deep space.” The Commander stepped behind a lectern and he was flanked by a dark fur covered being to his left and a Pan Saran Officer to the right. He began:” Good morning Cadets. I am Commander Letsgo and I am in command of this training facility. To my left you see Commander Propeel. Some of you may recognize him to be a Nu-Uiit she is the Executive Officer of this base. To my right stands Lieutenant Aurellius your Chief Instructor. “You will spend the next 6 standard months on and around Camp Idyllic in Basic training. As the name suggests it is where you learn all the basics you need to know as members of this Navy. Our mission is to make sure that you are indeed officer material. The United Stars Navy is unlike any other organization you might be familiar with. We are not a Corporation, not a Church or whatever civilian organizations there are. The United Stars Navy is the military arm of our union with many missions. As you probably saw at Arsenal, many thousands apply every quarter at 164 Academy satellites to become Navy Officers. Of all those applicants only about 20 percent of all those applicants make it to the final year and graduate. Instructing and teaching you are only a part of what Basic training camp is about. We test character, abilities and personal values. Knowledge can be learned, skills can be taught but there are aspects to each personality already there, aspects that make each of you a distinguishable individual. The Navy looks back at 3000 years of history and tradition and Officers even more than Enlisted are ambassadors, representatives of these traditions and values and we developed a complicated but proven process to weed out those unfit to wear this uniform.” He paused for a moment and scanned the room from left to right:” When you where and left alone on the landing field, it was a staged scenario in order for us to see how you adapt to new situations that have not been anticipated. “You see, as an Officer it is very likely you come across an unexpected situation in the course of your career. A situation not trained for, not covered in any regulation and still the Navy expects you to make the right decisions. It doesn’t matter how much training one has or what regulations he or she knows. When it comes to the unknown it is just that, unknown and unprecedented. “You had basically two options last night. Remain on the landing field or occupy the buildings. And two choices have been made. One group went to the buildings, broke locks, liberated equipment and damaged navy property, but they where warm, safe had food and shelter. The other group remained where they had been dropped off, sticking to the order exactly as given by the Shuttle pilot. That group was cold, suffered a severe brake down in morale and had casualties. One leader used physical violence and verbal threats to gain obedience. The other simply took the initiative and was chosen. I am asking you which were the better solutions to the given situation?” The commander pointed a finger at Swybin. “Why don’t you answer me that question, Cadet?” Swybin straightened his stanch and said: “The loss of personnel can be expected in a hostile environment and a few dead men should not chance the objectives their leader demands to be reached. I the only real commanding officer expected casualties. We are after all soldiers. It is imperative that any soldier or service person carries out orders exactly as given. The common solider cannot base his decision to follow and order on potential danger, even deadly threat. He must remain at his post. It is not important if that soldier is warm and well fed, out of harm’s way or safe. It is however important that he keeps his post and obeys every order given by a Superior. So without question my decision was the correct one and I am fully prepared to be a witness at the court-martial proceedings of this imbecile neo Viking Olafson, Sir!” The Commanders artificial looking face did not change its expression as he looked around and pointed at me.” Cadet Swybin made his statement and answered my question. “Now answer my question as well.” “Sir the pilots order was open for interpretation. He said: Wait here and did not specify where exactly we had to wait. I mean there where buildings only two clicks away. After no one came for hours, those buildings looked like the logical waiting place to me. Since I didn’t know what delayed you So in my opinion it was necessary to make the best of the situation. The buildings provided us with that option. Anyone looking for us would certainly look in those buildings, besides I posted guards that would have seen any approaching ship or party to signal our whereabouts. It was another Cadet who began quoting regulations and hand books and general orders and they put me in charge. I accepted it and therefore I take full responsibility for the break in and the use of Navy property. All the others acted under my instructions, Sir!” “So you are willing to accept all responsibility for everything?” “Yes Sir.” Swybin laughed with a snorting sound:”Wonderful, Have Olafson arrested Sir! He has confessed and accepted his guilt! I believe a nice flogging is in order and of course I will convey to my father how diligent you execute your post!” The Commander smiled at Swybin:” How nice of you. So if I have that Cadet arrested and prosecuted you make sure I get a promotion?” Swybin looked around to make sure everyone saw how important he was.” Of course Commander, My father is Rear Admiral Upper half Swybar, you have heard of him of course. He listens to me!” “You are correct, Cadet. He does listen to you right now. You are not a commanding officer. Your father’s position and rank makes no difference to your performance, conduct or status. Yes we expect our soldiers, service personnel and spacemen to follow orders and execute them regardless of possible danger or personal comforts but an officer is not only responsible to achieve whatever orders given but also for each being under his command. If we wanted blind obedience we could send robots and not beings. We want officers that are able to think and question orders. Every time you receive an order you must evaluate it and decide if you follow it or not. It is often difficult to decide which orders to interpret and which ones follow by the letter, but we expect each officer to walk this line every day and that is why robots cannot replace us.” He paused and slowly shook his head as he continued:” I experienced a lot, Cadet Swybin, but that is a first. Trying to bribe me right out in the open. I am not impressed by your fathers rank, nor am I impressed by your conduct out there. Assuring obedience by violence is despicable.” If you would be an officer I had you court marshaled and charged with the attempted murder of Cadet Owar and a host of other charges, none the least trying to bribe me!” Swybin was obviously caught off guard by this and started to protest:” I have your head for this! I am a Swybin!” “Be silent Son!” Said a voice from an unseen source at the Commanders lectern,” Your conduct brought great shame upon me and I expect you here at once!” Letsgo gestured to a marine standing by the doors.” Get this civilian of this Installation at once!” The Commander returned his attention to me while Swybin was escorted outside.” I commend you for your performance and actions. I especially liked the Dinner. However you failed the test. Do you know why you failed?” I pressed my teeth together and nodded. ”Yes Sir, I think I know.” Letsgo pointed at Wintsun.” You seem to know the regulation handbook by heart. Do you know why he failed?” Wintsun was caught off guard and shrugged.” Sir, I memorized the General Orders because my brother said they always come up in tests. It does not make me an expert in evaluating another cadet’s action, but I think Eric did a great job, Sir.” “Mr. Olafson. Why do you think you failed?” “I feel responsible for the wounded cadets, Sir. I should have done something much earlier.” “And responsible you are! The second you took command you assumed responsibility over all personnel in your unit. If you would have arrested Swybin, took all cadets to the houses you would have scored the perfect 100 points given for this test. You also broke into the Gun cabinet. It was clearly off limits and marked Authorized Personnel only! Do you have anything to say for your defense?” “Yes Sir! I did not break the lock it accepted my authority and thus made me Authorized.” “Slick answer I give you that. But why did you open it?” “Sir we did not know what happened to you. We speculated and where quite aware that this could have been a test, but you also could have been delayed or killed by a hostile force either native or foreign to this world. Later events made me glad I did open that gun cabinet.” He whispered to the furry Lt Commander and then said. “I will announce your punishment later. Now I am going to dismiss you unless someone else has something to add.” Narth floated just a little off the floor making him quite visible.” Sir, I am sharing his punishment.” To my surprise Limbur stepped forward.” I will share it as well!” More and more cadets did the same! The Cadet that had been unconscious said:” Sir, his actions saved my life. I will gladly take the punishment for him.” “I was dragged through the jungle, half dead. I held to Swybin at first, but Olafson went after me. Not even my friends did that. I volunteer to take whatever punishment you have for him.” Mirthill gave me a thankful look and thumbs up. The Commander crossed his arms looked us over.” We will take this in consideration. Now you are dismissed. You will be assigned to dorms and allowed an eight hour resting period.” –“”— The dorms where simple, with beds that had to be made up every morning manually. Always Nine Cadets to a dorm. I shared my dorm with: Narth, Owar, Wintsun, Limbur, Naxwax, Azey, Galmy and Olia. Azey actually was called Azey Azey Azeytytalitonitusiviy and he was from Oromarl. Most had problems saying his name. even the instructors called him as we did Az-Az. Oromals had humanoid characteristics but due to their gray greenish skin, pronounced lower jaw Terrans often called them Orcs. Naxwax came from Oromal as well, but he belonged to a subspecies similar but twice the size of Azey. Needless to say that his name was a similar word monster so Naxwax was all anyone remembered. Galmy was a female from Maltyr. She was almost human, had really long black hair, black eyes and her skin was white as deep frost snow. Her body was extremely thin and fragile looking and she appeared to be no older than maybe 15, despite the fact she was almost 60 years old in standard years. She was even quieter than Narth. Owar was a sickly looking human from a Terran colony world at the galactic rim area. He was quite intelligent but I wondered why they let him into the Navy or why he wasn’t treated for his conditions. Not that he displayed any real symptoms I could see, he just appeared sickly. Wintsun’s home world was one of the earliest planets Terrans migrated to, after the Galactic Awakening of Earth. Local conditions and genetic alternations with plant DNA made their skin green and allowed them to absorb light and turn it into nourishment via photosynthesis. Limbur came from a world with triple the standard gravitation. His muscles and bones where denser and made him quite strong under one gee conditions. Olia came from Europa a moon in the Sol system and had the typical arrogant attitude of Terrans (All planet and moon colonies in the sol system considered themselves to be Terran. Except by Terrans of course). She wore her hair short and used holo-dye making it sparkle and change color depending on the light source. But not for long as Lt. Aurelius confiscated her bottle. I learned that Narth didn’t have a name because everyone in his culture was telepathic and names where not needed. I was still as tired as a sleeper fish during Longnight when the lights came on and a voice barked via the PA system:” 0400 hours Cadets rise and shine! 0430 is Breakfast. At 0500 you will receive your first class in the Elbhard Auditorium.” And we found ourselves in said Auditorium at that time an hour later. Clean, fed and still tired. Again I tried to find a place in the back, so I could perhaps close my eyes for few moments. The Pan Saran Officer was already there. “Good Morning Class!” We saluted and he ordered us to sit down. “I am Lt Aurelius. As you can see a human species, called the Pan Sarans. We are native to the Upward sector in the M-O Galaxy. Like most humanoid species of this Galaxy we share ancestry with the Terrans, Saresii and Sarans. Why the Pan Saran Empire split form the Saran Empire and why we Pan Sarans dress in this somewhat anachronistic fashion is your assignment to find out by tomorrow.”He obviously referred to that polished brass chest plate he wore. ”Once you are established officers you are allowed to display one or two things on your standard uniform that shows and links you to your heritage as long as it not interferes with your regulation equipment. Mr. Olafson that means you have to cut that hair and shave for now. You may wear braids and beard if and when you are an officer. I blinked as I had almost dosed off and was startled by his sudden calling of my name. I struggled to my feet wanted to argue but instead just mumbled a grumpy.” Yes Sir” He picked a few others and told them to change their appearance or grooming habits. Only then he began the actual class:” You will be instructed and drilled to stand, march,run and respond to orders in an unquestioning manner. Drilling performs a psychological function, by inculcating the response to commands and training, you will act unhesitatingly in the face of real combat or danger situations. It can also serve a role in leadership training. Combat situations include not only commands to engage and put one's life in danger, but also commands to disengage when military necessity so demands. This conditioning is essential for military function, because without it a military unit would likely disintegrate under the stress of combat and degenerate into a mere armed mob.” I felt a strong invisible force pulling my head up. Before I could yelp, Narth who sat next to me whsipered .’You where about to fall over!” Aurelius continued his lecture unaware of my almost predictament. “You will be subjected to rigorous physical training, both to prepare for the demands of combat and to weed out the less able or insufficiently motivated. That means all of you regardless of species or origin, you must be on peak of your species physical development. You are trained in basic marksmanship with standard and exotic maintenance of weapons, bladed and non distance weapons. Unarmed combat and martial arts, first aid, protective equipment usage, and basic survival techniques in every environment you might end up. Deserts, Ice planets, Jungle wordls, deep space and everything in between. Furhter training will focus on basic spacemanship, and skills such as firefighting, damage control basic engineering, and signals.” He took a deep breath and kept on listing:”To top it all off you will have classes in astro naviagtion, propulsion physics, xeno liguistics, xeno biology, xeno technology, diplomacy, strategy and tactics, geophysics and a host of other classes.” He took a drink of water.” Simply listing this is a tiresome and exhausting exercise, but everything is exactly planned out and millions have done it before you, so you know it can be done! After you finished Basic your almost over the hill and the rest of the year won’t feel as demanding because you get used to it. It is my sincere wish that just once everyone would be here in this auditorium one year from not all of you will make the entire journey but I challenge you to proof me wrong. Show me you are the class that can do it!” --‘’-- We had to get up at 0400 standard and went to bed lights out at 2200 every night. The time between was planned for us down to the minute. Physical training, small arms training, hand to hand combat. Classes on xeno biology, military history, tech and science. Learning was different from school. In addition to hyno- training, neuro-direct uploads. Learning was done in the old fashioned way just like Mr. Flensburger back on Nilfeheim preferred. After the third month of the original 200 only 141 Cadets remained. Both Naxwax and Alzey left, but it was because they had to attend the funeral of their king and would be allowed to return with the next cycle. I couldn’t count the times I considered to simply stay in bed sleep in and then quit. Every time I was tempted I pictured the face of my father when I had to return home and his laughter and delight at my failure and it propelled me out of bed as if there was a hungry Fenris-Eel under my covers. We learned to survive with only the bare essentials in almost any environment. Snow and ice, Mountains, Jungles, Ocean world, Forests and every extreme one could think of. I was surprised how many cadets had never seen open fire or knew how to make it. While I too learned new ways of making fire at least it was not strange or new to me. We learned about bobby traps and hunting for survival. Every one physically able learned how to ski, swim and dive. The instructors yelled at us, insulted us and did not let up. The number of cadets every morning at breakfast was a little smaller each day. I hated dancing and culture class most of all. Why was it necessary that we knew how to dance, play chess or play a musical instrument? Why did I have to know how to sculpt in clay or draw a picture with coal on primitive paper? I rather went on another survival training mission than sit in that class room and listen to samples of music from hundreds of cultures and discuss the nuances and highlights. But it was required so I did my best. HONOR AND SWORDS Four month had passed since our arrival at Camp Idyllic, but it felt like a life time. Before I joined the Navy time had little meaning to me. Time does not mean much too any civilian. What was the difference if you slept in a minute or took a little longer to eat your meal? To a Cadet at the Academy, a minute had sixty seconds and each second counted. Instead of getting up at 0400, getting up at 0348 was a better idea. In ten minutes you could shave, bathe, polish your boots and have time for mending a rip on your uniform. Yes they made us do small repairs. And two minutes to spare if something else had to be done. One morning, we were all sitting in the courtyard mending uniforms, a Cadet voiced his anger about the futility of using primitive tools like needle and threat, when we had auto dressers and Nanite factories that could make an entire uniform in less time it took us to sew on a button. Aurellius heard it and said.” Mr. Wintsun do you agree with Cadet Applegates complaint, do you think this a waste of training time?” Wintsun bolted upright dropped his jacket he was working on and snapped in attention.” Sir this Cadet will perform repair tasks as requested but I must say I also do not see the reason why we have to know this. I fail to understand why our uniforms are made of primitive fabrics and have stupid buttons that come off all the time. Why can’t we have Uniforms made of Memo-Fab. It doesn’t rip, doesn’t get dirty, it closes securely without the need of buttons and it is around for at least two-thousand years.” “Mr. Olafson. I noticed you are quite handy with needle and threat and it looks like you did that before you came here. Tell me why?” Like Wintsun I jumped to my feet.” Sir the culture I was raised in finds value in such activities. As a Neo Viking sews his first pants out of Tyranno fin leather and then is allowed to sit at the men’s table and eat with the warriors. The leather has to come from his first kill.” “So your skills are born out of tradition and your native culture. If you would be stranded on a planet, you could make a net to fish, fashion you perhaps protective garments or even a tent.” “I imagine I could, Sir.” Aurelius motioned us to sit down.” Yes we have Nanite factories and auto dressers and it would be no problem supplying you all with new uniforms every day made out of the most advanced Intelli-Fab, have auto-beds that make themselves and why not a modern Colgate Complete Body Hygiene Center that does all the shaving and grooming for you?” Applegate smiled at that.”I sure would like that Sir!” Even Aurelius had to grin.” To be stranded on an uninhabited planet might never happen to any of you but you need to know what to do if it does happen. “We expect you to be officers of the Navy and be as well groomed as possible. Even if you never get rescued and you are on that planet for the rest of your life, and we finally find your dried out corpse, it better shows signs of proper grooming.” Applegate nodded and mumbled.” Or else! I can see it now! Instructor Aurelius punishing a corpse for a bad haircut. Yeah it sure is going to be in trouble for that one.” “I was trying to make a point, .” Aurelius so it became evident did have fine hearing and gave him a stern look. ”Such basic skills will help you find solutions to problems as shelter, food, survival and defense. The simple skill to know how to sew can be combined with other skills to manufacture weapons, traps and find solutions to obstacles and problems. “Next week you will learn basic carpentry skills, how bricks are laid, how a pot can be made out of clay and how metal can be cast. You get to know basic engineering skills with all sorts of tools and materials. All those skills might never be needed, but if you do you are glad you know how to use an old fashioned hammer.” He picked up a hammer.” Even at our advanced Tech Level, you will find a hammer in every engineer’s toolbox. Mankind’s oldest tool is still with us and there are no real high tech solutions to replace it!” Narth shook his hooded head barely noticeable, Aurellius saw it anyway.” You don’t agree Mr. Narth. Don’t they have hammers where you’re from?” “No Sir. We do not have hammers. I shall however take one along once I return so we do have at least one!” “You are spending way too much time with Mr. Olafson. You even developed a sense of humor.” Narth raised his head.”I did? Fascinating!” He gestured with his gloved hand and one of the sewing needles started to float and hissed like a projectile across the room and buried itself deep in a bedpost.” That is how we used to do it on Narth, but we will finally have a hammer!” “Impressive display of Psionics, but what do you do if you are unable to use them. The Saresii for example have developed methods of suppressing Psionic powers and I am certain the Kermac have as well.” Narth was about to say something but Aurelius shook his finger.” This is not open for debate, Mr. Narth. You too will learn how to use primitive tools. After hours you and Mr. Olafson will repair the compound fence by using Hammer Wire, Nails. I was told there are three clicks of fence and it is in bad shape.” I protested,” Sir, what have I done?” “I just wanted to teach you two my kind of humor!” He grinned and looked quite satisfied and then kept explaining.” Let’s say you are on a planetary survey mission. You are the Officer in charge of the survey party and you come across a primitive civilization. You don’t speak their language and the linguistic translators still have problems translating. But you see a group of natives mending nets. Instead of being totally clueless you could join them, take up a tool and sit down with the locals and help mend nets. “Actions like these break down barriers faster than any display of superior tech that might frighten them or make them hostile towards you. In the process you might pick up phrases and Names and you begin to understand them faster than the Lingu-Processor of your Translator. Situations like this did happen many times before and might happen again.” He sighed and went on.” When you see a Battle ship you think all the Navy does is parade around in known space, patrol shipping corridors and fight wars. This is of course part what we do, but only a small part. Space is so vast and there is still plenty of unknown space inside the boundaries of Union territory. This means there are endless combinations of situations you might have to face. We can’t give you guide lines for all of them, but we can give you all a working base that covers as much about our combined civilizations knowledge as we can cram into you. “Mr. Appletree’s I want you to take the afternoon of, go to the library and research how many times the skill of sewing came in handy to an officer. You have access to every report and log entry Navy personnel made in the last 3000 years. Tomorrow I want you to give us a lecture on that.” --“”-- Weapon training was my favorite subject. It was fascinating to learn just how many different weapons all the known species had come up with .Narth said it didn’t surprise him that Terrans where the unchallenged champions I that field. Remembering the lecture on sewing no one questioned the reason why we had to learn how to use clubs, spears and swords among many other primitive weapons. I had learned how to throw an axe or a harpoon from as soon as I could walk and the instructor for primitive weaponry was very pleased with my results and even let me show others how to fight with axe and harpoon. One morning about a week ago, Lieutenant De la Lupe, a human from Terra itself introduced himself as our fencing teacher. He was showing us how to use various swords and fighting styles. After we went through the usual program he made us interrupt our training and sit down. His face was stern and it was clear something of serious nature was on his mind.” Class I am very pleased with your general progress. Do you know why we stress this kind of fighting so much?” Applegate answered quickly.” Because a Monofilament Saber is still one of the best weapons in close quarter fighting such as boarding actions either in attacking or defending.” De la Lupe smiled briefly.” And this is indeed one important reason why it is important you know how to use edged weapons.” He looked down the length of his rapier, but his eyes saw something else.” Officers of this navy live by strict discipline and an equally strict honor code. You all know the official words "United Stars Officers will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do” It was totally quiet. None of the usual whispered comments or someone trying to catch a few winks of sleep in the back, everyone was listening. Lupe always treated us differently as any of the other instructors. He never ridiculed anyone, never resorted to punishments. He respected us! This was the reason he also was the most respected Instructor of them all. I felt he was about to open a little known chapter of Navy knowledge that was never the less very important. “Honor is exactly what determines a person's character: whether or not the person reflects honesty, respect, integrity, or fairness.” Lupe stopped playing with his sword and put it on the table behind him.” This is the official side of the Honor Code, but there is a little known other side to it as well. It is neither publicized and some academy branches don’t ever mention it, but as Officers you may come into a situation where another officer challenges your honor or claims to be insulted and his honor injured.” Narth landed over to me and whispered.” There is nothing more illogical than humans in this entire Universe.” Lupe grinned as he heard Narth.” What is it you find illogical?” “Honor is a concept, how can it be insulted or injured?” “Let me explain that in an Example. Captain A accuses Commander B of lying. Now it could be that A was indeed lying and by doing so offended B, or A did not lie and therefore the accusation is a lie.” Narth raised both his hands. “It is easier to understand the physics inside a black hole than to follow this logic.” Narth actually sighed. I padded his shoulder.” I feel for you my friend.” Lupe nodded knowingly.”Yes it is quite antiquated but this situation I described could still lead to a duel. Duels are rare, officially not sanctioned but not illegal. It is expected of you to react in such a situation according to traditions and always as an officer and Gentleperson.” “So does that hold true to Cadets? Can someone challenge me?” Asked Olia, she was one of the finest rapier fencers in our group. “That is a tough question as there is no official rule to this effect. We want you to act like full officers as soon as possible. One could argue that you are not officers yet, besides it cannot be used while on duty, only in private matters. You cannot challenge or be challenged while on duty.” Olia sighed and smiled.” That rules out Cadets anyway. We are on duty 24/7 no spare time for us.” Lupe bowed slightly before here and when he did it looked elegant and full of style.” This is a good thing, lovely Olia for you are quite a fencer already” She blushed and we could see that she also deeply enjoyed his courtesy.” I am not the best by far. Wintsun and Appletree are better and Narth and Eric are the best!” “It behooves a fighter never to overestimate him or herself. Before you begin a fight you must always think this is your last fight and your opponent could be better than you, stronger, more experienced or has some other advantage.” He took up his rapier once more.”I am proud of the entire class this year.” He dismissed earlier and said.”SO you have at least some free time. Please do not start any duels and remain out of the other instructors eyes or they might find something to occupy you with!” Because of how he treated us I was certain we all would have done anything for him. As we filed out the training hall he said.”Not you two. Mr. Olafson and Mr. Narth would you please remain for a moment? I like you to remain” He watched the last one leave and said.” I know you two would have earned some leisure time, but Olia was right. You are both very talented fencers and I would like to train you in more advanced techniques and further I would like to ask you a favor.” Narth bowed slightly.” I greatly enjoy the physical aspect of this fencing activity. I find the methods of moving, attacking and defending actually quite mathematical and fascinating. I am eager to learn more of it.” “I had seen myself to be a swashbuckling ruffian at best.” I said.”I would be deeply grateful for lessons and you may ask any favor of us.” I didn’t even realize that I included Narth but we really begun to understand each other on that unexplainable friendship level. Lupe put his hands on our shoulders and said.” A cartel was delivered to me and I must answer it. A cartel being a hand delivered written notice of challenge describing the cause of the offence.” “Who would challenge you?” I asked perplexed.” You are exactly how I always imagined officers are!” “Indeed, my friend is quite correct. I still learn much about how humans act and live but your way of educating us appeals to me.” “Your comments make prouder than you might realize. I would like you to be my Adjutants and Seconds.” He stopped us with a motion of his hand.” Before you agree let me tell you exactly what it means and what you will have to do. I also need to tell you why and where this takes place.” I simply nodded and Narth was listening as well. “Let us not talk here. We will go into the officers’ lounge and have a drink and there I will fill you in. Only then I would like you to answer me.” “Are we allowed in the officer’s lounge?” His invitation there was the most incredible development to me. “Yes I am inviting you. I am not asking you anything illegal or secretive. I did discuss this with Commander Letsgo as well.” “I never tried to imply that, Sir. I was merely surprised.” “Of course as I would be in your place. Now get cleaned up and get dressed in off duty civilian clothing and meet me at the Officers lounge at 1900 hrs.” With that he left us standing and walked out. “I do not have anything civilian. All my effects were taken at Academy entry.” “I can give you one of my robes.” Narth offered. “Why did they let you keep your robes anyway?” “My robe is more than just a garment to me Eric. It protects all Non Narth from our true form. Humans cannot look upon us without getting mentally injured, weaker minds often cease to function and die. I am the first Narth ever to join the Navy and nothing could be found that gives an equal amount of protection. The Navy however insisted that I would wear a Robe in Cadet Green, instead of my usual black” “Is that why you eye slits glow and there are no real eyes behind them?” “I would say they are real eyes, just quite different from yours, but yes the light my eyes emit is not visible light at all. It is seen by your mind not your eyes.” “So a robot would not see that glow?” “No a machine without bio-neuro components would not register it.” “One of these days I still like to see how you really look.” “One of these days I shall take you with me to Narth. The Tribune of Eternals is eager to meet you. They will find a way so you can see me as I am.” “I look forward to it. Meeting your folks and your planet and see how you live.” We had reached the showers and we disappeared moments later each in a shower stall. I thought how honored and touched I felt by Narths invitation and I promised myself to learn everything about the Narth so I would not make a fool of myself.” Narth was already done this time in a black robe. The eerie glow behind his eye slits appeared more intense. He handed me a dark red colored robe.” Here, I choose this color so they can tell us apart.” “I doubt anyone would mistake me for a Narth.” “All you have to do is do the spooky thing and let your eyes glow!” I laughed as I slipped into the robe.”You know what Aurelius is right; you did develop a sense of humor! Do the spooky thing. That does not sound like you at all.” “No perhaps not but Olia is saying it all the time.” The robe material felt almost like liquid metal. It felt smooth and not at all like a fabric. It was also quite cool and that I thought was worth it, on a humid and hot world like this. A darker metal like belt appeared all by itself and girded the garment around the waist. “Hey that isn’t bad at all I could get used to it.” “One is pleased that it is so!” I laughed at him.”Now that’s how you supposed to sound.” He handed me a pair of gloves and I put them on and I liked the feel of them quite a bit. You knew you were wearing gloves but, just barely. I thought how practical they would be in a fight, when you never get sweaty hands and always keep a good grip. “You are welcome to keep them, of course!” Narth answered to my train of thought. I was so used to him answering to my unspoken thoughts that I didn’t even bother to ask my next question out loud, because I wondered where he kept all those things. Since he, like everybody else had only a small locker. It was forbidden to store anything in them except issued standard items. “I utilize a subspace pocket inside my left sleeve. I can store any number of items there, only limited by the size that fits trough the subspace hole.” “Wow! That sounds quite practical. I doubt Starfleet has anything like it.” “I am certain they do not. It requires a different tech level as Humans say.” I somehow knew he didn’t want me to tell anyone about it and he only told me because I was his friend.” He simply nodded and changed the subject. “The entire affair with Lt. De La Cruz makes me wonder though. It does not appear it is unusual to you.” “It’s another test. I am sure of it. Whenever something seemingly odd happens it ends up being a test. Besides I think the Lieutenant is trustworthy if he thinks we can do it, let’s make him proud and do our best.” As we left the showers Narth said.” I believe you are quite correct. It does sound logical.” We actually had no idea where the Officers Lounge was. We stopped at the next Inter Base Transport Unit and stepped into the transport cabin. “Officers Lounge, please.” I said to the voice pick up. “Identity scanned. Cadets are not allowed to access.” Narth said.” I can sense him. Let’s go the other way!” The IBT cabin suddenly vanished and the world changed before my eyes as if someone switched a holo-program. We suddenly stood in a subdued lit room with low ceiling and comfortable looking seat groups around small tables. There was a bar on one side. Amuse-matics lined up against the facing wall along with a few GalNet booths. The most striking feature was the large transparent wall across the room, showing a greenish underwater landscape, submerged Tree roots and plants. We saw a scaled lizard swimming past, of the same huge kind that greeted us on our first night. The officer’s lounge so it became apparent was under the nearby lake. Letsgo and Lt De la Cruz jumped out of their seats, even more startled than I was, because of our sudden appearance. “Holy mother of God!” The Lieutenants’ hand darted to his sidearm, but stopped before pulling it.”You need to warn others before teleporting like that, looking like that!” I elbowed Narth into the side and grunted.” That includes me!” But Narth did as if didn’t notice. Despite the fact that I just knew he was grinning behind his hood. He snapped in attention and I followed his example an eye blink later.” Cadet Narth and Olafson report as ordered at 1900 hrs at the Officers Lounge wearing as requested civilian attire.” Several officers most of them Instructors we knew but also faces and beings I had not seen so far turned and some looked as if they disapproved our presence and then continued with whatever they were doing. Letsgo pointed at the seats across the table. “Have a seat Cadets. As you can see most of the officers present are not in uniform and neither are you or I.” We sat down and so did the two officers. The Commander leaned forward.” This is no reprimand, just information for further reference. It is quite dangerous to teleport inside a Military Installation and appear out of thin air and unannounced. This could result in intruder alerts. Trigger automatic defense measures or could be seen as attempted espionage. Teleporting into an area that is supposed to be Psi shielded and safe could get you shot!" “I understand, Sir.” Narth answered,” The psi shielding of this place however is inadequate. I was able to locate Lt De la Cruz without any difficulties, Sir.” “We are going to improve that. “Anyway you where not ordered here, you where invited. This is your first time in an officer’s lounge but after you graduate it won’t be your last. You do not salute when you are out of uniform. You do not need to snap into attention even if the Admiral of the Fleet happens to be present. You know I am a Commander but I am wearing no uniform and no Rank insignia therefore I am simply Mister Letsgo. Of course you are expected to act and behave like officers and gentlemen.” “Yes Sir.” Narth and I said almost simultaneously. He waved to a wait-bot and said.”Order what you like, the tap goes to me. You are welcome order tox as well” To the Bot I said.”Got any Aquavit or Absolut Vodka?” “We carry a selection of Aquavits, currently no genuine Absolut Is available. However we have the Molecu-Scan on file and can replicate.” I scanned over the list of Aquavits scrolling over is belly and with happy anticipation ordered.” I take a tankard of Halverson’s Dark warmed up a bit and double shot of very cold Alborg Aquavit.” Narth shook his head first but then he said.”I have the same!” Commander Letsgo held up his hand. “I have that one as well, so I can say I drunk with a real Neo Viking. De La Cruz motioned the robot that this was his choice as well and said.” No one is going to believe you drinking with a Narth!” It was quite odd to see the instructors act that way. I still was convinced it was some sort of test but I could not figure out what the goal of it was. The drinks came. They looked at me obvious to show them how it was done. With a quick tilt of the hand and my head I downed the Aquavit and enjoyed the cold fire shooting down my throat, smacked my tongue to get the aftertaste. Then I lifted the mug. Its size would had made any Viking laugh, and took a long draft, leaving less than quarter in the liter glass. Narth did the same putting the glasses under the loose cloth of his hood, both glasses appeared empty. Letsgo shook his head with a smile.” Comets and Quasars you two can drink! If we had a drinking class you would be instructors for sure!” They both repeated my example and De La Cruz praised the Aquavit. “This liquor is quite enjoyable and has a smooth character.” Narth didn’t say anything but I saw him wave at the Bot ordering more. “Would you be so kind and tell us what this is about. I can assure you it is indeed an unexpected turn of events, but so far I am unable to determine what the goal of this test is.” De la Cruz leaned forward.” How you react in this situation is indeed part of your evaluation but this is no test. The Edged Weapons Instructor of the Newport Elite Academy, Lieutenant Commander Milieu claimed in a recent article, published in Squadron News that his students where the best fencers bar none, and that it would be foolish to ever challenge any of his students in a duel and it be best to claim satisfaction or to submit before it came to a fight.” Letsgo interrupted, putting his glass down.” You know about the Naval Academies all over the United Stars. There are 164 of them; you for example came from Arsenal. Your friend Narth was accepted at Annapolis Academy Earth. I graduated from Quallstone in the Spin ward Sector. “ I only half registered Narth ordering a third time because I paid close attention to what the officers had to say. Letsgo was not done.”One of these Academies is Newport. Over the last 100 years or so Newport became the so called Elite Academy. Only the brightest and best prospects are to be sent there, for the last 20 years or so it became even more elitism oriented, due to Admiral Dent who commands the place since that time. Now the Squadron News is the oldest and most watched and read magazine in the Navy.” De La Cruz played with his empty shot glass.” I wrote a reply in the readers comment section and stated that other Academies educated good fencers as well and that I would know his fighting style since I know the Grandmaster under which he studied and saw him fight on several occasions. Letsgo pushed an E-board across the table entitled Squadron News. “There you can have this copy.” Our Fencing instructor took a piece of paper out of his pocket along with a single glove.” I received this cartel and this glove was thrown this morning. I am challenged to a duel because I offended Milieu’s honor. I am to face him and two of my best students are to face two of his best students. We do have the choice of weapons but since it is about fencing it should be edged weapons, preferably in the sword or saber variety.” The Commander said.” Now you cannot be ordered to participate and I assure you if you decline it will have no negative effects on your evaluation. It is truly a matter of private affairs.” “We don’t even have to think about that one, Sir. Of course will we participate, right Narth?” “Right Eric!” Narths voice was somehow different. Letsgo smiled proudly.” I will give you officially three days R&R so you do not have to participate in the routine classes. For this you going to stay in landing field buildings, the ones you know from your first time here. There you will have two days you can further train and rest and on the third will be the actual duel. The duel is fought to first blood. Meaning even the smallest wound will be accepted as satisfaction.” De la Cruz saluted us with his glass.” For three days you will not be Cadets and I will not be a Lieutenant. We will be comrades in arms. I thank you!” He drank and Narth did too! Narth placed the glass rather hard on the table surface.” Eric?” “Yes Narth?” “Did you know that these beverages have a component that influences ones thoughts and behavior, even perception?” “Yes it is alcohol.” “Ah yes, an organic compound in which a hy... I mean a hyd… excuse me a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom.., Eric I feel quite strange!” I knew we were in trouble when he started to giggle! Several tables began to float! Aurelius our Chief Instructor sitting on another table was showered with beer out of his own glass and Narth giggled even more!”Did you see that...he hehe...Eric I think I need to sleep! Narth slumped over his head banging on the table!” The floating things around the room fell as if invisible wires had been cut. “Your friend had a tad too much alcohol.” De La Cruz said.”We better get him to Sickbay. Before he wakes up and teleports all of us halfway across the planet or something like that!” Top of Form Review this Story/Chapter Bottom of Form Top of Form

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