Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 02

The Kermac had abandoned the Nogoll and unlike the Union the Nogoll did not have instantaneous communication, it took weeks for the news to reach every Nogoll world and ship. It was not Captain Erberbs fault as he questioned and then attacked a convoy of Union Freighter Ships approaching Inos System.

A system he knew to be Galactic Council. Captain Erberbs did not know that things had changed. The Elly always had an eye on the entire Inos System a source of dispute between the Nogoll and Elly for many centuries. The System almost equidistant to both the Elly and Nogoll home worlds sported not one but four rich garden worlds in addition to three rock worlds especially rich in boron and rare earths.

While both the Elly and the Nogoll were Galactic Council it was no problem, the Kermac decided rightly in favor of the Nogoll and gave the Nogoll 4 planets and the Elly got three. The Elly were under Psionic control anyway and were allowed to mine the rich earths for the Nogoll.

The Union however took this as welcomed excuse to retaliate with such excessive harshness by attacking all Nogoll forces in the system and orbital bombing two of the colony worlds that the Nogoll First Billie had no choice but to declare war against the Union.

It would be a short war, Ealy was sure of that. Even with the combined might of all GC allies it would have been difficult, but standing alone against the Union was nothing short of self inflicted genocide. One of his aides had handed him the latest intelligence report. While the Nogoll were fighting for survival, this conflict barely made the Union News!

Of course they could do the same as some of the White Nogoll did many years ago and join the Union, but that was not his decision to make and as long as the First Billie and his government told him to fight he would do so to the very end. He was certain that Sreal of the Itsna Dynasty, the current first Billie would never consider Union Membership or offer surrender; he was an Itsna through and through, proud, stubborn and narrow sighted.

EalyHe wondered how his four Nannies on Arlicherb fared. Would they try to fight, commit suicide or be slaughtered by Orbital Assault Marines?

His heart cramped and he wished he could stay and fight to the last ship, but he had to be a commander and warrior first. Regroup in the Ontbe-system where the rally point of the Nogoll fleets was. Ontbe was the last of two systems before The Nog, their home system and place of the holy mountain. The plan was to make the battle a costly one for the Union and then perhaps negociate an armistice, and not accept an outright defeat.

Sluper had no delusions, he knew The Nog could already be attacked by Union forces, but he knew the enemy. They were methodical they would attack Ontbe and Erba before taking The Nog last.

Once more he glanced at the Intelligence report. It was actually simply a Union Fleet News report, printed out over Trans Light Fax intercepted from the Elly, who still used the same communication technology as the Nogoll.

Sluper always thought the TLFAX was an enormous technological achievement, able to send reports and messages over 20 light year distance in only eight hours, until he heard that every Union citizen could talk to anyone else in the Union, send pictures and data over any distance instantaneous.

He found the first mention of the Nogoll war on page eight of the report. It read: After the Nogoll attack on Union assets, ships and civilians in the Inos System the Nogoll declared war upon the United Stars of the Galaxies and war against the Elly and the Union.

Fleet Command decided to let new newly appointed Rear Admiral deal with the Nogoll.

Even though there are voices in Union Fleet command criticizing the decision to commit almost two percent of sector assets to the fray. From his vacation on Para-Para, the Immortal Admiral Stahl however expressed full and complete confidence in Admiral Flegel's abilities to deal with the Nogoll and welcomed the conflict as an opportunity to test new equipment in battle conditions. Fleet Command agrees this to be a perfect opportunity to test the new Gazelle Long range fighters and the new Cerberus XI robots. First reports on the new Orbit to Surface cluster bombs are very satisfactory.

Commandant Sluper crushed the pages between his fingers. They did not even take this war serious! The Nogoll would disappear forever, wiped of the galactic stage by a giant and sold out by another.

Sluper turned to his Helm Officer, "Set course to Kermac Prime! Signal the course change to all remaining ships and go to full speed."

Then he said to his tactical officer."Prepare the planetary bombers for launch as soon as we reach Kermac Prime. The Nogoll will die and vanish, but not without making those pay who sold us out!"

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Chapter 17: Auditorium

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.

But Neo Vikings were early risers and having warmed almost hot water for shower and hygiene was actually a new experience for me. Even though the shower stalls had privacy screens, seeing human girls with nothing more than a towel entering the hygiene cells was quite something.

"Cadet Olafson don't just stand there and stare, there are others that need to use that cell!" One of the even here present Instructors barked. I nodded and was glad he wasn't a telepath.

He added."I am Olafson, almost all Instructors are."

I cursed and felt the blood rush to my head. He no longer paid attention to me and reprimanded a gorgeous girl with copper colored skin and dark green hair." The timer said eight minutes shower time, not eleven, get moving!"

After a breakfast conducted with the same formality as the dinner the day before we were assembled in a large room to receive our first instructions.

It was almost like being back in Basic School, only on a much bigger scale. The class room had room for at least 200 beings and it filled up to the last seat. The students tables were arranged in a half circle fashion on rows of tiers. My table neighbor was the Non Corp. He now like everyone else, a dark green uniform; his was completely sealed just like before complete with a tight fitting hood and that gold plated mirrored face plate.

Down below in the center of the room was a lectern and behind it a large field screen. It showed an animated image of the flag of the United Stars of the Galaxies: the stylized local group of galaxies on a dark blue oval field and four red and three white vertical stripes. I knew the four white stripes symbolized the three founding species Terrans, Saran and Pan Saran and the first member, the Ult. The five red stripes represented civilizations that have joined in the first decade of its existence namely the Quadi-Peds, Spindlar, Andorians, New Vril, Zulu Nations and the Bellebees. A repeating text message ordered us to find a seat and remain quiet until the instructor would come at 0700 hours. There were still eight minutes to go.

I was amazed by the diversity of beings in green uniforms around me. Even though humanoids were in the majority, there were no blocks. Humanoids and non humanoids shared tables.

The female computronic voice of the Non Corp said." You are the human asking me about my name in the line before the Auto Dressers are you not?"

I nodded."Yes that was me!"

"I am still learning to differentiate human shapes and facial features. You are human and you are a male, right?"

"Yes I am human and I am male. You are female I gather?"

"No I am not. My species has no gender. I wonder why everyone thinks I am female."

"It is your voice, it sounds female."

"Oh that would explain it. These containment suits come with the voice modulators built in. Since I am non corporal I don't have ears and the concept of acoustics and sounds are very new to us as well.

"So you really live on the surface of a star?"

"My family used to, but we Non Corps occupy not just the surface of a star, besides it is very hard to define the word surface on a sun in the first place. It's more like layers of many surfaces; we define regions in magnetic bubbles. While I came into existence on our star, my family moved to Bright Shine Station to be more integrated Union citizens as it is very important to us to do our share. I have not really lived on our Star for very long."

"I wonder how it would be to live on a star."

"We don't so much live on the star as with the star. It is complicated to explain but there are several books written both by Non Corps and humans that are much better explaining it. I think there is even a Virtu Experience allowing corporal beings to experience it themselves, I am not exactly a scholar and could not put it in adequate terms, besides its not all that great I personally prefer to live on a station or a planet. I like having things you know. One can't have anything on a star. There is nothing solid either and I love solid things, to actually lie down on a bed and realize the three dimensions in an orderly fashion is sheer bliss."

I was fascinated by the Non-Corps Answers. "I think I will read those books, you recommended." It was the first time I really considered to follow up and read a book on my own for sure.

"I am Three-four-five-two dash nine-nine-one, but you can call me Three-four. Where are you from?"

"Nice to meet you Three-four, I am Eric and I come from Nilfeheim. That is a cold water world in the old Xunx Expanse."

"Oh a water world, I doubt there is anything more alien to me than water or liquids. I can watch a running water faucet for hours it never stops to amaze me! I bet you actually go swimming and have contact with the water, right?"

"Yes I do. Swimming and diving is second nature to me, but it is not as important anymore as it was to most of my kind."

A deep blue skinned, small in stature and bald headed officer stepped behind the lectern asked us to settle down and be quiet. It took a few moments and then he begun. "I am Lt.Commander Tentwor, I am of the Blue and come from a world located in the the Andromeda Galaxy. Some of you may know a little more about ancient pre Union history and know about the fact that we originated in this galaxy and are closely relagted to the Golden and the Kermac. But while we originated from the same world and while we are of the same species we are not the same race and Union members for almost exactly 500 years.

"I am one of your instructors on this academy for nine years now and I believe I might just have the best job in all our galaxies." He made a gesture that incorporated the class room. "It is a special privilege to be one of the first to welcome you and doing my part in your education.

"I see two hundred beings before me and all of you have managed to pass the first hurdles, tests and obstacles. You can be proud of yourselves. For everyone here 1000 Applicants have not met the requirements to become officers, most of them will still have a chance to serve as enlisted but you passed the first tests, for this I am issuing you all the Plebes Dot."

He paused as the cadets around me looked at their ribbon displays and a small rectangular icon appeared a green field with a red dot. Three-Four asked."Do I get it too?"

"Yes it's there!"

Tentwor raised his voice a little. "Now that you all had a chance to see that your ribbon display actually works and you all got your first citation. Let me continue."

Behind him the display on the screen changed. Images of thousands of beings and planets floated in rapid succession together; swirled and morphed into a representation of the Union Fleet emblem of a stylized universe with three swords and an upwards pointing chevron representing a star ship at lift off. He pointed to the image behind him. "Individuals from all across the Union, from the most diverse backgrounds and civilizations are before and around me and decided to do their share protecting and defending our great community. Doing so ensures the safety, the liberties and freedoms of everyone else. Be assured you have earned my deepest respect for this decision alone."

He changed his stance and saluted us and said. "But the journey you have just begun will be hard one and there will be many times you find conditions inhuman, unfair or impossible to endure. Rest assured none is done in disrespect or should be taken personal. It is but it is done to prepare you for what lies ahead. Once you leave this academy. Those that graduate will be officers and responsible for the lives and saefty of others. As hard and demanding your training and education might appear to you, consider that millions have done it before you."

The auditorium's lights dimmed and a top view of our galaxy appeared in all its magnificent glory before us, the bright glowing center from where the spiral arms reached into space.

We only heard his voice as the Instructor continued talking. "This is our Galaxy, a SBbc type Barred Spiral Arm. It has a diameter of 100,000 light years and is almost exactly 1000 light years thick. According to our latest data it contains 390 billion stars. Not counting the globular clusters that technically belong to this galaxy as well. It brings to mind just how small the Union with all its planets and members is, compared to the galaxy and the Universe and perhaps it shows best why we need a fleet that protects our space and our way of life."

His voice paused for a moment and then he continued. "Those are numbers that help us to understand but I doubt that any of you and including me can really fathom what those numbers represent."

A deep voice from somewhere else in the auditorium said."One must correct you, Lieutenant Commander..."

The Blue officer smirked."No one with the exception of the Narth."

"I shall attempt to assist you in gaining such comprehension, Sir."

The instructor's voice sighed." Your offer is duly noted Cadet Narth, but right now I need to continue this class."

While I wondered who this Cadet was. Lt. Tentwor resumed his lecture and the image of the Galaxy fell back and other Galaxies came into view. "Our Galaxy is, as you all know part of what is known the local group, thirty two galaxies with its gravitational center located pretty much exactly between our Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy and as you can easily attest by simply looking around this very auditorium these Galaxies are also teaming with life. Life so it appears manifests in the most unusual places. Ranging from the depths of oceans, to deep space and the very surface of stars and when life becomes sentient and is capable of starting a civilization they often leave their place of origin behind and start to explore and expand."

My Non-Corp friend sighed. "He's talking about us, but without the help of the Union we could have never left our star. How can you build a civilization when you can have nothing solid?"

"I can imagine!"

"I am going to be a good cadet and a good officer and perhaps we find another civilization like ours and then we can help them too."

The Instructor said louder." A good Cadet also keeps comments for itself until I am done."

"Yes Sir! Sorry Sir!" Three-Four managed to make his Computer voice sound apologetic.

Tentwor smiled and continued. "A civilization that leaves its cradle and discovers faster than light technology ascents, it raises so to speak from their planetary cradle, their gravity well and step on the galactic stage.

"Once a civilization has ascended sooner or later they will find out they are not the only ones who have done the exact same thing. Meeting another civilization in most cases is the single most profound event in any species history.It changes everything. The notion to be the crown of evolution is shattered. Some cultures are older and travel space much longer than others and the civilization that had just stepped on the Galactic Stage suddenly find out that space as boundless and endless it seemed to them, has borders and restricted areas, space claimed by other civilizations. Not all first contact meetings are benevolent, many are quiet violent. A tech level three explorer leaving the confines of its solar system running into a tech level four pirate will never return to its home world, instead a horde of savage pirates descends to pillage, steal and kill.

The view once more centered on our Spiral Arm Galaxy and four lines appeared, dividing the image vertically and the other horizontally through the center. "Our Galaxy we often refer to as M-0 has four quadrants. On the upper left is Upward, below left Coreward. On the right upper side is Spinward and below right Downward.

A large elognated assymetric blue field appeared inside the Upward Sector.

He pointed to it. "Most of our space is in the Upward Quadrant."

Three tiny bright blue dots appeared, more or less in the center of that blue field

"These dots that you see now in the Upward section of the Orion Arm represent the locations of Earth, Saran and Pan Saran, the three civilizations that came together and founded the United Stars of the Galaxy."

More and more dots appeared and in an increasing speed.

"Since then we added 5,019 civilizations spread over 800,000 Star systems and about five million planets. As you can see a blue sphere has appeared Coreward. This is the Klack Empire that has joined the Union a little over two hundred years ago. Beyond the Klack that tiny bulge there is the Archa Expanse.

"All that space in Coreward below the Klack is unexplored space. As you can see most of Downward is unexplored." The Image focused now on the upper right quarter. "Up there in Spinward that is where we are right now and we are still close to Upward space. You may notice the red and blue striped area blinking all around us. That was former Galactic Council space, claimed by the Nogoll and until lately protected by the Big Four Treaty. The Nogoll have attacked one of our new members, the Elly up here and declared war upon the Union shortly thereafter. All this are sub sequent consequences of the Dai Than Invasion in the Prometheus Five Nebula area, which is down here."

The magnification increased and focused on an area of space about 100 light years above the marked position of Arsenal.

A spotlight focused on the Blue and the instructor pointed into the darkened room. My eyes able to see in much darker condition under water saw a cadet standing with his hand up.

The Instructor said." Cadet Kolmin you have a question?"

"Yes Sir, I do. I am among the first Elly joining the Union Academy. Should I not go and volunteer and fight? There are perhaps humans dying right now defending my home worlds!"

"Your concern is understandable, and you are doing your part right now becoming an officer. Yes there will be casualties and they must be replaced. You doing your part that we always have soldiers, space men, marines and Officers to defend the Union and its members."

The Instructor made the screen focus on that area and the magnification increased until the Elly star systems became visible and identified by text next to the stars. "I dialed up the actual tactical chart for you, Cadet. As you can see there is no fighting anywhere near Elly worlds anymore and military action concentrates on the last three Nogoll systems."

The chart returned to Galaxy view and the Instructor said." Meet me after this instructions and I will make an exception and let you call home to make sure your families are all right!"

The Elly thanked the Officer and sat back down.

The Blue looked down at his lectern."Now where was I? "A red dot wandered across the Galaxy representation to a thin blue line emerging on the outer rim of Spinward. The magnification reduced once again until we could see then Magellan Clouds and Andromeda. The Blue Line connected M-0 with the larger Andromeda Galaxy. "This line, Cadets, represents the Bridge connecting this Galaxy with M31.A string of space stations allowing traffic and connection to Andromeda. Seventeen civilizations have joined our Union in our mostly unexplored sister galaxy. Over there you see the Large Magellan Cloud and almost half is blue, because the entire Attikan Commonwealth and all their members became Union in 4500 and full integration was reported in 4800