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The Image focused on the second spiral galaxy and in it a small blue area.
"Just the day before yesterday, the Arlboro Hegemony applied for membership at Pluribus Unum. I am sure some of you heard the news on GalNet. The Arlboro are as advanced as we are and add their space to ours. The Arlboro globular cluster contains many million stars and over 20,000 stars systems of it are settled or claimed by the Arlboro that are as of today officially Union Territory. I believe there are several Arlboro Cadets already among us.
A voice in the dark confirmed that." There are 700 of us here at Arsenal, Sir."
"This is what I meant when I said that I have the best job in the Galaxy. It is always a pleasure and a special honor to greet new members. I am certain we will learn a great deal from each other in the years and decades to come, as it takes time to fully integrate a new member into the Union."
On the projected image of our Galaxy spheres of other colors appeared and the Instructor returned to the subject." There have been empires and galaxy spawning cultures and civilizations before the Union in this Galaxy, and some rose to great power and spanned the entire spiral. We know of quite a few but we are certain there have been many more. The oldest Star in our Galaxy is a little over 17 billion years old and during that time till today many civilizations have risen and fallen. However our Union differs from all those we know about, as we are not an Empire, not a kingdom but a Union. Not ruled or dominated by one culture but jointly occupied by all united under common rules, goals and laws that apply equally to all. Of course in terms of Galactic civilizations we are still at the very beginning. Three thousand standard years is not a very long time by any standard measuring the progress of civilizations, but we are not new at it anymore and we begin to mature. The Union is strong but as you can see even 400,000 star systems are next to nothing to a volume of 390 billion stars. The Union has friends out there as well as enemies. We had to fight several big and violent wars and there have been a large number of smaller conflicts.
The Shiss, the Nul-Nul and the association of sentient species we know as the Galactic Council, now openly ruled by the Kermac are currently our biggest adversaries, even though we currently enjoy a period of peace, there are reports of fights and battles along the Nul border almost daily. While it is not open and all out war, and we have almost no diplomatic contact with the Nul. While neither side really tries to advance into the other side's territory, full war could break out at any moment. The Shiss are in open war against the Nul for over a thousand years. The Shiss are also hostile to us, but during our last fight with the Shiss we won much ground and the Shiss lost much of their original might and influence in this part of the Galaxy, partly due to their long war against the Nul.
Our most dangerous known adversary is the aforementioned Galactic Council. We fought three all out wars against the Kermac and their associated Thralls, each time we came out on top. During the last war an armistice was reached and agreed upon and there have been no open hostilities, but tensions between our governments are always high.
Then there is Freespace, a huge area of our galaxy protected by treaties signed by the big four: Union, Shiss, Nul and GC. Free space is home to thousands of independent planets and small empires that are not associated to any of the Big Four.
The largest portion of the Galaxy remains unexplored and chances are high other civilizations live there as well.
Since the Union exists the Galaxy has been attacked twice by Civilizations not native to ours. The Y'All and the Piostla."
Images of the four armed Y'All and the plantlike Piostla and their ships appeared replacing the projection of the Spiral Galaxy
"The Y'All have returned several times in 5000 standard year intervals for at least three times and always with an incredible large armada of highly advanced space ships. No contact could be established and these relentless Y'All invaders seemingly had no other motivation appears without any other purpose than to kill and destroy. They did not occupy what they conquered. Last time they returned they were met by our new Union and not only alted but the entire armada destroyed for the very first time in known history.
"The Piostla caused much havoc and death during their invasion but we managed to beat them as well and chase them back from wherever they came from. Since it happened before it is quite possible that it will happen again. To all this add the space roaming Dai Than pirate tribes and the regular criminal pirates and independents raiding the fringes of our Union.
All this makes it clear the Universe is a dangerous place and dangerous to even a strong Union like ours. It is our job to prepare you to face these dangers. As future officers you will lead others to face strong enemies, known adversaries and the great unknown, to protect Union citizens and interests and uphold the law."
The lights came on and the holo images faded away.
After his lecture we learned to recite the Fleet song and the Union anthem.
There was a short lunch break and then instructions continued.
Another officer taught us about rank insignia a Non Corp officer looking exactly like the one sitting next to me, except its Uniform was black and after it had explained to us how to read Rank insignia I could identify the insignia and knew it was a Lieutenant.
It also gave us a somewhat shorter lecture on all the Union military branches.
The voice coming out of his box sounded male. "Our Union's Asembly is in charge of the Union Military. There is the Union Fleet, the branch you are now serving. We are the ones with the space ships and the black uniforms. The United Stars Marine Corps is an independent branch but closely associated with us. They do the planetary assaults, provide internal and external security at many Union installations and can be found wherever the Navy needs guards. The Union Army is in charge of defending planets with planetary defense forts. It is the Army that provides the security and defense of Pluribus Unum. Part of the Army is the PSI Corps, a special task force using Psionics. The Space Force is the smallest of the branches and maintains the Assembly Authorized Arsenal. Weapons able to destroy entire planets. The Space Force keeps these highly classified weapon systems in ready order on secret bases all across Union Space.
And finally a completely separate branch is the SCI-Corps, it answers to the Science Council of our Government and is in charge of the Explorer Fleet, the Medical Branch and all government research. We work closely together with all branches and you will often find Fleet personnel aboard Exploration and Science Vessels. Medical and science personnel aboard our vessels are technically Sci-Corps even though we train Science and Med officers' right here at the Academy."
The Non Corp had us again sing the Anthem and repeat the Space Navy Song. After that he dismissed us for dinner.
Interlude 16: Princess Elfiatra
GalNet Entry: Saran
>>> The Saran are one of the founding civilizations of the United Stars of the Galaxy. Sarans are human and share much DNA similarities with Terrans. Initially it was believed that Terra was a lost Saran Colony, but most scholars familiar with the subject have dismissed this possibility, the general consent is that Sarans and Terrans were seeded by the same ancient civilization.
Sarans and Terrans share a long history together. The first Saran visitors to Earth arrived during the time the ancient Egyptians rose to be a dominant early pre industrial civilization. Due to war and other factors neither the Saran nor the Terrans have detailed records of those first meetings, nor is it clear what cultural elements of the Egyptians and the Sarans originated on Earth or Saran side. However the Saran civilization appears to Terrans very much like the Ancient Egyptians. The Saran still worship gods like Ra, Seth, Toth, Isis and Osiris. The Saran practice mummification to this day and have a ruling society of Pharaohs and priests. Over the last twelve thousand years the Sarans are ruled by a Dynasty of Queens and have a strong matriarchal ruling society. This led to a revolution about five thousand years ago and two hundred Saran Colonies split and formed the Pan Saran Empire. The Saran and the Pan Saran fought each other in a long and bitter war until the Ascent of Earth. Both Saran and Pan Saran considered Earth a friend and ally and this lead to the cessation of hostilities and the formation of the Union. It was the Sarans who gave Earth the Technology to reach the stars in 2089, OTT. To this day, the Empire is ruled by the female Queen Dynasty. The Saran queens have absolute power and are the sole law giving entity within the Saran Society, but all Sarans also accept Union law... <<<
"Sekhet Nefertiti Elfiatra the Precious, Princess to the Saran Empire, second daughter to her Majesty the Queen Cleotrix the second. Commandrix of the Saran Honor Legion, Holder of the sacred ankh. High priestess of Ra" The bald headed man with the strong mascara around his eyes said, adjusting his Kalima-Cat fur robe as he always did when he was annoyed. "These are your titles, young Princess and you better start acting like it!"
The beautiful black haired girl lounging on the upholstered couch in an almost completely transparent white dress extended one of her lissome tanned arms and with her long fingers carefully selected one of the honey glazed orange slices and nibbles a tiny corner of the fruit slice then threw the rest towards the man. "Must you be so boring Amun? I know who I am and Sekhet means all powerful, does it not? I fancy your head on a platter might amuse me for a little longer than your endless lectures."
He sighed. "Yes your grace that is what it means and you can indeed order the guards to cut my head. It would of raise the of anger your mother and she could punish you and give you yet another instructor."
Her soft voice had suddenly a steely edge. "You still won't be around to see my punishment, Amun. Hidden threats don't sit well with me. You are but a slave and a man. Remember your stand."
Amun touched his throat in an involuntary gesture, realizing how thin the ice was he was walking. He crouched before her, his head touching the gleaming marble floor."I am but a servant. Your will and judgement is paramount."
"That is mlore like it. I had enough instructions for today. I desire a bath and then some leisure time in the garden. This is not up for discussion either, now leave!"
Amun was relieved, past the curtains he threw his hands in the air and left the luxurious quarters of the princess.
She waited till he was gone and then waved at one of her hand maidens. "Quick, tell me if he is truly gone!"
"Yes your highness he has left."
She actually felt sorry for the head eunuch, who really tried hard to make a proper princess of the realm out of her, but she had other plans for her life.
She rushed over to her personal Auto Dresser and said. "Terran Civilian Female, clothing sequence two."
The machine removed the frivolous dress and her jewelry and replaced it with a pair of black skin tight leather pants, which were so en vogue on Terra right now and a screaming hot pink T-shirt with the logo and image of Mystery child, the teen mega star. She was removing beautiful helmet like page cut and replaced it with a wild red curled wig and like every Terran she had to have sun glasses. The one she chose where huge, hiding much of her pretty face.
She knew almost every secret passage in this monster of a Palace and after opening a secret door in a seemingly solid column she disappeared, leaving her poor hand maiden behind, dressed as the Princess.
The labyrinth of passages and corridors finally led her to a little used garden and from there it was just a few hundred meters to a small gate that led out into the City.
She had to leave. Her mother would never approve of her choice. But Elfirata certainly did not want to head another royal reception, be present at another revealing of a great art piece, opening of some official building, witness an execution or a public flogging.
As the second daughter she was not in line for the Throne and she thanked the Gods for this.
Her sister would make a great queen, in maybe a hundred years from now when Mother finally died or stepped down. As the second daughter she was doomed to lead a sheltered and boring life, perhaps choosing two or three husbands, having kids and attend any state function not important enough for the Queen or the first princess to be present but important enough for one member of the royal family to be present.
That was her fate and that was what Amun tried to prepare her for.
She almost made it, but then a cloaked person blocked her way through the gate and she hissed." Step aside, at once!"
The person in the hooded cloak said." Elfi, Elfi what are you doing and where are you going dressed like this?"
There was only one person who addressed her this way and all color left her face."Mother?"
A light came on above the gate and the person removed the cloak and it was the Queen herself. Only now did she notice the almost invisible completely black dressed shadowy shapes of the queen's personal guard, the mysterious women of the ancient order of Seth's Shadow. Warriors dedicated to the safety of the Queen for almost 12,000 years. It was a well kept secret, that her mother the queen was one of the very few queens to be a Shadow herself.
"Yes Elfi! Do you think you could book a Space bus passage and sneak out without me knowing? Your safety is as important as mine and the Shadows have told me everything."
The princess felt angry and helpless and knew she had lost. She would be punished and tomorrow she would once again listen to Amun and then attend some state function.
"I will try again, Mother. Now speak my punishment and I shall bear it."
"I want you to explain it to me and right here what this is all about? Forget that I am the queen and tell me as your mother. I do love you and I want to know why my daughter, dressed up like a Terran prostitute buys a Space Bus ticket and sneaks out at night fall."
Elfi removed her wig and the sunglasses."Alright I tell you, not that it will make a difference. You haven't listened to me in ages."
"I am listening now!"
"I do not want to be a princess. Cleo my sister is your oldest and there are three more after me for all the state functions and to guarantee the dynasty. I want to follow my dreams."
"What dreams could you have that you could not pursue as Princess of the realm Your wishes are law if I make it so!'
"I want to prove that I don't need laws to fulfill my wishes, mother. I am signed up for the Union academy and I want to be a face among many, raise to challenges and problems out of my own merit not due to rank and high birth. I am not ashamed being your daughter or a princess but I want to proof to myself that I can do things with my own hands, with my own mind."
"The Shadows have told me about your Virtu Choices and the calls to the Recruiting Office. I needed to hear it from you, Elfi. Have you any idea what awaits you? Do you know the Shadows cannot protect you there and you could be in danger every day?"
"That is the point mother. I don't know what awaits me. The Shadows do not need to protect me. I want to do that myself and as officer in the Union Fleet I am doing my share to protect you and them and Sares and the realm and everything. I am not running away to join the circus, mother."
The queen nodded. "It seems the spirit of your Great grandmother has resurfaced in you. She just had to marry that Terran marine and join the Fleet. Go then my daughter, but don't go like this without hugging and kissing your mother who will most likely be afraid every day from now on hoping you are safe."
Elfi could not believe it at first then she hugged her mother and said. "I will call as often as I can."
"Just don't volunteer for the Marines again, my daughter!"
"I tried."
"I know."
"They said I would have the talents for a good communications officer."
"That doesn't sound so dangerous."
"It won't be Mother!"
"I suppose you don't want me to have the Royal Ark take you to your Academy, right?"
"No I really would like to travel incognito and on a space bus and be treated as any other cadet."
------------------------
Interlude 17: Richard Stahl
Richard only wore swimming trunks and a Hawaii shirt and relaxed in a wooden chair underneath a colorful umbrella and held glass in his hand. The twin suns of Para Para shone warmly on the powdery white sand of Heaven's Shore. Tourists bathing in the azure blue lagoon or playing in the sand did not pay any attention to him. No one here knew who he was. The Devi was still in dock on Arsenal IV and he actually started to enjoy his vacation. It was the first he had taken in at least a hundred years. At first he didn't think he was the sun bathing, beach sitting type but he had taken Harris advice and tried it and he had to admit it grew on him.
A shadow fell on him that wasn't from the umbrella. At first he thought it was one of the Hotels stewards perhaps telling him it was time for dinner or asking him if he needed another drink. He blinked turned and a beautiful woman stood there. He knew the tall, very beautiful exotic silver haired woman who smiled at him from beneath large sun glasses.
Alyica laughed."You are the only person in the Universe who has his beer served with a cocktail umbrella."
Richard touched the controls of the chair and put in an upright position. Alyica wore a tight fitting black bathing suit and he remembered that he was, despite his immortality and great age still a man. "Well it's what they do with all the drinks here. I had a hard time telling them I do not want any mix drinks with fruits. It took seven orders before I got one without any fruits sticking on the glass!"
Then he got up, remembering his manners and said."What gives me the honor of your visit?"
A robot brought another chair and Alyica said. "It is nice to see you take it easy for a chance. I am here on vacation as well, more or less and I wanted to talk to you so I thought this is as good as any place without disturbing your vacation too much."
"I actually enjoy it, can you believe that? This is a wonderful world and until you showed up I started to relax." He sat back down.
Alyica sat down as well, crossed her legs and leaned back. "Yes it is, I come to Para Para quite often and I must say you are very handsome for an old geezer of 3000 years. There are quite a few ladies on this beach who would love to get to know you better."
"It doesn't take super psionics like yours to guess what the guys over there think about you." He smirked at her. "So why are you here? Don't tell me you just happened to be in the neighborhood. Is it official business?"
The PSI Corps general shook her head." No it is not official business and I really was just in the neighborhood." She leaned forward to look at him. "It took you about a thousand years to trust me and not call me the wicked witch of the Coven, even though you are the only man in the Universe I respect."
The immortal general actually blushed a little. "Well it isn't easy for a simple Pre astro marine to accept the existence of magic and witches."
"It isn't magic, Richard and you know that and there is nothing simple about you. My offer still stands and I take you to Coven and initiate you."
"I thought of psionics as magic, Aly for the longest time. When I grew up my world didn't believe in life on other planets and I love you Aly but I am not going to that creepy place of yours and chant and dance around cauldrons. I managed all these years without psionics and magic and I hope I can manage for the rest of my life."
