by Ryk Brown
The Zen-Anor said nothing, turning to march away to their new assignment.
“This wasn’t part of the plan,” Nathan commented.
“It seemed appropriate,” General Telles stated, moving past them and heading back to the Voss. “Ghatazhak!” he barked, commanding his men to follow.
“Like I said,” Jessica commented, “trust in the Telles.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The building in Answari that had once been the meeting place of Takaran nobility now served as the birthplace of the very first galactic alliance of human-inhabited worlds. Hundreds of dignitaries and their entourages watched from the galleries as leaders from the first twenty-seven worlds each took their turn at the signing table. One by one, each was announced as they stepped up to the table and added their name to the official charter of the new Systems Alliance. After saying a few words to the audience, each leader moved to their assigned position around the platform. Once the last of them had signed, Caitlin Bindi added her name, followed by the legendary Nathan Scott.
After adding his name to the bottom of the document, Nathan turned to face the crowd, posing with the rest of the signatories for the multitude of pictures and vids that would be distributed across the human-inhabited galaxy.
Nathan stood there, painfully smiling and waving to the applauding crowds, thinking about all the times he had been forced to do the same thing during his father’s campaigns. His initial attempts to escape his family’s political dynasty and forge his own path had led him to virtually the same place, perhaps worse.
But he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
* * *
After nearly two hours of mingling with dignitaries and their subordinates, not to mention countless guests, Nathan finally managed to slip out onto a balcony unnoticed.
With drink in hand, Nathan stepped up to the edge of the balcony, looking out over the twinkling lights of the Takaran capital. Although quite different from Earth, the world had a beauty all its own. He especially enjoyed the multi-colored shadows cast by the world’s three moons. On nights like this, when all three moons occupied the same part of the sky and were at their closest points in their orbits around Takara, the landscape took on a surreal quality that could not be described.
Nathan took a sip of his drink, breathing in the cool night air. Many had died to make this day possible, and to them, he held up his drink in salute.
“Checking the contents of your glass?” General Telles asked as he stepped out onto the balcony behind him.
“I was just toasting all those who died to make this day possible,” Nathan explained.
“A worthy gesture,” the general agreed, raising his glass to join him. “To our fallen comrades-in-arms,” he stated, holding up his glass. “We will never forget their sacrifice.”
The two of them held their glasses up, taking a drink.
“I was surprised to learn that you changed the name of the alliance,” the general commented.
“Systems Alliance was too vague,” Nathan explained. “Confederated Systems Alliance more accurately portrays its core intent. It was Caitlin’s idea. She thinks it will make it easier to sign up more worlds.”
“She is a wise lady.”
Nathan took another drink, his eyes drifting out to the city skyline once more. “I can see why your people love their world so much.”
“You should visit the hot springs before the tri-moon passes,” the general recommended. “The steam rising from the water changes colors as it swirls about. My parents used to take us there every tri-moon. It is truly mesmerizing.”
“I’ll try to see it before I depart.”
“When are you leaving?” the general inquired.
“In a few days,” Nathan replied. “I still have a few meetings to attend.”
“How wonderful for you,” the general mused, taking another sip of his drink.
“Ah, there’s that Ghatazhak humor again.”
“I was surprised that Miranda did not attend the reception.”
“She needed to return to Earth. A lot to do, as you might expect.”
“How are her children?”
“Quite well. They joined her a few days ago. I’m going back to visit for a few days before I go back to work.”
General Telles cast a disapproving look Nathan’s way.
“What?”
“Perhaps you should take some time off? You have been through a lot these last few months.”
“We’ve all been through a lot,” Nathan argued. “You fought a man to the death, for crying out loud.”
“I am Ghatazhak,” the general smiled. “That is what we do.”
“That reminds me,” Nathan remembered. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. How the hell did you know that you could beat that guy?”
“I did not,” the general admitted. “Not until a few minutes into the bout.”
“Yet you stood there, as calm as you are right now, facing what could have been your death.”
“There were two reasons for that,” the general explained. “First, the arrogant are rarely the best fighters, and second, I had an unfair advantage.”
“An unfair advantage?” Nathan asked, confused.
“Lord Dusahn feared not only losing, but dying.”
“As did you.”
“Actually, I only feared losing,” the general admitted.
“Because you’re Ghatazhak,” Nathan surmised.
“Yes, but also because I was scanned by Doctor Chen and Doctor Symyri a few weeks prior. Had I died, I would have eventually been resurrected, same as you.”
“Of course,” Nathan replied, smiling.
“You have not been back to Earth, other than on dangerous covert missions, since… well, since you died,” General Telles pointed out, returning to the previous topic. “You might want to reconsider extending your stay.”
“A few days will be enough,” Nathan insisted.
“Are you certain?” the general wondered. “It is your home after all.”
Nathan sighed, taking another sip. If there is one thing I’ve learned from all of this, it’s that I belong in space, in command of a ship, with my crew as my family.”
“It is good to know one’s purpose,” General Telles stated.
Nathan thought for a moment, taking another sip. “Yes it is. It truly is.”
The two of them stood there, staring at the multi-colored shadows cast across the palace grounds.
“It was worth it,” Nathan said.
“Yes it was,” the general agreed.
“What was worth it?” Jessica wondered, coming out onto the balcony to join them, taking Nathan’s drink from his hand.
“That’s mine,” Nathan objected.
“Not anymore,” she said, downing the last of it.
“Finally,” Vladimir exclaimed as he stepped through the doors onto the balcony, a drink in each hand.
“Oh perfect,” Jessica said, taking one of Vladimir’s drinks as well.
“These people do not know how to throw a party,” Vladimir complained. “There isn’t even any music or dancing.”
“It’s a diplomatic reception,” Nathan reminded his friend.
“That doesn’t mean it has to be boring.”
“I agree with Vlad,” Cameron stated, joining him. “We should blow this place.”
“I’m with her,” Jessica agreed.
“You’re going to be attending a lot of these functions,” Nathan warned Cameron.
“Why me?”
“As the commandant of the first Alliance Academy, you’re going to have to figure out how to train people from all different cultures,” Nathan pointed out.
“How did I get stuck with that assignment again?” Cameron wondered.
“You volunteered for it,” Vla
dimir laughed.
“Oh yeah.”
“Why the hell did you do that?” Jessica wondered.
“I just don’t see myself commanding a puny little XK,” Cameron explained. “Not after commanding a ship the size of the Aurora for so long.”
“Don’t knock it,” Nathan insisted. “Smaller ships have their advantages.”
“But they’re no good for subjecting your crew to countless drills,” Vladimir chuckled.
“They weren’t countless,” Cameron objected, slapping Vladimir’s shoulder.
“To your crew they were.”
“And where will you be going?” General Telles asked Vladimir.
“SilTek,” Vladimir replied. “I’m leading the team designing the new Expedition-class ships. I have some very interesting ideas.”
“Have fun working with all those robots,” Jessica chuckled.
“They’re called droids, Jess,” Vladimir corrected. “Besides, most of the engineers will be human. In fact, many of them will be from Subvert.”
“I’m sure you will produce a fine vessel,” the general stated.
“What about you?” Nathan asked the general. “Are you finally going to retire?”
General Telles smiled. “Ghatazhak do not retire. I will continue to lead the Ghatazhak on their new assignment.”
“Which is?” Cameron wondered.
“We are adapting the Dusahn troop shuttles to serve as quick response jump ships. We hope the Ghatazhak will someday be able to serve the entire Systems Alliance from a base here on Takara.”
“That sounds like a tall order,” Cameron opined.
“It does have some challenges,” the general admitted.
“Like greatly increasing the jump range of those shuttles,” Nathan commented.
“Indeed,” the general confirmed. “It will also require additional training for the Ghatazhak.”
“And we all know how much the Ghatazhak love their training,” Jessica commented.
“You’re not going back to train with them?” Cameron asked.
“I think I’ve gone about as far as I can with the Ghatazhak,” Jessica admitted. “I don’t have the discipline.”
“So what are you going to do?” Cameron wondered.
“Are you kidding? I’m going back to the Voss,” Jessica replied. “Someone’s gotta keep an eye on him,” she added, pointing to Nathan, “and you’re going to be too busy.”
“I have a feeling we’re all going to be busy,” Nathan said, looking back out at the city.
Jessica, Cameron, and Vladimir stepped up to the balcony rail, joining Nathan and General Telles as they enjoyed the view.
“At least this time, nobody will be shooting at us,” Vladimir joked.
“Don’t jinx it,” Jessica scolded.
* * *
Nathan climbed up the Voss’s forward stair-ladder up into her command deck, where his crew awaited.
“How are the kids?” Neli asked.
“They’re good,” Nathan replied. “They miss you though.”
“I miss them as well,” Neli replied.
“Of course, now they’ve got an entire staff taking care of them,” Nathan told her.
“How’s Miri?” Jessica asked.
“She’s great. Telling everyone what to do is her specialty.”
“Must run in the family,” Jessica teased.
“We ready to go?” Nathan asked his pilots.
“We’ve got a standing clearance and can depart whenever you’re ready,” Loki assured him.
Nathan turned to Marcus and Neli. “I assume we have a full crew?”
“We have bodies,” Marcus grumbled, “but I’m not sure I’d call them a crew.”
“Well there’s nothing like a little on-the-job training,” Nathan insisted.
“You sure you don’t want to take a few days to put them through more sim sessions?” Marcus suggested.
“There are still thirty-five worlds that we know of that still need to be signed up, and only four XKs available to make initial contact. The faster we sign them up, the sooner we can get those Expedition-class ships built. There are still potentially hundreds of inhabited worlds out there, and we need to find every one of them.”
“Your call,” Marcus grumbled.
Nathan turned to face forward again, a content look on his face. “Josh, get us back into space…where we belong.”
Thank you for reading this story.
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The Frontiers Saga:
Fall of the Core
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