Egill looked at the Narth taking the bowl of fin stew from Sif and then at his Saresii friend. "I don't think wiser words have ever been said."
Sif turned and smiled at him. "I can get you a bowl of course before they open the doors and the madness starts."
Egill had found his bearings and grinned. "Yes you had better hurry and get me one; she's going to be out in a Pluribus minute. So hurry or you’ll miss Eric's entrance!"
She made big eyes. "Eric is going to be here?"
"I have it on good authority he is on the Devastator and the parade will start in less than 30 minutes."
Her blue eyes sparkled. "We won't see him then, just the big ship!"
"Go get the stew and find your way to our alcove. I am tired of standing around and would rather eat sitting down."
Egill and his two friends made their way to the Nilfeheim alcove and had just sat down when Sif was back carrying a basket handing out bread and more stew. She then said, "I will keep my word, Uncle Egill, and study and go to school and be a good girl, but my parents know now that I am not married to Eric under Union terms and they understand." She handed Egill a spoon and added, "For now, we will keep it quiet but I will ask the Circle of Elders for an annulment of the Nilfeheim marriage as well. I am not interested in Eric."
The Narth bowl emptied slowly without him spooning it under his hood or anything and he said, "One finds the minds of you two already quite confusing, but the mind of the one called Sif is something akin to chaos and it seems emotions are above intellect and reason."
Egill looked at Sif and said, "She is a girl becoming a woman. There is nothing more confused, illogical, more emotional and chaotic than that."
INTERLUDE: PARADE
The Kermac diplomatic delegation had to share a visitor's alcove with other dignitaries, observers and diplomats. Viertlvorfier, the Kermac High Consul, found it less disgusting than standing with the crowds outside, or watching the event in the Embassy on GalNet. The Nul, the Togar, the Shiss and a host of other non-Union species had observers here. From their spot they had a good view towards the Narth alcove. The delegate of the Karthanian said, "It appears this event is not important enough for the Narth to be here."
Viertlvorfier corrected, "He is there. Find the alcove of the planet Nilfeheim and you find the Narth and the Saresii delegates."
The female Togar diplomat growled. "They call them the Three Wise Men of the Assembly. We all have voices here, but theirs is often listened to."
The light in the Sphere of Assembly dimmed away and in its center a huge holographic projection established itself. A narrator told a short version of the Union’s history accompanied by historical visuals. After it was done, an announcer said, "We will now play the Union anthem. This year it is sung by Union school students of all 5,021 member civilizations and active Union schools from right here at Pluribus to as far as the school at Far Out in the Andromeda Galaxy. This amazing first-ever live broadcast of so many voices is made possible by a Multi Relay GalNet feed and the timing, audio and mix control is done live by Mothermachine herself."
The holo showed the Union flag and then individual avatars appeared from all member species. Their voices ranged from subsonic to transonic and every frequency in between made this rendition both incredibly beautiful and haunting at the same time. Viertlvorfier had to applaud whoever had the idea for this. It was mass propaganda and mass manipulation in its finest form. He could easily sense the millions of unshielded minds around him and the patriotic feelings rising. Viertlvorfier was convinced that all this Assembly, and all this open voting, and everyone having a voice concept was nothing more than a front, a façade and there was a small hidden group making the real decisions, just as the Kermac did.
The president of the Union, just recently elected Goo Snak, and a Blue of all things, opened the festivities.
"What are his political views?" asked the Karthanian, directly addressing the Kermac.
Normally he did not like to be addressed so informally by a lesser and inferior being, but being seen as well informed and knowledgeable had its charms and so he decided to answer. "He is the darling of the masses as he has a Pan Saran grandmother and claims to have Terran roots too. He belongs to the AGC, Association of Galactic Citizens and is center conservative."
The Shiss participated for the first time. "The AGC is the largest political party of the Union and the last nine presidents were AGC members, so don't expect any political changes. Besides, the Union president does not have all that much influence or power."
The light dimmed further and the holo now showed deep space with the planet Pluribus clearly visible in the lower half and two well-known GalNet news anchors in floating seats appeared. The Shiss hissed angrily as one of the anchors was a purple throat Shiss and the other was a human woman from a place called Ceres. Then their images faded but their voices were still audible. "This year's parade has many surprises and here comes the first one!"
The camera sensor focused on a fast-approaching moon-sized object!
Viertlvorfier felt the Shiss's fear, but he identified the object, as the Kermac had seen them during the first Y'All invasion. The female anchor verified his thoughts. "The Parade is opened by none other than Her Majesty Supreme Nt'gtar thk the 745th in the last operational Klack Battlemoon. An antique, yes, but still very impressive and, currently restored and refurbished, it will serve as a ceremonial ship for the Queen, and not enter Fleet service."
Other ships followed both old and new and from various cultures. "Citizens of the Union, the flagship of the United Stars Fleet, the USS Shetland and aboard Admiral McElligott himself, followed by all five battle groups of the Third Fleet."
This time the Togar asked, "What is a battle group?"
"Typical Terran overkill!" the Karthanian spat and showed he was not totally uninformed. He then glanced at the Kermac. "And a nightmare to those opposing them, a Union battle group consists of five arsenal ships, five carriers, five dreadnoughts, 20 ultra battleships, 100 battleships, 200 super cruisers, 80 heavy destroyers, Marine troop ships and over 200 other support craft."
It was a throat-drying experience to see the fearful wedge-shaped giants fly in formation. The Kermac recorded it and wondered why the watching crowd was only mildly impressed by all this. The commentators had described the ships and some of the non-classified details but now they fell silent as a swelling drum roll and a fanfare sound began the Fleet song. With a precise maneuver a huge disc-shaped ship dropped out of quasi-space, its gun turrets turning and the revolving fighter launchers released a shimmering cloud of Wolfcraft fighters that swirled around the newly arrived giant. "Citizens behold! The USS Devastator and the First Fleet."
The crowds cheered and chanted the ship’s name.
From the other side of the camera’s perspective a Dai Mother dropped out of quasi and was shortly followed by more Dai ships, also launching fighters! There was an incredible display of a dazzling mock battle with the fighters firing firework displays into the planet’s upper atmosphere and then the fighter crafts united in perfect formations and the closeups of the Dai Mothers showed Union flags painted on their hulls. The anchors introduced the Dai ships as Union members.
The Kermac could no longer watch. The Union was rattling sabers and clearly in the Kermac’s direction. The stunt with the Dai was to show them how fast they managed to integrate the Dai since they had joined the Union. The Blue had brokered the last armistice; with a Blue as president, who claimed to have Terran blood, would the Union for the first time strike first?
***
Cotton slammed his fist on my chest and put his other arm around Har-Hi's shoulder. "The 12th is really going to miss you two, but this was your last sortie with us."
Cotton had invited us to a farewell party, but Centron called my name and I had to report to the Captain. I wondered if I did something that required the Captain's attention but could not think of anything. To my surprise, Elfi was there in his office as well.
<
br /> The Captain glared at me.
"I really did not want to take you, Mr. Olafson." Captain Harris said. "I don't want to be accused of favoritism."
"Sir?"
"Your team is number one by more than just a safe margin. It is nothing personal of course, but I wanted someone else. However, your team voted for you and now things get even more complicated."
"Sir, if I can help you by stepping back from this, then I will gladly do it. I don't think I would really want to be at a formal Ball and all that anyway."
"You and I have little choice in this, son. Your teammate here is a very important person. While we have and will ignore that fact, not only by regulations but also as per orders, we cannot do so tonight.
"The Queen of Saran has requested her daughter's presence and that will happen. The fact that she is a Midshipman will not be made public both for her safety and to keep her true identity a secret to the crew and the Fleet, so she can continue her chosen career on her merits and skills and not her status."
I could understand that of course, but I wondered what this had to do with me, but the Captain was not finished. "The Olafson Gang will be led by Midshipman Har-Hi and members of the Yellow and Green Teams will go along with them."
"Sir, I am sure you have your reasons for this decision. What are my orders?"
Harris buried his face in his hand. "You are a guest of honor, invited by the delegation that visited the Devi recently and you will escort the Princess." He sighed deeply and then gave me a long look. "Now go and get ready. You are authorized to use an auto-dresser and set it to parade one. Centron will do the rest."
I was not sure how to read the Captain’s strange behavior, but I saluted and left.
INTERLUDE: CAPTAIN'S OFFICE
Elfi had not been dismissed and waited for the Captain to do so as she watched Eric leave. She too wondered about the Captain. A man she had only seen on visuals stepped into the light. He must have been there the entire time, sitting on a visitor's sofa outside the light cone of the Captain's desk lamp. Harris first looked at the Princess and then at the Admiral. "Even if he doesn't do anything he ends up in the middle of things. In all my years in this Navy I have never, I mean never, come across a group like yours, Princess. Eighty thousand souls aboard this ship and I am involved in Midshipman affairs almost daily."
Elfi did not know what to say and she was actually a bit afraid and in deep awe, caused by the presence of the ancient Admiral. Hans was right, he appeared human but his eyes had an eerie, all-penetrating quality. He smiled at her and his voice was deep and full of authority, even now as he spoke in a friendly and soft manner. "You do have the same nose as your incredibly beautiful great-grandmother Nefirata. She was a dear friend of mine, Princess!"
He spoke of Queen Nefirata, who was considered influential and important in her time – over 200 years ago! Elfi did not even know, she curtsied instead of saluting and whispered a thank you.
"Now I think you need to rush as well, child. The queen has sent a Saran shuttle and an honor guard to pick you up. They are waiting for you in Shuttle Hangar 546."
"Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir! "
Stahl watched her leave. "She has also her grandmother's strength. You know Nefirata fought with us during the last big war, commanding a fleet of battleships from the bridge of her own."
"No Richard, I didn't know that."
Stahl's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh and about the boy, I mean Mr. Olafson. He does have a knack for being in the middle of it, and for the record, it is me who makes sure that he is."
Harris got up. "I’d better stuff myself in that tight dress uniform and get ready. I should have known you had your hands in all this. At least we know where he is and we can keep an eye on the Olafson Gang – there is no chance they could possibly run into trouble at the Diamond Ball, not on Pluribus, the heart of our civilization and with all that security!" Harris’s words sounded more like a prayer than a prediction.
Chapter 7: Union Week
I had followed a direction light to an auto-dresser and Centron, the ship’s AI, said, "It is all set as per special instructions. Please step inside."
I did and it went through the whole hygiene cycle. As I stepped out, I checked myself in a mirror field. The machine had dressed me in the Class 1 formal dress, reserved usually for flag officers, with shiny black boots, black pants and a high-collared uniform jacket. The left side of my chest was filled with ribbons and actual medals, not the usual ribbon display. On the right side the Devastator was stylized as a small silver pin. But the machine had also put a billowing black fur-brimmed Nilfeheim cape on me. I still carried the .45, and on my belt a sword, not the rapier-like blade officers were allowed to carry with their dress uniform, but a heavy broadsword.
The outfit felt constricting and tight. "Are you sure I am supposed to carry a sword and the cape?"
"It was so programmed, Sir. Now please follow the way light to the next IST. The Saran shuttle is waiting for you."
Sure enough, there was a D20 in Saran colors and markings waiting. Next to the lowered ramp stood a Saran in a white and gold uniform and next to him two women completely dressed in black from head to toe in skintight body suits and hooded cloaks.
The man in the white uniform greeted me. "You are Midshipman Captain Olafson?"
"Yes I am."
"Please don't be alarmed by the presence of the Seth Shadows, they are here to provide you with security as a Saran VIP."
"Do you carry any weaponry other than that sword, the knife and the sidearm?" one of the women asked, with a commanding tone in her voice.
"I am carrying what my Captain wants me to carry and nothing more."
The two women went inside without another word and the uniformed Saran asked me to step aboard as well.
While the shuttle left, the Devi the women sat in leather seats across from me and I felt their eyes and perhaps hidden scanners probing me to the last details. "He is just a man; he won't be a security risk," one of them said and I was not even sure which one.
I didn't respond. I knew little about the Saran culture other than they were ruled by women, and that fact was the cause of a long civil war when a large portion of their colonies rebelled and became the Pan Sarans. Their civil war had ended as both joined Terra to form the Union, but they had not reunited.
I knew from Elfi that they were ruled by queens and had a culture similar to an ancient pre-industrial Earth civilization called the Egyptians. To this day, no one knew for sure who influenced whom. It was only certain that the Sarans had visited Earth at least once 15,000 years ago.
They worshiped the same or similar gods as that Terran tribe and this religion was an important part of their civilization. The Saran Empire, so I was told, stretched over 25,000 solar systems and maintained almost one fifth of the Union Fleet by its contributions and a sizeable chunk of the Union's GDP. Biologically they were almost identical to Terran humans, with less than 5% DNA difference and DNA adjustment procedures were simple to allow cross-species reproduction.
"He is quiet for a man," one of them said, "intimidated perhaps, by our presence."
The other said to me, "There is nothing to fear as long as you are a guest of honor, we are Seth's Shadow and you are safe."
"I feel so much safer already!"
"Our beloved Queen must think very highly of you. Shadow protection is rarely given to anyone outside the sacred family."
"Never met the Queen personally but I am grateful for the honor."
I looked through the view port next to my seat, as the shuttle descended into the atmosphere of Pluribus. It reminded me of that virtual school trip that seemed so long ago. This time I was here for real. I didn't really look forward to the Ball, but I could not deny, I was eager to see Pluribus for real.
"Before you are allowed to be in the presence of any exalted member of the royal family, you will be instructed of course in proper etiquette."
"If that what Elfi wants, then so be i
t."
One of them jumped up. "You will only speak of Her Highness as Sekhet Nefertiti Elfiatra the Precious, Princess to the Saran Empire or I will teach you most painfully how to respect she, who is the Commandrix of the Saran Honor Legion, Holder of the Sacred Ankh. High Priestess of Ra."
"You will address me as Midshipman Olafson. I respect Elfi far more than you will ever understand and not because of her titles. Like you, I would give my very life to protect her if that is needed, but not because she is a princess or some noble person, but because she is my friend. I am her guest and I will do whatever she asks. However, I do not take lightly to threats and you might find me a very difficult student."
The woman returned to her seat.
The shuttle approached a landing platform attached to a building that was above the clouds of Pluribus.
INTERLUDE: WETMOUTH
Wetmouth ran towards the tall man standing next to the Ultra Lux flyer and he scooped her up. "Missed you, girl!"
"I missed you too, Dad."
She climbed into the flyer on the pilot's side and Rex Schwartz took the passenger seat. Wetmouth gunned the 25 million credit Lumina Lamborghini RS Exclusive Edition through the energy curtain, accelerating faster than a Loki Torpedo. "Where are we going, Dad?"
"Linda is waiting for us at our Pluribus penthouse."
She let go of the controls and said to the flyer’s Computronic, "Take us to the Penthouse."
Only now she removed her wig and mask and leaned over to nuzzle against Rex's cheek. The richest man in the known universe put his hand around her shoulders and said, "Is everything all right? You know you can come home anytime you feel the Fleet is not for you."
"Yes I know Dad. I made the most wonderful friends. There is an Archa, a Zulu prince, an X101, a headhunter from Guayas, the daughter of the Saran queen, the biggest Saturnian you ever going to see, a real Dai and there is Eric, from Nilfeheim. We are Midshipmen now and live in a dorm on the Devi. The challenges are not easy, but we are the best team."
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 29
