“Welcome everyone,” said the Imperator, and his voice carried across the whole room evenly. “There are a lot of people who should be here, but are not. There is a war on apparently.” People laughed. “We’ll make do. Why have a party in the middle of a war? I’m glad you asked that. Something of a miracle occurred yesterday, and with what’s been going on for the last few weeks, I thought a party was a good idea to celebrate what is the best news we’ve had in those few weeks.”
He seemed to be looking for me, as his eyes wandered the crowd while speaking.
“Ever since we arrived here, we’ve been trying to get a dialogue going with the Keerah. And failed. They reluctantly signed a cease fire when I threatened to end their homeworld, and have ignored us since the Trixone invasion. But yesterday, that all changed. I sent our smallest force on a rescue mission, which became an exploration of how the Trixone came really close to invading our space without us knowing about it until too late, and yesterday resulted in the saving of a city full of Keerah.”
“The dialogue I’ve been wanting finally opened, and we’re moving towards formal diplomatic relations at last. And I think that warrants a party.”
Some applause started, and he waited it out.
“Before we start celebrating properly, there are a few things needing to be done, and this is as good a time to do them as any. David.”
They swapped positions.
“The Imperium military, in the grand scheme of things, is tiny. And yet, across Ralnor space, our ships and crews have been doing the impossible. Gallantry and meritorious service awards are being issued at the Imperium level, and awardees will be receiving theirs from their commanders this evening, or tomorrow morning. Some of those commanders are here now.”
He started calling names, beginning with Marshal Bigglesworth and my Aunt Susan, and the Imperator handed each person a medal box from one of the trays the two butlers were carrying. George was among them, as was Grace. She came back flushed with excitement.
Tollin and the Imperator changed places again.
Forty Five
“Rockmonster. Front and center please.”
There was a stir over by the main group of my pilots, and Dianne stepped out from the middle of them, looking surprised, and still limping. She braced before the rostrum.
“Normally the cadet here would be receiving her medal from her commanding officer, but in this case, I think it warrants a higher acknowledgment. Rockmonster might have been a self-given call sign, but the pilots she flew with thought it appropriate. Yesterday, this enterprising young pilot used her fighter to actually throw rocks around.”
Even I laughed. He waited for it to die down. A screen popped up, showing an Excalibur dragging a sled full of rocks, debris, and Trixone behind it, before shooting up into the air, and dropping the lot from a substantial height. I’d seen this before, but very few others had it seemed. There was applause from the diplomats, which quickly spread around the room. I could see enough of Dianne’s face to see she was blushing.
“Cadet Keaton, you are awarded the Imperium Distinguished Flying Medal. Congratulations.”
He passed it over, and a moment later, her suit shifted to show the ribbon.
“Attention to orders,” bellowed Jane, and everyone in uniform braced to attention.
Another screen popped up, where I could see a gathering of pilots on Orion’s Belt. Two cadets were standing in front of Admiral Hallington, who stepped to the side so they could see the Imperator looking at them.
“Cadet Keaton, Rockmonster. Cadet Roberts, Cannon. Cadet Basinger, Doom. You were our first three Imperium cadets, and unlike those who followed you, we threw you in the deep end of some of the nastiest combat of the war so far. And in just twelve days, you’ve become outstanding pilots. We recognize that now by promoting you to the rank of Pilot Officer. Congratulations.”
He handed Dianne an insignia box, her suit insignia changed, and she saluted him. Admiral Hallington did the same on Orion. The three returned to the ranks. Hallington saluted the Imperator, who returned it, and the screen vanished.
“At ease,” called out Jane, and the room relaxed. “Commander Ecclestone, front and center.”
Grace pushed me towards the rostrum before I could do anything, and I found myself bracing in front of a grinning Imperator.
“A few days ago, I joked about the Legend of Dreamwalker, after this man did the impossible with one of my titans. Against what I know are his wishes, I made him step up, deliberately thrust him far outside his comfort zone, and without knowing it, threw him at the impossible again.”
The room was dead silent now.
“We all know the impossible we can do immediately, but miracles take a little longer. A lot of the impossible has been done lately, but the miracle is something else.”
He looked down at me, and then scanned the room.
“Twelve days ago, this man was blind. He was trained for war, and the chance to prove himself was taken from him by fate. We gave him back his sight, and threw him at the Trixone. He proved himself, and a legend was born. He hates that. I know he does, because the exact same thing happened to me. But the times don’t allow us to hide our light.”
He looked down at me again.
“Yesterday, this man fought two space battles, and a ground action. He found a city of civilian tigers hiding in caves, and he not only saved them, he talked them into talking to the Imperium. The miracle did take a little longer, and it took a legend to make it happen. Governor Tarnigar please.”
A Keerah left the small group of them in one corner, and walked to the rostrum towering over most of the people he walked past. He stepped up, where the Imperator gave him room at the podium, and I recognized him.
“Yesterday I thought my people and I were but days from an inevitable death, not knowing our people had no idea we were still alive. Today, I find myself light years away from my home, here to thank the human who saved us. I have the honour of awarding Commander Ecclestone the Light Star, the highest award a civilian Keerah can award a non-Keerah. But I also have the honour of bestowing two Keerah military honors as well. Commander, you are also awarded the Dark Star, which is the highest award a non-Keerah military officer can be given. In addition, you are given the rank of Warship Captain, so in future meetings with our warriors, they will know they deal with a true warrior.”
A baldric came out of the bag, which was tossed to Kat, and he placed the bulky sash over my head, sitting on my right shoulder and hanging on my left side, nicely fitting to miss obscuring my medal ribbons. On it were three badges which I assumed were the rank and the two awards. Not knowing what to do, I saluted him. He responded with a Keerah salute, and held out his hand human style. We shook, and he stepped back, allowing the Imperator to take the podium again.
“Attention to orders,” bellowed Jane again.
The room braced again. The Imperator looked down at me.
“Commander, you are awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the fourth time, for your single handed defeat of two Keerah fleet units yesterday, and your second Gold Star for your initiative in using a gas giant to gain surprise in the earlier battle. In addition, you’re awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for both saving the Keerah with inadequate forces on hand, and for persuading the Keerah into talking to the Imperium.”
Kat offered him the tray, and he passed the medal boxes across to me. The pulse came in, and my medal ribbons changed on my uniform. I waited for the expected salute, but it didn’t come. There was one last box on the tray.
“If it wasn’t the fact I’m on the other side this time, I’d be having a big déjà vu moment. A number of times on my rise through the ranks during the Midgard War, I was given promotions by other services, which were then matched by the Australian Militia, who I actually served. I hated it then, but I can see the irony, as I can continue this practice now.”
He grinned at me, and I mentally cringed.
“Commander Ecclestone,
you are promoted to Fleet Captain. Congratulations.”
He held his hand out for me to shake, and we shook. The pulse came in, and the oak leaf on my shoulders became birds. He saluted me, and I returned it.
The room went wild, and he waited for things to calm down again.
“You can stand easy,” he went on, looking around the room. “I’m told a commemorative medal is being prepared by the Imperium for those who served in any capacity in what is now being called the Dreamwalker Corridor. It was a short campaign, but essential to our survival. The medals will be distributed in a few days’ time. This ends the formal part of the evening. Eat, drink, socialize, and enjoy this moment.”
He stepped down, and stood close to me.
“Get that thought about failing upward out of your head Fleet Captain. I need everyone who can to step up, and you’re doing a damned fine job so far. You may hate being a legend, but believe me, you get used to it. And since this war is going to last a long time, we need heroes and legends. You’ll be doing the medal ceremony for your pilots in the morning. For now, you better go congratulate Rockmonster before she gets too drunk.”
He nodded, grinned, and left me alone with no thoughts at all. Grace rescued me from not knowing what to do next, and we both congratulated Dianne, who looked really proud of her new, and twice the size, single bar. Now she’d shucked being a cadet, I had no doubt she’d make Flying Officer quickly.
My Aunt Susan hugged me again, Kat brought me food, and Vulture put a tankard of beer in my hand, clinking his with mine, grinning madly.
Grace hung on my arm, and I let myself enjoy the moment.
The story continues
in
Midshipman Spacemage.
(Imperium Spacemage, Book One)
and
Jon Hunter will return
in
Imperator.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to –Jeff- for the model of the Scimitar class of carrier.
Thanks also to Egosoft for the background image, from the game X3: Albion Prelude.
A Message to my Readers
Five books into The Hunter Imperium now, and things are ramping up.
The Trixone War has only just begun.
Lots to come. Stay with me.
The Hunter Imperium continues in parallel to A.I. Destiny, with Legend of Dreamwalker happening at approximately the same time as Snark's Quest.
If you’ve enjoyed this book, I hope you will take the time to leave a review on the Amazon site. All reviews are greatly appreciated, as they help assist purchasing decisions by other readers.
Sales and reviews help me to focus on my next challenge. I'm a full time novel writer and as such, sales and KU reads pay my bills, and my ability to continue writing is dependent on sales of this series, and what comes after.
As well as individual book reviews, I hope you will visit the Amazon series page, and leave a series review. The series page can be accessed from any book page.
I thank you for your support, and hope you will continue to read my next book.
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Timothy Ellis
Also by Timothy Ellis
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Read series in this order
The Hunter Legacy Timeline
Approx. 3100 years before Hero to the End
Yesterday's Spacemage (chapter one)
Tomorrow's Spacemage
646 years before Hero to the End
The Long Road to Gaia
102 years before Hero to the End
One Last Battle (a short story)
82 years before Hero to the End
Yesterday's Spacemage
Today's Spacemage
Tomorrow's Spacemage
2 Years before Hero to the End
Hero at Large
Hunted Hero Hunting
Send in the Hero
Make or Break the Hero
Hail the Hero
Burnside's Killer
Hire a Hero
Jane's Christmas
Hero to the Rescue
Hero at the Gates
The Long Road to Gaia
1 Year before Hero to the End
Home is Where the Hero Is
Hero in Darkness
Hero to the End
Here be a time line shift.
Immediately after Hero to the End (Gaia galaxy)
Admiral of Gaia
Kingdom of Hunter's Run
Snark's Quest
Destiny Stone
Talisman of Tomorrow
Leader of Sector Ten
Immediately after Hero to the End (Earth galaxy)
Crossover
Hunter's Terminus
Reaper's Crossroad
Blind into the Breach
Legend of Dreamwalker
Midshipman Spacemage *forthcoming*
Imperator *forthcoming*
The Hunter Legacy Universe Series in the order written:
The Hunter Legacy
A.I. Destiny
The Spacemage Chronicle
The Hunter Imperium
Legend of Dreamwalker (The Hunter Imperium Book 5) Page 21
