in military circles for dealing with aliens, and you’d be sacked. I’ve always regretted that.”
“There were some interesting meetings after you left, but I managed to hold on. I lost my fleet, but I was promoted and given the job of spreading the word of you aliens to carefully selected world leaders. Mike pulled me from that job, too.”
She smiled. “Much to our benefit, Admiral. I’m pleased that you’re here, and pleased that you have heard my call and responded a second time. This time, it must have been by choice.”
“Definitely by choice, Your Majesty. Mike, Reba, and Alexis were all well when I last saw them.”
“I needed to hear that. Thank you. Will you three meet with me in my quarters? I’d like to be brought up to date, and I want to know what I can do here to assist with the training of our newest recruits.”
“Your Majesty?” Chandrajuski said in shock.
“You heard me. I’m going to help. If nothing else, I managed to pick up a little of the language from Mike and Reba, and my Rider is from Jake’s line. It knows the language well. Perhaps I can help my recruits with their language lessons.”
She took Trexler by the arm and walked away, leaving Chandrajuski and Serge Parsons staring at each other in amazement.
Ellie jumped right into the language lessons. Her students immediately focused on the Great Cats accompanying her, so she concentrated her first lessons on them. Expecting to find the training monotonous, she instead found it exhilarating. Within a couple of months, the only language permitted at the training facility was Galactic High Standard except during technical classes where translating devices were required.
When she wasn’t teaching, she was talking. She insisted that, regardless of how full the training schedule was, these men and women from Earth had the right to know the full story, not only of the Chessori and the rebellion, but of the impact others from Earth had already made within her Empire. Schedulers made certain she spoke before every class of recruits, and Mike and Reba’s story became well-known to these warriors. A sense of pride filled them, and more important, she convinced them that they could, in fact, learn this job and make a difference. In her estimation, it wouldn’t be long before their own stories added to the tale.
Serge’s training facilities worked around the clock with the goal of each recruit experiencing the net within the first few days after arrival. Even ships in port were used to bring the recruits into the net. By the end of the second week, some 100 had moved on to weapons training. By the end of the second month, everyone was flying ships in the simulator mode. Detailed training in handling ships and weapons under battle conditions soon followed. Admiral Seeton’s ships, the squadrons he had promised, began arriving at about the same time. Trexler sent half of the recruits into space to continue their training, rotating each half of the trainees on a two week cycle.
In some ways, Trexler’s recruits had the easiest training regimen, but in the long run theirs was the most technically demanding. They had the net to train them, but unlike Mike’s hurried training on Earth, these warriors not only had to learn to handle their ships, they had to learn to function as a battle group, and the standards set by Chandrajuski and his admirals were much higher than Mike had ever achieved.
Two difficult stumbling blocks presented themselves. The first was language. Though language was not an issue in the net, each of Chandrajuski’s ships would be staffed with only a limited number of Terran crewmembers, and they had to function side-by-side with fully qualified Empire officers when outside the net. The second problem was the attitudes of the Empire crewmembers. They were understandably proud of their positions, and they, too, were warriors. They did not relish the thought of turning battles over to newcomers from an emerging world. None of these ships had fought the Chessori, and none of the crewmembers had experienced the scree. Until they did, the Terran sailors had to focus on diplomacy almost as much as training.
Chandrajuski’s staff took care of administration, ensuring the recruits focused only on training, but Trexler and his senior staff could not avoid all administration. Every minute of every day was full for these leaders. Chandrajuski himself was in and out during these months of training, shuttling by fast ship to Aldebaran I and other sectors to meet with various admirals and politicians.
At Ellie’s request, Trexler joined her for dinner whenever he could get away. Rather than giving him a break from his duties as she intended, it usually just meant less sleep for him, but the two of them became instant friends.
“Mike tells me that knowledge of aliens could have a severe impact on Earth culture,” she said as they relaxed before dinner.
“Earth cultures, you mean. We’re like a kettle of soup, with beliefs ranging from one extreme to the other. All the parts go together to create a fine dish, but the individual parts remain just that – individual. Many of our people have no common grounds for coming together.”
“Perhaps knowledge that they are not alone will provide that common ground.”
He winced. “I wish it was so, but I don’t think it is. Not only are national identities strong, many are rooted in religious beliefs that are thousands of years old, beliefs that put humanity at the center of everything. It’s my understanding that most religions have no provisions for accepting outsiders. Many will brand the Empire as evil. It’s a huge problem, and there’s no way we’re going to hide our efforts out here for long.”
“What’s being done about it?”
“Knowledge is the key, and time is an important element in the process. My people tend to resist change even when it’s good for them. World leaders are spreading the word carefully, and they’re including religious leaders. I was part of the process just before coming here. The plan is to give these leaders time to consider how they will integrate their teachings with knowledge that we are not alone. I don’t know if the process will be successful.”
“Mike really wants to bring Earth into the Empire.”
“So do I. That doesn’t mean we’ll succeed. There will be great hope and opportunity for some, and strong resistance from others. It could easily lead to war, and I mean global war.”
She looked away from him in distress. “My Empire will not force itself upon Earth.”
“Mike’s very words, but that’s not the problem. Even if we choose to remain separate, to bury our heads in the sand and try to ignore you, the fact that you’re out here will not go away. Beliefs will be tested and tested hard. I can’t predict the outcome. And the Chessori are not going to go away.”
“The Chessori are an exterior element, and it’s my job to protect Earth from outside aggression. The Empire will not let the Chessori take over Earth.”
“At the moment, the Chessori are beyond your means to control. One single ship with the right germs aboard could wipe out all life on Earth. There are indications that the Chessori have been studying Earth for many years. I think we know why, and if they’re so inclined, they probably have the means to exterminate us. Actually, as strange as it might sound, the Chessori threat could be the thing that unites Earth. Beliefs are strong, but the will to survive is, I believe, even stronger.”
“I give you my word that I will do everything I can to protect Earth from the Chessori.”
“I know you will, Your Majesty.”
“Ray, I have a name. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together, and it’s time you started calling me by my name when we’re in private.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t even call my President by his name. I don’t think anyone does except his family.”
“My name is Ellandra of the Chosen. Do you know what it means to be one of the Chosen?”
“I do, Your Majesty.”
“Mike shortened my name. He calls it a nickname, and I like it. Among my closest friends I’m known as Ellie. Got it, Ray?”
He smiled. “Got it, Ellie, though I confess I find it strange to be calling the Queen of All Space, as Mike refers to you, by a nickname.”
“It’s a small circle that has earned the privilege. You’re one of them, and I’m counting on each of you to speak plainly even when we are not in agreement. Understood?”
“Understood, Ellie. I insist on the same treatment in my own command.”
“What can I do to help you and Mike bring Earth into the Empire?”
Trexler turned away as he considered. When he spoke, it was without hesitation. “First and foremost, protect us from the Chessori, but as soon as we can, we need to find the means for Earth to help in the process. Mike and I need to focus nations on survival of our species rather than fighting each other. Earth can’t just sit idly by while you do the fighting for us. We need to take part in the process, struggle mightily to build whatever machines are necessary to fight, and supply fighters from all over the globe to do the fighting. If we can make it a global effort,
