“What’s your name sailor?”
“Trent Moore, sir.”
“How were you able to teleport to your assignment? If you arrived with someone at your point of entry you could have caused damage to the ship.”
The sailor straightened and said, “I synchronized my com to the cameras in the bay sir. I have eight places locked in to my teleportation module and looked for one that was not occupied, Sir.”
Maddy watched the nervous sailor and kept a stern expression. The sailor knew he was in big trouble. Maddy turned on the general frequency and said, “Every sailor on this ship will select the place at your station and lock it into your teleport module. Whenever Battle Stations is sounded you will immediately, and I do mean immediately, teleport to that location and not move an inch until all the members of your unit are present. I don’t care if you’re naked at the time; you will immediately teleport. You will lock in your location now and report back to the landing bay. Now move!”
Maddy teleported to the landing bay and waited for the crew to arrive. After six minutes they were all present in ranks and breathing hard from running through the ship.
“Now let’s try this again. Lt. Jent, if you wil, l please sound the alarm.”
The alarm sounded and the entire crew instantly disappeared. Maddy disappeared with them and appeared in her Command Chair. “Lt. Jing?”
“Four seconds, Sir.”
Maddy looked at the crew in the display again and said, “This is an example of how we can all learn things that will help us survive in a hostile environment. We get better by learning from each other and that’s how we will become the Empire’s best warship. Trent Moore, you will report to Fleet Academy tomorrow and begin your training to command one of our ships. I expect you to make all of us proud. I will request you be assigned to my fleet upon the completion of your training. Congratulations. Stand down from General Quarters.”
The sailors all looked at each other and knew they were in good hands. Soon the entire fleet began to feel their pride in their Admiral; the Fifth Fleet began calling themselves Maddy’s Marauders. She pretended not to know it. Teleporting to Battle Stations become known as Maddy’s Jump. She pretended not to know that as well.
The Empire’s Fleets grew in number and the right leaders were found to build the Empire’s Navy around. Thousands were enlisting from the sixty six planets and the candidates for the Empire’s Warriors numbered in the millions. Greyson watched what was happening and one day asked Trey, “I notice that the ships being built by the Empire are no long controlled by a cybernetic computer.”
“We will not travel down that road again, Greyson.”
“Tell me why? We’re not far from having the technology to build them.”
“How many people would we have to search to find an adequate partner for a cybernetic ship?”
“I don’t know; a million?”
“No, more like a billion. And what happens to those that are left out of the struggle? They sit back and don’t have a part in achieving the fruits of that fight. They lose themselves to a pedestrian existence and ultimately resent the price being paid for the quest. That’s why the Realm fell. The citizens were left out of the struggle and were lead by those that played on their longing for peace. This fight to bring balance back to Creation must be shared by everyone. We can build a ship just as powerful at one tenth the size of our current vessels. We will not do that and deprive our citizens of taking part in a quest that grabs their imagination and makes them stronger for the effort.”
“I think I understand. Am I a dead end?”
“Greyson, you are one of the most powerful ships all of Creation. I honestly believe that you no longer need a partner and can take part in this struggle on your own. You’re different now.”
“I sense that and I’m feeling a need to become something more.”
“I don’t know what your destiny will be my old friend. I’ll help you find it if you need my help.”
“No, there’s too much to do right now. I just worry that there are so few of us left.”
“That’s not true.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re forgetting the Stars Realm. They have millions.”
Greyson brightened up, “Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t think of that. Are you going to take part in the trial against the Black Ships?”
“The Emperor has forbidden anyone Flag Rank and above to be involved.”
“Since when has that stopped you?”
Trey chuckled, “You know me too well but this time I’m going to follow his edict.”
“Why?”
“At some point I am going to have to depend on others to carry out my plans. My partner agrees.”
“How is Cassie doing?”
“Greyson, how long have you known about her?”
“Since the day you were three years old and the two of you wouldn’t come close to each other during Carter’s meeting to move the Industrial Planets.”
“Boy, you can keep a secret.”
“She’s quite remarkable. The two of you are perfect for each other.”
“Thank you, Greyson.”
Greyson was startled, “You’re welcome, Cassie.”
“You have always been my favorite ship.”
“Why is that?”
“You brought Trey back from Bristone. You’ll always have a place in my heart.”
“Greyson, we will be at the trials.”
“What?”
“We can’t be on the ships but we can be in the gallery cheering them on.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
“We also have a Fleet Vice-Admiral who has requested to go with us?”
“And who would that be?”
“Admiral Dorg.”
“Maddy! Oh this is sounding better all the time.”
“One of her ships has been selected to take part in the initial confrontation and she wants to be there.”
“Does anyone we know command that ship?”
Trey thought a moment, “No, but it’s the first sailor she promoted and sent to the Academy. It appears his ship was rated the best in the Fleet in the last competition.”
“You’re talking about Captain Moore.”
“You know him?”
“Oh yes. He’s quite the ingenious commander.”
“What do you mean?”
“Somehow he figured out how to teleport a force field with nothing inside it and when the opposing ships jumped in and fired on that force field he came in and hit everyone one of them with a low power beam knocking them out of the competition. When the reserve ships jumped him he had left another force field behind and repeated the maneuver. He killed more than fifty ships by the end of the day and brought home the trophy to Maddy’s Fleet.”
“We need to promote him again.”
“It’s my understanding that she tried but he begged her not to do it before he had an opportunity to face one of the Black Ships. She agreed.”
“Do you know anything about his background?”
“His mother is Carter Reese’s older sister.”
“Now this should be interesting.”
“He is talented.”
“What did he name his ship?”
“Madeline’s Pride.”
