Galactic Empire Wars: Rebellion (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 3) by Raymond L. Weil Page A

them. After six months, they begin specialized schooling to
prepare them to enter either the Academy here on Vesta or the fleet training
facility on the Moon.”
    “From the time
they’re awakened, how long before they’re fully capable of taking over their military
responsibilities?” Beth asked.
    “Five years,”
Marken answered, promptly.
    “How many
decide not to join the military?”
    Marken hesitated
for a moment. “Actually a slightly larger percentage than we originally projected.
Currently, nearly twelve percent of the clones elect to take civilian jobs, though
most of those jobs do involve the military in some way.”
    Beth nodded; she
had already been familiar with some of this from what Wade had told her in
previous conversations. She knew Wade came to the cloning facility on occasion
to check up on its progress as he had been instrumental in talking President
Randle into instituting the program to begin with.
    “The clones
plus our regular Human volunteers are allowing us to greatly expand the fleet
as well as our ground forces,” Wade added as he watched another clone take its
first hesitant steps. “Nearly one hundred and twenty thousand Human born volunteered
for military duty last year and we expect about the same this year.”
    “Not bad out
of eighteen million people,” commented Beth, thoughtfully.
    Wade watched
as several more clones were awakened and processed. They seemed so innocent in
their newborn state. He turned and looked over at Beth, who was watching the
awakening process with keen interest.
    “We’re taking
both the military troop transports,” Wade informed her. They had some important
decisions to make as far as personnel went. “I’m putting you in charge of the
Fire Fox and Major Jeffries in charge of the Crimson Star. Both of you need to
pick your command staffs and what marine companies the two of you want deployed
on each ship. For this mission, the assault ships will only have a small
complement of marines on board.”
    Beth turned
her attention away from the awakening chamber to focus her eyes on Wade. “I
want Captain Stern and Captain Foster’s two companies for sure,” she responded
without a moment’s hesitation. “I suspect Major Jeffries will want Captain
Perry’s company.”
    Wade nodded.
He'd expected that. “We’ll be gone from two to six months,” he added in a
softer voice. “You need to tell your mother, and I need to speak with my
parents.”
    “What about
Ryan?” asked Beth her eyes focusing intently on Wade. “Are you going to talk to
him?” She knew her mother wouldn’t be happy with her being gone for such an
extended time, particularly after moving into the retirement center.
    “Probably just
a short message. When we return, he should be finished with his training and
will be getting his first assignment.”
    Wade let out a
deep breath. He knew Ryan would easily qualify in the Type Four suits; it also
meant he would be getting some of the toughest and more dangerous assignments.
The Type Four battlesuits were designed to take on armored members of the
Kleese race, most likely the Zaltule.
    Harnett and I
will be accompanying you on this mission,” Marken said his narrow eyes focusing
on the two Humans. “There will also be ten other Kiveans going along to give support
from a technical perspective as well as assisting in the negotiations. There
are several Kiveans from our home world highly familiar with some of the races
we’ll be speaking to.”
    “Marken?” Beth
said, inquiringly. “What do you think the odds are that some of the nonaligned
worlds will join us?”
    “We’ve pretty
much determined which ones were involved with giving us the information on the computer
drive as well as the nonaligned world ship that gave us the warning about the
Kleese attack,” he said slowly as he thought hard about the different races. “I’m
certain we can turn six or seven of them to our cause, but we need more. The
Kleese have an Empire