that the aliens are not a peaceful civilization. Our best chance of survival is to join the other planets in the Union and prepare for their arrival.”
The Nobles looked at each other and one said, “This could be a Union ploy. Do you have proof they exist?”
The Officer stood and pointed the blaster out in front of him. The huge gathering pushed back in their seats hoping they weren’t going to be shot. The Officer opened his hand and the blaster disappeared. The entire room was struck silent. The officer looked out at the crowd, held his hand out, and the blaster reappeared. “This is one of the Alien’s weapons that were discovered.” The Officer looked at the high Noble, “Do you need more evidence?”
The Noble shook his head.
“Our efforts will be to support Euclid in developing the defenses we’ll need to survive. We will offer our ships to defend the Union. Do any of you see another way to do this?”
The Highest Noble said, “It is my belief that you are the only one strong enough to lead us.”
“Then you should tell your citizens that piece of information. However, they will make the final decision who will lead. You may leave in peace and the Nebula forces will ensure that all of our citizens are treated with respect.”
The huge crowd stood and the highest ranking Noble stared at the tall officer and began clapping. The crowd started joining him and soon the entire room was cheering. The Officer looked out at them and knew the hardest tasks were ahead. But first, he had to make a trip. “Admiral.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Will you make sure there is a smooth transition? I’m leaving you in charge until I return.”
The Admiral smiled, “I will.”
The Officer smiled, “Thank you.”
The Admiral began to feel something that had been missing for many years, hope.
• • •
The nurse sat in the room with her son and felt the never ending sorrow that always threatened to take her. She looked at him and adjusted his feeding tube. The door slowly opened and she saw the tall Nebula Officer that had charged in several months earlier. He walked over to her son and sent his mind into the young man’s brain. He watched the pattern swirl and said, “His mind is unwilling to organize.”
“How do you know that?”
The Officer looked at the woman and said, “I think your sorrow is what keeps him in this state. The baby refuses to enter a world with so much horror.”
“Who are you to say such a thing? I love my son.”
“But do you love yourself?”
She stared at the Nebula Officer and saw he was sincere. She lowered her head and said, “He asked me to go with him and I refused. I had too much to do around the house and I really didn’t like his friends on York. I should have been with him. I might have made a difference. He might not have died with my son.”
The Officer saw her tears, “What was your son’s name.”
“Britain Andrey Montgomery.”
“That’s a Royal name isn’t it?”
“It is. He would have been the next King. The Royal Family let him down. They should have had Defenders with my husband.”
“How many times did you leave Euclid before they disappeared?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer the question. Please.”
“I don’t know maybe twenty or thirty times.”
“Did you ever need a Defender for those trips?”
“What are you suggesting? Are you saying the Royal Family had no responsibility in protecting them? If you are, you’re wrong.”
“The Union was at peace. There were no attacks on the members. There was no need to send out defenders with Royals that visited.”
The woman ran her fingers through her son’s hair and stared at his blank expression. She heard the Officer say, “I’ve often wondered what my name is.”
She looked at him and said, “Why wouldn’t you know your name?”
“When the Nebula warships stopped my father’s ship and killed him. I was too young to know what my name was.”
“How old were
The Nobles looked at each other and one said, “This could be a Union ploy. Do you have proof they exist?”
The Officer stood and pointed the blaster out in front of him. The huge gathering pushed back in their seats hoping they weren’t going to be shot. The Officer opened his hand and the blaster disappeared. The entire room was struck silent. The officer looked out at the crowd, held his hand out, and the blaster reappeared. “This is one of the Alien’s weapons that were discovered.” The Officer looked at the high Noble, “Do you need more evidence?”
The Noble shook his head.
“Our efforts will be to support Euclid in developing the defenses we’ll need to survive. We will offer our ships to defend the Union. Do any of you see another way to do this?”
The Highest Noble said, “It is my belief that you are the only one strong enough to lead us.”
“Then you should tell your citizens that piece of information. However, they will make the final decision who will lead. You may leave in peace and the Nebula forces will ensure that all of our citizens are treated with respect.”
The huge crowd stood and the highest ranking Noble stared at the tall officer and began clapping. The crowd started joining him and soon the entire room was cheering. The Officer looked out at them and knew the hardest tasks were ahead. But first, he had to make a trip. “Admiral.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Will you make sure there is a smooth transition? I’m leaving you in charge until I return.”
The Admiral smiled, “I will.”
The Officer smiled, “Thank you.”
The Admiral began to feel something that had been missing for many years, hope.
• • •
The nurse sat in the room with her son and felt the never ending sorrow that always threatened to take her. She looked at him and adjusted his feeding tube. The door slowly opened and she saw the tall Nebula Officer that had charged in several months earlier. He walked over to her son and sent his mind into the young man’s brain. He watched the pattern swirl and said, “His mind is unwilling to organize.”
“How do you know that?”
The Officer looked at the woman and said, “I think your sorrow is what keeps him in this state. The baby refuses to enter a world with so much horror.”
“Who are you to say such a thing? I love my son.”
“But do you love yourself?”
She stared at the Nebula Officer and saw he was sincere. She lowered her head and said, “He asked me to go with him and I refused. I had too much to do around the house and I really didn’t like his friends on York. I should have been with him. I might have made a difference. He might not have died with my son.”
The Officer saw her tears, “What was your son’s name.”
“Britain Andrey Montgomery.”
“That’s a Royal name isn’t it?”
“It is. He would have been the next King. The Royal Family let him down. They should have had Defenders with my husband.”
“How many times did you leave Euclid before they disappeared?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer the question. Please.”
“I don’t know maybe twenty or thirty times.”
“Did you ever need a Defender for those trips?”
“What are you suggesting? Are you saying the Royal Family had no responsibility in protecting them? If you are, you’re wrong.”
“The Union was at peace. There were no attacks on the members. There was no need to send out defenders with Royals that visited.”
The woman ran her fingers through her son’s hair and stared at his blank expression. She heard the Officer say, “I’ve often wondered what my name is.”
She looked at him and said, “Why wouldn’t you know your name?”
“When the Nebula warships stopped my father’s ship and killed him. I was too young to know what my name was.”
“How old were
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