It had been the simulations that had given him the most trouble. At first, they had been more about hands-on training than anything else. And in that he had excelled. But when they started testing his ability to make command decisions, he felt awkward and unsure of himself. In more than one simulation he had failed to act quick enough to avoid abrupt and catastrophic conclusions.
Nevertheless, he had passed his practical exams in the command simulations. His roommate at the Academy often joked that Nathan’s unusually consistent good luck had gotten him through the sims. And Nathan knew that his friend had been at least partially correct.
So he had graduated the Academy and had been rated as both a navigator and a pilot. He was looking forward to his upcoming duty on the Reliant. She was the fleet’s oldest cruiser, and although she had never fired a shot in anger, she had seen several patrols, having been in service for more than a decade. And with a crew of over 300, Nathan would be just another name on the ship’s roster, probably serving on a backup flight crew on the least favored rotation. And that was fine with him.
“Well, well, well,” his brother’s voice came from behind. “If it isn’t Ensign Scott, the prodigal son, returned home to stir up family dissent one more time.” Eli was a good twelve years older, and he and Nathan had never gotten along.
“Hello, Eli.” Nathan was biting his tongue, trying to remember if there was ever a time the two of them had talked that didn’t end poorly. “What have you been up to?” He was trying to make meaningless small talk, hoping to avoid an argument long enough for his ride to arrive and make his escape.
“Funny you should ask that, Nathan. I should be spending time with my wife and kids, enjoying this wonderful Founders Day celebration. But instead, I spent the better part of an hour bribing a photographer to give up his rather suggestive photos of you and that slut you screwed in the anteroom tonight.”
“Still running image patrol for Dad, huh Eli?” Nathan knew it was the wrong thing to say even as it passed his lips. Eli had always wanted to follow in their father’s footsteps and enter politics himself. But Eli had not been the son blessed with the natural charm required for public life. So the senator’s oldest son had been forced to spend his career chasing their father and putting out his fires. It was a sour pill for Eli to swallow, and Nathan was sure that it had always been the primary cause of their ongoing feud.
“At least I’m not trying to ruin it,” Eli accused. “So, who was she?”
“None of your damned business.”
Eli was obviously exasperated at Nathan’s attitude. “Why did you even show up, Nate?”
“I was invited.” Hmm, sarcasm, another bad choice.
“Still the troublemaker, I see.”
“Better than being a kiss-ass,” Nathan responded in a matter-of-fact tone. He was already on a roll, so he figured there was little use in stopping now.
“I would’ve thought the Academy would break you of that habit.”
“Funny how that habit only seems to surface when I’m around family.”
“Then why don’t you do us all a big favor and just stay away. Or at least keep your attitude under control until after the election. Do you think you can do that much for your family?”
Nathan wanted to say something more, a lot more. In fact, what he really wanted to do was to punch Eli right in his smug mouth. But there were cameras everywhere, and the car that would take him away from this circus once and for all was pulling into the long circular driveway.
Nathan turned around and stepped up to Eli, standing right in his face and giving him a stone cold stare, the same one he had learned to use when standing at attention during inspections at the Academy. It took Eli by surprise, and for a moment he was unsure what to expect. He had never before seen such a stern look in Nathan’s eyes.
Nathan took his brother’s hand firmly and shook it once. “Give my best to your family, Eli.” He let go of Eli’s hand and gave him what appeared to onlookers as a brotherly hug. Eli’s hands dangled at his sides in disbelief as Nathan whispered in his brother’s ear. “So long, asshole.”
Nathan released his still shocked brother and stepped aside to smile and wave at the cameras that were watching from the walkway near the main house. Then he turned and got into the back seat of the car that had just pulled up behind him.
And that, is the last time I’ll have to play that game.
CHAPTER 2
Despite a slight hang-over, Nathan arrived at the Academy Flight Complex bright and early. The previous night’s events had only served to remind him of how desperately he wanted to leave it all behind and start anew. Today, he would leave the surface of the Earth, not to return for several years. It was the perfect way to begin his new life.
The complex was unusually busy that morning, as most of the graduates from the Academy’s North American campus were also departing for new assignments. As he worked his way through the crowd, he saw many familiar faces, as they bid farewell to fellow graduates and underclassmen. It had been a long four years for them all, during which most had formed significant bonds.
The graduates were leaving everything they knew behind, only to be cooped up inside big, metal, high-tech boxes hurtling through space. It was both exciting and frightening at the same time. All these young men and women, from every walk of life and every corner of the North American continent. Each for their own reasons had left their lives and their loved ones behind. They had endured exhaustive education and grueling physical training. And many of them had failed along the way, forced to return home in disgrace.
And it wasn’t just on this continent. There were similar scenes playing out on Fleet Academy campuses in both Europe and Asia. Each of them were turning out hundreds of graduates per year. And still it was only a fraction of what was needed for the Earth to build an adequate defense. For the Jung controlled the resources of four of the six core worlds, as well as many of the lesser colonies out on the fringe.
But still the volunteers came in droves each year. And those not accepted to the Academy contributed in other ways. As ground forces, trained to defend against surface assault. Or as workers and technicians, who built the ships needed to defend the Earth from space. But they all shared the same sense of purpose. They were defending their burgeoning homeworld as it rose from a thousand years of darkness and despair.
As he waited in line to check-in, Nathan thought about his Academy roommate, Luis. They had become the best of friends during their time at the Academy. And Nathan was quite certain that he would not have graduated had it not been for his friend's support. Luis had been assigned to the Intrepid as a Tactician and Weapons specialist. But since the Intrepid was not due back for a few weeks, he had chosen to spend time with his family in South America before departure.
Nathan had envied Luis in that sense. He had such a strong and supportive family. They had been from a relatively remote and impoverished area. And they had yet to reap the full benefits that the knowledge found on the Data Ark had already bestowed upon the more populous regions. Had it not been for the exhaustive efforts of fleet recruiters, Luis’s unique gifts might never have been added to the fleet’s growing ranks. And Nathan would’ve missed out on a very important friendship.
“Next!” The voice interrupted Nathan’s reminiscence.
“Ensign Scott, Nathan R,” he reported to the officer at the check-in desk before reading off his service number. “I’m scheduled for the next shuttle up to the Reliant.”
The duty officer punched in Nathan’s information, pausing to compare his face and description against the one displayed on his computer screen.