“Thanks Porc,” Marda replied before Blazer could.

  Rudjick ran up and slapped Porc on the back. “You guys suck you know that right?”

  “We save your asses and you say we suck?”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve told you enough times: if you guys are gonna pick us up to come in something sexy. Like I do.”

  “I met the last skank you came in. Beside, Trevis was feeling nostalgic. He stole one of these before, ain’t that right Lead?”

  “That be true,” Trevis replied over the link. “Be standing by, UV lights up.”

  Blazer shielded his eyes against the harsh UV glare. The light deactivated any remaining nanobots. Blazer looked down and watched the remaining foam slough away to the deck. What a sloppy waste.

  “It be safe to remove your helmet now,” Lindil commented and turned to Chertsin, his armor’s active camo still engaged. “So who be your charges here? Most of this team be properly tall.”

  Chertsin looked over at Blazer for a moment then turned to Lindil and removed his helmet. As Chertsin’s silver mane came into view Lindil’s rifle came up.

  “Chertsin! Be giving me one good reason not to be chucking you out the lock!”

  Blazer stepped between them, deactivating his active camo. “Stand down Lindil. All of you just stand down. Like it or not, we’re all on the same side here. Our enemy is back there, not aboard this ship.”

  “Much as I hate to say it, Vaughnt is right,” Chertsin replied and released his weapon into its sling. He offered his hands to Lindil, palms up. “My squad and I be in your debt Lindil, Daughter of Cordil and Linsae, honor to all your houses.”

  Lindil looked taken aback and then ran her palms back along Chertsin’s. “I be accepting Chertsin son of Chertinair and Kalsin, honor onto your house.”

  “Where did you guys come from?” Arion asked, disconnecting Big Red from his backpack.

  The hatch slid open and Trevis marched in. “Geffer resupply base. They be having a few too many ships for Confed’s liking. So they be sending us and a dozen more teams in to be borrowing them.” Trevis continued towards Chertsin and the smaller man turned to face him.

  Much to Blazer’s surprise, Chertsin executed an Anulian salute to his former commander. He even bent at the waist as he did so to show his left hand, a sign that he held no hidden second weapon.

  Trevis returned the gesture and as he stood up again found Chertsin’s upturned hands offered in a peace gesture. “There be no need for that Chertsin.” Trevis turned back towards the rest of the gathered teams. All of them stood intermixed in a way that Blazer never thought he’d see. “I need everyone to stations. More Geffers be moving in and we be having a flyer to grab. There be plenty of open turrets needing gunners. Plus we be picking up an unknown contact from one of the jump points, might be Gorvian. Whatever it be, I don’t want to be here much longer.”

  UCSB DATE: 1003.229

  Main Auditorium, UCSBA-13, System: Classified

  For the first time since he’d left his Mapper’s Guild uniform behind, Blazer’s uniform wasn’t a mustard yellow nightmare. Standing beside Marda, he looked around the auditorium and found himself in a sea of fleet blue jumpsuits, occasional islands of marine gray popping up here and there. Gathered together for the last time, the graduating seniors of UCSBA-13 stood proudly in their crisp dress uniforms. The meta-material fabric had changed color that cycle, tightening up any loose stitches. Blazer smiled at the scene. After everything they’d gone through, they’d succeeded where so many others had failed. They had filled the hall three annura earlier, now it was half empty.

  “Room Atten’ Hut!”

  All conversation ceased. In an almost perfectly choreographed movement; the seniors snapped to attention, the loud clicking of their heels echoing through the hall.

  The command staff marched down the main aisle. Their steps were as smart and crisp as the dress uniforms they were wearing. They strode up the stairs to the stage with practiced precision. As they reached the podium, Admiral Sares looked them over. “Seats!”

  The assembled officers dropped down into their seats and waited for the Admiral to begin.

  He took his time, looking over the class of newly-minted officers and took a deep proud breath before he began. “This is they cycle that you pass from the ranks of cadets, from officer candidates, to full officers. This is the cycle that you graduate.”

  Applause erupted from the crowd. None of them were able to hold back. The clapping didn’t subside until Command Sergeant Major Mir snapped his authority stick, silencing the crowd.

  The Admiral gave a silent nod to his senior NCO and continued. “Never before has this academy produced a class of cadets more ready and able to join the fight against their enemies. This class of cadets has seen more hardship and combat than any other in the history of this facility.

  “At least twice, all of you have experienced actual combat. Once repelling an attack by an invading Galactic Federation strike force, and again against a Gorvian strike corvette. Both times you have emerged victorious, successfully turning the tide against your foe. But both times, sadly, we also experienced losses. Never forget those who have fallen and let their sacrifice guide you in the future.”

  The admiral paused a moment and Blazer considered his words. Looking around, he saw others doing the same. A hovering holocam raced past, transmitting the ceremony to the whole academy and their families back home. Looking up again, he spotted his old orb hanging around with the others up in the rafters and motioned it to come to him.

  It raced down to him, twittering in excitement the whole way.

  He held a finger to his lips then motioned it towards Marda. She smiled back at the orb and it moved in close to her, as if giving her a kiss before racing back into the rafters.

  “In less than a cycle, you young officers will ship out for the front. There you will face many challenges. Remember that you fight to secure freedom for all living beings. Your battle is with those who endanger that sovereignty.

  “I have never felt more pride in a class of cadets in my life. Your bravery and accomplishments have become the mark by which all who follow will be judged. Your achievements will never be forgotten. Your accomplishments are too numerous to mention them all. I know you will do us proud. I know you will serve the UCSB well. I know you will defeat our enemies,” he pronounced eliciting another round of cheers.

  “Before we progress further, it is only right that we honor those whose achievements have been above and beyond. We will start with those who would have graduated with you, but were struck down prematurely. Officers Adrick, Amare, Bale, Calid, Cheorseo, Emplain, Garg, Merris, Modifain, Nordis, Oric, Sentile, and Tedrick. To all who have fallen, we carry on in your names.”

  “To all those who have fallen, we carry on in your names!” the seniors echoed loudly.

  “We will now proceed with the awards ceremonies before individual graduation,” the Admiral announced, cadets shifting in their seats to get comfortable.

  Commander Gagnes replaced the Admiral at the podium snapping off a smart salute to the Admiral as he relieved him. The academic dean took a moment to activate his macomm before he proceeded. “First we honor those cadets who have achieved the pinnacle of academic achievement, those who leave this facility with perfect academic records. The following cadets will proceed smartly to the stage for their awards,” the Commander announced and brought forth a half dozen cadets, Gokhead fitting into the six-pack.

  Commander Pio-Tolis took the stand next, the two officers sharing a courteous head nod as they passed. “Our academy specializes in two things, special operations and flight. Next we honor the top ten flight officers, will the following cadets please come forward,” the commander called out, and named the top ten scoring pilots. Gavit, Porc, and Deniv led the group, their chests puffed out with pride.

  Officer Sadrick Felg, the dean of sciences, made his way to the podium next. His long lab coat adorned with all of his numerous medals and awards rivaling those of Commander Pio-Tolis’. With the precision of a fine-tuned machine, he looked over the crowd, pausing for just a moment as he picked out key cadets in the crowd. “The sciences and engineering are an ever present part of our life,” he started in a mechanical tone. “And now we will see to honoring them. Will the top ten cadets in the sciences please proceed forward.” Gokhead once again proceeded to the stage with the others called, as he did again when the dean announced the top ten cadets in computer engineering.

  “Discoveries come in all forms and shapes. As all of you know, while exploring three training systems that we’ve used for over a century, one team of cadets discovered the ancient remains of two long-lost soldiers. We will now honor them, with a commendation from UCSB high command, and a personal thanks extended to them from the family of the soldier whose mech suit they found,” the dean announced. He called Gokhead’s probe team forward.

  Though he knew the pair would never admit it, Blazer swore that Porc and Nash both called out, “Just take a seat up there Gok. You’re up there more than the Admiral!”

  Dr Sares took the podium, suppressing a laugh at the comments, and the annoyed look on his twin brother’s face. “Space is filled with hazards, many natural and more brought about by sentients, either through intent or accident. When these hazards impact our troops the medical corps must be called in. Now we honor those cadets who through academics and real life practice have proven themselves as the top medicos.” Dr Sares announced smiling and proceeded to call the top medical cadets forward, Marda joining the group with a wide smile as she brought up the rear of the procession.

  “Cadet Vaughnt standby. We don’t want to have call you back just yet,” Dr Sares announced. “As you may or may not know, Cadet Vaughnt has been working with me for the past annura to develop a field organ-cloning device of her own devising based on a portable autocook. For her work on this potentially lifesaving device, including building and deploying a working prototype, I present this commendation from the UCSB Medical Corps,” he announced giving her the award to the applause of the Blade Force and the medical cadets.

  The Admiral retook the stand. The creases fell out of his meta-material uniform as he stood. “Ordinarily the dean of sciences and engineering would present the next award, but I have been given that honor this annura. The media often misrepresents engineers, painting any new discovery or innovation as a miracle of science, and any problem as an engineering disaster. It can be a thankless job to be an engineer, but we are the ones who bring the theoretical sciences out of the lab and turn it into practical reality.”

  “Damn straight!” someone hollered.

  Unphased, the Admiral continued. “The following cadets have proven themselves to be the most capable at doing just that,” the Admiral announced.

  Blazer suppressed a grin, he’d watched every graduation since they’d started at the academy, and the admiral always gave this award.

  The top ten cadets marched up to the stage, Arion and Chris among them. Blazer sat up with pride as he watched the pair proceed. Marda squeezed his hand. He was thrilled with the fact that he’d placed twenty-sixth in the engineering school.

  “Of course not all of our awards are academic in nature,” the Admiral commented as he sent the engineering students back to their seats. “Sometimes certain cadets, teams and squadrons simply stand out in ways that make them better known than others. Now it’s time that we should honor them. The first award goes to a cadet who has proven his leadership skills time and again, in simulated and actual combat. His command over the Blue Force transport group during the final exercises was exceptional. His tactical expertise in the battle that resulted in the destruction of the Gorvian Strike Corvette was unprecedented. These actions and his overall performance have earned him not only the award for outstanding cadet leadership, but a commendation from UCSB high command. Will Officer Enerian Zithe please come forth?”

  Zithe sprang to his feet and marched to the stage with practiced precision to accept his award. He accepted the award and commendation with a firm proud handshake and a salute to the Admiral. Beaming with pride, he marched back to his seat.

  “Teams are the core of everything we do here. We can do nothing without those that aid us, fight alongside us, and back us. Through battles both simulated and real, one squadron in particular has shown themselves to be capable of dealing with any foe who’s brought against them.”

  The auditorium grew silent with anticipation, Marda squeezing Blazer’s hand until he thought she’d snap the bones.

  “Will the Nip Tails please take to the stage?”

  The Nip Tails exploded into a cheering, hollering mass as the Admiral announced their name. In a disorganized gaggle, they rushed the stage, all traces of dignity thrown to the solar winds.

  “It should also be noted,” the Admiral continued, doing his best to ignore the hoots and hollers of his top squadron pick. “In addition, post battle forensics analysis has revealed that the Nip Tails scored the final killing blow on the Gorvian Corvette. As a result, they have earned an assignment aboard the Tacit Class Super Carrier Robial.”

  With the applause of their fellows, the Nip Tails accepted their award. Still hooting with joy, they made their way back to their seats.

  “It is a rarity for any cadet to even score a kill against a live enemy in actual combat. This class has clearly been the exception to that rule. You have faced enemies in combat twice, and a handful of you have earned combat ace badges in the process. Will the following cadets please step forward to receive their awards. Dibtel, Markus, Porcine, Scotts, Trevis, Vaughnt and Zithe.”

  The eight of them marched up to the stage where the Admiral and staff tacked the ace ribbons to their chests. Blazer accepted the award with pride from Tadeh Qudas, his hand still tingling from Marda’s grip.

  Tadeh Qudas took the podium next. “As the admiral noted earlier, this academy emphasizes two tracks, flying and special operations training. The next award is for the outstanding special operations team. This award goes to the special operations team that above all others has demonstrated excellence and professionalism in all their endeavors. This team has truly set the standard for all those to come.”

  Blazer felt the eyes of hundreds of cadets fall on him and his team. Even he felt sure that they’d earned that top award.

  “Will the Special Reconnaissance team, Red Lance please come to the stage?”

  Even the Red Lance, in their grey marine uniforms, did a double-take at the mention of their name. Their shock at having won the prize remained evident as the team marched up to the stage and accepted their awards. Blazer made sure to cheer them on. He remembered that Red Lance had never once failed a training mission or any of their real world practice missions. In fact, if he remembered correctly, they had only suffered two deaths in the sims.

  The main graduation ceremony commenced and, one by one, the admiral called the cadets forward to receive their diplomas and O-10 pips at one of three locations. After the last cadet received their pips a sigh of relief ran through the crowd. They eagerly awaited the signal to leave and proceed to the commissioning party at Mendrick’s.

  “There is one last thing we cannot forget to do,” the Admiral announced.

  Groans greeted his declaration.

  “Monstero Nach Squadron step forward!”

  Blazer and Trevis led the squadron up to the stage. Why are they calling us up? They’ve already announced all the awards.

  “Every once in a long while a team comes along that appear to be the focus of powerful events and actions. No matter where they go, the universe has a way of making life interesting around them. One unit above all others here has worked to overcome incredible adversity and challenges. This squadron has even managed to steal away one of my finest officers. To the astonishment of many, Commander Death Squad has chosen to take the lead of the Monstero Nach. Now it is my honor to give unto them, this award. For heroism in combat above and beyond the call of duty, I confer on the Monstero Nach the UCSB Silver Star. Wear it with pride,” the Admiral declared and turned to present the award to the squadron. The entire assembly erupted in applause, even Chertsin’s Commandoes.

  After he tacked the last Silver Star to Zithe’s chest, the Admiral returned to the podium to address the assemblage one last time. “Congratulations Officers, I salute you,” he said and snapped off a quick salute at the gathered crowd. The newly commissioned officers jumped to their feet, tentacles, claws, and tails to snap off smart salutes in turn.

  UCSB DATE: 1003.230

  Main Hangar, UCSBA-13, System: Classified

  With Tadeh Qudas in the lead, the Monstero Nach rode the lift platforms onto the Splicer-5000 deck for the last time. Blazer felt conflicting emotions as he walked onto the deck; happiness, sadness, enthusiasm, worry and more slid though his mind. Theirs hadn’t been the first squadron to leave and as they marched across the deck he noted empty parking spaces.

  They had all arrived separately, taking slow transports from across the Confederation before ferrying over on unarmed shuttles. Now they were preparing to leave, together. They were flying some of the most powerful fighters the Confederation had ever produced. Other squadrons stood by their fighters, preparing them for launch, nods of encouragement flashing between them.

  Will I ever see any of them again? Reality had a bad habit of dampening any mood. They faced an uncertain and deadly future. The enemy was on the move and they would be on the frontlines.

  Cadets in mustard yellow flightsuits looked on, envy in their eyes. The adoration Blazer felt from those younger cadets served to buoy his spirits. All too soon they reached their Midnight Blue and Silver trimmed fighters. The crews broke ranks as they approached, each heading to their individual craft to perform preflight checks.