Pearl of the Stars
Old Friends

The Council Fleet’s Academy was the finest establishment of further learning to be found anywhere within Council space. There were certainly no guarantees that Academy alumni would reach the highest ranks, but graduation was generally a must if one had one’s sights higher than Captain.

The Academy was based on the planet of Victoria II, the second planet in the Council’s home system. As well as the planet-side campus, there were many orbital stations and campus’ on three of the system’s larger moons.

Attired in her newly acquired Captain’s uniform, Grace Ifhans strode proudly through the hallowed halls of the Academy of which she herself was a graduate. The impeccably tailored skirt suit clung tightly to her sleek figure, and she wore her hair in a loose pony tail that bounced merrily with her every step as it protruded from beneath her beret.

Her promotion was no secret, and around every turn was a group of hopeful, awe-struck students, ready to offer a salute to the leader of the Council Fleet and if they were very lucky, to collect Captain Ifhans’ signature upon their handbooks.

***

“Captain Ifhans, please follow me,” an intern said as he shook Grace by her hand. “The Dean is waiting for you.”

Grace followed obediently, quickening her step in order to keep match the interns pace, her stiletto heels clicking harshly upon the marble floor. Around three corners and a few feet down a corridor equally as grand as every other, they arrived at the Dean’s office, and the intern rapped sharply three times upon the oak.

“Enter,” a voice boomed from within, and the intern gestured that Grace should do so alone. She did so and closed the heavy door behind her, before she marched briskly across the shallow pile rug, and saluted the Dean smartly. “Captain.” The Dean returned her salute. “Congratulations on your recent promotion.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Grace replied, still holding her salute. A couple of seconds later though, the two burst into fits of laughter and the Dean came out from behind his desk to embrace Grace in a tight, bear-like hug.

“It’s so good to see you my dear,” he said once the embrace was broken. “How long has it been?”

“Far too long, but as you know I’ve been more than a little busy.”

“Indeed. Your hollow victory at Hixia has been the talk of the campus for weeks.” He sat back down as he spoke, and offered Captain Ifhans a cigarette.

“Thank you, Sir,” she said, accepting the offer and that of a light. The two old friends smoked in silence for a moment, and it was the Dean who finally broke first.

“I must ask, what brings you to the Academy?” He asked before hurriedly adding, “Not that I don’t enjoy seeing my success stories of course.”

“Well actually I’m here for just that,” she replied, resting her cigarette in the ash tray atop the desk in front of her, and her elbows on either side of it. “As you know it is the belief of the Council that we can end this war, once and for all.”

“Of course, of course,” he replied with a frown. “Do you not share that belief?”

“I do,” replied Grace without missing a beat. “That said, if we are to do so we need to think differently. We need to adopt unfamiliar tactics, and most importantly I need sailors who can think outside of the box.”

“Anything I can do to help, all you need to do is ask,” replied the Dean. Captain Grace Ifhans was indeed his greatest success. During her time at the Academy she had excelled in most things and it had come as no surprise to him when he had discovered it was Grace who had brought the Pearl of the Stars home.

“I need your best and brightest. Engineers, pilots, techs, marines. I know you’re an incredibly good judge of character, and with that in mind if there are any students I can fast-track to command, I would be eternally in your debt.” She retrieved her cigarette from the ash tray and sat back to allow the Dean to absorb her words. She did not have to wait long for a reply though, as moments later the Dean pushed a piece of paper across the desk towards her. “What’s this?”

“Exactly what you asked for,” he replied with a smile. “On that piece of paper you will see our top twenty. If I remember rightly, you were never out of the top five.” That was a lie, as Grace Ifhans had always been in the top two. “All there are suitable for command fast-track in their respective fields.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Grace replied with a smile as she took the paper in hand, standing to leave.

“No need to thank me my dear,” he replied as he too stood. “But if you feel the need to, do so by ending this war.”

“Yes Sir.” Grace saluted sharply and turned on her heel. She closed the door behind her and marched down the corridor, glancing at the list as she did so. There were a few recognisable surnames which was to be expected. Sons and daughters following in their parents footsteps, just as their parents had done a generation before. She smiled confidently. “We can do this,” she spoke quietly so that only she could hear. “We can end this war. We can have peace.”

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