CHAPTER 1

TEACHER

I became aware when the cradle began to descend. By thetime, the cradle settled in the center of the room, there werealready tiny tubes connected to the child. The tubes will carrynutrients and most importantly the Element to the child. As thecradle settled, the sides retracted and flattened. From the floorcame a corresponding bed, which stretched around the nowflattened cradle. The child will need more room as he grows. TheElemental energy field keeps the child elevated 10 centimetersabove the bed as alternating energy wavelengths massage thetissues stimulating growth.

It has been thousands of cycles since I went into stasis. Iwaited patiently for the first thousand cycles. When no childarrived, conserving the Element, I went into stasis. I am Teacher.The Old Ones developed me to train a Defender. I am one ofmany, but all other Teachers are in stasis. Our descending cradlecalls us awake. My one purpose is to develop a Defender. Therewas a war, and the Old Ones needed warriors for defense. TheTeachers develop the warriors. The war was lost, but the planetsurvived. I survived deep below the surface, waiting for my call.The call has finally come ...

I send a microscopic tendril down to the child's head.It slowly enters the ear canal and passes easily through thetympanic membrane. The tendril follows the auditory nerve tothe brain where it branches out establishing my home withinthe future Defender. The child has dreams, some pleasant ofthe beings that comfort him. Some frightful, following hisseparation from his mother, and what appears to be warfareon the surface of the planet. I calm his mind and take awayhis fears. In his memory, I can see the frightened woman thatbrought him to the dome. I can see her put a necklace with metaldisks around his neck. The tender way she kisses him goodbye, Isurmise the woman was his mother.

I watch over the child, as he grows. With our neural link,I begin his education. His species only uses a small portion oftheir available brain storage area, so it is easy for me to store largeamounts of data in his brain that he can access later. His physicaldevelopment is progressing at the nominal rate. I believe theDefender will be ready for training soon.

CHAPTER 2

EGAS INQUISITIVE

(Earth/Giann Alliance Ship)

(Research and Exploration Vessel)

Five Hundred Thirty-four AC. (After Contact)

(Two Solar Cycles earlier)

Captain Donald Phillips EGAF, (Earth/Giann AllianceFleet), frowned into his cold coffee cup, and then gazed upat the planet filling the navigation monitor screen. He is a bigman, in the tradition of the Welsh miners who were his ancestors.His muscled physique gives him the appearance of a youngerman. The only clue to his age and experience is the graying hairat his temples.

The planet above is unsettling to Phillips, and aftertwenty-five solar cycles with the Fleet, Phillips found thatfeeling usually meant bad news. The Inquisitive has beenin orbit around the planet for fourteen planetary cycles togain information for exploration. So far, he had gotten morequestions than answers. He did not like it, but then he wasonly the ship's Captain. Once in orbit, the Lead Scientist is incharge of the expedition, and Phillips is to provide security andsupport. One hundred and fifty years after the contact withthe Giann, Earth and Giann standardized their calendars todescribe years as solar cycles, months as lunar cycles and daysas planetary cycles. This change better-suited space travel andcommunication between the two worlds.

This planet is a class M, with surface water and an oxygen/nitrogen mix atmosphere. A touch less nitrogen than Earthor Giann, but the air was quite breathable. The two largesymmetrical brownish appearing continents have plenty of smalllakes, rivers and vegetation but they all have a slight rust hue.As the scientists that have been sending probes to the surfaceremark, "Different planet different colors." After all, we foundlong ago not all vegetation that produce oxygen are necessarilygreen. The wispy thin clouds that surround the planet speak ofinfrequent rain and an arid climate. The planet's designationwas for its proximity to its Sol type star and reads R-67252-4.The additional number four on the end designated it as thefourth planet in the system. The other five planets in the systemwere the usual empty rocks, but the water on the fourth is whatcaught the interest of the EGAF Scout Vessel traveling throughthe system two solar cycles ago. The letter and the proceedingnumbers were for where the planet was located. Since the letterwas "R", the communications people took to calling it "Romeo",as per the military alpha/phonetic communications code.Besides fundamental plant and life like bushes and odd coloredgrasses, Romeo is deserted. The beautiful oceans have marineplants but the probes could find no animal life there either. Itis very odd indeed! Phillips thought, for such a desirable class-Mplanet. It's almost as if the ecology of the planet just started a fewsolar cycles ago.

Then, there is the satellite. Noted upon approach, it was toosmall for a moon, and too close to the planet. It appeared to bea small round stone ball circling the planet. It has no apparentpower source to keep its orbit and no detectable emissions. It wasanother puzzle that the scientists on board found so intriguing.Phillips did not like puzzles, particularly if those puzzles couldendanger his ship and crew.

Phillips put down his cup and headed for the Science Deck;he was tired of waiting. Passing navigation control, he spoketo Ensign Nomarie behind the console. "Ensign, LieutenantCommander Stil will take the Con." Nomarie looked up andresponded as he noted the time in the ship's computer log."Lieutenant Commander Stil has the Con, aye."

Lieutenant Commander Michael Stil, EGAF, is the ExecutiveOfficer of the Inquisitive. He also serves as the Ship's SecurityOfficer. He is standing behind the communications consoleobserving Chief Petty Officer, Bin a Giann crewmember, sendingthe daily reports back to EGAFC. (Earth/Giann Alliance FleetCommand), commonly pronounced, "Egaff-see," by the crew. Stilturned and acknowledged the order. "Ensign I have the Con."

Michael Stil, second in his class at the Fleet Academy, andnow has served with the Fleet for fourteen solar cycles. Stil is atall thin man with piercing blue eyes and quiet demeanor. Hehas a keen attention to detail and speaks with a clipped, Eastern,North American accent that suggests a New England heritage.Michael is now ambiguous about his career with the Fleet. Hiswealthy family was quite surprised when after graduating fromCambridge, he elected to go to the Fleet Academy. As his Fatheronce told him, "Our family builds Starships, we don't man them!"

His family was even more surprised when after the Academy,Michael married Angela Brook. Michael met Angela while atthe Academy, on Europa. She was working on her Doctoratein Geology at the time assisting Dr. Henry Chase with a fieldstudy on Europa. Michael was in love with Angela from the firstmoment he saw her. Angela was not stuffy and shallow like thesociety girls his mother preferred him to date. She was smart,beautiful and determined to make a difference in the universe.Angela had long, light brown hair, and the largest brown eyes thatMike had ever seen. At a little less than two meters tall, Angelabarely reached Michael's shoulder, but when they are togetherthey both say the match is perfect. Whether in...