Three years later

  Tundra, Megalodon City, Standard Year 392

  “I’m so proud of you, son.” His father said. They were sitting around the informal table in the kitchen. His parents, Jim and Samantha Hawk sat on one side. Robert Nagar, the head of the Tundran Secret Service and an old family friend, sat on the other. It had been his mother’s brilliant idea to give James what was essentially, the same name as his dad’s. The kitchen window was left open, letting in the chilly summer breeze and framing a perfect view of the sprawling city far below. The fire crackled softly in the fireplace behind him, compensating for the chill.

  “I know you’re not thrilled about this.” His father acknowledged. “But you’ve earned the right to be a part of this year’s Dragon City memorial speech. You’ve accomplished what’s never been done. Since we’ve instituted the cheating round, no one has won every round of war games for their school. You’re the first to win every competition. And your decision to join the naval academy will be a central focus of my speech this year, whether you like it or not.”

  “If you make me a part of the event, it screams nepotism. I need to stand on my own.”

  His father shrugged, dismissing the argument. “The allegations of nepotism are inescapable. And yes, it is a weakness. It’s built in. Accept it. Turn it into a strength where you can and move past it where you cannot.”

  “So you admit it is a weakness. And weaknesses, need to be minimized. What you’re proposing will make it worse.” James said, doing his best to hold on to his patience.

  “There are people whose loyalty you will gain with this speech. With the public knowledge that you have my support.” His father said firmly.

  “That’s not real loyalty.” James said sharply. “Are these the allies you want me to have? Real loyalty has to be earned through my own merit. You’re taking away that opportunity. Everything I do…”

  “It not an either or.” His father said, leaning forward. “It is never an either or. Take the support of those who will give it because you were born into power. And earn the true loyalty of others through your abilities. You don’t have to choose, James. You can have both. Do you understand?”

  “I understand.” James said. There was just the slighted edge of uncertainty to his words. But he did understand.

  “It is decided. You will have to work around the problem, James. I have no doubt you’re more than up to the task.”

  “Robert?” James asked, turning towards the head of the Tundran Secret Service, knowing perfectly well he was grasping at straws.

  Robert had been sitting, eerily still as he stared into the fire. “You can always join the Tundran Secret Service.” He offered slowly. “We don’t do speeches.”

  “Relax.” James said with a slight smile, turning back towards his father. At least Robert managed to score a point and make his dad nervous. Few people ever did. “I don’t want to join the TSS. Although all credit to Robert, for knowing just how to make it sound appealing.”

  “Do you need help with your part of the speech?” His father offered.

  “No. I already sent it to you.”

  “Terrifyingly competent sometimes, this one.” Jim Hawk shook his head, slapping his son on the back before he turned to Robert. “Reminds me of you.”

  Robert ignored the comment. He was sitting in the way that he had, so still it seemed he was barely breathing.

  “It’s the fortieth.” Samantha Hawk said, looking at Robert. This year, the naval academy swearing in ceremony fell on the 40th anniversary of the nuclear attack on Dragon City. Tundra was a relatively newly occupied planet with a small population. Forty years ago, there were perhaps twelve million of them altogether. And after the attack on Dragon City, there were less than nine million left. Over a quarter of Tundra’s population had been wiped out in the attack. As children, Jim and Samantha Hawk had been one of the few survivors of that event. The rest of their families, were exterminated.

  “It is the fortieth.” Robert Nagar acknowledged. And a cold chill that had nothing to do with the summer breeze stole over the cozy kitchen. Robert was the oldest of them, and his presence reminded everyone of what it was they were remembering, on the fortieth anniversary of the destruction, of Dragon City.

  “It’s going to be at the memorial.” Jim Hawk said quietly. “My speech and the naval academy swearing in ceremony was relocated this year.”

  “It’s where you announced you would run for president. I’m glad I could be there to hear the speech.” Samantha smiled slightly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “I timed it so you could.”

  “Will you be there?” James asked, turning to Robert.

  “Of course. In both my professional and my personal capacity.”

  “Any advice?”

  “Not every battle has to be won and not every tool has to be used.” Robert said quietly. “Use your judgement.”

  “And if I don’t want to do the speech?”

  “It is up to you.” Robert said, ignoring the look Jim Hawk shot his way. No one could make James do something he didn’t want to do. That had been true for some time. “If you truly believe it’s the wrong choice, don’t do it.”

  “Relax dad.” James said with a grin. “I know it’s the right choice.” He turned to his mother, his eyes slightly puzzled. She had been quiet all through dinner, which was unlike her. “Everything ok?” He asked.

  “It’s fine.” Samantha Hawk answered. “Get some sleep.”

  James narrowed his eyes slightly, but chose to accept the dismissal. “I suppose I better get some sleep ahead of the speech.” He said. “Good night.”

  They all watched James leave the room, before Jim Hawk turned towards his wife. “What is it?” He asked.

  “I want you to stop this.” Samantha Hawk said abruptly.

  “Stop… stop what?” Jim asked, puzzled.

  “I want you to stop him. Stop him from joining the academy. Forbid it. I want you to do this for me.”

  “I…” Jim stared at his wife, his mouth slightly open in shock. “Sam, where is this coming from?”

  “He is my son. My only son. I won’t have another one. It’s a miracle I ever had this one. And he could die, Jim. Forbid it. I don’t want him in the academy.”

  “Sam, I can’t do that.”

  They sat in silence, glaring at each other across the kitchen table.

  “I should go.” Robert said, moving to get up.

  “It is your war as much as it is ours.” Jim Hawk said quietly. He turned back to his wife. “You want me to send the children of others to die while we keep our son safe?”

  “Yes.” Samantha said. “I’ve done enough. You’ve done enough. We’ve all paid in blood. I want my son safe.”

  “Robert.” Jim Hawk turned to his right hand man.

  “You know what I’m going to say.” Robert pointed out.

  “It is not his choice!” Samantha Hawk shouted. “It wasn’t my choice. Jim fired me from the secret service after I led the most successful bloody mission you’ve ever had. So that I would be safe. And you, Robert, you let him. That wasn’t my choice. Why does James, a seventeen year old boy, get to choose?”

  “He didn’t ‘let me’, my dear.” Jim Hawk pointed out. “I was his boss. He followed my orders.”

  “And now? Why can’t you give the order now?”

  “You were ready to follow that order, Sam. Not particularly graciously, but you were ready. James is a seventeen year old boy whose planet is under attack, who has been trained to fight since before he could walk. What do you expect him to do?”

  “Are we?” Samantha asked sharply.

  “Are we what?”

  “Are we under attack, Jim? Where are the bombs they’re attacking us with? Where are the ships?”

  “Sam.” Jim Hawk frowned, taken aback. “How can you even ask that question? Saraya is denying our right to exist.”

  “That’s as may be. But they’re denying it rather quietly, from their planet. Saraya has made no move to attack Tundra for the past forty years. How many of us need to die to take the battle to them?”

  “They’ve attacked our outposts.” Jim Hawk said quietly. “They remain on Titan, a planet even further from our sun than Tundra. They have us surrounded in this solar system. That will not be my legacy. And it will not be my son’s legacy. You will have to trust James to survive.”

  “Robert?” Samantha Hawk said sharply, turning to her old boss.

  There was a long silence as Robert sat eerily still, his eyes on the fire. “Saraya.” He said quietly “has not yet finished paying for Dragon City. Good night to you both.”

  ---

  The night before, James watched a video of his father’s speech, the one where he announced his intention to run for president. It had been a perfect Tundran summer day, the sun shining down from a cloudless sky. And the crowd seemed endless. The morning of the fortieth anniversary of the destruction of Dragon City dawned cold and rainy, the rain periodically turning to sleet and hail. And the crowd was larger, ranging far beyond the perimeter of the memorial. The cold stone pillar with millions of names carved into its surface loomed behind his back. The sound of his father’s voice echoed across the crowd.

  “And now, I could not be more proud to preside over this year’s naval academy swearing in ceremony, starting with my own and only son, and the most successful cadet in naval history, James Hawk.”

  The roar of the crowd was deafening. On some level, James knew that they would have applauded and cheered almost anything he and his father said. It could be seen as an empty, somewhat meaningless gesture of support. But it wasn’t. Because these were the same people that would someday follow orders and die at his command. Attending the rally, standing out in the sleet, cheering, that was just how it all began. James walked up to the podium.

  “Thank you all for coming.” He began. “And for staying, in spite of the weather.”

  There was the sound of muted chuckles and laughter from the crowd. The rain had turned into sleet, in spite of the supposedly warmer weather of the afternoon. It was falling on all of them equally, and no one was leaving.

  “A lot of you think I’m here because of my dad. And you’re all right.”

  More laughter came, this time even louder.

  “I’m making this speech because of my dad. And I’ll level with you all. He made me do it.”

  James grinned in relief as more laughter came, people stamping their feet in support.

  “But I’m not joining the naval academy because of my dad. I’m volunteering to join the navy for the same reason we all are. To protect our home. To serve my people. I’m proud to be here today. And I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given so far." And then James shifted his stance, moved his shoulders just slightly. But it was enough. The cloak of self deprecation that never quite fit fell away and his icy gray eyes scanned the crowd. "Some of us start out with more." He said. "Some of us start out with less. But we are all here for the same reason. We are all here to protect our home. We are all here to win. And I will use anything and everything I’ve been given, to make that happen. Victory, is all!”

  "Victory is all!" The crowd shouted as one.

  It was a short speech, but he said all he wanted to say. The rest, the part where he would earn the loyalty of those who weren’t foolish enough to give it away because someone came and made a speech, that he would earn over time.