The fleet during the night received news that the Earth had agreed to help the Teyven and build a fleet to combat the alien forces coming toward them. The grand admiral walked the bridge of the dreadnought with two other high ranking officers loyal to his fleet.
Admiral Kella'dora who served with the grand admiral on many of his campaigns, he watched her go from young fighter pilot, then to engineering school to become the chief engineer of the fleet. If he was not married, he often thought Kella would have made a favorable mate, he read her plan to build the fleet on Earth. It called for using the large wide-open spaces on the planet to build large capital ships like heavy cruisers and frigates. Smaller areas could be used for construction of fighters and build the technologies to place into the bigger ships. He signed the data pad and approved her plan to build the ships, then he took a pad from the Admiral, Admiral Tega'avata former superintendent of the Teyven military academy.
His plan outlined how he was going to train the military, scientific and engineering people on Earth. The fleet would have to send a lot of key personnel down to the planet, while still leaving enough people on board the ship's of the fleet. He approved this plan as well, but he could not have the earth ship's flying around in battle not knowing what they were doing.
"Kella does you think you can have a fleet built in six months?" He asked her showing obvious concern in his face.
"Well Kova, if what this Rick Thomas tells us about the people of Earth is true, we should be able to do it, they sound like a race of hard-working peoples and they are no strangers to a war." She replied.
"Yes and all we are doing now is pushing them ahead a couple hundred-year technologies wise." Said Tega'avata.
"Yes speaking of Rick, Derna is giving him his first flying lesson in the training fighter and then on to the little surprise I have waiting for him." Said Kova. "I have my personal shuttle prepared to take you to Earth, and the pilot already has the coordinates."
They turned and left the Grand Admiral on the bridge alone with the androids who manned the great dreadnought. He went over to the scanning station and scanned for the training fighter and watched his Earth friend and Derna. Rick was going through different maneuvers and he seemed to have a natural feel for flying a space borne fighter.
On board the fighter Rick and Derna were going through several basic maneuvers for beginners. Derna was amazed at how well Rick was at handling the small ship, and Rick was surprised at how the Teyven designed the fighter. Everything the pilot needed was either within easy reach and all of the video readouts were clear and easy to read.
"Okay Ricks do you want to try some target practice, and this fighter is only equipped with laser cannons, no rockets." Derna explained.
"Sure Derna, what do you want me to shoot at?" Rick laughed.
"Releasing drones now, two drones have just been released you should see them on the targeting computer to your right." Derna explained.
The drones appeared out in front of the fighter and Derna programmed them to evade on the first skill level. Rick following Derna's instruction targeted and flew the fighter to attack the drones, the first one was easy to kill. Derna turned up the drone's evasion program to level three, and Rick followed it trying to line up the fighter for the kill of the other drone.
Rick surprised Derna with his next maneuver, he broke off his original attack and increased his speed to flank the drone and come around to the front of it. The drone's computer could not calculate a new evasion maneuver in time and Rick blew it up.
"Wow my friend with a little more training you could fly with my royal squadron." Derna praised him.
"Thank you and this would not be possible if not for such a good instructor." Rick replied.
"Now here is a new set of coordinates, but I want you to head over to and land on that heavy cruiser." Derna said.
"All right I'm on my way to it." Said Rick.
Rick guided the fighter to the new coordinates and landed on the flight deck of the heavy cruiser. He took his helmet off and looked around the deck, most of the crews of the ship were standing at attention on the flight deck in what appeared to be a dress uniform.
"Wow I know you are royalty, do they do this every time you visit a ship?" Asked Rick as they climbed out of the cockpit.
"No, this is for you." Said Derna.
"For me!?" Rick said as he caught sight of Karen and Bryan now running toward the training fighter.
"Yes we renamed this ship to be called the Ambassador's Flagship, the Grand Admiral felt it was only fitting you are given a heavy cruiser due to your position as Ambassador." Derna explained.
"Oh honey, the ship has wonderful large family sized quarters for us and we would have a shuttle that would take us to Earth to get our belongings so we can make it more like home." Karen said to hug him tightly.
"Yes but sweetheart when the shooting starts wouldn't you and Bryan is safer at my grandparents old farm than up here." He said to her.
"I only feel safe when I'm with you my love and if you were to die aboard this ship in battle, I don't want to face a life without you, we will send Bryan to safety, he will stay with my parents."
She replied kissing him on the lips.
"Rick's this is Commander Merva'atak, and he will be your ship's commander." Derna said to introduce the commander to Rick.
"It is a pleasure to meet your commander." Said Rick sticking his hand out to the alien.
"Yes it is a pleasure to meet your ambassador." The commander stuck his hand out after Derna nodded to him to do so.
"The Grand Admiral personally picked this ship due to the commanders outstanding military record and loyalty to the emperor." Explained Derna.
"I live to serve the empire and now I serve your ambassador." The commander said with a bowed head.
"Well Commander if that is the case you will start by calling me Rick, unless conditions warrant you calling me an ambassador and you, your crew will not bow your head when talking to me, look me in the eye like you would be anyone else." Rick felt that his first order would go over well.
"Now shout as loud as you can 'long live the empire'." Derna whispered in his ear.
"LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" Rick shouted.
"WOO-HAH, WOO-HAH, WOO-HAH!" Shouted the crew of the flagship as loud as they could.
"Well I see you have a way too win the hearts and minds of your crew." Said the commander. "They will serve you well."
"Hey Ricks take a few minutes to change and then meet me aboard the shuttle, we have to go to Earth." Said Derna. "We have to meet with your countries' vice president and someone from your military."
