Finally, the days came and went, and they boarded a shuttle on the superior skin of the Hegemon-4 for the two-minute flight to their new home.

The forward screen brought the Brigantine into full view as the shuttle angled to port. Although Josh had caught glimpses of the Brigantine while piggy-backing on Ishan and on his way to their showdown with Kyon Shi on his Dreadnaught, seeing it like this really blew him away. It was an impressive structure—very differently than the massive Hegemon-4. Which, despite its great size, was built for quick maneuvers and combat. The Brigantine was a city-sized ship laid out in the general shape of a hexagon. A central region Josh thought of as ‘downtown’ hosted hundreds of spires, with the command bridge on top of the tallest. Downtown was surrounded by six evenly spaced, broad, flat planes jutting from a center hub like spokes on a wheel. Alysa had called them limbs, and they were in the shape of 'spades' from a deck of playing cards. Relatively narrow gaps separated them from each other.

Josh had often heard it said that the Brigantine was the size of a city. But saying it and understanding it were two very different things. He got his first dose of real perspective for the Brigantine’s size as he looked through their shuttle's viewport. Thousands of blinking dots flew from place to place over the Brigantine's skin and in the gaps of the ship’s limbs. Cargo and transport vessels getting ready for departure... They’re just tiny specks. This ship is a monster! And it’s all ours!

This realization about the Brigantine pointed out to Josh how much had changed in his life. A few short months ago, he had been a soon-to-be-divorced man sitting alone on a park bench, screaming his frustrations into the sky. Today, he was literally moving to the stars in his own city. For the positive changes, Josh owed his Karmic brother, Sen, a fallen Immortal combat specialist who routinely quoted wisdom of the ages that would make a Buddha take notes... and who was turning into quite the Trekkie. A full-blown Star Trek fanatic, actually.

After their training sessions, when Josh had been chasing down leads on the Sundai for Ishan and spending time with Sophie, Sen had been catching up on the ‘historic recordings’ of the Enterprise and her five-year mission. Right now, Sen was making sure Josh knew of his serious concerns about Mr. Roddenberry’s universe.

“Joshua! Explain it to me! Why do the Ensigns continue to go on the landing parties with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy if so many are destined to die? Are they suffering under an oppressive regime? Will Karma demand that we intervene on their behalf?”

Pulled out of his revelry over the brilliant glory of the Brigantine and the strange turns of his life, Josh gave Sen a sideways glance.

“Sen, we’re moving into our new home, a spaceship the size of a city— that, for my life, makes me think of Boston's first album.” Josh raised his hands to guide Sen’s attention out of the viewport. “...And with all of this around us, 'redshirt attrition' is what you are worried about right now?"

"…Well... yes! I feel a closeness with Mr. Spock. A lone stranger in a world alien to himself because of his birth… And as you said, 'We owe him big time.' I cannot believe he is involved in the wholesale slaughter of his own security forces. But... and this is a big BUT Josh, he is far too competent not to be aware of their disproportionate death rate. What is really going on?!"

"C'mon, Sen, it can't be that bad. What is it, like ten or eleven guys with red shirts that die in the eighty or so historical records I showed you?"

"No, Josh! It's twenty-seven red shirts that die in the seventy-nine historical records. I won't tolerate it—"

The young Kaizuko pilot interrupted Sen's tantrum as he was about to accelerate into a gale force 10 tirade.

"—Sirs? We have arrived. A greeting party has formed on the landing deck. Are you ready to meet them?"

"Oh... Of course..." Sen pulled himself back from the edge, fixing his clothes self consciously.

~Don't worry, brother… We'll discuss it later. I'll show you subsequent historical documents. The redshirt death rate drops substantially as they improve their tactics.~

Sen’s eyes widened. ~Really!? There is more Spock?~

I gave him a crooked smile. ~You bet there is!~

Alysa came through on their earpieces, "Josh and Sen, just go with it. Jishin and I agree that it is important for ship-wide morale."

"Huh…Wha—" Josh got nervous with Alysa’s ambiguity. He had learned the hard way during their sparring that she could be downright devious when necessary.

Josh and Sen exited the shuttle and were stunned. Thousands of troops stood in full battle dress at parade rest. On the starboard side stood dozens of ranks of space marines from the Hegemon-4. On the port side, even more rows of elite armored defense forces from the Brigantine. All were led by Alysa, who was flanked by Ishan, Lobo, Jishin, and his two junior helmsmen, Zurui and Amnaki. There were also two figures neither Josh nor Sen had met.

Josh blinked. ~This is an army Sen... A real army!~

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Sen gave a knowing nod. ~Did you think we were playing, brother?~

~Not anymore...~ Josh swallowed shallowly.

The first of the two unknown figures was a severe man with short-cropped gray hair and a spider web of scars on the right side of his dark-skinned face. He wore the same armor as the elite Brigantine guard. His plates showed signs of a lifetime of heavy use, followed by well-applied maintenance and many repairs. He wished to simply be called Mzamo.

"I keep the Brigantine’s security and combat forces in line." Mzamo said as he introduced himself, all the while maintaining a strict line of sight just over Josh's right shoulder.

Of that, Josh had no doubt. Mzamo moved with an efficiency that spoke of a swift strength you wouldn't want to run afoul of. Josh and Sen returned his crisp, fisted salute.

Sen nodded. ~There is more to him than meets the eye.~

~Seems so...~ Josh blinked.

The second newcomer was a tall, thin, tubular figure adorned in red and black plating. Whirling mechanical arms and crimson optic sensors greeted them with court etiquette and a formal bow. Dantor-ZS spoke in a voice that translated cultured, educated, and stiff through Josh's interface.

"A sincere pleasure to meet you, your Eminence. I am Dantor-ZS, a seneschal android at your service. I am presented as a late gift by the Kotei. I understand that the previous commander of this ship... dismissed his AI seneschal—A clear sign of unstable mentation—and it seems that the Kotei's staff failed to deliver me as a replacement until after repairs were complete. The Kotei wanted me to assure you that “heads have rolled” for this oversight.

Jishin leaned in, covered a cough with his thick hand, and spoke in a low tone. "Ahem, It's true, Sir. Dezain had our last seneschal spaced and vaporized for insubordination when he wouldn’t support the planned attack on the Hegemon-4."

Alysa stepped forward stiffly and bowed slightly as she gestured to a raised platform. "Your Eminence, your troops await your orders."

Josh nodded to Sen. ~You better get up there.~

Sen gave a Cheshire Cat’s smile. ~This is completely political, brother... Besides, you are 'His Eminence.' I am merely an officer.~

Josh’s wide-eyed stare followed the man’s statement. ~WHAT?!~

~The Kaizuko charter is very clear.~ Sen’s laughter was barely contained, though still communicated through their mental connection. ~There can be only one commander. Alysa advised me of this, and we both voted for you. Your vote didn't matter at that point. We decided to inform you as you needed to know. Which is now. So, get up there and live up to your codename, Mighty Mouth!~

~...I will have my vengeance.~ Josh mentally growled.

Sen glanced at him dryly. ~I'm sure. You can reap it in our next training session.~

Public speaking wasn't an issue for Josh. He was, or at least had been, a criminal defense attorney. Talking in public and lying with a truthful face were required skills. Skills he still had in his bag of tricks... But this is different. If the past was any indication, these men and women could be asked to fight, maybe, to die for us. For me! Josh couldn’t and wouldn’t lie to them.

So, what do I say to them?

Josh walked stiff shouldered up to the dais.

What do these soldiers, my soldiers, want and need to hear--Why don't you find out, you ‘fool of a Took!’

Quoting Tolkien to himself was a sure sign he was nervous. But it’s still a good idea!

Josh quickly spread out his Mindscape and tapped the front two minds on either side. All four wanted to know essentially the same thing: why, who, and what.

Why are we here?

Are we going to make it back home?

Who are these guys? They don't look like much.

What is different about this commander compared to Dezain?

Josh liked his lips. Ok. The truth should work here... I hope.

Standing tall with a straight back. "I'm Joshua Elias Tanner. I'm not from... here.” Josh held his hands to the sides, indicating the universe. “I'm from a long, long way away.” He sent a quick glance to Sen and Alysa. “Lately, things have been dangerous. It seems that all I'm doing is going from battle to battle. Sometimes saving those I care about, sometimes being saved. This will now include you all.”

Josh raised his hand to the line of officers behind Alysa. “These leaders are not just my friends. We have been through enough for me to consider them family. Karma is showing me that will be true for the leaders from the Brigantine very soon as well.” Josh paused and looked several of the standing troops in the eye. “...I want this to be true for each and every one of you. As your commanders will confirm if you ask them, I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family and bring them home!

"Look at the soldiers on the other side of the aisle from you.” Josh paused briefly for them to take him seriously, nodding so they would do as he asked.” After a brief moment many did look across the aisle as the ‘strangers in their midst.’

Josh turned to the Hegemon-4 side of the auditorium. “...Space marines from the Hegemon. You have the best training and equipment in the iteration. No one can compete with you in the areas of weapons use, demolitions, tactical combat, or void mobility and survival. But understand... You all come from an Essence-depleted portion of our iteration. Each and everyone of the elite forces from the Brigantine have already started their path of Cultivation. Because of this, they exceed your physical capabilities in combat by a large margin.”

Josh turned to the Brigantine side. “...Elite forces of the Brigantine, you understand the basics of Cultivation and can apply it with skill when necessary. But to be a true field strength force, you must master the application of combat skills and the technology available from the Hegemon-4. Until then you will merely be single fighters to be taken down one at a time...

Josh raised his hands to both sides of the aisle. "Together, you have the potential to be a deadly force any sane spirit beings should think twice about confronting. My goal is to bring you all to the same level of advanced combat ability amplified with Cultivation skills. I will do this—" Josh leaned over to the side of the elite forces, hanging over his podium, staring at them. "by supplying the necessary training and equipment." He then did the same to the space marines. “...By awakening your Cultivations."

Let’s see if I have their attention now.

Josh paused. The silence was deafening.

Good!

"Follow my orders from the officers I have placed above you, serve each other, and I will serve you. Protect my family, and I will protect yours. Have no doubt of our success, and lastly,” he raised his arms and took in the entire Brigantine, “...Welcome home!"

Applause erupted from both sides of the auditorium as he stepped back, turned, and let the leaders guide him out of the hangar bay.

Josh shot a glance at his brother. ~...Well?~

Sen snorted. ~That's why we voted for you, brother!~