Author's note: So, what's the consensus about Uncompromising Honor? 'Cats learning to shoot guns was a bit of stretch, but then again, it's science fiction.

#

The morning of July 20th, Rachel shared a happy reunion with her friends on academy flight pad #4. It helped with the unhappiness that she thought at times would consume her.

Let others who care share the load, she recalled.

The 20th was the day for second forms to report in, receive their academy tablets, identicards, pairs of two blue hashmarks for their uniforms, and take their official photos. Rachel and Angela were again roomed together, which both were grateful for. They both had a treecat, so it made perfect sense. After a long day, they were briefed by their second form advisors and dismissed for mess.

"Fall out for physical training at 0530! Don't be late, you don't want to start the term with demerits!"

#

The next morning at breakfast, Angela limped to the table with her breakfast tray and winced when she sat. "I have pain on top of my pain."

Athena chittered and flitted her tail. She enjoyed her person's humor. Rachel snickered and buttered her toast.

"Did you exercise at all during break?" Theresa asked.

Angela glanced at Diego. "Not the exercise you think, no."

Theresa rolled her eyes and looked to Rachel, who was eating with vigor.

"I ran three times a week and had a coup group, up until…" she shrugged, unable to say until I saw Thomas lying there in a coma.

Angela squeezed her hand and the 'cats crooned to soothe her troubled thoughts. Rachel knocked on the tabletop. "We have a whole thirty minutes to eat now, vice the twenty. Let's enjoy it."

"Here, here," Diego said and raised his glass.

After breakfast, Rachel scrolled through her tablet to see her assignments, lectures, and texts. All cadets had a common core of subjects, but they separated for their respective career track concentrations after lunch. For second forms the morning classes were Naval Operations, Second Form History, and Introduction to Tactics. The first half of the day rounded out with their chosen martial art training and weapons range.

After lunch, Rachel and Angela would attend Introductory Astrodynamics (for those taking flight training), Introductory Astrogation, and Propulsion Design. Three days a week their days would end with flight training, the other two their chosen extracurricular activity.

That night, the 'cats chirped and bleeked in amusement when their people flopped into bed, exhausted.

Angela sighed. "I'm glad we were in the simulator, I would have flown an actual Javelin right into the ground."

She sat up and dashed to Rachel's side, a look of abject apology on her face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to sound so glib about —"

Rachel shook her head and gave her friend a hug. "You and the others don't have to walk around eggshells around me, you know."

Their tablets vibrated and blinked, which usually meant that there was to be an important announcement for all to hear. The commandant's face appeared.

"Cadets, good evening. For our returning students, welcome back. For our first forms, get a good night's sleep. It's doesn't get any easier tomorrow."

He grinned and continued.

"After an exhaustive study done by the Admiralty, based largely on extensive surveys of flag officers and personnel that have graduated from this academy in the past five years, BuPers will make a change to the curriculum and training here at the academy."

He took a breath and continued. "Starting next year, the course of academy instruction will return to four years."

Angela and Rachel looked at each other when they heard the noise that had erupted in the wardroom.

"Given the rebuilding of our fleet and space stations, it was concluded that returning to a fourth year of education and training would be beneficial, especially in the areas of near-space mission training and flight training."

"Sometimes, we receive orders that we do not like, this may be one of those times. Our leaders will make decisions we do not agree with, but we perform our duties to the best of our abilities. There may be times when your posting will last longer than expected, but you do your duty nonetheless. This is expected of the most professional and skilled officer corps in the known universe. Good night to you all, the tradition lives."

#

The next day, Lieutenant Commander Hyland leaned against his desk and addressed his Propulsion Systems class. He also taught the Impeller Systems class for third forms.

"The general mood of the students after last night's news is mostly positive, as most students enjoy their time here at the academy. Think about it: there's 456 engineer candidates among the third forms; that's 456 engineers entering the fleet next June. There's 504 in your year, and 487 in the first forms. That's presumably 1,447 engineers that will enter the fleet. We lost over 20,000 engineers after the attacks of the past year, so take your studies seriously. You're needed."

He clapped his hands and took his place at the holopodium. "Let's be about it, shall we?"

#

A week into classes, she sat at her desk and shined her boots while she watched a vid about recreational fishing in Manticore's bay waters. Her personal comp chimed, indicating an incoming message. She paused the vid and scrolled to the mail screen. Her uncle's face appeared and she pressed the play button.

"I hope the new term finds you well. We heard about the changes to be made at the academy and the consensus here on Grayson is that it's a good change."

He took a breath and continued.

"As you might expect, I have news about Thomas. I'm so sorry, but he succumbed to his injuries this afternoon. It was peaceful and painless, surrounded by his family. I know it's cold comfort right now, but he's in a better place, in the light and glory of the Tester's arms. I'll be attending his memorial service tomorrow in MacGruder Steading, and he will be placed in the Macgruder Garden of Memory. Tester bless you."

She dropped her boots, shoved her feet into her running shoes, and flung open the door. Hipper and Nate ran after her, talking into his wrist chrono. Will and Noah emerged from their room next door and followed.

"Thomas Masterson passed away today," Angela reported to the curious cadets in the wardroom.

At the running track, she ran as fast as she could. She didn't notice her armsmen or Hipper trackside, watching her in concern. After two laps, she was heaving and sobbing miserably. She slowed and collapsed to the grass on the inside of the track. She stared at the darkening sky, tears flowing once more. Good bye, Thomas, I will always love you. Tester bless you. She heard crooning and felt soft hands pat her arm and face. She sat up and let Hipper and Athena settle on her lap, letting their soothing croons help settle her emotions. She buried her face in Hipper's fur.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered.

Should we be worried? Hipper wondered. I've never felt her mind as unsettled as this.

Athena looked at Angela, then back at Hipper. She loved Eyes of Sky with all her heart. When one loves with all their heart, the hurt is much deeper. He would have been a good mate for her. I've seen this many times with the People. At least she will not release her soul into the darkness, as many of the People do.

Hipper flattened his ears. Of course not!

Calm yourself, brother. I only meant that when a human loves with all their heart, they live with all their heart, as well.

August 25, 1922 PD

Second Form Dorm 12, 2nd floor ward room

Rachel and Theresa stared at a chessboard and considered their next move while Into the Fire played on the HD.

"What a midden toad," Rachel mumbled, regarding the host that was speaking, Minerva Prince. "There has to be something else on."

"Do they have a program like that on Grayson?" Theresa asked.

Rachel nodded. "It's called Grayson Tonight and it's just as awful as that," she said and waved toward the screen.

Into the Fire was interrupted by a breaking news cast. The newscaster glanced down at his fax sheet and spoke.

"Days ago, the planet Orca, in the Cachalot System," a star map appeared on the screen to show the planet's location, "was attacked by a fleet from the Solarian League Navy. We have a statement about the events of the attack from Orca President Miriam Jahnke."

"I am President Miriam Jahnke, of Orca. Three days ago, the Solarian League Navy carried out an unprovoked attack against my world, as part of an operation dubbed Buccaneer. This illegal action against our independent, neutral star system resulted in the destruction of all our industrial orbital infrastructures, to include the homes of over five million citizens. Additionally, they destroyed what system vessels we had. The mental gymnastics that Solarian League Admiral Capriotti used to justify this unprovoked attack on my world will be sent to as many worlds as possible. We ask for assistance from any world willing to help. You'll have to come to us, as we no longer have any space-faring capacity."

The SLN continued to Hypatia, with the intention of punishing Hypatia much like they did Orca, for voting to secede from the Solarian League. Hypatia was a planet of 2 billion people, to include 18 million in orbit and another 1.2 million in the system's Alexandria Belt. As they did at Orca, the intention was to carry out the complete destruction of the Hypatian orbital infrastructure.

The Solly Admiral, Gyozo, didn't care if the millions of civilians aboard the orbitals didn't evacuate in time of his deadline. He didn't care about possible Eridani violations. However, the RMN cared and had other ideas for Gyozo. Task Group 110.2 under RMN Rear Admiral Kotouc confronted the SLN ships with only nine ships. At the end of the eight-minute action, all nine RMN vessels were destroyed, but the cost to the SLN was higher: ninety-eight battlecruisers, forty cruisers, and thirty-two destroyers were lost due to Manticore's superior missile defense and EW. Admiral Gyozo was one of thousands Sollies lost.

Commander Megan Peterson of the HMS Arngrim was heartbroken and furious as she observed the action to report back to Manticore, per her last orders from Admiral Kotouc. To compound the atrocities, Admiral Gogunov, who had taken command of the Solly fleet, had every intention to fire upon the disabled RMN vessels and life pods, in a blatant violation of the Deneb accords and every facet of interstellar law. Commander Peterson decided that she could not stand by as helpless ships and life pods were blown out of space. She targeted Guganov's Lepanto from an improbable (from the Solly point of view) distance and reduced it to a drifting wreck. The remaining senior Solly, an Admiral Yountz, got the message and took his surviving ships from Hypatian space. Miraculously, Admiral Koutoc and his tactical officer were found clinging to life in a drifting escape pod.

Operation Buccaneer didn't go all the Sollie's way, a hard lesson learned. A SLN fleet bound for the independent star nation of Ajay Prime was fired upon by RMN Cruiser Squadron 9.12 under Commodore Martin Lessem. Another Solly admiral learned a hard lesson about Manticore's missile and EW superiority.

When a SLN task force emerged through the Ajay Prime terminus to advance to Ajay Prime, they found they were no match for LAC Group 117 under Commander Menendez. At the realization that the engagement was akin to clubbing kittens, she opted to disable the Solly ships and give them a chance to surrender.

First Lord of the Admiralty Hamish Alexander next appeared on the screen. "The Solarian League will have to answer for these unconscionable, unprovoked attacks against independent worlds; Orca, Hypatia, Maize, Snyder, Kenniac, Bryant. The Deneb accords and Eridani Agreement violations that the Solarian Navy blatantly committed goes beyond the pale, and furthermore..."

He shook his head, unable to articulate his anger and disbelief. The ward room was silent until Angela spoke. "My sister is right, the Sollies really are lunatics."

November 20, 1922 PD

Kreskin Field Pilot House

Over the course of the semester, Rachel's renewed focus on her studies found her near the top of her class. She let out her frustrations on the soccer field, coup mats, and weapons ranges. In flight class, she and the 36 other trainees were about to take their fifth Javelin flight, this time in full gear. The instructors were confident in the group. The class started out with 57 aspiring pilots, but the ones who weren't suited for atmospheric, speed-of-sound flight were weeded out after the first two flights, and 36 remained. Competition was fierce for the academy flight squadron try-outs in May, so they had to fly their best.

She saw her reflection on a monitor and mentally nodded in approval upon seeing the comfortable flight suit (no necktie!), helmet with video camera, counter-grav harness, parachute harness, holstered weapon, and boots. Lieutenant Weston clapped to get the class' attention.

"From here on out, you'll be flying in this full gear configuration. There will be times that you'll have to helm a shuttle or transport geared up, and you need to be accustomed to it. Aside from feeling a little cramped in the cockpit of a Javelin, none of the gear will get in the way of controlling the stick. Alpha squad, board your craft for pre-flight."

She waved to Angela and wished her a good flight. The class sat on flight couches and watched the first twelve board their craft, then the HDs as 12 helmet views flicked on.

"Helmet feed checks!" was heard from flight control.

Angela, who was Alpha 4, confirmed, "Aye, control, good feed."

"Beacons on."

"Aye, control, good beacon."

"All flights, fire up your engines and take your places on runway Bravo Two."

She saw all the video feeds tremor when the powerful engines fired up.

"Control, this is Alpha 4, all systems are a go."

"Alpha 4, you are cleared for departure."

"Roger, flight."