4: ALL ALLONG THE WATCHTOWER

Back on Ravnica we all were on alert. We are now in a shooting war with Relar's Romulans. Lucky for us angels need no sleep on Ravnica. The Parhelion II was being manned watch on watch by the angels when the companions needed sleep. But then that's how they ran with the first Parhelion. But then there were ten times as many angels!

I was on the bridge musing. Even when we were docked to the top of Sunhome, I still took a bridge watch. "I'm just glad that Szadeck didn't run into Relar before we built this ship."

"What makes you say that?" Razia asked.

"How many photons would the first Parhelion take?" I queried back.

"The first one or two would probably have vaporized it. And I was having angelic escorts flying wing. Relar would have burned them down with his disruptors – which wouldn't be set on stun!"

"And our life link would do nothing to stop the carnage…"

"At least we now have both Sunhome and Centerfort shielded," Pense mentioned. "I just wonder what those four extra plasma conduits are for?"

"Sunhome is going to be armed," I answered. "The four slab sides of the building are each being fitted with a Type 22 phaser strip."

"But the only thing big enough to mount a type 22 is Space dock!"

"And how tall is Sunhome?" I asked.

"Tall enough to mount one vertically," Razia interjected. "But where are we going to get the power for something that big?"

"Our new antimatter reactor," I replied.

"Our … new … antimatter … reactor?" Razia was definitely shocked. I was actually going to be storing antimatter, on the ground, in a ten-millennium old building.

"And how do you safety that antimatter containment?"

"The pods have a ground based ejection system built into them. A tractor beam assembly built into the base repels the pods clean into space, straight up through the ejection tubes."

"And you are installing eight of them, aren't you?" Caladea had entered the bridge a few moments ago. "And I thought you might be putting in turbo elevators!"

"We had a difficult enough time getting the plasma conduits installed. Aside from power, sensors, shields and weapons I'm not in the business of remodelling Sunhome. I'm just bringing its defences up to spec," I stated. "Question is, are we on a two front war?

"With whom would we also be at war with?" Razia asked.

"The Golgari," I replied. "After all, we did blow up Endara's space station."

"That was clearing the space lanes of hazardous debris!" Razia claimed. "No Endara already has it out for us, but he's on his own. The Golgari don't have the capacity to take on my Legion even if they bought up a couple of ship-fulls of Romulan side arms, and Szadek sure won't help him."

"A fellow vampire?" I had to ask.

"It doesn't work like that. Vampires consider each other to be rivals. That's good for us as it keeps their numbers down," Razia answered.


I awoke with Razia wrapped around me. Sara must be on the bridge. "You know, those antimatter pods you want to install-"

"Are safer than parking the 'Helion atop of Sunhome," I finished.

"How?" Razia asked.

"The ejection system of the pods in this ship is only space rated," I answered. "They won't work from here. Why do you think that the impulse engines stays hot?"

"I see. And you were planning to mention this when?"

"I wasn't. The internal engineering of this ship is the purview of Ellen, Pense, Caladea, Brent, and Marie."


Razia and I entered the bridge after having breakfast. Razia sidled up to Caladea who was on the engineering console. "Do you know that our antimatter containment system is not rated for sitting here atop Sunhome?" Razia quietly asked of Caladea.

"Star ships aren't built that way. That's why we keep our impulse engines ticking over, and the reason spaceports are usually built well away from populated areas," Caladea quietly replied.

Satisfied, Razia returned to my chair. "See, I wasn't lying to you," I mentioned.

Razia was surprised that I overheard them. "Anything else that I should be made aware of?"

"Not as guild Parun and Guild master," I answered.

"Feather is still the Guild master." That got a raised eyebrow. "And Edana is head of the League of Wojeks. The commander-general only answers to her, instead of the guild mages."

"Speaking of guild mages," I mentioned as Calrea entered the bridge and took up the tactical station. She was wearing her cadet uniform. "She will have to be trained for both mana-less and mana-verses."


The shift ended quietly without incident. Strange. No Romulans to be found on the planet outside of Teysa's spaceport. And they seemed to be making it a point of being respectful to the Wojeks patrolling there. Then a call came in from the guild mage chambers. Knew it was too good to be true. Razia took the call, this time I didn't overhear the conversation. Then she came back to Sara and I. "We have to go," Razia ordered. John and Pense had just entered, and he got the center seat.


We were back in the guild mages chambers, which were starting to look a lot like a star ships bridge. With the scanners and tactical stations going in with the battle computers, alongside the engineering station. The scanners were tied into the main view screen, but there was no center seat. A semicircular bench, which held the head mages, was located there. It was what was on the view screen that was the puzzle.

"It's not the Orzhov, that we have determined. And they are definitely headed here," the head guild mage stated.

"All along the watchtower …" I mused aloud.

"What was that?" Sara asked

"Lyrics. Outside in the cold distance, a wildcat did growl. Two riders were approaching, and the wind began to howl." I finished.

"But we are looking at two flights … of angels. Fairly well armed it appears," Razia said. "The sky-knights?"

"Are following but not closing. Those angels haven't made any hostile moves, and just seem to be coming here," the guild mage replied.

"Stephen?"

"Wait it out. I have a hunch. Besides if they decide to land on Sunhome they will be directly under the 'Helion's guns." I concluded with, "Bet this are Reya and Elspeth's doing."

Sara asked, "All at once?"

"Only one way to find out."


The two flights of angels landed on the top of Sunhome. They seemed to be waiting. It was hard to give orders on this windy day, but John was alerted to our guests. One of the angels cast a spell, and the winds died down.

The three of us cleared the top stairwell, and stood facing the now one group of angels. They were of at least two well identifiable species. The group of two winged angels contrasted with the other group … of 6-winged angels! All of them regarded me with curiosity, but seemed to have been briefed on my expected presence. I looked the groups of angels over and turned to Razia. "Razia, it's Reya and Elspeth."

All of those angels bowed down. The lead two winged angel spoke. "Holiest, Reya and Elspeth told us to seek you out …"

Razia just looked at me. "Told you so."

One of the other angels was about to say something to me, when Razia just put an arm around me. That rather shocked angel decided against it.

"Why? Why come here of all places?" Razia asked the group.

"Ask Sarrasa why she is here!" At least one Battlegrace angel is in the mix.

"Sara is here by her own choice. She has decided to stay at my side rather than stay on Alara," I replied.

The lead angel shushed his companion. "Elspeth told us that your legion could use reinforcements in your angelic echelon after suffering a great loss. All of us here have been torn from our original worlds. From the destruction of Serra's realm, to many other victims of Pyrexia, we wandered the multi-verse, looking for a real purpose, rather than just helping here and there."

Then the lead 6-winged angel spoke up. "Our situation is different. We were trapped in a crystalline 'object' and cast into the void by a powerful being. We believe that this being was a planes walker. Elspeth found us in the void and brought us here."

"And where is this crystalline object?" I asked.

"Elspeth said that she would leave it in 'orbit' and that you should have no problem retrieving it if you wished."

"Do you mind waiting here a moment?" Sara asked the group.

"No. We await your decisions."

The three of us retreated down the stairwell.

"So, it seems that Elspeth has decided to recruit any wayward angels for the Boros. If they will integrate into our ranks, then I have no problem with it." Razia stated. Then she looked at me. "Oh no, you see a problem."

"We'll need a bigger boat," I stated. "The 'Helion was designed to house a total of 180 personnel, and a full crew of 143. This group on the roof alone, with our mortal recruits puts us at our limit. And I bet more will be on the way."

"That's the problem? Then we'll build a bigger boat."

That was unexpected! "And where will we be building this bigger boat? The closest shipyards are in Wa-Lu"

"For now," Razia had a look of fake innocence on her face. "You run the ship, I run the guild. Let's just say that there will be a small shipyards going into orbit around Ravnica. It will be built in cargo pods that will be towed here for assembly into the final yards. We expect to have 6 slips, a refinery, and two mining ships. We will have to share guild symbols on it with the Orzhov. That also means star ship crew candidates amongst the mortals will need to be evaluated and trained."

"Lets get back upstairs then." We returned to the group.

"I have decided to accept you into the Boros Legion," Razia declared. "However the experience may be not what you expected it to be!"

That left some of the group with puzzled expressions.

One angel spoke up. "I have a question for the human."

"Call me Fleet Captain Michael."

"How did you know that we weren't hostile? We were warned about your paranoia," the angel queried.

"I didn't. But you are angels and I expect a certain amount of honour from you," I replied.

"And?" This angel was intuitive!

I looked up at the Parhelion II. "And we all are under my guns, with my first officer sitting on the triggers."

"But you are here as well?"

"Yes. John has orders to blast us all. We would wake up in sickbay and you would wake up in the brig."

"We have a brig?" Razia asked.

"Right behind Tony and Dwayne's office," I replied. "We do have a security detail on board." I turned to the new angels. "We will need to get you settled in and checked out. Follow me."


Two days later I had my first formal address of the new angels, as well as a few others. I looked over the new cadets, with a bit of amusement. There were the 6 Emeria angels, sporting their grey uniforms with no less than 6 wing sleeves each! We had retrieved their crystal artefact from orbit and were still studying it. Then there was the other contingent, of two winged angels. Two Serra angels, two Serra advocates, one Serra's Herald, and two Battlegrace angels rounded out the angels. However outnumbering them were the two-dozen mortals also in the room. The real surprise were the two goblins that were wearing cadet uniforms! The mortal contingent consisted of 16 humans, a dozen from the guild mages and four from the skyjeks. Six Minotaurs also wore the grey cadet's uniform.

"Welcome to the second Boros Star ship Academy. I don't give formal speeches as I figure that that's a waste of your time. You have already got the skinny about what the Academy is and your role as training for star ship duty. I will go over the parallel rank systems that occur on a Boros star ship, if you wish. Otherwise, I'm here to answer the awkward questions that I know that some of you have."

A pregnant pause… Then one of the Battlegrace angels stood up.

"I have a personal question, if you are willing to answer it."

"Perhaps. Ask your question,' I replied

He asked, "What is your relationship with Razia?"

OK, lets start out with the tough ones. "I am Razia's life-linked companion and her lover," I stated.

The shock of the answer drove the angel into his seat. "But your relationship with Sarrasa..."

"I am also Sara's life-linked companion and her lover," I answered.

That silenced the entire room. Then the angel regained his composure. "But … how is that possible?"

"Both angels decided to share me, as was their will. I was quite happy to go along with it. The rest is a personal matter." I ended that line of discussion.

"But … Razia is the Guild Parun, and I see her deferring to your orders…"

"Ah. I see. First of all let me explain. As an angels bonded companion I am considered to be the angels equal, in most matters. But on board the star ship there is a defined hierarchy, which is different than the hierarchy outside in the rest of the Boros Legion. The chain of command on board is: I am Fleet Captain and therefore god, as this is my ship after all-"

"What do you exactly mean by 'your ship'?" The angel asked.

"The Parhelion II is my personal property. I paid for its construction out of my own pocket. So not only would I be its commander under naval tradition, I also own the ship outright. I built the ship as homage to the fallen Boros angels. In fact I bankrolled all the improvements to Boros facilities out of my own personal fortune because I'm bonded with the Guild Parun. I love her, so why wouldn't I?"

"Then who is next in command?"

"That would be Captain John Gardiner, whom you will meet during your training," I replied.

"So Razia…"

"Razia is Second Officer after John. She is a fully trained ops officer. Her shipboard rank is commander, and she is the only being to hold that rank, as John is currently the only captain, and I am the only fleet captain, and will be the only fleet captain, in the Boros Legion."

"By whose orders?" This angel was persistent.

"By Razia's actually. She is the Parun and overall has control over the legion. That also gives Razia the off-ship rank of Admiral. In that role I follow her orders in what the current purpose of this ship is, but the how and why is totally my decision. That's what makes us equals…"

The angel was shrewd. I didn't quite expect this intellectual fencing with him.

"You mentioned that John was the only 'current' captain? What does that mean?"

"That means that if we build another ship, we will need another captain to command it. Captains usually command single ships while fleet captains AKA commodores, command fleets of ships."

"So fleet captain and commodore is the same rank?"

"Yes. The title depends on the navy. Razia chose fleet captain for the Boros. I hold the commission as that rank for the Boros Legion," I explained.

"And who issues commissions for the Boros?" Another angel asked to my relief.

"Razia does," I stated. That seemed to satisfy the rest of the angels. If Razia made me fleet captain then who were they to question her decisions?

The Battlegrace angel decided to cut his loses and sit down.

"Any other questions?" I asked.

Eventually one of the guild mages spoke up. "The orientation said that we would finish as 'ensigns", and would be trained in one of seven departments. If we are looking for a command spot, which department should we choose?"

I grinned at that. "The answer is the operations or 'ops' department. Ops personnel are entrusted with the operation and control of the star ship itself including its formidable arsenal of weapons capable of destroying an entire planet if you should so choose. This responsibly, when shown enough competence, could lead to the command track. The other command path departments are in the following order: engineering, sciences, and communications, respectively."

Another angel spoke up. "So medical, security, and transport will not lead to a command assignment?"

"No, they won't," was my answer. "But, command may not be your destiny after all. As far as I know, angels are warrior spirits manifested by mainly white mana. That would make you especially suited to the security department, even though it won't lead to the command branch." As far as I knew all these angels in front of me were exclusively white mana based.

The questions petered out with the usual ones from the mortals, mainly about the form of the training ahead. I left the meeting figuring that I shocked some of the angels …


Two days later there was a beep at my quarters, just as I had finished my bridge watch. The Battlegrace angel was at my door.

"May I come in?" he asked.

"Sure pull up a chair and have a seat. Can I offer you a drink?"

"No thank you," he replied.

We regarded each other in silence for a few moments.

"Well, obviously something is troubling you. You wouldn't be here otherwise," I stated.

"Yes it is. But I do not quite have the words to articulate it."

"I bet it is just how us mortals can mesh with the angels and work out that harmoniously," I replied.

"That is a way of putting it…"

"Let me give you an example. A while ago, Reya and Elspeth came knocking at our door. Bant needed help. The massive army of Grixis was going to overrun your defences. Guess what. If us mortals and angels didn't take this ship to Alara, you would all be dead, angels, mortals, everybody. Since we mortals are bonded with our angels, our angels have been thinking more like us mortals. Feather, a Boros angel had already did this on her own, in the past."

"Feather is the last angel on your command list isn't she?"

"Yes she is," I replied.

"So our salvation is by thinking more like mortals?"

"Here on Ravnica it is. Your brother figured it out while still in Bant," I replied.

"How?-"

"Do I know your brother is Alejo who joined us with Necia? I'm not that stupid, you know. I did my research on all of your histories. Let's just say that Candella has been unusually cooperative for me, since she owes me a big one." I had dropped my bomb on Ericanj.

"How long have you known?" Ericanj had to ask.

"Since you arrived," I replied.

"But! You have been brutally honest with me since the beginning! Why?"

"Why not? It serves no purpose by lying. If you are to become a 'Boros angel' than you need to know the facts and the procedures of how it works here. Anything less would be a disservice to both you and me," I concluded.

"Thank you. Now I finally see. Your 'brutal honesty' is not a front to pick on us, but a vehicle to bring us to the correct understanding of how the angels and companions work together in running a star ship."

"You finally see the big picture," I concluded. We embraced, and Ericanj left my quarters with a new enlightenment.


"So how is our second batch of cadets going?" Razia asked as we awoke.

"Good. Even Ericanj has realized what we are doing here," I replied.

"Finally! I was wondering if he was Boros material after all."

"Don't worry," I replied. "I can bring around almost any angel given enough time and examples."

Razia kissed me. We took another hour to get ready for the day.


Ericanj had become the model student. He had mastered the ops discipline and had gained his bridge watch ticket. He became a shining example for the rest of the cadets, but all of them, including the goblins have been exemplary students. I would be proud to serve with any one of them, Ericanj included.


It was my final address to this round of cadets. "I am proud to advance all of you to the rank of 'ensign' and assign you all to the usual duties of a starship. All of you either hold the rank in the Boros of 'angel' or 'starship crew'. As Razia has commanded, if you wish the joining of angels with mortals will make mortals 'angels' companions' as well. That is solely the choice of you all. There is a place for each of you within the angelic echelon of 'starship crew', but how you determine your personal affairs is not my business. Good luck."


Razia had sat me down at dinner, to discuss the new recruits. "How goes it with the new recruits?"

"They all passed with flying colours. I'm actually proud how the new angels adapted to life aboard the Parhelion II." That was my official and professional opinion. "I'm also proud how the mortal recruits have stepped up to the plate as well. If all our academies goes this way we will have no problems expanding the fleet."

"So you think we will have no problem manning a second star ship?" Razia had to ask.

"Absolutely not. We have the expertise to form at least two ship crews and fill in the crews of both. There are a few angels who could use some command experience in the center seat," I added.

"Who?"

"Ericanj, for one," I replied.

"I thought you hated his guts?" Razia answered.

"Actually no. The reason that I have been riding his ass is the fact that I see potential in him. It's that spark that leads to really great ship commanders. If you ask me who should command our next star ship, it's Ericanj."

"Wow! That's not expected! But then again, I should have expected that you would ride the best candidate to make sure he had the 'right stuff'." Razia concluded. We smooched...


"Ericanj, step forward," Razia commanded. This was the last parade of the second batch of cadets before they joined the ships complement.

Ericanj stepped out of formation. He was completely puzzled by this. "Razia, I don't-"

"Shush," Razia commanded. Ericanj shut up.

"I hereby bestow Ericanj with the medal of merit," Razia stated. "It is the opinion of the Legion that Ericanj is fit to join the command ranks of the star ship crew. Thus I promote Ericanj to the rank of Lieutenant, with the responsibilities that that rank entails."

All the new recruits, Ericanj included, did not at first believe what was happening. "But that means …" Ericanj looked at me. I just smiled.

"That means that you are the next candidate for the command of a star ship," Razia answered. "It is the fleet captain's opinion that you are the best qualified, and shall serve as the next commander of the next Boros star ship to be commissioned. Congratulations, Lieutenant." Razia presented Ericanj with his new Red and White command uniform.

Ericanj looked at me again. "Is that why?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Thank you," he replied. We finally understood each other fully. The rest of the cadets applauded Ericanj, after the humans started clapping.


I answered another beep to my quarters' door. This time Alejo was there.

"You have pestered my brother, to finally give him a command rank. I don't understand."

"Your brother showed a potential that I haven't seen in an angel before. His questioning, and willingness to embrace the unorthodox, is just what is needed in a star ship commander. His approach is almost … human, even more so than you are. He has what it takes, but I had to make sure, so I tested him. Sure he is inexperienced! But so was I when I first began my star ship captaincy. But with time I'm sure he will make all of us proud as the commander to the second Boros star ship!" That was my answer.

"Thank you." Alejo responded. "You have experience beyond your years. How do you really do it?"

"I go with my gut instinct. It hasn't failed me yet. I got both Razia and Sara out if it, and as well as having set up the new Boros crew." I just smiled, and Alejo had to leave it at that.


I awoke with both Sara and Razia wrapped around me. That was rather unusual these days.

"How was your training exercise?" Sara asked. She was not involved with the training of the new recruits.

"Difficult, but rewarding," I replied, honestly.

"Did everyone graduate?"

"Yes, actually. Including the goblins," I replied.

"I heard there was a troublesome angel …" Sara trailed off.

"Not … exactly," was my reply. I exchanged grins with Razia. "It was just that there was this angel who had the spark of star ship command, who needed testing. He passed with flying colours."

"Oh. So you don't have a hate on for Alejo's brother," Sara stated.

"Of course not! But I needed to test him. I'm glad I did, as he will command the second Boros star ship."

"… I see. Thank you. Alejo thought it was personal."

"Well, it was! When I see that spark in someone, I will put him or her to the test. I have to know who out there will be covering my back as captain of one of my ships," I finished.


The Azorius were informed that the 'Helion was going to be unavailable for a while. We were on another mission of exploration and to shakedown the new crew. I wanted to see who worked best with whom, to determine the split in the crew when it was time. Also, the type of split would determine what ship we should build next. I had a few ideas …