#51 – Change
Ax
(The Council now recognizes Prince Axilimi-Esgarrouth-Isthill of the Dome Ship Fire Flower.)
Those words, spoken in a bland tone of thought-speech, sent a shiver of pride and anxiety down my spine. I had been a full Prince for almost a full Earth-year, but it was the first time I was addressed as the captain of my first command. The Fire Flower was the newest Dome Ship in the Andalite fleet, and the first of the Beta-Four generation. I was proud to command it. I was terrified of messing up.
I stepped forward to the place of honor reserved for speakers to the Council. This was a private session; there were no journalists or spectators present. It was only me and those Andalites who wielded godlike power with a casual grace. Even after my promotion and being given my own command, the Council made me nervous. They probably always would.
(Revered Council members,) I started, being sure to bow my stalk eyes to a respectful height. (I am here to discuss revisions to training protocols in place at the Military Academy.)
Bosejour, one of the more senior council members, interjected. (Is change necessary, Captain Aximili?) he mused. He sounded curious, not implacable, and I took that as an encouraging start. I had expected resistance. (Our training protocols have been in place for generations, and they have served us well.)
(They have indeed served us well,) I agreed. I didn't want to step on anyone's hooves, or "rock the boat," as Marco would have put it. (After my time on Earth, I am in a unique position to see how revised training methods could serve our warriors better, however.)
(Let us have an example,) the Military Academy liaison, Wilshur, said. He too sounded only curious.
(Morphing,) I said simply. (Right now, it is regarded as a tool. After my time at Earth, I am forced to view it in a different light. It is a tool, and a useful one. But it is a powerful weapon, also, one we have not taken advantage of. Even the former Visser One realized this and used it as such.)
(And how do you recommend we change things at the Academy to make better use of it?) Bosejour, again, sounding even more curious.
(We have never had a reason to regard it as a weapon, because on our planet, we Andalites are the most dangerous creatures. With the discovery of Earth and its vast ecosystem of predators, it would be unwise not to take advantage of them. There are many creatures – dozens, maybe more – on Earth which are more deadly than our own Andalite forms. Many of them are adapted for ecosystems in which Andalites are not effective – water, extreme cold, extreme heat.)
Wilshur drummed his fingers on the podium. (Do not forget that you were…disadvantaged…on Earth. You were forced to rely upon your morphing powers because you did not have Andalite technology available. I very much doubt that any creature on Earth is more deadly or effective than a Shredder beam.)
I bowed slightly, which was the Andalite way of conceding a good point. (Very true, sir. But Shredders break. They can be lost. They are limited by the charge. Morphing is as much a part of our soldiers as their own tail blades, and I humbly suggest we take advantage of it. Having a bear or a tiger morph to rely upon will serve two purposes. One, it will give our soldiers a weapon to fall back upon – one that cannot be taken away or broken, like a Shredder. Two, it will instill confidence. A soldier who knows he will never be defenseless even if his tail blade is cut off is bound to be more effective in battle.)
Harlan, the Head Councilor, surprised me. (Prince Aximili makes a fair point. I move the Council allow him to draft changes to training protocol at the Academy pertaining to the use of the morphing technology. We, the Council, will review Prince Aximili's proposed revisions at such time they are finished, and will vote upon implementation. Do I hear a second to the motion?)
All six of the other Councilors droned, (I so vote yes.)
(It is decided,) Harlan declared officially. (Prince Aximili, your orders are as follows: write a proposal detailing specific points of revision to the current training protocols involving the morphing technology. Be specific and thorough. Also, make preliminary contact with our embassy on Earth. In expectation of your revised training's approval, I want to start the process of obtaining DNA samples of several Earth specimens for use as offensive weapons.) He considered. (Is it your opinion that the humans will cooperate with us and share their fauna?)
I thought of the weight Prince Jake had with the current human government, and could not resist smiling with my stalk eyes a little. Prince Jake was a good person to have as a friend, in terms of wanting favors from the humans. (I believe the humans will be happy to make a gesture of goodwill in this matter, Head Councilor.)
Harlan nodded. (All is well, then. The Council looks forward to working with you on this matter in the future. Thank you as always for your insight and continued service to the benefit of our people. You are dismissed, Captain.)
I held my tail just a little bit higher than usual for the rest of that day.