Notes

Nor Calos, captain of the spaceship Fulfillment, raced to the cockpit, where his crew awaited his arrival.
Zirof Erane, professional engineer and part of the Fulfillment’s crew, watched his commander crash into the pilot’s seat, fall down with a thud, get back up in a split second, and settle into the seat. “You okay?”
Nor nodded. “Fine. What is this about a message from the Galactic Alliance?”
Lieutenant Ento Jolak, second-in-command of the Fulfillment and Nor’s oldest friend, said, “They’re asking for our help. I think.” He paused. “Just watch the video.”
Doctor Duso Chiodo, expert in her field and newest member of the Fulfillment’s crew, turned on the holo-projector built into the cockpit’s dashboard.
What appeared to be a service bot popped up. “Greetings, civilians,” it said. “I am a servant of the Galactic Navy. If you have not heard, Admiral Rhysode has left our service and created a government he calls the New Union. In the statement he sent us, he told us to prepare for a “swift and ruthless defeat”. The following information is classified at Security Level Red. Protocol dictates I tell you that we are tracking all transmissions you make. Sharing the following information with anyone will result in your capture and imprisonment.”
The bot let out two high-pitched beeps. “Admiral Rhysode left with his entire fleet: over a dozen warships. Nobody in known space we can contact knows him well.”
The bot beeped again. “Except, if my database is up-to-date, Captain Nor Calos.”
Duso turned off the holo-projector. “Captain, what does that mean?”
“Nor, I’m not doubting you,” Ento added. “But what haven’t you told us?”
Nor took a deep breath. Even though he was only thirty years old, Nor had history he didn’t want to share. Not even with Ento, who was like family to him.
How will I explain this to them? Nor wondered. Admiral Rhysode… Dismissed from the Military…
“Too soon,” Ento heard him mutter. “Not now… not yet.”
I can’t tell them… they’ll kill me.
“Captain?” a worried voice interrupted Nor’s ponderings.
Nor opened his eyes, realizing he’d closed them. “Sorry,” he said. “Just thinking about how to tell you.”
Duso nodded and retracted her head.
I have to tell them… He’s just too dangerous.
“I left the Navy four years ago,” Nor finally said. “A rival officer framed me for murder and the Military Council kicked me out. The thing is, before I was kicked out … I was the captain of the warship Tenax.”
“Which is Admiral Rhysode’s flagship.”
Zirof gasped. “What? You worked for a traitor? And you didn’t even realize it?”
Duso and Ento’s reactions were more reserved. Ento simply shook his head; the doctor blinked twice and appeared to be processing what Nor had said.
Nor looked pensive for a long minute, then responded. “I didn’t realize it then, but Rhysode’s a dangerous man. There were so many signs of his greed, but I guess I either ignored them or didn’t even notice them. Take his fleet: when I joined Tenax’s crew a decade ago, he only had his flagship and a few support ships. When I was kicked out, he’d gotten another battlecruiser, a strike fighter carrier, and a horde of support ships. So yes, Zirof, I worked for a future traitor. And no, I didn’t see the signs pointing to his eventual betrayal. But that doesn't matter now.”
“So we help the Alliance?” Duso asked tentatively.
Nor said, “Finish playing the message. Is that what they want?”
Duso obliged.
The monotonous service bot reappeared. “The Military Council has passed a motion requesting your assistance in the upcoming war against the New Union. You must agree to several conditions regarding the confidentiality of this agreement. In exchange, you and your crew shall each receive one million credits and a full-access entry card. You, Captain, will be put into the newly-formed Second Galactic Fleet.”
The bot disappeared and in its place was a list of conditions.
“Call the Military Council and say yes,” Nor decided.
“But we haven’t even looked over their conditions,” Zirof protested.
“Doesn’t matter,” Nor said quickly. “Say yes.”
“Captain?” Duso asked. “What’s a full-access entry card?”
Nor pulled back memories of his days training on Vorren. “My trainer at the military academy told me that it allows you full access to everything the military has to offer. You can go wherever you want, you can look at all the files on their databases — doesn’t matter if it’s classified. You can even show it to officers to make them answer your questions. Like the name says, full-access.”
“I can tell you more later,” Nor said. “Now, say yes.”
“If we don’t, a power-hungry warlord will take over the galaxy.”