BOOK FIFTEEN
THE
BOOK OF CHANGE
Chapter
One
Now in The 2,30lst Year Of The Federation Of The Four Against the
Three, there was born to the Royal House Of Spear on the planet Peepi,
an heir whose name was Lo.
2 Now, he was a brash and adventurous youth, who quickly learned all
science and wisdom, but he was an adventurer,
fond of the ladies of the court, and even when he was very young, took
their fancy.
3 His father, On, cherished the boy and would give him whatever he
desired. When he grew to manhood he lead The Great Fleet that protected
Peepi from The Alliance Of The Three which had fled The Motherworld and
established colonies on all the planets of the system.
4 This was not objected to, for Lo was a great Tactician and bold
fighter who quickly defeated the Pirates that had been plaguing their
merchant lanes for so long and trained his fleet so superbly, that they
were a match for the combined fleets of their enemies.
5 Lo, aware that the Peepian System was becoming crowded and disputes
were rising almost daily over this and that resource, persuaded his
father to build a new experimental ship, faster than anything ever
built before....a ship that would take them to the stars.
6 This ship was just about ready when a disagreement arose over an
asteroid that had suddenly drifted in system from deep space. If it had
continued on its natural course it would have entered orbit around
Peepi, and On laid claim to it. But the leader of The Three ordered
that his ships go out, intercept the asteroid, deflect it so it took up
orbit around HIS capitol.
7 When this was done, On became furious. "They have stolen," he
screamed, "what is rightfully ours. They will be punished for this, if
they do not surrender the asteroid immediately. You will take the
fleet, Lo, enter their territory and retrieve it."