and flew off to the transport tube station down
the street, to be beamed up to Academy. He had two classes that
afternoon a regular one, and a late one for some Cadets that had missed
out
on some earlier lessons and had to be rescheduled.
68 The hall door was open, and North saw the light shift from day to
night. He knew at approximately the same moment in every corridor of
every ship throughout The Empire, the same thing was happening. Every
vessel and standard station was on the night and day schedule of The
Capitol.
69 As his students began to come in, North thought that his son and
Smiling Moon must have landed at the lodge a short time before, as
sunset was a few minutes earlier there. He was about halfway through
the class when Red Star, the Academy Commandant, two Security Men, and
a Medic came through the door.
70 "Attention! Commander on station!" snapped North. The Cadets came to
their feet, and stood at attention.
71 "Instructor and Cadets at ease," ordered The Commandant. "Cadets,
this training session is concluded," he continued, "gather your things
and report to quarters. Move out!"
72 North was shocked. A class was NEVER interrupted except in the worst
of circumstances. He knew something bad was coming, and stood waiting
for some words he knew he wasn't going to want to hear.
73 "Fleet Commander Northern Star," continued The Commandant, "it is my
sad duty to inform you that your son, Shining Star, and the Officer
that was accompanying him have been killed. Their flier exploded as it
was coming in to land at a fishing resort in the mountains."
74 "An accident?" asked North.
75 "No, sir," The Commandant replied. "The local Guard flier had picked
them up, thinking you were on board,