PROLOGUE

From the "History of Galactic Civilization”; University Galactica, Cambridge, Terra.

The ascension of the Human species into the mix of Galactic civilization in the thirteenth kicellia is a fascinating study in the possibilities of history. Relegated to an isolated existence in the backwaters of civilization the Human species seemed destined for no other fate than their own self destruction. Aggressive, inventive and curious to a fault the Terrans were understandably quarantined by their more "civilized" neighbors. This did not prevent the Scythians, within whose space the Terran system lay, from taking advantage of their ignorant tenants. The Scythians, an intelligent semi-telepathic species, owned a niche in Galactic commerce as notable as the military career of Alexander himself. In an effort to expand this niche and hold at bay her more aggressive neighbors Scythia mounted a propaganda effort that spanned a bicellium and won them untold riches and influence. The source of this propaganda campaign was the unsuspecting race of Humans inhabiting Terra. The Scythians reported Terran ferocity and aggressiveness diligently and to great effect. Humans were physically more powerful than any of the sentient species then known and enormously, if destructively, imaginative. Under any light the Human species was a formidable presence.

The crowning achievement of the Scythian propaganda was the “Legend of Alexander.” Recognizing that their neighbors had fully adapted to a stagnant state of peaceful coexistence they took the career of Alexander the Great, reporting it and amplifying it before a concerned audience. At the last, before his death, the Scythians showed Alexander standing upon a mountaintop, (now known to be the mountain passes before India), but instead of reporting that Alexander’s troops rebelled and returned home the Scythian’s showed Alexander staring up into the night sky. There he saw not the solace of heaven or the beauty of the universe; but amongst the stars Alexander saw more worlds to conquer. Scholars have long argued over what exactly gave the Scythians the idea to use Alexander as a catalyst for their strategy of commercial conquest through intimidation. Some point to the actual verbiage Alexander used, which was recorded along with the image of Alexander at the very time and place where his Galactic legend begins. This direct source of knowledge is still a matter of fascination for Galactic archeologists, especially Terrans, and it is especially intriguing due to the irony of the words, and their timing. Alexander the Great is heard to say in a most sober and philosophical voice, “What lands (worlds?) lie behind matter not, it is the striving forward which matters. Ever forward must we move lest we stagnate and grow rank in spirit. That which lies beyond I shall seek, and I shall have. There is enough beyond to sate even my spirit, nay even the spirits of my descendants. I look afar and I see countless lands (worlds?) to conquer, even to the everlasting and innumerable stars.” Though there is little doubt that Alexander was speaking of the seemingly endless expanse of Terra his words can easily be interpreted as having a far greater intent. The irony of the moment is that Alexander’s career as a general had already reached its zenith. He never advanced beyond India, instead electing to return to his captured empire to avoid mutiny by his troops. Yet even as Alexander’s Terran career ended his career as a Galactic legend began. The “Legend of Alexander" flourished in the imaginations of Galactics and every great Terran warlord who followed him was seen in the eyes of the Galactics as seeking to fulfill his dream of world, and stellar conquest. One day, it was feared, the terrible troubled masses of Terra would erupt from their tiny world and fulfill Alexander’s manifest destiny. Alexander was more than a legend to the Terrans, it was felt, he was their ideal, their beacon and their destiny. Who profited from this frightening legend—the Scythians, of course. The people of commerce held the key to the lock upon Terra. Should her neighbors push or threaten her Scythia could easily unleash the hordes of Alexander’s descendents upon the galaxy. For a civilization which had enjoyed over thirteen kicellia of peace and prosperity the galaxy would not, could not entertain this possibility. For the next kicellia Scythia kept the galaxy gleefully informed as to the goings on within Terra. Caesar, the Vikings, Genghis Khan, Attila, Napoleon, Hitler; all became known far beyond their Terran audience, and the galaxy feared. For the time being the Scythians prospered with their uneasy peace, but peace persevered.

Finally, two thousand three hundred Terran years after Alexander spoke those fateful words, after thirteen kicellia of Scythian intimidation, the Chem said "no more!” The Chem were the oldest, most traditional, most honorable race of the known galaxy. It was the great wars of Chem expansion which finally ushered in a lasting Galactic peace. Refusing to give in to Scythian demands to open trading routes into their space, the last great commercial frontier to the Scythian juggernaut, the Chem determined to destroy once and for all this Terran threat and pay Scythia her due.

The Chem were not, however, without caution. They realized that their information concerning their prospective foe, Humanity, was limited to that information which the Scythians divulged. Therefore, a Human was captured from a Scythian experimentation ship, and brought back to their home world for closer examination. The Chem, unlike the Scythians, viewed vivisection and psychological experimentation with abhorrence. Their desire was rather to examine the warrior potential of their foe; most especially the character, bravery and fortitude of the Humans. Such were the qualities of life the Chem valued and understood, and so, in their own way, they put their captive to the test.

The Human, who coincidentally bore the name of Alexander, was put on trial before the Chem Assemblage. Information on Alexander’s motives and state of mind during his incarceration by the Chem are a matter of tremendous debate and are dealt with in greater detail elsewhere. Some scholars believe that Alexander was already sowing the seeds of his future dominion and orchestrated his own capture by the Chem to study them, as they intended to study him. Although this is the most widely held Galactic opinion it is hotly contested by, of all sources, Terran scholars. Alexander’s own people contend that Alexander was simply an extraordinary being caught in extraordinary circumstances, and that his sole motive at the time was to so impress the Chem with a single Human that they would not wish to come into conflict with four billion of his fellows. Whatever the reality of history, the truth of the matter is that Alexander earned the respect of the Chem. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to die upon the horrific prison planet of Pantrixnia. Before this sentence was carried out, however, Alexander was interrogated at length by the redoubtable Nazeera, herself of Galactic fame, though at that period of time fulfilling her duties as one of the Triumvirate who sat beneath the Elder of Chem. In the discourse of their relationship Alexander and Nazeera develop a love for each other beyond the boundaries of worlds and civilizations. Despite this Alexander is sent to Pantrixnia where the transplanted population of specifically selected predators is to cause his honorable execution before billions over the Galactic ethernet. However, to the amazement of all Alexander does not die in the Galactic version of Rome’s arena. Alexander survives and gains the grudging respect and admiration of the cultures of the galaxy. The efforts of Alexander almost, but do not quite sway the Chem from their course of action. A people driven by pride and commitment they are determined to carry out their original intent, though now with a greater fear for their own civilization than ever before. When Nazeera leads the Chem Armada into superluminal for their confrontation with Terra it is with a heavy heart, and an anxious galaxy as audience.

It is undeniable that the anxiety of Nazeera and the galaxy is founded on the legend of Alexander the Great, and brought from the psychosis of legend to the panic of reality by the adventures of Alexander of Terra. In both they perceive a formidable people, but neither provides the factual capability of Terrans when faced a Galactic adversary. Devoid of hard facts the Galactic ethernet is alive with talk and conjecture concerning Alexander and the Terrans, and not the least interested observers of the Chem intentions are the Terrans themselves. Since the abduction of Alexander by the Chem the Scythians have been busy. They correctly conclude that their fortunes were indelibly linked with the Terrans through their own propaganda. Their obvious course: to make their own propaganda into reality. The Scythians make first contact with Terra, informing them of the threat of Chem, if not the entire truth. With Scythian aid Terra arms for interstellar war at a frantic and unprecedented pace. The vast reservoirs of Human ingenuity and determination are called upon, and for the first time since Humankind first landed on their Moon, all the petty differences which divided the species disappeared. A fleet is hastily constructed to face the Chem Armada. It is as untested as its crews when it sets sail to meet the invaders, but at its helm is a small but frightening reminder of Terran legend. Alexander is spirited away from Pantrixnia-whether by his own design or fate we cannot discern-and returned to the Terran flagship Iowa as the Terran warlord, the dread conqueror of Galactic legend come to life. The galaxy knows the man, and links him physically to the ages old legend of Terran conquest. Therefore, his mere presence adds credibility to the Terran "ghost" fleet. As the two fleets face each other, a galaxy waiting upon their every move, a suspicious Nazeera ponders the re-appearance of Alexander the Terran. Nazeera is widely, and correctly, renowned for her courage and generalship, and Alexander is faced with a seemingly impossible situation: a foe too proud to back down and too powerful to defeat. Alexander therefore strikes a balance. In a brilliant coup Alexander’s forces attack the Scythians, subduing the empire of two hundred systems before the startled eyes of the Chem. The attack serves two purposes: it establishes Terran military prowess, and because of Alexander’s positioning of his fleets it outflanks the Chem, placing a Terran fleet between Nazeera and her Homeworld. There is, in fact, very little debate as to the author of this strategy, though many military historians insist that the Chief of CODOTS, Admiral Augesburcke, had much to do with it. (The Admiral maintained throughout his life, and long after the death of Alexander required anything but the truth, that the strategies used throughout were in fact Alexander’s; and that Alexander’s grasp of military strategy and tactics far outstripped any in his day, Terran or otherwise). The end result, whomever we choose to believe, is beyond debate. Terra and Chem reach a peaceful agreement, and Terra is suddenly transformed from a solitary planet to a recognized Galactic empire.