Writing this book is going along a bit slower--because of work, other projects, attempting to promote Mara's book and being approached by folks who might want to fund a movie based on The Reign: Destiny - The Life of Travis Rand. If you've visited my site(www.thereignstory.com) you've seen how intricately detailed I've made the universe of "The Reign".

Also, the adorable internet sensation known as CutieMish(I'm sure you all know who she is) has allowed me to use photos of her for my site. Life continues to rock on!

Anyway, this is from what is currently Chapter 9 in the book. At this point in time, Toleen seeks to join the Tac-Sima--which is the first-stage recruitment center/training branch for the Calvorian Alliance's military. However, he comes to find that his notoriety from achieving Crossover might be more of a hindrance than help to him. Please keep in mind that this is a FIRST DRAFT, and subject to change.

Once again, thanks to all who choose to read these excerpts. Taking your time out for this means more to me than you can know. --Lance 

CHAPTER 9

     Toleen spent the night in the Imperial Palace, and in the morning was escorted home safely, as Vhalhan had promised.  A couple of days later, with his parents' blessing, he headed to quadrant two in order to sign up with the Tac-Sima. The recruitment branch was a well-kept one story building in an older section of the city.  The Tac-Sima had been established by Warlord Koto, shortly before the Alliance began its climb into space.  The Beltarian Militia came later, and was an outgrowth of that branch.

     There was a short line of applicants leading out the main door, only about fifty or so, and the wait to get inside was not long.  He stepped into the central office, and looked around as he waited behind the last few applicants before him.  In the far left corner of the room stood the flag of the Tac-Sima--a silhouetted image of a Calvorian male holding a rifle at the ready, with two shattered planets flanking on either side.  Two soldiers stood at opposite diagonal corners of the room, each armed with holstered hand-pistols.  On the rear wall hung the proud flag of the Alliance itself; silver and black diagonal stripes behind a planet ensnared by a claw. The room contained nothing more than an average sized desk, behind which sat the recruitment officer--a lower-ranking lieutenant.  He finished taking a blood sample from the young male in front of Toleen, and as he was escorted out, Toleen stepped forward.

     The lieutenant looked up at Toleen and let out a slow, laborious sigh of boredom.  "Lineage and city of birth?"

     "I am Toleen.  Son of Thelin, and--"

     Before he could finish, the lieutenant and both attendant soldiers broke out into unabashed laughter.  Toleen looked at the lieutenant in confusion, and the officer waved dismissively. "Forgive me, O great one," he said between laughs.  "It is just that I have already arrested five today who pretended to be the son of Vice-Admiral Thelin.  I cannot believe that anyone would attempt such stupidity, knowing that the punishment for impersonating another is a crime serviceable by eight years in prison.  Everyone, it seems, wants a free ride to glory."

     The lieutenant gestured to one of the soldiers, who unholstered his gun and advanced upon Toleen.  As the other nearby applicants watched, Toleen quickly tore off his left shirt sleeve, revealing the scar which encircled his arm.  The lieutenant held up his hand, bidding the soldier to pause; apparently, he was willing to see the young one's farce through, if for no other reason than amusement's sake.  He sighed again.  "Scars have been faked all morning.  What else do you have to offer?"

     Toleen reached into a side pouch on his pants leg and pulled out a small wrapped scroll.  He offered it to the lieutenant, who accepted it with a resigned look.  "My birth scroll," Toleen said evenly.  The lieutenant's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, his expression abruptly taking on a much darker mood.  "I have allowed you to amuse us all, young one...but don't be stupid. The penalty for even attempting to forge a birth scroll--"

     "Just read it."

     The lieutenant sat back slightly, amazed at the youth's brashness.  Wanting to be done with the charade, he quickly, angrily unwrapped the small roll of filmskein on which was written the cause and circumstances of Toleen's birth.  Birth scrolls for males were written on a type of material which could only be marked once on each part of the document.  They were then sprinkled with genetic material from the blood of both parents and that of the child, and treated with a substance which held in the nucleonic matter for all time.  There had been instances where some citizens had found access to filmskein and attempted to forge birth scrolls in order to change their social status, but they were unaware that birth scrolls were unalterable--and therefore unable to be forged.  The lieutenant read the scroll, huffed skeptically, then activated the com-screen on his desk.  He tabbed in commands to the touchpanel, then held the lower left corner of the scroll--the part containing the blood seal--in front of the screen.  A thin blue-white light briefly waved over the seal, and the computer issued a quick beep.  The lieutenant read the results, and his mouth dropped open.  He looked to Toleen, back to the screen, then to Toleen once more.

     The lieutenant got to his feet and walked around the table to stand face-to-face with the youth.  He looked the young male over, and cautiously re-wrapped the scroll.  He handed it back to him.  "Welcome to the Tac-Sima...Toleen, son of Thelin."  There were sudden, awed murmurings from behind Toleen, as the other applicants quickly passed down the line who was among them.  The lieutenant offered his hand, and Toleen shook it, a look of prideful satisfaction upon his face.  The lieutenant eyed him a moment more, then walked back around the desk to reclaim his seat.  "I am surprised that your father did not accompany you, on so momentous an occasion."

     "I am an adult now.  I do what I will, when I will.  The time for holding my father's hand is behind me."

     "Well said.  However, though you are an adult...now that you are joining the Tac-Sima, you are property of the state.  Your every movement will be carefully monitored, to ensure your growth into a soldier fit to serve the Alliance.  If you have any doubt in your heart, now is the time to leave and never return."

     Toleen crinkled his nose in some mild annoyance.  "Others are waiting their turn, sir.  We should get this moving."

     The lieutenant raised an eyebrow.  "Such pride.  The Tac-Sima will remove that from you, soon enough.  Your new goal in life is to serve the will of The Seven--no less."  He pushed a hand-scanner across the desk, and Toleen accepted it.  He quickly scanned the document which informed him that accepting a position in the Tac-Sima would be a commitment of no less than five years, with the maximum being fourteen.  He would live on the main base, with only weekend visits home.  Toleen ran his thumb across a lower incisor, slitting the skin on the digit. He held it over the scanner, and allowed a drop of blood to fall into a small concave catcher on the device.  The scanner beeped affirmatively, and the lieutenant nodded in satisfaction. "Welcome to the Tac-Sima, recruit Toleen."