Last day. I do not know if there will be more.

 The next morning just as they had said they were gone sightly before dawn and were back on base getting dressed before anyone found them. Oliver came in. “I was sent to remind both of that meddles are to be worn from the start. They just know that you both are going to try and get by with out them, for all I said you wouldn’t. easiest just to give up and say I would go tell you.. More important know that every mage here has been reinforcing the shield on the stage so it is as safe as it can be. Mentors are standing by to help any that get to feeling it to strongly. Most from Earth agreed to watch it over the broadcast, but a few have come, for all we did explain that the magical elements could effect them.” He shook his head. “They have announced the sighting of the Bletrains, but left it at warships. They have also sent a request to the networks to air the old educational films on the old battles and our neighbors. We should have done it ten years ago by the law, but let it slide so there is reason to call for it to be done under the law. That will help see more learn just what dangers there are. We also reminded the news outlets that we have people here that will not know the races just from the names, so it would hurt to give some reminders. After all it is likely that a lot will be talked of that haven’t been for decades. Now then how are you? I know you are not ready, no one ever is, but you look good so try to relax.”
Jade said. “We have them, but are not sure that we got Glade’s right. I know mine and Herny’s  but Glade not being in service here makes me  a bit unsure of the order and does his Rextaon heart go on or leave it off? I feel it should be there but he thinks it will just cause a fight. Never mind that there is no reason at all to hide the ties, we will be using them after all.”
Glade said. “The are going to be upset enough by the pledges you are taking. It is a small thing to keep from reminding the public just who you are tied to. They are upset enough, most see us as a threat and so do not take reminders of us well.”
Jade said. “That is just why it needs to be there. So that it is clear that they are stand with the alliance in this war. That they are supporting us, and will be lending aid. To often are they meet with fear when there should be welcome. It isn’t right that they freely hide what they do to and let others portray them as monster. It is time that stops and the good they have done acknowledge. It is past them that the Carhgen Federation was acknowledged as ligament.”  She kissed him. “Yes love, you are going to be a part of politics now, it is after all something that I can’t avoid, so tied me means you can’t. I know, but we can’t change who we are. So we should use it. Now what do you say grandfather? Is this the wrong time or the right time?”
Oliver said. “Raxton Heart goes first, then your raven, other than that the order of his is right. However Jade you should have a Raxton star next to the bond rope, as well as the harp and fish. I still wonder why Al went with a Harp of all things.” Glade looked at him. “She is right, and best they start seeing it. She is going to have others from the Federation pledge to her as time goes on. She is a Commander, so those pledges are forcing the action that should have been done a generation ago when the trade treaty was made.”
Glade shook his head but fixed his pins as Jade fixed hers. “You are going to have a lot of yelling after this, but fine. At least we will get to skip out on the first few rounds. This time.” He smiled a bit. “Relax Love, just remember after this it will be easier and less fuss to the Oaths. Most are privet in them, so you won’t need to do the full show to often.”
She took a breath. “One of Mul’s bonded wing leaders and one of Thorn’s are giving me a loyalty Oath  on stage to day. You might want to worn the rest. They both insisted that it had to be done publicly. There are a few others as well, but those two are going to cause some upset. I do not know if they are thinking of making it a full Oath at a latter days, but there are others sworn to them that have asked.  So in time I will have some bound to me with loyalty oath to them, making it equal. That might help, for all it will be a few weeks before I am able to take the next set of Oaths, I will see if one of them can’t be worked into the set. It is going to be a bit of mess until they are set, but that is always the case as a Black unit forms. Just a bit more with mine as its from has started to take but the Oaths left undone.”
Oliver nodded. “It will be fine and they are right, theirs need be done publicly, just the first ones of course. All others don’t, but they need to see it to believe. Just as it is with Al and Glade’s Oath. After this you should be able to keep it to personal as most do all of them. It is well know that you don’t like the fuse so they won’t be surprised by it, for all they will complain. Now you have a bit yet so get with them and work out the order of the events. You control the timing of the pledges and Oaths, they can be done as each comes up on stage or after all have been called up. Just remember only officers that are making pledges come to the stage. The others just stand in the rank.” Jade nodded, but he was already started out the door, so she didn’t think that he saw. They of course had went over it all, but it would be best to join everyone until it was time. That would keep her from thinking to much about what was going to be happening.
There were others that were moving up and a few exchanged their Oaths as well. So it was a few hours before it was their turn. Jade looked at the shields a bit worried, for they had slipped a bit on the last exchange and that group were less worked up than she was. Still there was no other way for this to happen, so just have to hope that it didn’t carry to far into the audience all in the first five rows were trained in the Oaths, just for that reason. Well other than the crews, but they had worked a lot with Beth and she was a ready as possible. It helped a lot that she did have a lover among them, for all they were both shocked at how fast it happened. Jade wasn’t, but she knew the way it worked better than they did, nether of them being in the service. Jent  was from a family that had bonds so had grown up being taught what to do when they were tugging. So their bound would let her help Beth,  even when Jent came up on stage. I still don’t know, but it is her right to pledge to me, even if it has just been a week she has been with us. Lord knows I don’t want to lose her. She is just what I need in a Navigator. She admits when she is less than sure and is working hard to fill in holes in her education that others have trouble admitting are there. Most bulked at being asked to learn things that they were taught were imposable, she jumps at the challenge. Still, I wish I knew what her family thought of this. I am sure they were glad that one of their children wouldn’t be working on a war ship, for all they have a long history of service.
Glade put his hand on her arm. “It will be fine Love, it won’t be that long until I am next to you again. You have this. Just breath and smile. It will be fine. Yes the crew will feel more, but they are ready for it. Even Beth. It will be over soon and we will be behind those nice thick walls. This isn’t the first time they have stood in the face of a bond held waiting.”
Jade nodded and tried to relax, it was hard to face this. She knew it had to be, that it was what they wanted, had planed on for years. That didn’t make it better to her to know that before long their lives would be hers, their very thoughts hers to know at will. To know they could never again have anything of their own, it was all as she permitted. It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair, but it was the way it would be. “I am sorry, I know you all want this but I can’t help but wish that the bonds were a bit lighter. However it is what it has to be. Just know that no matter what it feels like it is not you that I am upset with, but yes I will let you both feel it as you need to, before we leave the house. After we recover enough to know who we are. Vic for all we are not doing your Oath you will be pulled in a bit as you are dealing with Al. The oath between the two of you will be affected by his to me. The bond to me will likely open for all the oath is given. I am not going to have much control for the first night.”
Vic nodded. “That is just why Al and I exchanged Oaths, it will make it easier to help him if I can feel you as well. I know it will cause the bond to open, but that is what I want. I would give you my oath if it wasn’t to much for you to take theirs. I know you are upset and dislike it all, but our want of it will ease those feelings. It is normal to be reluctant to take others. Not feeling that way wold be more alarming truly. Now smile and get ready, your next, Cap.”
Jade took a deep breath as Commissioner Jenner step up to the podium. “One more then you all can go see about the waiting feast we have been smelling for the last hour. This last is no stranger to any, and this is long overdo, as we have heard from many. However she has been hard to tie down long enough to get this done. The current Commander of Metal” Jade winced a bit, that could have been said better, for all they had made Mat come up and accept his commission so all knew he was the captain of Metal, but to make her Commander. They should have just been co-captains. “Captain Jadether Riones Gladlm Nickle, Commanding General of the East Sector, come forth and accept your rank, and present your crew!” Jade shot Al a look of alarm then smiled and stood, hoping none saw her shaking as she walked up to the stage. Just what were they doing? She wasn’t near experienced enough to be made a sector Commandeer. That was not anything that had been agreed to. Just a unit! Not a full Sector! This wasn’t happening. Yet it was. She walked up to him and let him put the new tag on her, then he moved aside leaving her the podium.
Jade took a breath and shook her head. She had to say something, but what? How do I ease those that just got passed over? Those that should have this post? “I am a bit at a lose folks, they just sprung this on me. I am far to young and lacking in experience for the honor they have just given me. I can only hope that I carry it well. Luckily I know that those in command of the East are all sold people who know their jobs far better than I do, so I will be able to learn from them even as it seems I am lead them. I know that General Elton has moved up, but I do hope that General Hillton will stay on and work with me as I learn to tread water.” She looked at the council sitting there, wishing she could tell them just how messed up this was. “I do not feel at all ready for such a task as you found fit to give me. I can only hope that your judgment proves right. It hardly seems possible that one who has seldom led more that two ships should be given command of a sector. More so when they have but started on forming a Crew.” She turn back to the audience. “Let me make know to all the officers of the Raven Crew, currently sharing the honor of serving on Metal!” With that she started calling on them, most just stood saluted her and turned to face the crowd, but a few did come up and give her a pledge. It had been the same with each ship up to this point. However there were more murmurers as she called of hers and received oaths from those not in service. The wing leaders did get a few frowns, but the expected protest didn’t come which helped. Now for the next bit. It was harder, but as Vic was second in her wing she had to be fourth on the ship, for all she held Al making him fourth in truth, but not in the rolls. So. “Second in my wing, fourth office in my team. Lieutenant Victory Ricelend Jemsoned.”
Vic stood and walked up to her, then bowed. “It is my honor to have served with you and to take this place in your Crew. I am pleased that you see fit to place such trust in me, and freely return it. For now I ask only that you accept my pledge to serve you and look to first above any others, until such time as you are able to let me give you my oath in full, my Commander.” She bowed again, for it was needed. The mummer stopped.
Jade said. “You give more than I would ever seek, but it is your right and I glad accept your offer and make to a vow that in no more than a month we will finish the ceremony you requested. I only hope that I prove worthy of your faith in me. It has long been my honor to work with, I was flattered when you asked to server under one me, when you were one of instructors. I am proud to have you in my Crew and accept all that you have given me with a glad heart! Now stand there, so you remain next to your Bonded. My third in Command and my Elder brother, who has given me more than any sister should have. Lieutenant Albertth Risenon Gladlm Nicklet, Bridge Comander of Raven.”
Al came up to the stage, not showing that he even noticed the silence that had fallen. He looked at her her then lowed his eyes and bowed. “Thank you Captain, it is an honor to serve you. I ask that you take my life into your care, knowing that it is more than you would have of me. With me I bring one that has given me his, who is now yours as it should be. As I am, with my Bond-Mate’s blushing. As I did long ago I open my mind to you ask you to take me into your keeping. My life is yours, no secret shall I ever have from you. Your will is my law. That is my Joy, if you would but accept my offer at last.”
Jade said. “My brother you have asked me this four times know. You know what I would have, yet you will not turn aside, will not accept the lighter bond that I asked of. So for all it pains me to do so, I accept your offer. You are now mine and own nothing, but will keep the rank you hold as it serves me to have you in it. Your servant will be sent to you when I deem it, otherwise he serves me. I return to your bond mate the duties she now has over you, but reserve the right to set what restrictions I feel are needed.” She hoped she wasn’t shaking to baldly as the first wave of feelings hit her. The bond widened just a fraction, but it was enough to cause her a bit of pain. Even though it was joy that he was feeling. “Go and stand with your Mate, you need her touch.” Albert bowed low then walked over to Vic and bowed to her. She pulled him next to her and kept her arm around him, for all he made no move to hold her, showing that he knew it wasn’t his place to touch her without be told he could. Jade sighed a bit, she truly didn’t want that but he did and it wasn’t right to refuse him. For all the vow he had made was as close to a servants vow as he could come where she needed him to hold a rank. “That leaves just one more place. Most here expected that Al would have it, but for all he is a fine bridge commander and I would have no other he is not fit for Command off the bridge. He filled the role only as Vic was next to him this past year. I am grateful for all he did in starting this Crew, but I will not have him trying to take on a role that doesn’t fit him. I have asked him to do that long enough. Hence I accept the Oath he just gave me, for all I would have him give less, it isn’t fair not to give him what he needs to have. All the same no Crew is stable with out a clear chain of Command. I am glad that my Bond Mate who is fully capable of running his own Crew has agreed to take the role as Second in mine instead. Glade Romannisty Douanga,  General in the Ratxton Fleet, Outcast of the Alliance, and Second in Command of the Ravens!”
Glade came up and shook his head a bit. “I thank you for this honor my heart. It is more than I should have. It is enough just to be with you, my heart. I would ask only that you accept my pledge as your Mate and let us share our lives. I will glade take the duties you ask of me, and have seen that I am free to do so. My Loyalty belongs to you, with only a tie to aid my family in tomes of trouble that will cause no breaking of the Alliance Laws.”
Jade smiled a bit. “Your offer to be bound to the Alliance code was refused therefore I likewise refuse it. You are bound only to follow the Laws of your people not mine! So it is under those laws that accept the bond of Mate and take up duties as your Holder, accepting the responsibility for your actions and the duty to punish failures. Take your place at my right and be forever in my keeping, my Love, my other half! Let us become whole at last.” She kissed him and said in his ear. “You need to hold me, it is stronger then I expected this early.”
Glade wrapped his arm around her, and felt her straiten up as she felt his support. “It is my joy to place myself in your care and share my life with you. I look forward to your orders and correction with a glad heart. Thank you for accepting me and letting me see to you as is a Mate’s duty.”
Jade said. “To my Crew, go enjoy the feast and the week off, you have earned it. To my Oath held, let us with draw and see the rights done as they need be. Thank you Council, may we prove worth of the tasks you have given us. On behalf of my Crew I thank you for the leave we are enjoying.” She managed a salute then started walking to where the wagons waited. For all it was a bit rushed, she truly couldn’t wait to be dismissed. Her legs were shaking. There were some mummers but none stopped her. Luckily they rest was done without an audience.