Decide your fate

Let us begin this new era with the same hope and determination we all showed years ago." The head speaker finished his speech to a standing ovation from the hundreds of delegates and visiting alien races present in the large banqueting hall.

The Universal Board of Generals, to be known as the UBG, had been founded.

The Salmerans were notified of the idea to create an inter planetary government, and at first seemed surprised. Their race had spent a large part of it's existence travelling through space meeting intelligent life forms, yet this was the first time a notion of this kind had been suggested to them and they played a major part in drawing up the initial brief. They declined to join although they did accept the role of independent advisors once the government had been formed.

Slowly over the years that followed, many different planets were contacted, species met with and meetings attended in an attempt to create such a universal body, and after ten years the final preparations had been made that would allow the UBG to begin it's role in the new world.

Admiral Beatty had retired from the military seven years before and concentrated his time towards the UBG's creation. He had been the first to meet the Salmerans and was chosen to be the senior officer in delegations concerning other members joining the UBG. His position involved travelling to many different areas of the universe to meet new life forms and speak on behalf of mankind. The Salmerans accompanied him on many journeys, initially as mediators, as they knew a multitude of different species and races through their previous encounters.

"Admiral, I must congratulate you." The man extended his hand and the Admiral gripped it firmly, reciprocating the gesture.

"Thank you, senator. It has been a long time coming. "He remarked with a smile on his face.

The senator nodded agreement with a smile too and carried on walking through the banqueting hall to socialize. The Admiral looked around to see some three hundred people present for the speech and dinner, twenty four of which were alien races present due to their agreement and subsequent inclusion to the UBG.

As he looked around he felt an intense pride inside him that compensated the years of hard work and determination he had to endure to bring this day to fruition. He had successfully managed to gain the support of twenty four different species, the Salmerans included, although they were only advisors, and he could see the number expanding over time as they travelled further into space. His dream had come to be a reality, and even after all his years in the military, he had never felt prouder than he did at this moment.

After six years of heading the UBG, the Admiral was now a week away from severing his ties and retiring from his post as chief executive and taking a new position as an ambassador for the planet. Since the distinguished opening ceremony, he had been in charge of the most rapidly growing trade government in the history of Earth.

It had begun six years ago with twenty four alien races initially and now, after only a small number of years, the number had more than doubled and although he sat in his office contemplating his achievements in life, especially since his involvement in the UBG, which brought a smile to his face, he was also aware of the power that had now grown inside the government he had helped to create.