Shadow of the Hegemon

I realize that your primary responsibility now is not so much military as logistical, and your thoughts are turned to space rather than the political situation on Earth. After all, you decisively defeated the nationalist forces led by your predecessor in the League War, and that issue seems settled. The I. F. Remains independents and for that we are all grateful. nbsp; What no one seems to understand is that peace on Earth is merely a temporary illusion. Not only is Russia’s long-pent expansionism still a driving force, but also many other nations have aggressive designs on their neighbors. The forces of the Strategos are being disbanded, the Hegemony is rapidly losing all authority, and Earth is poised on the edge of cataclysm. nbsp; The most powerful resource of any nation in the wars to come will the children trained in Battle, Tactical, and Command School. While it is perfectly appropriate for these children to serve their native countries in future wars, it is inevitable that at least some nations that lack such I. F. -certified geniuses or who believe that rivals have more-gifted commanders will inevitably take preemptive action, either to secure that enemy resource for their own use or, in any event, to deny the enemy the use of that resource. In short, these children are in grave danger of being Kidnapped or Killed. nbsp; I recognize that you have a hands-off policy toward events on Earth, but it was the I. F. that identified these children and trained them, thus making them targets. Whatever happens to these children, the I. F. has ultimate responsibility. It would go a long way toward protecting, warning any nation or group attempting to harm or interfere with them that they would face swift and harsh military retribution. Far from regarding this as interference in Earthside affairs, most nations would welcome this action, and, for whatever it is worth, you would have my complete support in all public forums. nbsp; I hope you will act immediately. There is no time to waste. nbsp; Respectfully, Locke * * * Nothing looked right in Armenia when Petra Arkanian returned home. The mountains were dramatic, of course, but they had not really been part of her childhood experience. It was not until she got to Maralik that she began to see things that should mean something to her. Her father had met her in Yerevan while her mother remained at home with her eleven-year-old brother and the new baby—obviously conceived even before the population restrictions were relaxed when the war ended. They had no doubt watched Petra on television. Now, as the flivver took Petra and her father along the narrow streets, he began apologizing. “It won’t seem much to you, Pet, after seeing the world.” “They didn’t show us the world much, Papa. There were no windows in Battle School.” “I mean, the spaceport, and the capital, all the important people and wonderful buildings …” “I’m not disappointed, Papa.” She had to lie in order to reassure him. It was as if he had given her Maralik as a gift, and now was unsure whether she liked it. She didn’t know yet whether she would like it or not. She hadn’t liked Battle School, but she got used to it. There was no getting used to Eros, but she had endured it. How could she dislike a place like this, with open sky and people wandering wherever they wanted? Yet shewasdisappointed. For all her memories1 Petra To: Chamrajnagar%sacredriver@ifcom. gov From: Locke%espinoza@polnet. gov Re: What are you doing to protect the children? Dear Admiral Chamrajnagar, I was given your idname by a mutual friend who once worked for you but now is a glorified dispatcherI'm sure you know whom I mean. I realize that your primary responsibility now is not so much military as logistical, and your thoughts are turned to space rather than the political situation on Earth. After all, you decisively defeated the nationalist forces led by your predecessor in the League War, and that issue seems settled. The I. F. Remains independents and for that we are all grateful. What no one seems to understand is that peace on Earth is merely a temporary illusion. Not only is Russia's long-pent expansionism still a driving force, but also many other nations have aggressive designs on their neighbors. The forces of the Strategos are being disbanded, the Hegemony is rapidly losing all authority, and Earth is poised on the edge of cataclysm. The most powerful resource of any nation in the wars to come will the children trained in Battle, Tactical, and Command School. While it is perfectly appropriate for these children to serve their native countries in future wars, it is inevitable that at least some nations that lack such I. F. -certified geniuses or who believe that rivals have more-gifted commanders will inevitably take preemptive action, either to secure that enemy resource for their own use or, in any event, to deny the enemy the use of that resource. In short, these children are in grave danger of being Kidnapped or Killed. I recognize that you have a hands-off policy toward events on Earth, but it was the I. F. that identified these children and trained them, thus making them targets. Whatever happens to these children, the I. F. has ultimate responsibility. It would go a long way toward protecting, warning any nation or group attempting to harm or interfere with them that they would face swift and harsh military retribution. Far from regarding this as interference in Earthside affairs, most nations would welcome this action, and, for whatever it is worth, you would have my complete support in all public forums. I hope you will act immediately. There is no time to waste. Respectfully, Locke * * * Nothing looked right in Armenia when Petra Arkanian returned home. The mountains were dramatic, of course, but they had not really been part of her childhood experience. It was not until she got to Maralik that she began to see things that should mean something to her. Her father had met her in Yerevan while her mother remained at home with her eleven-year-old brother and the new babyobviously conceived even before the population restrictions were relaxed when the war ended. They had no doubt watched Petra on television. Now, as the flivver took Petra and her father along the narrow streets, he began apologizing. "It won't seem much to you, Pet, after seeing the world." "They didn't show us the world much, Papa. There were no windows in Battle School." "I mean, the spaceport, and the capital, all the important people and wonderful buildings ..." "I'm not disappointed, Papa." She had to lie in order to reassure him. It was as if he had given her Maralik as a gift, and now was unsure whether she liked it. She didn't know yet whether she would like it or not. She hadn't liked Battle School, but she got used to it. There was no getting used to Eros, but she had endured it. How could she dislike a place like this, with open sky and people wandering wherever they wanted? Yet shewasdisappointed. For all her memoriesThe War is over, won by Ender Wiggin and his team of brilliant child-warriors. The enemy is destroyed, the human race is saved. Ender himself refuses to return to the planet, but his crew has gone home to their families, scattered across the globe. The battle school is no more. But with the external threat gone, the Earth has become a battlefield once more. The children of the Battle School are more than heros; they are potential weapons that can bring power to the countries that control them. One by one, all of Ender's Dragon Army are kidnapped. Only Bean escapes; and he turns for help to Ender's brother Peter. Peter Wiggin, Ender's older brother, has already been manipulating the politics of Earth from behind the scenes. With Bean's help, he will eventually rule the world."The characterizations are first class, and the fast-paced action features one hair-raising episode after another....Shadow of the Hegemon is so nicely integrated into the rest of the Ender canon that readers will be completely enthralled."--Booklist "Shadow of the Hegemon is an ideal book with which to start your science fiction year."--Rocky Mountain NewsBean's story continues in this sequel to "Ender's Shadow" as the tale of what happened after the destruction of the Hive Queen's worlds is finally told. With the war over, Ender Wiggin refuses to return to Earth, but his crew of child-warriors returns home. They are seen as potential weapons, and are kidnapped. Only Bean escapes, and he turns to Ender's brother for help--and winds up winning Earth for Peter Wiggin, who becomes the Hegemon.