“I commend all of you. The Starfleet Academy Preparatory Program is normally a course of six standard weeks, yet you have completed it in half the time.” Rakatheema smiled. “Of course, such rapid learning is in your nature. But the subject matter was not. I recognize how challenging it must be for you—to be trained from childhood for war alone, yet now be asked to lay all that aside and learn the ways of peace. Yet you few, you happy few, you band of brothers—and sisters—rose to that challenge and mastered it, as I knew you could.”

Horatio recognized the paraphrase from Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3. Shakespeare’s canon had been part of the Warborn’s curriculum over the past months, both before and during the Preparatory Program. Most Arcturians learned it from childhood as an entry point for understanding the minds of humans and other Federation cultures, for it explored psychological drives shared by nearly all species. Yet it was a universality in which the Warborn had not been expected or asked to participate until now.

No wonder that most of the other Warborn in the program, like Horatio, had chosen to adopt their new names from the characters in Shakespeare’s plays. Some of them, like Bertram, Viola, and Titus, had done so grudgingly, insisting their serial numbers were good enough identifiers, but Horatio had adopted his name with pride. His lot was to serve Arcturus, as Horatio had loyally served and supported Prince Hamlet. And he would do so by learning of the many things in heaven and earth that had hitherto been undreamt of in the Warborn’s philosophy.

“Soon,” Rakatheema went on, “you will travel to Earth and join this year’s new class of cadets at Starfleet Academy. You will be working and living alongside classmates from many other species—human, Vulcan, Andorian, Saurian, and numerous others. Much like the Arcturian nations of the past, these peoples set aside their historical conflicts and joined together for the mutual good. The Federation is one people, one nation, as Arcturus is one people and one nation. I trust that you will all serve that greater whole in the same spirit that guides you in your service to Arcturus.”

Horatio found his words puzzling. The lapse in his discipline must have shown, for Rakatheema turned to him. “Yes, Horatio? You have a question?” At his hesitation, the commander continued. “It’s all right. Starfleet cadets are encouraged to ask questions and engage in dialogue with their instructors. You may all speak freely.”

“I merely sought to clarify, Commander.” Horatio chose his words with care. “When you say to serve the Federation in the spirit of our service to Arcturus… that is… our service to Arcturus is in the spirit of warriors.”