Tae was determined to make a good impression on Kelan. This job was his best opportunity to become something other than a soldier. He was willing to fight if necessary, but he would rather save his planet in a different way. He resolved to spend as many hours beneath the planet as were necessary to learn from Kelan, despite how much he hated not seeing the sky.

Kelan was teaching him to melt the metals together in the exact ratios to form the lightweight weapon's outer shell. If the ratios were not exact, the result was either a weapon that was too heavy or one that would crack when the laser was used. If it cracked, the user and all around him would perish. The lives of his people depended on Tae's calculations in more ways than one. He was careful, but it was taking far too long.

"Can I trust you to work late into the night and not make a mistake?" Kelan asked.

Tae was surprised that Kelan would even contemplate leaving him on his own so soon. He replied, "I promise that you can trust me. If I feel that I am becoming too tired to be careful, I will stop and sleep for a while. It is an honor to know you have such faith in me. I will not let you down."

"We are far behind schedule and cannot afford to waste time. I have not slept or seen my family in days. I will be gone for as few hours as possible. Do not make me regret it."

Tae was excited and nervous when Kelan left the tunnels. He was now in charge of their planet's only hope of salvation. It was a heavy weight on the young man's shoulders, but Tae would bear the burden without complaint.

The shifts were changing. Tae could hear the men coming and going in the tunnels. Still, he continued measuring and melting the various metals. He ignored the grumbles and arguments among the exhausted Talonians. He concentrated on perfecting his measurements.

Four hours passed, and Tae began to feel his mind wandering. He had a difficult time concentrating and his hands were shaking. He needed rest, food, and water. He caught himself just as he was about to add a second measurement of one metal that would have destroyed the whole batch he was making. It was time to take a break.

In a corner, he found a pitcher of water, a bowl of nuts, and a blanket. This must have been Kelan's stash that kept him going for days. Tae ate a handful of the nuts and guzzled the stale water. Then he curled up in the blanket and fell asleep.

The explosion woke him. Rocks and dirt were falling from the tunnel’s ceiling. Kelan rushed in and together they tried to save the metal casings for the weapons. Their efforts were futile. A part of the ceiling collapsed. If Tae had not been attentive enough to see it coming, Kelan would have been buried alive, along with the metal casings. Instead, he had grabbed Kelan around the waist just in time to pull him out into the exit tunnel. A large rock hit Kelan anyway, ripping a gash in his muscular arm. Cursing, they made their way up to the surface.

Men began spilling out of the tunnels, coughing and choking on the dust and dirt. The sky was dark, so it was still night. Yet, the Savra had dropped a bomb and caused havoc on the mines. Their attacks were becoming more aggressive.

"All my work was for nothing," Tae declared. "They have destroyed it and collapsed the tunnel. We are further behind than ever."

Kelan could hear the defeat in his sullen voice. He reminded Tae, "We are alive. That is what matters most. You saved my life, and I thank you. We must see if everyone else escaped the tunnels, then make a new plan. We cannot give up. It is what the Savra are hoping to accomplish. We will not allow them to win. Are you with me?"

"Yes, sir. I will work double time if you will have me. It is just frustrating to take two steps forward and be sent one step backward."

"I understand. It has occurred too often of late. I have had enough of it myself," Kelan replied.

Hesher ran toward them. "How bad is it? Have we lost everything?"

"I do not think so. The tunnel containing most of the finished weapons was emptied this morning. They were transferred to the armory and should be safe. It is not close enough to where the Savra drop their bombs. We did lose the casings Tae had finished. He worked all day and most of the night. It is a setback we could not afford. Now we have a new digging job before we can go on. Perhaps, we will find salvageable material beneath the rubble," Kelan stated.

"I will no longer give the soldiers a choice in the matter. They will be ordered to aid you. They will argue and become hostile, but I do not care. Those who are rested will begin digging immediately. You are injured. Go to the healer and get treated before that arm becomes infected. Tae, see that he obeys. He can be stubborn at times," Hesher commanded.

"It shall be done, Commander." Tae took the reluctant Kelan through the rubble. A makeshift hospital had been erected near the ravaged area, and the healer was busy mending cuts and bruises.

Daer, the healer, looked up to see Kelan being dragged into the midst of the injured. His arm appeared worse than the others waiting for aid, so Daer motioned him to come near. "What trouble have you gotten into this time? Can you not stay clear of these messes? I always seem to be mending you. Michelle will not be pleased."

"Mind your own love life, Daer. Tell me, are the rumors true? Are you the one pursuing Shara? When she championed Michelle, Shara mentioned a suitor. Is it you?" Kelan asked.

"Would you believe me if I denied it?" Daer asked. "Shara will reveal her suitor in time. I will not deny or confirm the rumors. Suffice it to say that I find her perfect in every way. Most of the Talonian males do, despite her being virtually unobtainable. With you married and out of the running, the field has opened up. Now stop asking questions I cannot answer and let me repair the damage to your arm before your wife learns of it. She has her hands full enough with your son."

Tae listened to the banter between Daer and Kelan. He was surprised to realize they were friends. Kelan appeared to have friends everywhere. Then, Tae remembered that Daer had testified for the human Kelan had mated. Of course, they were friends. Daer had even delivered the mixed species child. More shocking was their subject matter. They spoke of Shara, the rare white dragon, as if she was a mere Talonian girl instead of a princess. It revealed so much about the differences in their stations and his. If he were to speak about Shara in such a familiar fashion, he would be punished for sure. She was rare and revered among the dragons of Talonia and thus, a taboo subject for gossip.

"Am I needed further, or may I join the others in the tunnels?" Tae respectfully asked.

Daer and Kelan jumped in response to the question. They had forgotten his presence and had spoken freely. "You may go," Kelan replied. "However, do not take what you have heard here and gossip with the others. Daer and I make jokes, but they are not intended for the ears of the masses. Shara's life and choices are off limits to those who are not close to her."

"I heard nothing that I wish to repeat," Tae announced. "The princess holds my reverence. I will honor her with silence."

"You are a good man, Tae. I appreciate your respect for the princess. I must show my mate that I am alive, then I will join you and the others. We must salvage what we can and speed up the manufacturing. Hesher is sending all the available soldiers. Pick three to work with us. We will begin training them immediately. I trust you to choose the most appropriate men," Kelan commanded.

Tae walked away with a proud stance. He was being given authority over the soldiers. It was not something he had expected. He also had not imagined earning Kelan's trust so quickly. He would not betray it. His smile shone on through his dirt covered face. He had a mission, and he would see it done, quickly and perfectly.

Hesher was herding soldiers toward the mines. Their grumbling and discontent was loud, but the commander was adamant. "You will obey my orders. If you cause trouble, I will see to it that you lose rank. If you do not cooperate with Kelan and those he leaves in charge, I will consider it as a reason for dishonorable discharge. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," they mumbled.

"I didn't hear you!" Hesher shouted.

"Yes, sir," they shouted back.

Hesher turned to Tae. "Has Kelan been appropriately treated? When will he be here to give these men orders?"

Tae answered, "He has gone to show his mate that he survived the collapse. I am in charge until he has done so. I am to pick three of the soldiers to aid us the others are to be split among the diggers. We need our room cleared first, so we can train our helpers. Until that is done, I will take the men I choose into the annex and help separate the minerals."

Hesher replied, "Pick your men."

Tae stared at the angry faces of the soldiers. They were not amused by his sudden rise in power. He searched for the friendlier faces of the men he knew personally. There they were, pushed to the back as usual. The poorest soldiers seldom rose in the ranks, though they worked harder than any other weredragon. Tae pointed at three of the most honorable and trustworthy men he knew. "I want them," he told Hesher.

"What? I outrank them by several degrees!" one soldier shouted.

"I do not think rank has anything to do with Tae's choice," Hesher answered. "He requires those who are willing to follow his orders. He knows who he can trust and who he cannot. I understand his choices and concede. I will not permit you to pull rank or interfere in any way. Let his chosen men come through."

The soldiers made a small gap, allowing the men to go to Tae. They did jostle them somewhat as they walked past. It was a spiteful and childish gesture that was ignored by all.

Kelan approached as Hesher was dividing the rest of the soldiers. He demanded, "Give me the strongest to clear my working space. We need to uncover the weapon casings and see how many are still usable."

Hesher called forth several of his best soldiers and ordered them to follow Kelan. They grumbled but obeyed. After all, being chosen for this duty meant their commander considered them to be the strongest. It made them feel superior to the others.

Kelan kept the smirk from reaching his eyes. He had once been just like them: always vying for praise and a top ranking. His idea of success had changed drastically after his assignment on Earth. Now, success meant saving Talonia for his son. Rankings no longer mattered when your planet could be destroyed on another alien species' whim.

"Where is Tae?" Kelan asked.

Hesher replied, "He has taken three men to the annex. He said they would help separate the minerals until your room was cleared."

"Good idea," Kelan stated. "He is an intelligent young man. That is exactly what I would have done. Come, men; we have digging to do."

"You are going to help dig?" Hesher inquired.

"I do not ask the men under my command to do anything I am not willing to do. So, yes, I am joining in the digging. Thank you for the soldiers. I will return them to their normal duties as soon as possible."

Tae was glad to see Kelan return. So far, he was doing well in teaching his friends, but being in control made him antsy. He was used to being a follower. Most of the time he had been relegated to the lowest positions. Now, he had suddenly been thrust to the top. He had surprised even himself by rescuing Kelan from being crushed in the collapse. He did not know he was capable of acting as a hero.

"Tae, I wish to have a word with you. Step out here with me for a minute," Kelan commanded.

"Is there a problem? Did I not follow your orders?" Tae asked.

"You followed them perfectly. There is no problem. In fact, I want to make you an offer. You more than proved your worth today. It is obvious that I can trust you with my life. I am willing to promote you and give you a pay increase since you are taking more responsibility than I had previously foreseen. Of course, your duties as a soldier must come first, but I need you here as often as you have time to spare. In my absence, you will be in command. Would this interest you?"

Tae tried to calm himself. It was the offer of a lifetime. He could get his family much needed aid and lift them out of poverty. He would gain respect and honor that could be passed down to the children he hoped to have someday. He would be on a level playing field to find a mate. Women would not shun him for working in the mines. He was young, and his life was changing quickly, but he was ready for a challenge.

Tae replied, "I am very interested, but I have much to learn. Thank you for the hope this will give my family. I am eager to learn so that I am of use to you. You are changing my future in an instant. It is difficult to comprehend."

"Sadly, changes are a byproduct of war. In order to survive, everything and everyone must change quickly. For some, it brings prosperity. For others, loss and pain. I hope your changes continue to be prosperous ones. Come, there is indeed a lot you need to be taught and very little time to do so. I pray you chose your apprentices well. They must learn at an accelerated pace. I will work with two during the daylight hours, and you will take the other and work throughout the night. With your other duties, there will be little time for rest. Sleep when you can. Do not waste time on frivolities. These must wait until after we have won the war," Kelan lectured.