An accomplished older woman and her team begin training the next generation to protect the Local Neighborhood. Together, they must find a way to stop the invading Olmeri. 

SYNOPSIS:

Book 3 of the Alliance Trilogy

The Ambassador and her team, the Doctor, Beth, Kell, and N'amani along with the new kids, Daniel, Tia, and Tory, have been going through the troves of information they collected trying to find a pattern. The Ambassador's plan is to give the Resistance seeds and hydroponic equipment along with the plans to make more. They talk about the revolution and social upheavals that would be created if the Resistance could grow their own food. Kell looks at the maps in a different way. Daniel finds a pattern in the path the Olmeri are taking. The Ambassador talks to her old friends Sentar, Maru, Galen, and B'ani about what the Alliance doesn't know about the Olmeri. The Ambassador invites the new kids, Daniel, Tia and Tory to have a Roast Duck lunch. It's a test of their integrity. The Ambassador goes to Ras 2 to visit the Grandmother who has secretly been teaching her since her early days on Ras 2. The Grandmother tells her that the People on the Mountain want to meet Sentar, that she has arranged for someone to teach Beth, and passes away in her arms. The Ambassador returns to the Magellan. The Ambassador, her team, the new kids, and Captain Logan, Commander Brandon, Lt. Katy review the plan and prepare to complete it. Sentar will take Daniel with him to look for where the Olmeri are coming from. Galen will take Tia with him to look at where the Olmeri are going. Maru and B'ani will go to Xuru, the Olmeri world they previously visited. Tory will go with them. The Ambassador arranges a very nice breakfast for her team and the new kids. She recalls not having enough to eat when they were at the Cabin on the Mountain on Ras 2. She and Sentar went to the Village to find work and food. A small restaurant owner gave them work. Back in the present, N'amani, Tia, Daniel, and Tory were in the training room on the Magellan practicing bagua turns when Maru and B'ani arrived. B'ani teaches Tory a lesson and discovers that he has potential. She decides to teach him. The Ambassador, Sentar, Galen, B'ani, and Maru reminisce about their early days, talk about what they wanted and what the new kids want. After some discussion with Captain Logan, Kell gives Maja an upgrade. The Ambassador invites Sentar to dinner so she can ask him to take Beth as his student. He agrees to teach her himself and treat her like a daughter. The Ambassador reveals the secret of the People on the Mountain and tells Sentar the People want to meet him. She also reveals the name the Grandmother gave her.

The Magellan arrives at space station Theta Alpha again. Commander Bob Lucas has arranged a very nice reception. Kell and five of his Aldaran friends, Pak, Beel, Xora, and Rai along with Mran gift the Ambassador a finely-crafted long knife they had made especially for her. They get packed and leave for their missions. The Ambassador and the Magellan go to lure more of the Olmeri into another honey pot. The Ambassador recalls Master Tai looking for something he doesn't know he might find and the lesson he taught her about keeping her eyes open instead of expecting to find. Back in the present, she teaches Beth a lesson about expectations and how to change a situation with a thought. On the Argus, Daniel sees Sentar practicing with his sword and is able to to hold it. Sentar decides to teach Daniel about power. On the Ann McKim, Galen teaches Tia a lesson about waiting and watching. He realizes she is not happy in a lab.

Kell arranged for his friend, Mran to take Maru, B'ani and Tory to Xuru on the Sao Gabriel, her cargo ship. They are stopped and boarded by the Olmeri. Mran hides Maru and B'ani and shares her mind-control skills with Tory. The Olmeri leave. Mran and Kell drop Maru, B'ani and Tory off near the walled city of Kaldor on Xuru. But when they arrive at Martha's house, Martha tells them her house is being watched. They evade the Olmeri Security and get to the gate, but have to fight the guards to leave. Kell and Mran pick them up and get Martha to safety. They all return to the Space Station and reboard the Magellan for the trip back to Dagon. The Ambassador, Galen, Sentar, Maru, and B'ani evaluate the new kids. The Ambassador goes to see President Smbarak to tell her what they found and ask for commendations for her team. They are going to present their findings to the High Council and decide to wear their colors. The High Council is impressed to see nine Adepts and Keepers of the five elements. They are more impressed when they that they are all pioneers and famous for what they have done to build the Alliance.

Daniel steps up unexpectedly to speak for his generation and to ask for their right to live. The Ambassador and Sentar stand behind him. B'ani, Galen and Maru join them. President Smbarak stands to recognize what they have done. Later, President Smbarak calls to tell the Ambassador the Olmeri have taken most of the seeds and equipment but the Resistance was able to circulate the plans. The Ambassador talks with her old friends about going out again. They tell her they are all getting too old. They talk about Beth going to Ras 2 to study with Sentar and the assignments for the new kids. Tia and Tory will go with the Ambassador on the Magellan. Daniel will be assigned to President Smbarak's office. They are all getting what they want. The Ambassador recalls talking about changes while walking in the garden with Master Tai. The Ambassador speaks with President Smbarak about Daniel. Beth arrives for afternoon tea. The Ambassador tells Beth she is going to Ras 2. Beth is overjoyed. At their farewell dinner, the Ambassador, the Doctor, Kell, Beth, N'amani, Sentar, Maru, Galen, B'ani, Tia, Tory and Daniel talk about what they have done. The kids get their new assignments. After dinner, the others leave and the five old friends stay to talk. Galen reveals he is dying. He walks the Ambassador to her door and they dance along the way. Beth is getting ready to leave for Ras 2 when the Ambassador arrives. They talk about the lessons Beth has learned. The Ambassador gifts her a woven belt and tells her to wear it when she goes to the Cabin on the Mountain. She doesn't tell her why. The Ambassador goes outside to let Beth finish packing. Sentar arrives. He and the Ambassador talk about their affection for each other and decide it's time to find out. The Ambassador returns to the Magellan and they prepare to go out again.

“What about hydroponics?” the Ambassador asked.

“What about them?” President Smbarak replied.

“Chia pets?” the Ambassador asked. She grinned and turned her head to one side.

President Smbarak dropped her head and laughed. “No! Wait? That could work,” she said.

“We give them chia pets?” the Ambassador asked. She giggled.

“No, we give them hydroponics. Easy to carry, easy to install, very easy to replicate, and highly effective. Some of our new portable towers can be installed to fit anywhere,” President Smbarak said.

The Ambassador smiled. Her eyes sparkled.

President Smbarak turned her head slightly and laughed. “That’s what you really wanted, isn’t it?” she asked. She started laughing.

The Ambassador chuckled, smiled like a Cheshire cat with a large bowl of milk, and nodded.