Departure
Early in the morning, the sound of a trumpet rouses the recruits.
“Your technical training starts today in your area of choice. Of course, we will continue training in the gymnasium at 15:00. This morning will be for your knowledge training. We will divide you into training groups,” says Officer Camelot.
Camelot handed everyone a sheet of paper. Blake read that on paper it was his daily schedule, with hours written next to it. They left no minutes unscheduled. There were a few extra hours to shower and then free time. Most of the day was busy. Blake figured he would need to study a certain number of hours daily. Blake, Alex, and Daniel compared schedules. Everyone was talking to one another.
“Your training begins in five minutes,” says Camelot.
Everyone changes into their clothes and heads to breakfast.
There was a buzz of excitement at breakfast today.
“Hi, I heard you were in the Mechanical program,” says a young woman from the recruits.
“Yes,” says Blake.
“Me too. My name is Kiana,” she says, extending a hand.
Blake shakes her hand.
Balke and Kiana talk for the rest of breakfast. Other recruits are also looking for people in the same program to make friends with them. Blake thinks this will help them in studying together. He found out that Kiana had experience with mechanics and robotics. She wants to help learn about the mechanics of spacecraft to help with the war efforts. She has a younger sister she wants to protect back home in New Jersey.
Right after breakfast, Blake and Kiana head to their designated room. They divided it into half a lab of computers and tablets on one end and a workshop on the other.
“Come in,” says a deep voice.
“I am Commander Kev,” says a tall, muscular man with brown hair.
“I will be your instructor,” says Commander Kev.
Blake and Kiana received a beginner's introduction. Commander Kev wanted to know their knowledge of mechanics. A practical test in the workshop and a computer ensued. Commander Kev concluded Kina and Blake could make a good team together.
Soldiers came into the room, and the class began. Commander Kev asks the class to take out a notebook. Blake and Kiana took notes.
Alex and three other recruits saw the planes of combat they were to train on. This location also had a simulator that was more advanced than the one from the Oasis. The training included computer training and classwork, along with passing the simulator paths. Someone in the air will guide them outside.
As a first test, they give every recruit their first test on the simulator. Alex climbs into the stimulator. They begin class on the computer and note-taking. They will have a quiz tomorrow, so Alex already has to study tonight.
Before everyone leaves, Commander Smith talks to everyone.
“Alexander Han, you seem to have experience pointing before. Work on your turns. Sharpness is less fuel-efficient,” says Commander Smith.
“Yes, Sir,” says Alex.
Elsewhere, Daniel is busy with classwork. His instructor, Officer Camelot, turned out to be the one training him and his class. He is in charge of the recruits and the IT and cybersecurity sector because of his training.
Daniel is on an advanced computer system typing code for his final project. For next week, they will submit their project ideas. They will also learn about spacecraft during this time.
The bell signals the end of class and the next part of their day- lunch.
Alex, Blake, and Daniel have a lot to talk about at lunch. They talk about their classes. Then the future training looms near.
“Next is physical training. What do you think we will do?” says Daniel.
“Running and weights?” says Alex.
Lunch ends, signaling time for the recruits to change into their workout clothes.
When they arrive, they realize it will not be some laps and weights. They will do a whole obstacle course.
The obstacle course had vertical ropes, monkey bars, agility cones, and exercise stations. Fisher times them, two people starting at different ends. While the rest wait, they do laps around the outer edge. Officer Fisher once again watched over them. She gave them some tips on how to improve for their next test for each of them.
“Tomorrow, your whole body trains past your limits,” says Officer Fisher.
The days turned into weeks as Blake, Alex, and Daniel pushed their minds and bodies to the limit.
Blake, Alex, and Daniel became close confidants of one another.
Blake wanted to contact his father to let him know how he was doing, but he could not share too much information. Blake wrote Lily a letter.
“Dear Lily, How are you? Alex and I are well. We have made a new friend named Daniel. I think about you every day. Take care. Sincerely Blake.”
The letter passes standards by Fort Knoll staff for outer space communication centers. Blake skipped writing to his father because of the Vexes. Perhaps after the war, he would.
The rest of the training continued until the night before their graduation. A month later, Blake, Alex, and the recruits from their class had arrived at Fort Knoll.
“Tomorrow is a big day!” says Alex.
The next morning, they received new uniforms.
There was a ceremony for the graduates. Everyone in their class had graduated.
“Bake Sharp,”
Blake walked upon the stage and received a pin with the mechanic's emblem. He is now part of the mechanics unit. Alex and Daniel each received different emblems for their corresponding units.
There was dinner afterward to celebrate.
At night, as the new soldiers went back to their rooms, Officer Camelot went back to congratulate them.
“Tomorrow, I will give you your orders for your first mission. There are posts in outer space and on Earth,” says Camelot.
Camelot leaves the room.
“So there’s a chance we won’t be together,” says Daniel
“Yes, it all depends,” says Blake.
They go to sleep.
As the sun rises, they receive their order slips.
Blake Sharp: Active
Station: Reburst Station
Location: Mars
Unit: 104
Sub Unit: Mechanics
Specialty: Spaceship Repairs/ Wiring
Travel date: 4. 1.79
Blake and Alex are both going to Reburst Station. Whale Daniel will stay at Loki Station.
“Wish we could be together longer,” says Blake
“Me too; I’ll be working me hard from behind you two,” says Daniel.
A carrier craft awaits them that will take them to the moon. The soldiers will stop at Loki Station first until reaching Reburst Station second. Two-thirds of Blake’s class head to outer space, along with other soldiers from the base.
The three friends walked into the carrier spacecraft and sat in a seat. Clicking on his seat belt, Blake leans his head back. Into outer space, Blake goes to fight.