Chapter 32 - Technical Class

While Alex was lost in his thoughts, they arrived at the classroom where Professor Viktor Karasov awaited them.

The elderly man had short, gray hair, wore thin-framed glasses with a cord dangling from his neck, and was dressed in a pristine gray suit that seemed pulled from another era. His features hinted at an Eastern European origin—high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a defined jawline that lent him a stern air—though Europe itself no longer existed, surviving only in the history books preserved by the Confederation.

The classroom was another adapted container, its metal walls letting in a chill that seeped through the seams.

As they entered, the cadets immediately straightened up upon seeing Sergeant Volkov leaning against the back wall, arms crossed and his hawk-like gaze fixed on them.

They snapped their hands to their temples in a swift, precise salute."Salute, Sergeant Volkov!" they said in unison, their voices echoing in the enclosed space. Volkov gave a slight nod, his expression as hard as ever.

"Salute, Professor Karasov!" they continued, turning to the front.Professor Viktor Karasov, seated behind a simple desk, glanced up from the papers he was reviewing.

His gray eyes behind the glasses surveyed the cadets for a moment before he nodded curtly.

"Good morning," he said in a deep, measured voice, returning his attention to his documents, signaling they could take their seats.

After Professor Viktor Karasov greeted the cadets with a terse 'Good morning,' he rose from his desk, his tall frame casting an imposing shadow over the metallic classroom.

His deep, steady voice filled the room as he began:"Today, we will cover the technological advancements in rocketry that have made lunar travel possible. These innovations, spearheaded by the Confederation, form the backbone of our expansion beyond Earth."

He paused, his gray eyes sweeping the room to ensure every cadet was paying attention.

In that moment, Ivan leaned slightly toward Amira and whispered with a faint smirk:

"Told you so."

Amira, barely turning her head, passed the whisper to Robert:

"Told you so."

Robert rolled his eyes, though a slight curve of his lips betrayed his attempt to stay serious.Karasov, oblivious to the exchange, continued:

"We will analyze the development of the Pordo Project, which, as you'll recall, is the foundation of our lunar ambitions. This isn't just a technical achievement; it's a symbol of the future the Confederation is forging."

With a precise motion, he turned to the projector, letting the image of a futuristic rocket fill the screen and seize the cadets' attention.A wave of awe swept through the cadets as the screen flashed the rocket's image. It was the same one they'd seen on the news when the Pordo Project was unveiled: a towering mass of gleaming silver metal, its sleek, sharp curves catching the artificial light as if poised to slice through the sky. Its tall, narrow fuselage rose with brutal elegance, capped by a pointed nose that seemed to defy gravity itself.

Alex, eyes locked on the screen, leaned toward Amira and whispered:

"Isn't that the rocket we saw on the news the other day?"

Amira nodded, barely moving her head, and murmured:

"Of course, the one from the Pordo Project…"

Robert, sitting nearby, couldn't hold back and joined in with an excited whisper:

"I swear I saw that on TV! Do you think they'll let us ride it someday?"

Ivan, raising an eyebrow, shot him a sidelong glance and whispered sharply:

"Doubt it, pig. With all that extra weight, they won't even let you near it."

Alex and Amira couldn't help themselves; a soft laugh slipped from their lips, though they tried to muffle it with their hands. But at that moment, Sergeant Volkov's sharp bark cut through the air from the back of the room:

"Silence!"

The cadets straightened instantly, their laughter snuffed out as if swallowed by the container's cold metal walls.

Professor Karasov, unfazed, continued his explanation in a steady, deep tone, as if nothing had disrupted his lecture:

"This rocket, the Konfederacia Lanĉilo, or KL for short, is the result of years of advancements in rocketry. Its engine, the Energio-Kerno, or EK, is the core of this machine, capable of generating enough thrust to carry 300 people to the Moon efficiently. It uses a hybrid propulsion system combining cryogenic fuels, such as liquid hydrogen and oxygen, with plasma technology to maximize power and cut travel time. Its modular design allows for swift repairs in orbit, a critical necessity for lunar operations where any failure could be fatal."