Chapter 4

—First step forward—

Gathering my bearings after dashing off the bus I found myself in line next to Evaldo, the sound of yelling and shouting still ringing out all around me. The lines were created facing the courtyard. I tried to take a quick look around to locate Ade and Rebecaa but right as I turned my head to look, one of the academy personnel saw me move and rushed over yelling and before I could snap my head back forward, she was already in front of me, berating me. Crap now I've done it. Those two can take care of themselves, I thought to myself.

“Who said you could look around puke? Cause I sure don't remember anyone saying to stop and see the sights” the instructor in front of me kept yelling her eyes filled with unbridled rage.

“I’m sorry Ma’am” I tried to force out but the chaos around me drowned out my voice

“What was that greenie? I don't remember asking you to speak now, shut your trap and eyes forward, or are you incapable of following simple orders because in case you haven't realized this is an order. This isn't a request or a question you are here to obey if you understand and follow my command.” she continued to shout.

I continued to maintain a stoic expression as best as I could , snapping my mouth shut and keeping my eyes forward as the instructor rushed away to the next poor soul who invoked her wrath. As my adrenaline continued to race through my veins all I could do was hear my heart thumping in my ears every other sense dulled or drowned out. About 15 minutes later the chaos began to settle around me as the air began to quiet down. A man exited the large building across the courtyard and made his way across to in front of all of us. Glancing through the row of people in front of me, all I could see was an older man standing there in front of the lines that the buses had all formed, Captain Wallace and the other personnel quickly turned and snapped a quick salute.

“Carry on,” the old man ordered.

“SIR ALL CADETS ACCOUNTED FOR!” Captain Wallace shouted before dropping his salute.

“Very well, Good Morning Cadets, some of you may be wondering who I am. My name is Colonel Douglas. I am the head administrator of the Academy. Some of you here probably decided that joining the academy is an easy ticket to a job after finishing school. Which you would be correct, everyone who graduates is guaranteed a decent job inside and outside our military, however most of you are here because you decided that if our country sent out a call to arms, you would be the first willing to say I will go. Be proud of that fact because this isn't some fancy college or university. You're in Esmerelda’s Armed Forces Academy. After four years you will have graduated becoming officers capable of leading men and women into whatever life throws at you. So I welcome you all and my first direct order to all of you is to give your all in every situation and surpass yourself from yesterday.”

As the colonel’s speech came to a close he nodded to Captain Wallace. Rendering one last salute before turning around and facing the lines of cadets.

“Lieutenants take charge of your groups, explain to them what is expected of them and while you're at it polish them up” the Captain seemed to smirk at that last comment.

“Yes sir” all the lieutenants responded. The fiery woman from before started barking orders at my line and we started shuffling together eventually finding a rough marching rhythm as we followed her to a building on the other side of the court yard. Anyone could tell we had no idea what we were doing. As we kept moving along in what could only be described as an attempt of marching we passed other lines of cadets entering different buildings. Approaching the last building on the row we were greeted with tables of personnel and different items. Stopping us at the entrance the lieutenant stopped us and finally introduced herself.

“I am First Lieutenant Serena, here you will be getting cleaned up into military standards as well as receiving your first set of uniforms. Men will enter through the door on the right, women the door on the left. Am I understood?”

“YES MA’AM!” our line shouted in response. After giving us our instructions she had us split our again into male and female lines in front of our respective doors. As the lines started to progress through the door I started to hear the buzzing sound of hair clippers, finally entering the building I was led to a barbers chair.

“So what will it be greenie? nothing or nothing?” the barber asked with a chuckle.

“Uhhh nothing sir?” I answered, unsure of what he meant.

“Good. Just the way I like it,” he responded with an evil smile. Seconds later at my feet was a pile of all my air buzzed away. Dumbstruck, leaving the chair I headed into the next room where a row of tables and personnel were standing. Approaching the first table they handed me a thick book and before I could get a look at the title they hurried me along.

“All right greenie we need you last name and clothing size hurry up make it snappy” the man at the table barked

“Royland and Medium sir”

“Good alright, here's your everyday uniform shirt and pants. NEXT!” another man shoved some neatly bagged clothes into my arms as they shooed me along. This continued for the next couple tables as I received my training gear, Belt, shoes, hat, and other random essentials necessary for my time here at the academy apparently. After that was all said and done I was led into what looked like a lecture hall and told to take the next open seat in a row. I saw a seat open next to someone who looked a similar build to Evaldo and decided to grab that one.

“Evaldo?” I whispered

“Yeah it's me.” he whispered back

“I swear it's almost impossible to recognize anyone. Now have you seen Ade or either of the girls?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Nah, not at all. I figured I'd try to find Lily after we break from orientation at least that's what I think this is.”

Right as I was about to continue speaking Captain Wallace walked on to the stage, causing everyone to quickly fall silent.

“Alright greenies, you all are finally looking respectable. Now all that's left is for you all to understand just how this academy works.” he spoke as a large projector screen began to descend from the ceiling.

“In case some of you still haven't figured it out, this is a military academy. If you feel like backing out now is your last chance, after today you will dedicate your next four years here to the study of leadership and whatever specialization of study you have chosen.” With that statement murmurs started up but they were just as quickly squashed by the Captain.

“I don't remember giving anyone the order to talk so shut your mouths and listen up.” he barked.

“Now there's some very important things you'll need to make sure you get down pact. First and foremost, you are all at the bottom of the totem pole, now I bet you’re all asking yourselves what I mean. Well to make things simple there are two systems of seniority here: through your rank and how many years you've been here. They just about always go hand in hand, however there are exceptions. If we find that you are exceeding the standard expected of you, you may find yourself getting promoted higher than everyone else in your year. However the opposite applies as well. Should you be lacking in aspects and neglecting your responsibilities as a cadet here you will be demoted, and if that continues expulsion is next.” Just as Captain Wallace was finishing his statement a door behind us opened and marching in came some people wearing the same uniform I was issued and more academy personnel.

As everyone watched as they marched by, I saw Lieutenant Serena marching in formation then immediately I noticed there was an extra person in a different uniform without an escort, their uniform was a crimson red top with silvery white pants the whole uniform somehow made me think of a flag officers uniform that i've seen on tv. Huh, maybe they were introducing the instructors or something as I started letting my thoughts wander. The Captain's voice snapped me back to reality.

“Perfect timing. Now to explain the ranks I mentioned earlier, there are 6 different ranks to start. You have Cadet first class which is all you greenies, then you have the second class, third class, fourth class and fifth classes. Finally there's the Cadet Captain there's only ever one at any time. Cadet Captain Millin please come up here and fill in the greenies about the last piece of information they need.”

“Yes sir!” a woman's voice yelled out. After she spoke the person in the unique uniform was revealed to be the current Cadet Captain.

As she approached Captain Wallace she rendered a snappy salute and then began to speak. “Good morning everyone, as you all heard I am Cadet Captain Millin or CC for short. Now there's one last piece of information that each CC gets to hand out every year, so if you will allow me I'd like to share it all with you. These men and women in front of you are some of the most important fifth class Cadets we have, they are in charge of a platoon now before you. Oh? You're asking what does that have to do with you? Let me answer you, each platoon is made up of four squads, one for each year so we will be splitting all of you into squads of five.” CC explained.

As CC continued I started to tune her out counting the number of Fifth class cadets, I finished my count at 26 and started doing math quickly in my head. So that puts us around at least 520 cadets. This really is a small college. I understand that people don't really care about the military but geez… I thought as I started to tune back in.

“Now each platoon leader also has an advisor. Just because your rank is higher doesn't mean the school is pushing everything off onto you there's things that even your senior cadets may not know yet after all. These advisors are the ones you see not in a uniform standing next to the platoon leads. Well then now's the time I suppose everyones been waiting for. I’ll start reading out squad formations and which platoon they belong to. When you hear your name called please stand up and move to the back of the room, once everyone in your squad is called your platoon commander and advisor will come pick you up and take it from there.” CC continued.

As Cadet Captain Millin started giving out who's going where and under who I noticed the platoons were all designated by letters while the squads were organized by numbers. Seems like the number of platoons is a set fixture I wondered to myself. Platoons A through W went by without any names I recognized, when suddenly.

“ Next Platoon X, Platoon leader Chavez, squad Four members include Cadet first class Marcus Royland, Cadet first class Evaldo Hawkins, Cadet first class Ade Chiro, Cadet first class Rebecaa Marin, and finally Cadet first class Lily Hawkins.” As CC called out our names we quickly stood up and headed to the back of the lecture hall standing shoulder to shoulder waiting for our new platoon leader to meet us.

“Good to see you cue ball, I thought we'd end up in different platoons for sure.” Ade whispered.

“Good to see you too chrome dome, I think I just used up all my good luck for the next couple years.” I mumbled back quietly .

After our brief exchange, I looked towards the walkway to see our platoon leader walking towards us only to see that our advisor was none other than Lieutenant Serena.

“Aww crap. Yeah there goes my luck” I accidentally muttered out loud.

Walking besides Serena was a well taller man who had short hair just barely above his ears and a stiff seriousness in every step he took.

“Okay everyone, I'm Cadet fifth class Chavez your platoon leader and this here is lieutenant Serena our advisor now if you would please all turn to your left I'm going to have you all march out of here just do your best to stay in rhythm with each others step” Chavez spoke softly as to not disrupt the rest of the introductions.

“Ready y’all? Forward march." With this first command he had us start marching, calling quiet cadence to help us stay in rhythm as we walked.

As we exited the building we took an immediate right and headed toward the south edges of the academy. As we continued our march for about 15 minutes Chavez stopped calling cadence and we managed to keep from stepping on each other's heels the rest of the way.

“Sir if you don't mind me asking, where are we heading to?” Lily decided to ask as if reading everyone else's mind.

“Hey LT are we far enough away to break formation and drop the formalities?” Chavez asked, doing a quick check of his surroundings.

“Yeah I don't see anyone else around so go ahead, besides this whole high and mighty routine is so tiring” with those words the air around Lieutenant Serena changed from a stern fiery rage to very relaxed and lazy demeanor.

“Cool. So to answer your question uhh… Hawkins right? We're heading to Platoon X’s barracks which is essentially a fancy way of saying our dorm building.”

“Yes sir, you got it correct and okay thank you for answering my question.”

“Not a problem. Anyways, that's it right up ahead.” Up in front of us was a two story wooden building. As we got even closer we saw a group of people sitting on the front porch waiting for us to arrive.

“Well guys welcome to your new home and once again, welcome to platoon X.”