Besides the Sergeant, there were about six other people in the room, mostly men and one slender yet slim woman.

Across from the door next to Angela was a fit and stern-looking man in a white vest, his aura that of a leader. He appeared to be conducting a briefing with the team, Wein deduced he was the team leader.

“Private Wein Serin, Designation V55-D124,” said Wein as he saluted.

The team leader was uninterested and irritated that his session was disturbed just then and paid no attention.

“This is your squad leader Sergeant Derek Thorne” replied Angela pointing at Derek who retreated to his seat.

Angela moved on to the others in the room, from the front were two men, one was a textbook ‘nerd’, accompanied with documents, writing materials, and glasses. His demeanour was not too threatening but behind those harmless eyes, Wein knew he was a monster in himself.

“This is Private Kol Karn our resident smartass, he is a 5-star Trooper” introduced Angela as Kol stood up to shake Wein’s hand who had ventured deeper into the room. He was a welcoming man and was kind in how he received Wein’s handshake.

Besides him was a large, masculine and imposing man. He was much taller than Kol, even when they were both sitting, one could only wonder how giant he was.

“Private Mace Korr our tank, he is a 2-star Shock Trooper.”

When he stood to receive Wein’s handshake, Wein was alarmed and intimidated. This huge moan towered over him like a hulking monster, he could tell that he was indeed a Shock Trooper.

Mace though a terrifying man was also kind and welcoming.

Behind them was one man seated in the middle of the room like a buffer, the rest were saturated in the corner of the room. The man was average-looking in both his body build and threatening aura save for his better-than-average facial appearance.

In fact, as the introductions were going on, he was busy combing his hair with a small mirror in front of him.

“This is…”

“Private Sienna Aldar, I know, my name is feminine, my mother wanted a girl, but she got me,” he interrupted to shake Wein’s hand with a cheeky smile.

“Right, he is a 1-star Shock Trooper” continued Angela irritated. Sienna wicked back at Angela and retreated to his seat.

Behind him were the rest of the group, two men and a woman. One of the men had a low presence, less than a civilian but Wein could tell he was a strong trooper. Besides him was a war-torn man, his face was covered in scars and was the oldest amongst all those in the room.

Next to him was the girl, who was extremely attractive much more than Angela who herself was an attractive woman.

With her red hair tied in a ponytail, she was wearing a tracksuit and had a toothpick tucked in her mouth that distinguished her as one of the ‘bad crowd’ girls. Her face though attractive, was mean and not inviting.

“That is Private Harlan Tesh, a 4-star Trooper, besides him is Mark Randdol, a 5-star Trooper and finally Lara Smith, a 1-star Shock Trooper” spoke Angela introducing the group.

Wein nodded after each introduction, he was nervous inside meeting his new comrades but stood tall with confidence.

“I thought the replacement was arriving later” Derek spoke directly to Angela. “Didn’t he graduate just recently?”

“Don’t ask me what the superiors decide. Anyway, continue with the briefing” replied Angela.

“Right”

Angela turned the lights off, and Wein was forced to find a seat and watch the screen for his first mission. Sienna pulled him closer to sit next to him.

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“Don’t mind the squad leader, he is a work-always kind of man” he said to Wein. Wein awkwardly smirked.

“Our mission objective is planet Thalsaris.”

At Derek’s words, a projection of a planet appeared on the screen. A zoom-in revealed a barren war-torn world marred with scars from many battles. There was little to no vegetation and the atmosphere was polluted barely habitable.

“After the last Great Galactic War, Thalsaris was one of the many planets that fell under insurgents. They have taken over the planet and subjugated the inhabitants under their cruel rule. Scans show they have fortified their positions and made occupation difficult for the Empire.”

As Derek spoke, various projections of the insurgents appeared, from their forces, weapons, and known stronghold bases. Among them were the inhabitants of planet Thalsaris a blue alien race known as the Nol’vs.

The Nol’vs were humanoid in their appearance save for the fact they were on average far shorter than humans, they were bald and in place of a human face, they had a long face with eyes on two antenna-like organs stretching from where their eyes would be. They did not have noses, and their mouths were hidden behind their long faces.

Similar to humans they wore clothing too, though their clothes barely passing as clothes, as a race from a war-torn planet their hygiene and everything about them was severely bad and they all appeared to have diseases and malnourishment.

“Our mission is to infiltrate and eliminate their defences so that the Empire can be able to establish a base which will be used for future subjugation and incorporating the planet into the Empire. Our squads along with others will be sent to secure key critical infrastructure and secure the inhabitants under the insurgents”.

Derek continued with his briefing while Sienna scooched closer to Wein and began whispering in his ear.

“Don’t worry much, the insurgents are not that strong compared to our forces. Besides, I heard the training these years has increased significantly, so you have nothing to worry about for your first mission.”

Wein nodded, he knew that though it would be his first official mission, he was not afraid to go to war, after all with the training he went through he was confident in his abilities to do anything.

“We will deploy as soon as the Orion Sett enters the Thalsaris’s star system. Prepare yourself for deployment” spoke Derek.

Angela turned on the lights in the dark room.

“Alright guys be sure to be ready as soon as the jump is done, we are to deploy for Thalsaris, Sienna I will leave Mr Wein’s accommodation tour to you, I have something to talk to the squad leader with.”

“Yes ma’am” replied Sienna gesturing a minor salute with his two fingers and a wink.

They all began filing out of the room and Wein followed the carefree Sienna to his dorm room while Angela remained with Derek for a talk.

“Our squad is Squad 5555 or Dv55,” Sienna said, grinning as they walked down the corridor. He shot a quick glance at Wein as he wrapped his arm around Wein who was holding his suitcase in his other hand. “It's not the most prestigious but we’re one of the best within our platoon.”

Wein was led by Sienna through the corridors of the massive ship, he learnt that squads shared the same bunk dorms so he would be living with the others in the same dorm room while on the Orion Sett. Additionally, Sienna told him about the group and its dynamic.

“So, about Derek…” he continued his tone light. “He’s a bit… how should I say this cold. He is a cold and cruel man but behind that, he is a great leader. Though he does not usually show it, Derek knows his stuff and has a keen sense of strategy and welfare for his subordinates.”

Wein nodded, reminded of the introduction to the squad and how Derek paid him no mind. “He seems distant.”

“Great observation, that is just who our squad leader is,” Sienna shrugged. “He doesn’t care for small talk or group settings and likes to spend his time alone but when it comes to leading us in battle, he is the first to speak and get the job done.”

Sienna stopped in front of a door, he stretched his finger over the panel that scanned him, and soon after it opened with a soft hiss. He stepped inside and a light flicked illuminating the entire room.

“This is our doom room,” he said casually. He ventured deeper over the beds and spaces that belonged to the other troopers in the squad. He reached an unoccupied bed in the middle of the room. It was a bunk bed, but the free space with at the top.

The whole room at most had ten beds, five bunk beds with two beds each, all were laid on one side of the room, and on the other side was a desk and compartments for the troopers to place their gears in.

“This will be your bed, we all get a bed, a desk, and a chest to store our gear. It’s not much, but it’s all we get in these ships. With this I welcome you to the life of a trooper serving House Voss.”

Wein placed his case on the bed assigned to him and eyed the modest space which was not a new experience to him because he had been in a similar situation back in training camp.

The beds were modest, just a pillow and a thin blanket folded and placed neatly, other than that there was nothing significant. He walked to his desk which was more modest than anything, there was basic equipment like a screen embedded in it and a small lamp and pen. This was the same for the other desks stationed next to his except that some had magazines and books atop with some personal items.

Atop was a window that stretched across the room that allowed everyone a chance to see the beautiful cold vast space.

The room itself was functional, the walls were bare and looked utilitarian, just as expected of a soldier's quarter to be. If Wein wanted books or other materials of his own, he would have to place a request but for now that was his life.

“Thank you, Sienna,” he replied.