“You will get used to it. Anyway, is there anything else you want to know?” asked Sienna. “I know almost everything there is to know about our squad.”

“Then tell me more about our squad.”

Sienna grinned leaning against the bedpost across from Wein.

“No problem. As you have heard our squad is led by Sergeant Derek, he is a 3-star Shock Trooper and has a decade of experience on his belt. Besides what I have told you, our leader was an active fighter during the last Great Galactic War. They say he contributed a lot that his rank should have been increased but he turned it down.”

“He turned it down. A promotion to a higher rank is the dream for us all. Why did he?” asked Wein, who was now leaning on his desk.

“I don’t know about that, anyway our team leader is the strongest and most experienced among us. Next is Sergeant Angela Cooper, she is the assistant squad leader besides the leader she is the second most experienced.”

Wein was reminded about Angela, though she was a senior in the military, he did not get the feel of her being impressive or notable.

“Don’t let her small physique fool you, she has countless kills under her belt,” spoke Sienna after sensing that Wein was underestimating Angela.

He smirked as he continued, “She is a 2-star Shock Trooper and she like the leader was popular during the war. I heard she and her last squad once infiltrated a stronghold with just six people and burned it down. Granted only she survived but rumours say they went after one hundred shock trooper level enemy combatants, and she was able to rescue a valuable hostage from that ordeal.”

Wein was amazed at the feat, one because six people went against a hundred and were successful in their mission, and the second was that someone was able to survive even against those odds.

He knew how hard it must have been to go against hundred enemies who were off similar skillsets as yourself not only being outnumbered but surviving. Fighting against other sentient lifeforms and Shock Trooper level meant going against people, smart people of similar skill levels or even better who had the same chances as oneself or more. So, to go against those people and still survive, was something to be proud of and a hard feat to achieve.

Even Wein had to admit, that the enemies he faced in the simulations though they mimicked reality, they were not real and did not pose as much of a danger to him. But in reality, it would be different, in reality like him they had potential to be successful.

Sienna who noticed Wein's realisation smiled. “That feat was what propelled her to jump from 0-star Shock Trooper to be a Sergeant.”

“Next, we have Kol the brains, he is our tech and strategy guy. He can operate almost any machinery with grey precision, he is also good at hacking. Oh, he also knows over five alien languages off by heart. Mace is our tank, a bulldozer of a man. He may look threatening but when you get to know him, he is a softy.”

Wein pictured the large man beside Kol, he was huge and threatening but he knew better than to judge a man by his looks.

“Harlan is the most silent in our squad but his skills in his profession are second to none, he specializes in scouting and retcon along with stealth operations. His past is mysterious, but no one really knows about him. I for one think he was raised by some assassin secret order” Seinna suggested jokingly as he winked.

Harlan was a man with a low presence, Wein was surprised when he met him, he was such an intriguing man. And the guess that he was once a secret assassin had some truth to it, that man’s presence was practically non-existent even when Wein was in front of him.

“Mark’s the hardest of the bunch, but don’t let his gruff exterior fool you, he is loyal to the squad and will risk his life for the mission. Finally, Lara… well she is a tough case. She was once in the special forces through her talent alone, fighting among the best talents in the whole army. She is fast, the fastest in the whole squad, and can take on a whole squad all by herself. Well, you will see for yourself.”

Sienna paused for a moment and eyed Wein carefully.

“As for you, Wein, I can’t wait to find out about you. Don’t feel too pressured, no one expects you to pump in results so soon, just do what you can, and you will be fine.”

Wein nodded, trying to reassure himself. “Thanks. I’ll do my best.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“That’s the spirit,” Sienna said, giving him an exaggerated thumbs up. “Oh, I forgot to say this, you have noticed that we have two squad leaders, the thing is, we were once fourteen in our squad total, one half under Derek and the other under Angela but after a mission, we lost our brothers and sisters. There might be some blood there, be careful. So, with that, I hope you can integrate well.”

He walked out of the room and turned back to face Wein.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you to get settled in. The ship will jump soon, and our mission deployment is coming so be sure to be ready, and get some rest while you can, from now on you are a Trooper. See ya…”

As the door closed behind him, Wein was left alone in the room. He tried organising his thoughts about his new comrades, these were going to be people he would have to place his life and trust in.

Wein did get a brief report about this squad before, Squad 5555 was a squad that routinely took dangerous missions, but they had very skilled professionals. They were not amongst the best but in all the army they were skilled enough.

I mean it alone had what four...five Shock Troopers which were an upgrade to the normal Troopers. Even the pay was not too bad either given they had to do dangerous missions.

The squad appeared competent and skilled enough that Wein figured the risk would be mitigated.

Not wasting any more time, Wein removed all his belongings and put them neatly in his own compartment. Inside he saw that there were assigned clothes to wear leisurely like a different pair tracksuit and vests. He replaced his uniform for them and neatly stacked it in the compartment.

Then he climbed on his bed and rested, he had been through a long day, and he knew that that the time to rest was slowly ending.

He closed his eyes and instantly fell into a slumber.

****

Beep!!!...

The siren ring jolted Wein awake from his slumber, upon waking up he searched the room and found that the only other person in the room was Lara who sitting at her desk was writing something.

Wein was taken aback a little, the concept of guys and girls sharing the same quarters was a little foreign to him.

Yes, he was in the military and that would be the case in most situations for comrades, they showered together, ate together, and slept together but from where Wein was trained there were no girls.

In fact, he was under the impression that there were no females in the army, and if they were they would be separated but seeing Lara shattered that expectation.

He rose from his bed, his attention being drawn by the ringing siren then a message aired in the comms heard throughout the ship.

“Attention all passengers, we are about to jump into hyperdrive in a moment!”

Wein jumped out of bed still feeling the effects of his nap. The ship was about to go into hyperdrive, and he would be deployed, there was no time to waste. As soon as they arrived at the system of the planet Thalsaris, he had to be ready for deployment.

“You are up,” spoke Lara not facing Wein as she continued writing. “Get ready our squad is almost up.”

“Yes, thank you” replied Wein he went to grab a toothbrush and a towel. “What about the others, are they waiting?”

“Newbie a little advise, don’t worry about the rest of the squad, rather focus on yourself” Kara spoke as she stood up, she was done with what she was writing.

“Why was I sent to get him ready?” she enquired her voice low, Wein couldn’t hear.

It was at that moment that Wein noticed that Lara was already halfway prepared for deployment. She was wearing the tactical military suit Troopers wore in battle. Though she was only wearing the below part at the moment.

The Barony’s tactical military suits were similar and different to those of other noble houses.

First were the boots, they were firm and stable black boots that enabled the troopers to walk comfortably in harsh environments. They were durable and matched well with the whole grey suit that was House Voss's signature colour.

The pants of the uniform were the standard model but made with a material that absorbed at best 5% of laser beams destructive power. The pants had many pockets that were used for many things like ammunition, grenades, compasses, etc.

The grey pants were broken by a black utility belt that was connected to a strap where the blade was placed on. The belt’s purpose was mostly as a container for smaller weapons and tools Troopers used for diversions.

From the belt to above was an armour-like chest plate, it was buff for both men and women. Wearing it was like having a buffed chest with smaller normal-sized arms stretching out.

The buffed part was made of a material that could absorb a great deal of energy and force, it was instrumental in saving the Troopers' lives. Because only that buff part was on the suit it was not too heavy to carry.

On the left of the chest area on the suit was the Barony’s crest positioned in its mighty glory.

The suit chest plate was grey as well but the extension to the arms turned darker grey until it was black. At the end were black standard military gloves.

Troopers of most noble families carried specialised backpacks with them on their campaigns, House Voss was no different.

The backpack was like an extension of the suit and was always firm at the back of the Troopers. They were big enough to carry various necessities, like food, and extra ammunition.

Additionally, it had the function of storing a heavy gun so the Trooper would have free arms to use other weapons.

The other function of the pack was to provide oxygen for when in hostile environments through a tube that was connected to the mask or rather helmet of the Troopers.

The helmet was the final component of the suit, its purpose was clear from viewing it. It stretched from ear to ear, covering the brains and back of the head, leaving the front of the face open.

There were goggles built into it that could recline to cover the eyes or pushed to the top. Additionally, there was a firm mask that was hanging stably below that was enough to cover both the nose and the mouth.

The helmet was grey in colour matching the suit with the goggles emanating a dark purple colour.

…

Lara was only wearing up to the belt, but she was only waiting to be deployed, Wein knew he had to get ready too.