“The anomaly could be just that. The subject’s mass changes the longer we observe it, something that is just not possible.” - From the journal of Benjamin Hargrave, June 15, 2231.
Jack stared out of the air-car window, watching the city lights pass far below. The silence forced him to dwell on the decision to join. Part of him wanted nothing more than to ask the master sergeant to turn around and bring him back. The more dominant part knew that joining the AHF was his only true ticket away from Earth and into a decent future. He suspected the silence was the recruiter’s way of giving him time to process, but right now, it simply was causing more turmoil.
“Sir?” Jack asked, breaking the silence.
“Yeah?” Dale replied.
“How did you do it? Joining up, I mean. I feel like turning tail right now, and I’ve done nothing but ride in a car. The AHF was never my dream. Hell, for most of my life I hated the idea and mocked those that joined… No offense,” he added quickly after catching the glance that Master Sergeant Dale tossed his way. “I mean, leaving my friends was simple compared to leaving my family. Most are so deep in their own haze that I could call right now, and the talk would be nothing but a faint memory.”
“I get it,” he replied after allowing the silence to build again. “Family is generally a person’s closest ties. Honestly, I am more worried when a recruit is not upset at this point in their journey. It usually means that they will be trouble. If you don’t feel the fear now, you will not be willing to pull the trigger of self-sacrifice out in the field. You mentioned haze. You don’t have a drug problem, do you?”
“Honestly? Yeah, I’ve done my share. I stopped after a good friend forced me to see that I’d lost myself. It was why I failed school. Well, that, and just not caring anymore.”
“I’ll tell you this, Jack. that crap doesn’t fly out there in the black and it definitely doesn’t fly when you are on assignment. You can have fun on shore leave, but bringing it back to your duty station will endanger the lives of other soldiers. We won’t let anyone compromise a mission for a hit of whatever crazy drug they found on a planet. Do me a favor when you get up there: look for the best in your class. Stars, be the best in your class if you can. Find a group of friends that won’t let you down, and for the love of the UHR, do not get yourself labeled as a troublemaker. The punishments do not fit the crime out there.”
A few moments of silence passed in the vehicle as Jack thought about the recruiter’s words. “Hey, sir?” Jack said, picking up the conversation again as he saw the shuttle station. “Who are we fighting up there? How are they going to get us ready for combat? I guess, training? But… can we really fight the monsters they show in the adverts?”
“Well, Jack – first off, you’re going to need to learn your ranks, and fast. That sir stuff is only for officers. People like me with the tiger stripes, you can just say sergeant. Short answer to the first question: we are fighting an enemy, and that is going to have to be enough for now. For the second, you’ll learn through hard work and training. It will most definitely suck, and you will end up hating me. But at the end of the day, it is the only way you can fight on the level that nature gives some of these creatures.”
“You don’t make a very good case for joining, you know that? Where is all the fanfare, the speech about protecting our people and saving the oppressed?”
Chuckling, MSG Dale looked at Jack and grinned. “Stars, boy, we don’t give speeches like that for two reasons. First, we don’t always look like the good guys up there. Second, there are forces in the universe that can – and do – wipe the floor with humans. Look at us. We aren’t physically built for war. Some of those races are nothing but killing machines.” The air-car began its descent. “It’s not as much about the pomp and circumstance as it is the need for us to survive.”
Looming in front of them was a sleek silver and black spacecraft shaped like an old nuclear submarine from the days of Earth-based warfare. At the rear of the vessel, an X-shaped engine array glowed softly as it waited for takeoff. “Alright, Jack, let’s do this,” MSGT Dale said when the air-car came to a stop.
As they climbed out of the vehicle, MSGT Dale motioned toward a small brick building that sat near the shuttle. Walking inside, it surprised Jack to see how full the room was. There was no room to move or even really get comfortable, especially considering that every recruit was standing shoulder to shoulder.
Ignoring MSGT Dale, a small guy grabbed Jack by the hand and pulled him into line with the others. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, he said, “Come on, blondie, pack in like fish in a box. They told us to get in close. This is about as close as we can get. The dude in the front has been telling us to get in line and shut up, but I can only do one of those at a time. What the hell are you doing here so late, anyway? Don’t you own a watch?”
“What are you talking about?” Jack replied, slightly taken aback by the man. The speed at which he spoke left Jack wondering where the conversation even started.
“Dude, the notice they send you says to be here by midnight. Know what? I don’t care. If you want to make your arrival by the grace of Saint Peter’s ball hair, then that is up to you. I am sure you have a good reason for almost being late for your new job. I’m Alec, by the way.”
“Late? I honestly just made the decision tonight. How was I supposed to have an itinerary?” Jack replied.
“Because you’re supposed to know what they are thinking before they do. Don’t you know that one by now?”
Jack turned and got a good look at the man who had so eloquently mentioned a saint’s testicles in the first fifteen seconds after meeting someone new. He was small with black, wiry hair, and the brownest eyes he’d ever seen. If his mischievous grin hadn’t pegged him as trouble, the “who farted?” t-shirt made it clear.
“You like what you see?” he said, attempting to pose seductively and failing miserably.
“Nobody likes what they see, Alec,” the response came from a deep voice with a heavy Southern accent just to the side of Jack in the next column over. “Don’t listen to that guy, buddy. He’s an idiot and has been my entire life. I’m Dave.”
“I’m Jack.” He shot Dave an incredulous look. “You know this guy?”
“Yeah, we met in school. He’d good people.” Dave shrugged, “You just gotta’ ignore half the shit that he says, and you’ll be alright.”
“And the other half?” Jack asked playfully.
“All comic gold!” injected Alec, pushing his way back into the conversation. “You see, my wonderfully clueless, soon-to-be brother in arms, you are currently wondering why we are just standing here, waiting patiently like hookers on the corner if it was so important to get in. Truth is, it wasn’t. All I wanted was to throw another sausage in the middle of this train.”
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“Dammit, Alec. You could give the poor guy five minutes before you start throwin’ around the dick jokes,” Dave said, putting a hand over his face.
“You’re the one that said ignore half. That was the half to ignore,” Alec grinned.
“The problem with your jokes isn’t that they aren’t plentiful,” said Jack. “It’s that they really aren’t that funny. I mean, you could have at least attempted to make it funny by saying we had to hurry up and wait. Isn’t that what the old military was known for?”
“That is as hurtful as it is true,” Alec replied with a hand to his chest in mock pain before speaking in a false British accent, “However, that is the point of scholarship, is it not? You learn from your failure over and over until, one day, you might just become a true scholar of comedy.”
“I think you have no clue what a scholar is,” Jack said. “I will concede that you at least seem to learn well enough to stand in a line. Should I find you a box of crayons to chew?”
Laughing, Dave answered, “Man, if you only knew. Here he is busting your balls about being late, yet this joker didn’t even get here until about five minutes ago.”
“Your point, Mr. David?” Alec mocked.
“Hold up,” Jack interrupted before the tirade could begin again. “You are lecturing me about time, yet you have only been here a few seconds longer?”
“Minutes,” he said, raising his index finger into the air as if he were defending himself in court. “And, you see, if I can make you think I know what is actually going on, then I win.”
“How so?”
“Blind faith that lets me into your head to trick you into some half-cocked, stars-cursed plan of mine that may or may not end in us being chased down the road.”
“Please shut your face. It is way too late in the night for your special blend of stupid,” Dave interjected.
Just then, a hush fell over the room as a man in black fatigues cleared his throat. Once the noise finally trickled into silence, he spoke. “Good evening, recruits. I am Ensign Spear. Tonight, you will each embark on a journey. For some, it will no doubt be nothing more than a ride back to your home, and that is ok. For others, however, you will board the shuttle outside and be flown up to the carrier ship.” Pausing for a moment, he looked around the room before continuing. “Before we board, there is, of course, some paperwork to be had. What kind of military would it be without it? First, we will go over a series of three documents you will be required to sign before shipping out. If you are uncomfortable with any of these three documents, you are free to walk out of the building. However, doing so will bar you from any recruitment office for six months.”
As he finished, a large screen came on behind him with the words ‘The first Oath’ in the center. “We will begin here. I (state your name) agree to enlistment in the AHF for no less than a period of twenty Earth years. I further understand that, in the event of wartime action, I will be required to serve until such a time as there is no longer conflict or a period of thirty total years have passed. Last, I understand that by enlisting in the AHF I forgo any allegiances and holdings on Earth. This includes, but is not limited to, personal belongings, land, and nationality. Should I choose at the time of my separation from the AHF, I will be provided with relocation on any UHR colony planet of my choice.” Looking back at the room, Ensign Spear said, “If you agree, please press your thumb on your mobile device. If you do not, please seek the nearest exit.”
With the weight of potentially thirty years now a known part of the enlistment, several people began making their way out of the building to return to whatever life they had. It was easier for many to accept the devil they knew rather than the one they did not. Jack knew that he really didn’t have the option, so he remained where he stood.
“This is heavy, man,” Alec whispered into his ear. “Why so much time?”
“More than likely because recruitment is down in the first place. Either that or they need every soldier they can get for as long as they can get them,” Jack replied.
“Thank you for your interest,” Spear called to the backs of the retreating people. “This is not something everyone can, or wants, to do. Good luck out there.” Turning back to the room, the officer continued, “Moving on to our second oath. I (state your name) hereby swear to uphold any and all secrets of the AHF including but not limited to technology that is seen or used in my time with the organization. I also understand that this restriction also includes any and all citizens of Earth, and is in place to protect the people from what they do not understand. I swear I will protect the secrets of the human race from other hostile powers in order to further protect the people from outside threats. I understand that any breach of this oath is considered treason and therefore handled with the full force of punishment it entails.”
Stopping again to allow the words to sink in, Ensign Spear looked around to gauge just how many would leave. Thinking about what he was asked to sign, Jack found that the idea of keeping the AHF’s secrets was a simple one. Why would he ever want to share that information in the first place? Nonetheless, several more people silently pushed their way out of the room.
“I want you all to think about this one. It carries more weight than it appears.” said the Ensign. “Remember, this oath is to protect the people of Earth from knowing too much about what is really out there. If that makes you uncomfortable, you may leave.”
With no more people making moves for the door, the Ensign switched his screen to the third and final oath. “Please read along with me, I (state your name) hereby agree that I will not refuse any medical procedures deemed by the AHF as required to enhance my combat readiness. I understand that the AHF will do everything in its power to save my existence in whatever way is deemed necessary. I retain the right to inquire about the necessity of procedures, provided time is not a factor for life-saving measures. I hereby forgo any religious restrictions concerning the modification of self.”
As Jack reread the third oath, he felt a large measure of trepidation about what they might do in the name of “combat readiness.” Looking around, he saw a similar look of horror planted firmly on many faces around him. This was the hardest of the three to agree with. It was essentially an open invitation to be used as a lab rat. Behind him, Alec vocalized his fear.
“What the actual star-dust is combat readiness supposed to mean? What are they going to do to us? Dave, do you see this crap, man? I don’t know if I can do it.” The panic in his voice was the first authentic emotion Jack had heard from the man.
“You’ll be alright, Alec,” Dave said, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Read it again, buddy. They won’t do anything drastic unless it is to save your life. Personally, I find it reassuring that they’re willing to save us.”
“Why?” Jack asked.
“Because, man, I don’t want to bleed out on the ground of some alien planet just because I didn’t consent to be saved. This is basically just them asking ahead of time if they can help me out should the worst happen.”
Dave’s words calmed Jack as he considered it in a new light, and the man was right. The third oath boiled down to granting permission to save him in a life-or-death situation. It wasn’t sadistic by design; in fact, it was merciful.
More people left after the reading of this oath than had left from the previous two combined. Looking at the crowd as if he knew this would be the case, Ensign Spear nodded at those who remained respectfully.
As the last of the people who refused to sign left, the Ensign turned back to the remaining recruits. “Congratulations, recruits. I want you to know that it is a major accomplishment for me to say that to you and mean it. Statistically, only one in ten people ever have the thought of joining up. It also goes to say that only one in ten of those actually does it. I thank you for your bravery. For all intents and purposes, you are now what we will refer to as an E-1. Those who have signed all three documents may no longer leave this facility; you are now the property of the AHF.”
The Ensign's eyes glowed an odd pinkish color. A second later, Jack heard heavy locks engage on the door leading out of the recruitment hall. As his eyes faded back to their original color, the officer turned to address them again.
“I do not want to cause you to worry. However, you should each know two things before we move on. The first is that I was serious about not leaving. The doors will be locked to the outside and no communication will be allowed in or out without my express permission. I will tell you now, recruits, in the forty-five years that I have held this ceremony, not once have I found a reason worth opening those doors again. The second is this: should you become either a conscientious objector or, frankly, a coward in the next ten minutes, you will not like the results. Please, do not make me do something neither of us will enjoy.” Taking yet another brief pause, he continued, “You will now begin moving single file outside and onto the runway. Once there, you will see a man at the top of a set of stairs. That is your destination. As you pass by him, you will look him in the eyes and state your name. Those are your first orders. Move, recruits!”