I put my crate in the recess and a warning sound beeped." Class V Weapon detected."
He took the blaster out of the crate. The one I had received from the police officer at Corri-Door." Government Issue SIG Class V with full 60 bolt magazine. You better be licensed for that."
He scanned my CIT and was satisfied. "One SIG STR 229 with magazine and holster." He handed it to the Robot who put it in another bin.
"One Fairbairn Sykes fighting knife in shoulder harness. One Oslo brand heavy Boot knife. One Marine Corps Chain sword with full flamer attachment."
He stopped." What war zone do you come from? You carry almost as much hardware as a Dai Than!"
Since he continued describing and handing my things to the robot I was sure he didn't expect an answer.
"One SII – ProDat 9 – Hexatonium Edition."
"Pack of Sparkle Bright gum- Grape Flavor, opened"
He described each and every item of clothing and everything I had in my pockets that way. I didn't think it was right for him to know what I had in my pockets. I felt like being processed for prison. Then he said to me." All your items will be stored in safe keeping and will be returned to you , after you leave the academy, either accepted or rejected."
Between each test and each station of this process was a waiting period and since I had also to no PDD, I did not know what time it was or how long all this took. Derek was certain it was over 30 hours for sure as they finally herded us aboard a Leyland Military Shuttle. Everyone was wearing that bright orange colored jumpsuit. I was tired and thirsty. I was certain they used every test and every sensor known to science on me. I had been bathed now four times in various liquids, sterilized inside and out. Filled out forms and questionnaires and then was probed and measured and scanned some more.
"They are treating us like penal colony prisoners than Academy aspirants!" complained Derek. He managed to get a seat next to me.
I had to agree with him. It was impersonal, cold and demeaning. With a few exceptions the personnel was grumpy, indifferent and unfriendly.
Mix who also made it wiggled his big ears."To become an officer on one of those magnificent ships, I'd endure much worse."
"I wonder why they do it that way!" I said." I mean would it hurt to show a little more respect?"
Mix answered again:"It wasn't so bad. They need to make sure no spies make it to Arsenal. Do you know how many times the Kermac and others have tried to find out just what Terrans really found on Arsenal III?"
Derek answered this one. "The GC does not like the Union and they didn't like losing this star system to the Union, especially since everyone knows we found something there, something very important. I would be very angry to lose my own front yard to a hated neighbor only to hear that this neighbor found a treasure in it."
An applicant across the aisle had the name Binks stenciled on his chest shrugged. "I think it is a ruse, there is nothing there and all this is to throw the GC off course and it worked for the last 2000 years!"
Derek leaned back in the seat, obviously glad like everyone else to sit down and rest." I think they found a secret city of the Celtest or perhaps the Uni."
I turned my head towards him "And you read that in your galactic National Magazines?"
Derek gave me a broad grin. "Sure have, but that's not the only thing I watch or read."
"So what did they find then?" I asked
Binks chimed in again "No one that knows ever talked, but rumors have it that they found a Celtest city or ship yard and completely intact, with the entire Tech level 11 stuff ready for the taking! The famous alien ship, brought back by Admiral Stahl during the last Y'All Invasion is supposedly a Celtest battleship. I think it was here were he found it."
"Was it not 2516 when Richard Stahl returned and saved the Galaxy?" I said smiling back. Proud at myself that I remembered something and wasn't completely ignorant
"2516 was when the war ended. Stahl returned in 2514 "
" Why haven't we have reached Tech Level 11 yet?" I asked." I mean if they really found what you said. It's over 500 years ago!"
Mix said:"It takes the average Civilization between 3- 5000 years to reach tech level 3 and over 15,000 to reach Tech level 7. Look at the Kermac. They have been around for almost a million years and have not advanced past tech Level 7. Some of Saresii technology is considered to be Tech level 9 and they reached Tech level three over a Million years ago. The Union in general is at Tech level 7 but many consider Terran technology already well past Tech 8. Now the Terrans are still one of the youngest and newest galactic civilizations. When my people heard of the speed the Terrans achieved this, we called it the Terran Miracle."
He wiggled his ears in excitement. "It takes many millennia of dedicated research to even fundamentally understand the principles of any Tech level higher than yours. It can be quite dangerous too, if you are not very careful. I bet they found just what the rumor said and that is why Terrans and the Union advance so fast."
Derek nodded."Imagine a Stone Age man trying to figure out the function of a blaster weapon. This Stone Age man would have to make a lot of discoveries and inventions on his own to even understand the rudimentary workings of that blaster and during that long process might even shoot him before he ever figures it out."
While we talked our shuttle left Arsenal Gate, went super luminal and we reached Arsenal II only 2 hours later.
Chapter 15: Admiral Webb
Arsenal System was an OII Main sequence star with 11 planets. Each planet was heavily developed by the Fleet. The United Stars Fleet was one of the biggest organizations in the known universe. There must have been Trillions of beings serving active all over the Galaxy and beyond. Millions of ship and bases needed maintenance, upgrades, and supplies. Even the three gas giants in the system and their moons had some installations on them.
A Dyson Sphere that would eventually replace Arsenal system was under construction but it would take many centuries before it was complete.
Arsenal System was also the most heavily protected and defended system. A cocoon of weapon platforms and space forts surrounded the system in addition to the many war ships and deep space fighters on constant stand by. Sensor installations tracked everything that moved within 100 light years.
Arsenal II was a very hot water less planet with a toxic acid atmosphere, to close to its sun to develop native life and in many ways similar to the Sol systems Venus. Despite the inhospitality of Arsenal II over 5 million beings lived and worked here at all times. Most of the installations where underground, except for the huge landing fields and the Academy complex.
The United Stars Military Academy had many branches all over the galaxy, but here on Arsenal II was Academy headquarters.
All this information I got from a Vidi-brochure that was playing over and over again on the passenger compartment main screen.
The constant vibration of the ship changed and that most likely indicated that we had dropped into Real Space and approached our destination. The Vidi-brochure on the main screen disappeared and was replaced by a mustard yellow ball and it soon filled the screen. Thick clouds whirled in its atmosphere and prohibited any view of the actual planet surface. Without swinging into an orbit first, our transport ship immediately descended into that thick pea soup atmosphere and the view screen showed nothing but unhealthy shades of sulphuric yellow.
Moments later we had passed through this kilometers thick soup of acid clouds and the ship was floating across a lifeless inhospitable environment. Rough rugged mountains, huge fissures of canyon size zigzagging across the umbra colored surface. The transport descended further and a collection of buildings centered on a tall cone shaped tower was the obvious target of our trip. Lush green parks with perfectly groomed grass, large trees and small ponds surrounded the compound and a transparent, almost reflection free, most likely energy-field reinforced Duranium dome encased it all. As we passed directly over it Academy compound it looked strangely surreal and out of place. Green pa
rks, trees and buildings surrounded by that lifeless rugged landscape with rough looking boulders, and sulphuric clouds, an environment unfit for most life forms.
The transport landed on a Duro-crete field. A slide-way inside a transparent pipe rose from the ground and attached itself to the airlock. The doors opened and a barrel chested human in uniform told us to get up. Two seat rows at a time and single file. He made sure it all happened in an orderly manner. The slide-way inside the transparent tunnel transported us across the landing field and inside that dome we had seen from space.
We were greeted by two black uniformed humanoids welcoming us at the Academy on Arsenal II. The slide belt had ended right behind the Ultronit base of the transparent dome. I estimated the apex of this dome to be at least 500 meters above us. There we joined a line of perhaps a thousand more identically orange dressed beings, already waiting on a broad alley made of smooth dark red colored Duro-crete that ended at the base of that cone shaped tower in the center. That alley was perhaps 20 meters wide and if I had to guess a 1000 meters long.
A flight of stairs led from where we stood down to that alley. From this elevated observation point I noticed five more such alleys like spokes of a wheel and I was almost certain there were at least three more spokes on the other side but blocked by that tall building. Each alley had a line of applicants like this one. That meant between eight and ten thousand applicants stood in line and waited to be accepted into the Academy just like me.
The space between the spokes had well-groomed green grass and small trees on it, the light came from a Sun light projector at the zenith of the huge dome. All looked very orderly and very regulated. I saw a gang of dark green dressed beings tending one of the grass areas with hand tools. It somehow reminded me of the Halls of Hasvik and I was almost certain they did that as a result of a punishment or something like that.
A humanoid union officer floated down from somewhere and hovered a few feet away from us and he addressed us." This is your first actual order you receive as Union Fleet personnel. This order I will give you now is meant to test your ability and willingness to accept instructions that might cause discomfort or make no sense to you. Since this is your first official order it will be explained to you. Be prepared that this might have been the last time anyone explained the reason for an order to you. All this is new to you of course, but those who remain will soon get used to it."
The officer made a gesture encompassing the area before us and then he gestured in a linear motion to describe the Duro-crete alley before us. "To your back from where you just came on the top of the stairs is the entrance lobby. There are wash rooms, vent-o-matics and even GalNet Access booths. The tall building in the middle is the Academy administration building in which your final application process will be completed. The paved, red colored surface connecting these two points we call it Applicant Road. There are nine of these and you are on number six.
That concludes the explanation, now here are your orders and you are to follow them to the tee:
You are to remain in your spot of the cue. You are not allowed to leave the red area, sit on, or even touch the grass. Under no circumstance will you leave your place in the line to advance past others before you. Should you go back for whatever reason, be it to use the toilets, the washrooms or make a Call or for any other reason, it will be seen by us as your decision not to complete the application process. Should you choose to go back you will receive a space bus ticket to any destination of your choice and 1000 credits. No one will ask you why you decided to walk back. There is no appeal process as you will not be able to reapply for the Academy ever again. It was decided to make such finite and drastic conditions to make sure you know the seriousness of these instructions."
The officer paused for a second then nodded. "These are simple orders and you should be able to comply."
The officer saluted and said." I wish you all success and hopefully will see you one day in Navy Black." He left by floating away and into the direction of another Applicant road. As my eyes followed him, I saw another Transport pass over the academy preparing to land.
The long line of beings didn't move, even after four hours or so I roughly estimated I had not moved more than perhaps 2 meters. Nothing seemed to happen at all.
The fish faced Ult , I was certain was the same who had talked to me back on Arsenal Gate, as I recognized the pattern of darker spots on his greenish fish skin was standing before me. He even smelt faintly like fish, complained:" I hope this line is moving soon. The water in my suit is getting bad."
"Water in your suit?" I asked
He turned to answer:" I am an Ult. This orange jump suit they gave me is supposed to sustain me just as a real Ult Moisture Suit would. You see Ult are amphibious. I can survive on land but I must return to water periodically to regenerate. In dry environments like this we wear moisture suits"
The Ult was two heads taller than me, and really looked like a Blue Streamer fish that had been crossed with a human being and a large frog. He had large watery eyes, a lipless mouth filled with rows of very small but sharp looking teeth. His skin had a greenish shimmer and the outlines of a back fin under his yellow suit. He did have two hands and two legs. The legs were out of proportion to the rest of the body, as if belonging to a much larger being.
"I am amphibious too." I said and pointed at the gill slits at the base of my neck." I can understand your love for water." Then I asked." are you in any form of danger or harm because of that suit you wear?"
"My own suit recycles the water much more efficient than this one. This one appears to be malfunctioning. You see I need to exchange body waste materials through the skin, and replenish my cells with fresh water. If I am not able to do that soon, I might suffocate and perish.
"How long do you think you have?"
As alien as his face was, he looked uncomfortable." I am not sure, but not very much longer. I can feel the water clogging my pores!"
I looked around and saw a marine not too far away standing to my left just by the grass and approached her." Ma'am that Ult received a defective environmental suit and needs help his water supply is contaminated."
The Marine lowered her immense gun and pointed it at me." Applicant return into the line! Feeding and refreshment intervals will be given. Until then remain where you are. You heard the received your orders. It is the Ult's problem not yours. If he wants to quit all he has to do is walk back. You heard your orders and mine are to make sure you comply. "
"Ma'am I don't think I made myself clear. The Ult is in perhaps life threatening peril and needs help!"
The Marine woman barked "One more word out of you and I will shoot you!" then she said in a less threatening tone." What you all do at your spot in the line is up to you! But no help will be called, until he reaches the building or the refreshment interval is ordered. If he wants to quit all he has to do is turn around and walk back. There are toilets; there are washrooms and he gets a ride home, but if he turns around no matter for what reason he forfeits his chance to apply to the academy."
I wanted to voice my anger about this extremely unfair situation, but the expression on the Marines face and the shimmering energy field at the gun muzzle told me that she wasn't kidding.
The Ult and the other applicants nearby had heard the interchange and looked as helpless as I felt. The Ult's skin now had yellowish hue and he didn't look to good. Derek cursed:" What a bunch of ass holes! I mean they can't let him die. We got to do something."
I looked around. We were still far back. The line before us I estimated was at last 600 beings The line behind us was fifty beings or less and it reached up the stairs and all the way to the Airlock door with the bath rooms and a water fountain, but if anyone went back he or she would get a ride back and forfeit the chance to apply. Then I got an idea. With some effort I ripped of the sleeves of my suit, tied a knot in one end and said to Mix behind me." Pass those sleeves back and tell the being behind you to pass it on until it reaches those who
are still next to the water fountain. Have them fill it and pass it back."
Mix ears wiggled fast." What a great idea!"
The being behind him, a human female agreed. Even the female Marine watching us nodded approvingly.
Derek who stood before the Ult turned and said." If I only had some tools, I probably could fix that Enviro-suit."
"What do you need?" I asked.
"Well I would need to access the Diagnostic panel first."
The Ult looked visibly weak and was about to collapse. I reached out and with Derek's help eased him to the ground and said:" Just do it. See what you can do."
The first sleeve came back. Derek found the drain on the suit and he fashioned a make shift funnel out of a sleeve of his suit. Once everyone behind us understood what was happening the water arrived much faster and Derek was able to exchange the entire water supply in no time. We also doused the exposed skin of the Ult and gave him to drink. His skin lost the yellow hue and returned to the healthy greenish shine. His eyes became clearer and he looked at us." I don't know how I could thank you all!"
"Don't worry. I bet you would do the same." I said and turned to Derek who was looking at the tiny 2D read out of the diagnostic panel hidden behind a Velcro fabric flap on the Ult's arm." What's wrong with the thing?"
"One of the filters is clogged and the e - cell is nearly empty. There is not enough power for the self-cleaning cycle!"
I turned to Mix." Tell those behind you that the Ult is alright. Convey them our thanks."
Mix made a rattling sound and I realized he laughed." Great news! I convey at once!"
A brownish furred being with tentacles instead of arms, three spaces ahead of us said:" I am wearing an environment assisting suit also. I am a methane breather, but I can go without taking a breath for days. The Ult can have my energy cell. I won't be able to speak however!"
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 236