Chapter 74 - Graduation (2).

In the center of the Federation Star Academy, there was a big ground. This was where the school held important events like the monthly assembly and martial exhibition for the army officials at times. This ground has witnessed a lot of batches passing out of the school through the times. Today one more batch of students will be added to that list. 

At a side of the ground there was a big stone podium, where the higher authorities of the school were standing at the moment and in front of them stood the students forming neat queues and columns. Each class had six rows of ten students each. They were standing in square formation giving off an elegant and stoic aura. 

There were four courses in the school. The battle class, the technical class, the administrator class, and last the business class. The federation military forces were not all just fighting and killing. In the distant past when interstellar travel and conquest was just a newborn baby, the higher-ups in the military realized that they were too dependent on the budget given to them by the government. The government earned money from the taxes from the masses. 

Thus the military began to engage in the field of business. With the security of beginning a military flagship, the business soared, and not only that, while the other companies were still being strictly policed the military took advantage and they became the stellar mining giants. The military mined the barren planets and using the resources they started small-scale terra-forming projects. 

Thanks to the head start the federal army was three-generation ahead of any company in the whole of humanity when it came to terraforming. However, the money cycle needed for terraforming was too much for them to handle alone, and thus they formed an organization with the help of other companies called, Terra-Forum. Thanks to the money pool of this organization they terraformed the moon at a cost of three hundred trillion. 

The price significantly decreased as they all researched and improved the technology. These business class people were to be employed in these military-owned businesses. The business ranged from medical to transportation and import-export firms. None else could beat Military companies in credibility. 

The style of the uniforms of the four classes was the same except for the color of their blazer and necktie. The battle class wore royal blue color, while the technical class was given the marron color. The administrators who were going to join the government offices had white blazers, while the business class had an emerald green blazer and tie. 

The parents of the students sat on the peripheral areas of the ground. Suddenly, everyone felt a change in the air, it became heavy suddenly. The principal of the school, Retired Lieutenant General Stevenson, was climbing the stairs of the raised podium, wearing his Black military uniform. The left side of the coat was as if made of medals only, a hard-peaked cap rested on his head, on the center of the cap was the insignia of the federation, the earth in silver and black color. 

The man came and stood up in front of the microphone and gazed at all the students. It was as if the students were driven by something like a subconscious response. They all stood up in attention and saluted the man crisply. The movement was all in sync as if they had rehearsed this for a long time. Think about what sort of mental image was being cast over the students to react in the same way. 

Stevenson said, "At ease. I have never been known to talk too much, and nor do I plan to overturn my image today. You all stand here today because you have shed your blood and sweat for it. You do not have to be thankful to anyone, you did it for yourself. Keep working hard and you will keep progressing. 

Now we shall get down with the oath of a soldier. However, before you all take this oath, I will give you all one chance to back off, after joining the force if you had second thoughts, then your hesitation might result in the death of not only you but your whole unit, your whole platoon and even worse, the whole brigade. This applies to every one of you, whether you are from administration or the business class. Now, I will give you ten minutes to think." 

The parents were tense, but the students were having a different opinion. Some even wanted to ask if the old man on the stage ate too spicy in the breakfast. However, they dared not. Ten minutes passed very quickly. Stevenson said, "Very well, now the guest of the honor, Major General Charlotte Knight will be granting you all, the military coat, your rank stars, and hat. Come over the stage when you are named." 

Charlotte Knight came forward and a faculty member began to read the names of the students alphabetically. The first was the administration class, followed by the battle class, then the business class, and lastly the Technical class. 

Shi Lang happened to be the last student as well. After an hour, his name was called over. The boy calmly walked over the stage from the stairs under the gazes of the whole school and all the parents. Shi Lang stood in front of Charlotte Knight and saluted her with a poker face. The lady nodded and two officers came forward to take off his maroon blazer and quickly put on a black coat on him. Then Charlotte picked up star badges from the tray held by an attendant on the side and pinned them to the lapel of his blazer.

The surrounding audience gasped at this. The people were all aware that the highest rank a new graduate was given was lieutenant. Which was displayed by two stars on the lapel, however, Shi Lang was given a three-star badge. The boy did not show any reaction on his face, and Charlotte Knight picked up a black peaked hat from the side and placed it on his head. 

The lady said, "Now, as the first officer among your batch, I would like to have Captain Shi Lang stand beside me and recite the oath of allegiance after me and you all will follow along with him. 

I, ..., do swear in name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of The Federation as by the law established and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully serve in the Federation Military forces and go wherever ordered by land, sea, air or space, and that I will observe and obey all commands of any officer set over me even to the peril of my life." 

The woman did not speak one sentence at a time. The memory of the Terrans was not that shabby. The students all heard his sonorous voice and they felt their blood boiling. With a deep breath, they all recited the oath of allegiance. The air seemed to be reverberating with their voice. The audience were all shivering with excitement as they heard the strong voice. 

After the oath was complete the students did not move but they all stood on their spots. Stevenson walked forward and said, "Now you are all respected officers of the Federation Military forces. Carry yourself with the pride and dignity of an officer. Lastly, I would like to ask the first officer to come forward and say a few words to encourage his peers." 

Shi Lang wanted to scold the old man because never had a first officer, the topper of the batch, was asked to speak on the stage. However, since he was ordered to move forward by a senior officer, although retired, it did only made the rank even heavier. The retirees were to be honored, and thus Shi Lang came and stood up in front of the mic. 

He gazed at everyone, and said, "When earlier we stood here, we all had a different color. However, at the moment, we all have the same black color draping us. This is to tell us that we are now comrades. When out there on the fronts you feel pressured and scared of any problem that you may face, remember, that you are not alone. This uniform is not to show your status and profession, but to tell you, that you carry the spirits of all the brothers who wear these colors. 

Far from home the comrades with these colors will be your family and the base of operation will be home, so go out there, and do your best. The family away from family not only bleeds the same, but they wear the same too. Remember, your family is your strength. Do you understand?" 

The speech emphasized the fact that the military will be a family they all joined. This emphasis made the students excited and they all subconsciously replied, "UNDERSTOOD, SIR." 

Shi Lang saluted them and the crowd returned his gesture. Then the boy did the same for the two old foxes on the stage and walked off. Stevenson said, "Disperse, your posting orders will be dispatched on your communicators." 

With that the graduation ceremony came to an end.