Book 3: Chapter 98: Fort Glisson

Book 3: Chapter 98: Fort Glisson

USD: 11 Days after the Arrival to MIL-1A

Location: Van Biesbroecks star, Meltisar, Brisbane Elevator, Descending

Alex stretched and yawned in her seat inside the space elevators passenger compartment. The elevator itself was massive, over 100 meters tall, and was carrying a huge load of materials from orbit back to the ground. It also had seating for over a thousand passengers, and she had lucked out with the opportunity to purchase a window seat.

This time it was an actual window, although the port was a thick pane of material with a small viewing area. It allowed a neat view of the horizon as the elevator slowly descended from orbit. That took almost an entire day, and Alex had dozed off more than once between reading sessions.

The intra-flight dinner service was extremely light, and shed had to go purchase some snacks from the all-service bar in the compartment.

Most of the other passengers were military personnel, and she wondered if there were any other recruits like her on the way down. Probably not, since she was already cutting it close with the timing. If she had waited another day, she would have missed onboarding.

At the bottom of the elevator was a massive super-structure in the center of Brisbane city. It was the third largest city on the planet. It had grown up as the primary hub of industrialization that served the military and civilian sectors in the system.

As the elevator neared its landing point, Alex could see a sea of towers rising in all directions. The reported number of inhabitants hadnt really sunk in. Seeing the sprawling urban towerscapes just drove in that there were billions of people who called the city home.

It was only another hour before they reached their stopping point. They were still far above ground level, the disembarkment area on the tower over one hundred stories above the ground. Alex collected her bag and hurried out of the elevator.

An exit gate had helpful digital signs pointing directions to different transit hubs overhead, and she looked at the map she had pulled up of the elevator station. She hurried through a winding maze of escalators and automated walkways that finally brought her to gate MIL-NAV-12-OUT.

A crowd of other recruits was already standing milling about the waiting area. She noticed that there were several flashing displays over several gangways, and a quick look at her folio confirmed that one of them matched her designation.

Alex weaved her way over toward that gate to wait.

The hum of the crowd buzzed, and she could hear a sense of excitement and anticipation among the chatter of the other recruits. She felt a bit out of place and nervous. Other than a crowded tram, she hadnt really been around so many people before.

The space filled with more people as they waited. Alex moved to a wall and opened her datapad and tried to read some more about what to expect, but she couldnt focus on it. Instead, she watched everyone else.

Maybe she should try to talk to someone? She glanced around, but before settling on anything, four naval personnel stepped out and directed them to the gangways.

Being near the front, Alex ended up near the back of a long line of seats. The shuttle was much smaller than any she had seen or been on before, but it still had ten rows of two seats that would fit two people each. With forty recruits on board, the pilot at the front began a flight check.

Hi, Alex mumbled to her seatmate, a female with long blonde hair.

Hello, Im Sarah. The woman said.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Alex fidgeted nervously with her seat strap. Alex.

Are you in C-1, too? The girl asked.

Alex looked at her folio, although she knew she wasnt.

S-1. Alex replied.

Oh, youre a genie? Sarah asked.

Among other things. Alex hedged.

The shuttle sealed up and then took off. Alex slid her bag between her legs and grabbed a drink of water from the one she had brought. The flight stayed low, and Alex looked out over the city from the window.

Lines of flying traffic spread out below them, winding between buildings on the automated routes. They passed over tens of thousands of the vehicles as they flew over New Brisbane. The city stretched on and on, although as they flew further away from the central elevator, the massive towers began to lower in height.

The suburbs comprised towering high-rises as well, but there was more and more evidence of greenery present as parks and some waterways. There were even what looked like curated forests between large swaths of housing.

By the time Alex broke out of her inner thoughts, Sarah had already put in some ear buds and was listening to something with her eyes closed. Not wanting to bother the other girl, Alex went back to window gazing.

The shuttle came in for landing just as the landscape outside turned to a thick endless taiga. White snow dusted the conifer tree tops and Alex realized it was going to be quite cold when they landed.

As they descended, a man stood up and walked to the middle of the aisle.

If you are wearing jeans, cargo pants, or anything other than athletic pants, leggings, shorts, swimming trunks or a skirt, you will tuck in your shirt! When you do this, you will not unbutton. You will not unzip or undo your belt. You will tuck in your shirt, ensuring you will not show any skin. Do it now!

Not revealing any skin was easy; she was wearing a skinsuit underneath her trousers and shirt. She tucked it in quickly, but several Drill Sergeants nearby picked up in the velocity of their yelling as several recruits fumbled or even messed up entirely.

Do not tuck that in, recruit! You are wearing athletic pants! Attention to detail! Pay attention to what we tell you!

Another recruit was slow, and a Drill Sergeant homed in on him as well. And you will do it quickly, recruit! Do it faster! Tuck that shirt in now!

Drill Sergeant Fabien moved to the front of all the lines. Listen up. You have all already failed your first task. The only task that I gave you.

Alex bit her lip and he explained.

It took you far too long to exit the shuttle. I gave you two minutes, and it took you ten. I saw at least half of you moving slowly and hesitating to follow instruction. Only one in six of you was moving with any real purpose.

Alex could feel the tension in all the surrounding recruits.

All of you will place your bags in front of you now. You will then place your folio on top of your bag. You will then turn to your left and put your heels together on the orange line. Do it now.

Everyone complied quickly, although several had trouble getting their folios not to fall off their bag.

One recruit was still trying to sort their bag when he was singled out and berated by the fury of two of the Drill Sergeants.

Drill Sergeant Fabien continued to explain everything they had done wrong and expand on how important it was to pay attention to detail when following orders.

Now, all of you will assume the push-up position.

Everyone moved quickly to comply except the girl beside her. She had an issue with her skirt and quickly did her best to fix it, but knocked over her bag and folio sending some stuff scattering.

One of the Drill Sergeants jumped on her quickly and Alex had to do her best to listen to Drill Sergeant Fabien over the mans yelling.

This is the front leaning rest position! When you are ordered to front rest, this is the position you will assume! You will prepare to assume the position when you hear front rest, and you will execute when you hear the command HO! If you do not pay attention to detail, if you try to do your own thing, you will get very used to this position! Start doing push-ups!

All the recruits moved, some doing push-ups rapidly like they could finish them all quickly. Others struggled after only a few repetitions. Most were somewhere in the middle.

Alex had no trouble with them, but she didnt want to bring any attention to herself, so she maintained her form and pushed herself up and down steadily and confidently.

Very quickly, the Drill Sergeants homed in on the recruits that were having difficulty. One boy was having a difficult struggle to push himself up after a rapid burst had burnt him out.

Fabien continued to lecture them. Alex listened calmly, doing her best to memorize everything he told them but kept getting distracted by the Drill Sergeants. Not picking up everything he said made her feel a nervousness shed never experienced before.

Thats enough. Fabien announced. On your feet! Stand on the orange line and heels together!

Alex stood quickly, and like several other recruits, dusted off her hands before assuming what she hoped was a passable at attention stance.

So, dusting off your hands and attempting to fix your paperwork? Drill Sergeant Fabien commented. You will do exactly what we say, exactly when we tell you to do it. If I wanted you to dust off your hands I would have told you to do it. Front leaning rest. Ho!

Everyone jumped into the push-up position and started putting them out. Drill Sergeant Fabien continued to lecture all of them. The recruits who were having a hard time were having doubly so now, and more and more recruits joined their ranks. Alex felt a bit of sympathy for them.

On your feet, recruits, turn to your right and face ahead!

Everyone jumped up and complied in a hurry.

You will now pick up your orders folio and read the top line and you will see that there is a company designation. You will be A-1, A-2, B-1, B-2, etc. Your number will determine what company you belong to. Note the buses in front of you.

Alex could see seven large buses in two staggered lines. Her eyes fell onto the one at the rear labeled S-1 almost immediately.

You will walk quickly to your designated bus. The Drill Sergeant will be in front of the bus to confirm your orders. You will then board the bus and be taken to your company sections. By Ertan, you do not want to be the recruit that goes to the wrong bus. You have two minutes! Move out!

They didnt quite run, but no one was caught moving at anything but as brisk a pace as they could manage while still walking.