January 27 7 AE (military calendar)January 27 2029 AC (global calendar)Elysium primeCadet IvanI’m in drill Sergeant Yorm's office creating no small amount of anxiety for me. “Ivan due to your past as a general and your squad having the highest score and with a new open spot on your squad, you're going to take on another member. He’s joining te so do help him catch up”

  I must look as confused as I feel because he continues “It’s retively rare to drop someone in but your css is fresh enough and I have it from a reliable source he should keep up physically”

  I slowly nod my head “Good I’ll bring him in so you two can have a chat ” a soft knock at the door then yorms secretary lets in a man.

  He’s about average height but very muscur. I hazard a guess that he’s an Elysian as his eyes are different colors, something I’ve learned is fairly common here. I stand and hold out my hand to shake his. “I’m Ivan”

  His grip is very strong “Casper, you're the squad leader correct” I nod “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to chat ter” he smiles but it doesn’t look quite right “Indeed”

  Yorm clears his throat “Take him to the armory. Get him fitted and if you need to reorganize your squad. Due to recent events, we’re going to have some versus matches you're up in three hours”

  We both salute and I’m inwardly gd I did the correct one this time instead of the Russian one. “One st thing cadet Casper si auxilium petas. memento tui mortalis.” Casper says “Hic manebimus optime”

  My curiosity about this man has most definitely been piqued now. Regardless I lead him to the armory and we get him equipped. From what we’ve been told part of basic is to have cadets try different roles in squads as a person assigned as a medic might be a natural marksman.

  We arrive at the armory and the clerks quickly get his measurements and begin gathering armor pieces. What perplexes me is the armor we have now is way different than what the 104th had. Maybe they get nicer stuff because of their missions or because they are special forces?

  While Casper’s armor is gathered he begins to grab weapons. He grabs an ICWS assault rifle and both a pistol and SMG. Curious. He then gets into his armor with only brief pauses like he’s seen someone else put it on a million times but never himself.

  “All ready to go” I ask “Yes sir” I lead us to the designated training area and the rest of my squad is ready and they brought my stuff. I quickly get ready and before long the other squad is also ready.

  Some cadets call this the byrinth as the walls change as you go through and it’s three floors with traps and the other squad. The goal? Ring the fucking bell. This isn’t a search and destroy or a skirmish it’s who can find the bell first.

  A harsh buzzer sounds and we rush into the byrinth. Once inside we slow to a fast walk with weapons up. Casper seems to take it in stride again like he’s seen it but never has done it.

  Trailing orbit of EarthMajor General Tanya Rex

  We were the st ones to get to the fleet as Cole began loading everyone around the second day of our operation. Now I can finally get eyes on my boats.

  They consist of sharp angles and are made with a dark grey metal. I’m fairly certain I know what the alloy is, likely a modified and upgraded version of our armor's titanium plus alloy. All the ships have their running lights on illuminating the hull and their names all of which have the prefix of 104.

  I have foehammer circle around the fleet to give us a look before he brings us into one of the hangars of the Onager. All the ships honestly look small compared to the fgship but that’s to be expected when the Onager is supposed to be able to supply an entire army by itself.

  As we make our approach to the hangar I marvel at the fact they were able to build the ships this quickly. I guess it’s a bit easier in space. You have way more space for simultaneous lines of fabrication and no gravity to have to fight.

  We finally nd and once they repressurize the hangar we drop the ramp and walk out. Immediately an ensign head’s straight for me. “Welcome aboard admiral Cole requests to meet you in his quarters”

  I groan loudly then ask him “Did he say why. If it’s not urgent then I’d like to get out of my armor first” The ensign now looks nervous “Um he did say it was very urgent and I quote ‘sorry to keep you from a well-earned shower but this takes priority”

  I narrow my eyes “Griffin grab a sailor and have them help you to your rooms. Ensign show the way to Cole on the dubble” The ensign obediently turns and we make good time to Coles quarters.

  He pced his next to the battle bridge. Presumably so if he’s asleep and the ship is attacked he’s next to where he needs to be. I pound on the door and it opens before I can hit it a third time.

  The ensign waits outside as I step in. “Welcome Tanya as always your results are visible from space” I crack a smile “Thanks… what’s so urgent I’m a millimeter away from killing something for a shower I’ve been sealed in here for a week. this armor is more for your protection now than mine”

  He clears his throat “I appreciate you not being as vivid as you could have been. Anyway, this is about a newscast and a series of lifts from central. I have incoming signals locked for now, luckily, I wanted you to see it first”

  He turns on his TV and I watch an interview of Spero by Jonah. Normally very informative and entertaining casts but it suddenly cuts to a reporter in the field. The badge they have on shows they aren’t even associated with Jonah’s channel.

  That immediately makes this fairly big. What comes next boils my blood. The use of bioweapons on civilians. What’s worse is it can eat through filters. Then it cuts back to Spero who voices our rage and announces total war.

  I’m equally shocked and excited about that because there are no more rules of war and no restrictions on what we are allowed to use or do. That said there are ‘certain’ things that are still not allowed... technically.

  Once the clip finishes he turns the TV off again “I see what you mean” I think for a moment “Go ahead and let the crew see it it’ll expin why we are at total war I’ll deal with any mishaps”

  He nods “What are we going to tell them” I nearly sigh as we both know this war just got more messy and likely longer “We won’t need to say much we just meet to provide a target” With that I leave and ten minutes ter I’m finally in a shower.

  Elysium primeCadet Ivan

  We step out of the byrinth dripping sweat. Well most of us Casper seems only out of breath. It’s not right. We all hold together long enough to get to the armory before we colpse. None of us want to run the facility in armor and that’s exactly what would happen if Yorm spotted us visibly exhausted.

  Once I sit down I gnce at Casper. I decide now is a good a time to ask as any “Hey Casper why did you decide to join now” he shrugs “I want to be a citizen” I ugh a little “I highly doubt that’s the reason why”

  He looks me straight in the eyes and it almost seems like he’s trying to peer into my soul. He sighs “Promise not to ugh alright” I promise him “I uh I’m joining now because of a girl”

  If Jeff was still here he would have ughed but Ping and Fin stay quiet and I simply reply “Must be quiet the woman then” We simply leave it at that.

  A month ter we have a new exercise and according to Casper who seems to know the training regime in and out, this exercise is where most cadets drop out. Seeing how rough everything up until now has been saying we’re nervous is an understatement.

  The exercise is a surface trek across the Arctic. We will be given no vehicle and no way to carry our equipment other than on our backs. Immediately this sounds terrible then you factor in the hellish temperatures and little question why so many fail.

  Arctic temperatures, close to one hundred and fifty pounds of gear including armor, and one hundred miles with no resupply.

  The temperature is actually significantly worse than previous csses due to the ash however on the bright side there won’t be anything trying to eat us.

  We step outside covered in our equipment and rations and the cold immediately invades our bones. Casper chuckles a little “Negative one twenty, well the faster we move the sooner we’re out of the cold” he didn’t even state what unit he was using but at that temperature, the difference doesn’t matter.

  Despite what he says about getting moving Casper just stands there looking at a map. “Hey, you're not frozen already are you” I asked him. He shakes his head “There is an abandoned research facility five miles east of here I think we should go there first. We’ll either find sleds or will be able to fashion a few”

  I look at the map he’s holding but nothing is marked other than the start and ending locations and natural features. “How do you know that” he shrugs “I’ve lived here a long time it’s only recently been abandoned” I nod “Well might as well. It adds a little distance but if it lightens our load it’ll be worth it”

  Ping and Fin agree so we head off once the other groups leave. The bitter cold convinced the few who wanted to follow us to leave before we did.

  Maybe half an hour into our trek I think of an interesting way to pass the time “Hey Casper you're the only native in our squad What is it like in Elysium”

  “It’s great unless you break the w” Ping in what sounds like genuine curiosity asks him “How do you keep crime so low” Casper shrugs “Fear of the punishment” For some reason the way he says it bothers me so I have to ask.

  “And that would be” he looks back at all of us “There are mainly two punishments one for lesser crimes and the other for heinous offenses. For the lesser, it’s various forms of bor either in the mines or simir things and the amount of time and severity of bor scales with the crime.”

  He pauses for a second before he continues “For heinous acts like murder it’s public execution.” Once again I'm reminded just how differently Elysians think compared to the rest of the world.

  After that, we settle into some idle chatter until we reach the abandoned station. We spend about an hour scavenging and fashioning four sleds and immediately dump our extra gear onto them. We rest for maybe fifteen minutes before we set out again.

  Now it’s much easier going with the sleds and we make good time.