Chapter 345: Induction - IV

Bram entered Room Two and found an Army Soldier sitting behind a desk.

The man looked up from his tablet.

"Bram Haldane?"

"Yes, sir."

"Sit down."

Bram took the chair opposite him.

The soldier opened his assessment record and began reading. For a while, neither of them spoke.

Bram shifted in his seat.

"So, sir... did I pass?"

The soldier looked at him.

"We’ll get to that."

"Oh. Yes, sir."

He returned to the tablet.

"Your physical performance is satisfactory. You have shown great improvement since your initial evaluation, especially in your movements and how you respond when attacked."

Bram straightened a little.

"Thank you, sir."

"Your instructor also noted that you’re having trouble following instructions."

"...Ah. That..."

The soldier raised an eyebrow, forcing Bram to look away.

It wasn’t exactly the first time he’d been told to stop arguing during training. The instructors had corrected him several times already, usually whenever he demanded another attempt after losing.

"Sir, I was just trying to get better."

"Nobody’s stopping you from getting better."

"But I couldn’t even land a hit on him."

"Neither could the others."

Bram hesitated. The soldier placed the tablet on the desk.

"Listen. You can ask questions, argue about a technique, or request more training. We won’t stop you from doing that. But when an instructor tells you to stop, you stop. Especially when you’re holding a weapon."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you understand why?"

Bram nodded.

He’d spent weeks practicing against these soldiers. Every time he thought he’d improved enough to challenge them, they defeated him almost immediately.

It was frustrating.

He could handle infected with a machete, but he couldn’t even touch a man who wasn’t holding a weapon. Still, he understood what the soldier meant.

"I just wanted another chance, sir."

"Then ask for another session when your instructor is available. Don’t argue after he’s already ended the exercise."

"...Understood."

The soldier picked up his tablet again.

"Any injuries from yesterday?"

"No, sir."

"Still interested in joining?"

"Of course, sir!"

"Then stop looking like you’re about to be sentenced to prison."

Bram blinked while the soldier continued reviewing the record.

"Your application can proceed. The final assessment is satisfactory, although your instructors will continue observing your conduct during training."

Bram stared at him.

"Wait. So I passed?"

"This stage, yes."

"Oh, thank goodness."

The soldier handed him a document.

"Take this outside. Your batch supervisor will tell you what to do next."

"Thank you, sir!"

Bram hurried toward the door.

"And Haldane?"

He stopped.

"Yes, sir?"

"Next time someone tells you to put a weapon down, put it down. Do not be stubborn."

Bram scratched his cheek.

"Yes, sir."

...

Mara was reading through her assessment document when Bram returned. He walked toward them with a rather pleased expression.

"Well, look who’s smiling." Niko raised a brow.

Bram raised his paper.

"Heh, well of course I passed. Why would I not smile about that?"

"What happened to your gut feeling?" Tomas asked.

"Shut up."

Mara smiled.

"What did they ask you?"

"Nothing much. Just talked about yesterday’s assessment."

He sat down beside them.

Tomas looked at the paper in his hand.

"I bet you they reminded him about how hard his head is."

Bram turned toward him.

"Do you really have to bring that up every time?"

Niko laughed.

The remaining interviews continued.

Tomas was called shortly afterward, leaving the three of them in the waiting area. By the time he returned, he was carrying the same kind of document.

His evaluation was satisfactory too, although his instructor recommended additional work on close-range fighting.

"Well, at least we’re getting somewhere," he said.

Niko was called next.

While waiting for him, Mara noticed Gareth Meier sitting near one of the windows, reviewing the documents he’d received earlier.

Unlike most of the applicants, Gareth had been taking notes on a small piece of paper.

Bram noticed him too.

"What’s he doing?"

"Reading," Mara answered, "something."

Gareth heard them and looked up.

"You need something?"

"No, sir," Bram answered.

Gareth smiled. "You kids finished your interviews?"

"Almost," Mara said. "One of our friends is still inside."

"I hope you all pass, kids. The looks in your faces, hahaha."

Mara noticed the additional papers on his lap.

"Did they give you more documents than us?"

"Some additional requirements for applicants with previous military service. Nothing particularly unusual."

He folded the papers together. "I haven’t been through recruitment in years. Feels strange doing it all over again."

Bram leaned forward.

"Did you pass the fighting assessment?"

Gareth looked at him strangely.

"Why yes of course."

"Even against those soldiers?"

"Kid, not everything in the military is all about beating the other guy up."

"Although it does require you to get beaten up sometimes." Gareth winked. "You’ll understand that later."

He chuckled before returning to his paperwork.

...

Niko returned with his own clearance document. By then, the batch supervisor had already begun directing the cleared applicants toward another section of the recruitment building.

The four followed the others into a larger room with several rows of tables.

There were more than a dozen applicants inside, including Irene Falk, who was examining a folder of documents.

"Hey, kids."

Mara waved.

"How did your interview go, ma’am?"

"It went fine. They were more interested in my maintenance experience than my fighting."

"That’s good, isn’t it?"

"I suppose. I haven’t decided what kind of work I want to take yet."

She glanced at the papers in her hand.

"They mentioned that I might qualify for a technical position. I’ll have to see."

Before Mara could ask anything else, the soldier supervising their batch entered the room.

"All right, everyone. Take a seat."

The applicants settled down while another soldier began distributing folders across the tables.

"These contain your preliminary recruitment agreements and the conditions for further screening," the supervisor explained. "Read them before signing anything. If you don’t understand a provision, ask."

Bram opened his folder. There were several pages inside.

"That’s a lot of reading," he muttered.

Niko looked over. "You managed to read your training schedule, didn’t you?"

"That was one page."

Mara opened her own folder.

The first section contained her personal information, the assessment results, and a notice that her application had been cleared for further processing.

Below that were the conditions governing prospective service with the Golden Eagle Army.

The agreement stated that applicants accepted into service would be placed under the Golden Eagle Army’s command structure, headed by Commander Golden Eagle. They would be expected to follow lawful orders, observe military regulations, and perform the duties assigned to them after qualification.

Another section concerned assignments.

Mara read that applicants could indicate their preferred field of service, but their eventual positions would depend on their qualifications, training results, and the organization’s requirements.

There were provisions covering compensation, accommodation, medical support, and other service benefits, with the applicable terms to be confirmed before final acceptance.

Further down, a section addressed the risks of service.

Combat duties, hazardous environments, emergency deployments, and the possibility of injury or death were stated plainly.

Mara paused there for a moment before continuing.

The next provisions concerned confidentiality and restricted information.

Applicants weren’t permitted to disclose protected military information obtained during screening or service. Certain facilities, equipment, and operational details would remain inaccessible unless their duties required otherwise.

Specialized assignments might also involve additional examinations and separate agreements.

Those requirements would be explained to qualified applicants before they were asked to participate.

Finally, the agreement stated that completing preliminary screening did not guarantee enlistment. Applicants could decline to continue before entering a final service commitment, and signing the acknowledgment would not automatically place them on active duty.

Mara read that part again.

Across the table, Bram was already turning to the last page.

"Where do we sign?"

"Have you actually read it?" Mara asked.

"Most of it."

"Most? Read it again, Bram. This will decide your life and your future."

She looked at him. He sighed and returned to the first page.

Tomas was examining the section covering assignments.

"So we don’t necessarily get to choose where we’re sent?"

"You can state your preference," Niko said, looking at his own copy.

"But they decide?"

"That’s what it says."

Bram frowned. "I want to join the combat units."

"Nobody’s stopping you from applying," Tomas replied.

"Then that’s what I’m putting."

Mara continued reading.

She understood the part about following orders. They’d already spent weeks training under the soldiers and had learned how strict some instructors could be.

The confidentiality requirements were another matter.

She wondered what kind of assignments would require additional agreements, although nothing in the documents explained them in detail.

At the front of the room, one applicant raised his hand.

"Sir, what happens if we don’t qualify for the position we selected?"

The supervising soldier looked toward him.

"You may be offered another position if one is available and you’re qualified for it. You’re not required to accept an alternative assignment."

Another applicant asked whether signing the papers meant they were already enlisted.

"No. You’re acknowledging the preliminary conditions and authorizing the remaining screening procedures listed in the documents. The final acceptance will come later."

The soldier gestured toward the folders.

"Take your time reading and asking questions."

The applicants returned to their papers.

Across the room, Gareth continued reviewing his documents, while Irene had begun writing several questions on a separate sheet.

Mara reached the final page.

There was a space for her signature confirming that she had received and understood the preliminary terms and wished to continue with the remaining assessments.

She looked toward the boys.

Tomas was still reading.

Niko had reached the last page, although he seemed to be checking something near the middle again.

Bram was unusually serious about his paperwork.

Mara smiled slightly.

After everything they’d gone through to reach this point, seeing Bram quietly reading an agreement was rather amusing.

A few minutes later, he placed his pen down.

"Done."

"Already?" Niko asked.

"I read it. Even twice already."

Tomas laughed.

Mara finished reading and signed her acknowledgment as well.

They handed their papers to the supervising soldier, who checked the documents before returning a copy to each applicant.

"Your next reporting schedule will be issued after the remaining records are reviewed. Keep your copies and make sure your contact information is correct."

Bram looked at the document.

"So we’re finished?"

"For today."

"Oh, finally."

The soldier glanced at him.

"You’re still responsible for attending your scheduled training activities until instructed otherwise."

Bram’s expression changed.

"...Yes, sir."

Niko laughed as they left the room.

...

Outside the recruitment building, the afternoon air was warm.

Applicants were leaving in small groups, some discussing the agreements while others headed toward the dining facilities.

Gareth passed them on his way toward the main road.

"Good luck with the rest of your applications," he said.

"You too, sir," Mara replied.

Irene followed a little later, still carrying her folder.

"See you around, kids."

The four watched her leave before heading back toward their quarters. Bram looked more relaxed than he had that morning.

"Yess! All four of us passed."

"Don’t celebrate too early," Niko reminded him. "We still have more stages in front of us."

"Do you have to ruin everything?"

"I’m just saying."

Tomas looked at the papers in his hand.

"Still have more assessments to finish, though."

"I can pass this one. What makes you think I can’t pass the rest?" Bram replied.

"Don’t come crying to the instructor yelling ’Again!’"

Niko and Tomas teased Bram along the way.

Mara glanced at her own copy.

She had wanted to join the Golden Eagle Army ever since their rescue. That reason hadn’t changed.

But now that she’d read the agreement, she had a better idea of what joining could eventually require of them.

She folded the document and placed it inside her schoolbag. There was still some time before the next stage.

For now, the four headed back toward their quarters, arguing over whether they should spend the rest of the afternoon resting or return to the training grounds.