Chapter 32 | Fall

Leon was sitting inside the Orbital Carrier with ninety-nine other recruits. Their harnesses locked them in place as the vessel prepared for planetary descent. Despite the advanced technology, the atmosphere in the cabin was tense.

"Systems all check." The crew members had enabled the communication channel to be heard in the passenger cabin, as it was common protocol for troops to understand the situation when getting dropped onto a planet.

"Control, Valkyrie One ready for descent."

Leon gripped his seat tighter. Nyra, who was beside him, noticed and leaned close to his ear.

"It'll be rough, but everything will be fine," she reassured him, her breath warm against his skin.

All Leon could do was nod his head and close his eyes. He had heard stories of ships burning up when entering planets.

Tales whispered among Lower Level children about the dangers of space and made more vivid by the occasional news report of frontier vessels lost during atmospheric entry.

His enhancement wasn't helping either. The CRI amplified his sensory input, allowing him to hear the humming of ten Orbital Carriers in the hangar. The cruiser had also entered a lower orbit, and Ferros' gravity caused turbulence that made the ship shudder beneath them.

"Valkyrie One, Control, proceed to hangar doors and await departure signal," the hangar control officer instructed, voice crackling through the comm.

"Proceed to hangar doors, line up and wait for departure signal, Valkyrie One," the pilot repeated back, his tone professionally calm.

Leon felt the carrier shift as it moved. The thrusters adjusted, making subtle changes in pitch and intensity. Through the viewport, he could see the massive hangar doors opening ahead, revealing the rust-colored curve of Ferros below.

The carrier centered itself to the hangar doors and was only a few feet away from the edge of the open doors. Two crew members ran final checks in the passenger cabin before taking the lift to the top level of the vessel where the bridge was located. Hull plating slid to cover the viewports.

"Valkyrie One, Control, cleared for departure."

"Cleared for departure, Valkyrie One." The Orbital Carrier's four mana thrusters came to life, humming louder as it exited the hangar bay.

As soon as the Orbital Carrier left the area around the cruiser, Leon felt his stomach churn. Gravity took a stronger hold on the carrier as it descended at a rapid pace. Turbulence shook the ship violently, the normal lights switched off, and a red warning light illuminated the passenger cabin, casting everything in crimson shadow.

The ship bucked and jerked as it hit different layers of atmosphere. A deep, rattling vibration moved through the structure, like the carrier was being shaken by a giant hand.

Several recruits made small sounds of distress. One was quietly retching into a disposal bag. Even Nyra seemed to be focusing on her breathing, eyes fixed straight ahead, and jaw tight.

After a few minutes that felt like hours, the turbulence eased. The lights switched back to their normal illumination. The viewport hull plating slid to allow sunlight into the cabin, harsh and orange-tinted through Ferros' atmosphere. Leon peered out of the one next to him. The red and brown landmass was approaching fast, and he could see a small settlement growing larger by the second. A collection of low, fortified buildings arranged in a precise grid pattern.

That must be the training base, Leon thought.

"Landing sequence initiated. Will touchdown in 10 minutes," the pilot updated them.

Leon realized he was still gripping his seat and let go, flexing his stiff fingers. He took deep breaths to calm himself and waited for the next instructions. His CRI was busy processing the rush of sensory input—changes in gravity, the hum of thrusters, and the slight shifts in cabin pressure. The nanites in his bloodstream were adapting too, helping to steady his heart rate and keep him calm.

The descent slowed as the carrier approached the landing zone. Leon could now make out details of the base; landing pads, obstacle courses, barracks, and training fields. Everything was utilitarian, built for function, the buildings low and sturdy to withstand Ferros' harsh environment.

With a soft bump, the Orbital Carrier touched down. The thrusters powered down and their hum fading to silence.

For a moment, all was still. Then—

"GET OUT AND GET IN FORMATION NOW!"

"MOVE MOVE MOVE!"

Two Blade Captains in gray uniforms with gold accents burst into the carrier, their voices sharp and commanding. Their lean faces were hard while eyes scanning the recruits for any sign of hesitation.

The harnesses released automatically at a command from the ship's systems. Leon got up along with the rest of the recruits and exited the carrier in two lines with a sense of urgency following the flow of bodies down the ramp.

As he reached the end of the ramp, the full force of Ferros hit him. The air was thin and hot, carrying a mineral smell that reminded him of blood and rust. The gravity felt heavier than Eden's, making each step require just a bit more effort. The sun blazed overhead in a copper-colored sky with its heat feeling oppressive.

He continued forward to where his group was forming up in a formation with five columns. The ground beneath his boots was hard-packed dirt, reddish in color and radiating heat.

There were three other Blade Captains directing their training group. Around him, the other Orbital Carriers from the cruiser were also landing in a precise pattern. The recruits received the same treatment his group did and were forming up in the same area, leaving a gap that could fit two people side by side between each formation.

They waited in the punishing heat until all the recruits from the cruiser had formed up with their training groups. Leon stood at attention, feeling sweat already soaking into his uniform. His CRI was sending alert notifications about his rising body temperature, but he ignored them, focusing instead on maintaining his posture.

A few moments later, Warcenturion Vauhn appeared in front of them. He wore a similar loose uniform as the Blade Captains, but his was black with gold accents.

"Welcome to Fort Ferros, recruits. This will be where you will be living for the next three months. You are here because we have determined you have the potential to become the next generation of leaders of the Imperial Covenant." The Warcenturion paused and looked at every single recruit, his gaze seeming to find each person individually.

"The Elite Track is the most grueling basic training the Imperial Army offers. But fear not, we will not set you up for failure. We will give you the tools you need to succeed; however, it is up to you to show us we were not wrong to invest in your potential."

Leon felt sweat roll down his back from the extreme heat. The sun's rays beat down on their bodies relentlessly. He noticed that most took it easier than him. They were those from higher levels, their bodies cycling mana to cool themselves. His own nanites were working, but with his low saturation ranking, they could only do so much.

"We do not care who you are and where you came from. In our eyes, you are all pups still wet behind the ears," the Warcenturion continued, his voice carrying across the formation without effort. "Each group will be assigned to five Blade Captains who will be your instructors throughout the training. I wish you the best of luck."

The Warcenturion walked away from the formation, back to one of the buildings in the distance. His departure seemed to release a tension in the air, though the instructors' rigid postures ensured no one relaxed.

"Group A. Follow me," said one of the Blade Captains as he turned around and walked toward a different building.

His group marched in sync and followed the Blade Captain inside. The building's interior was cooler but not comfortable, just enough to prevent heat exhaustion. They entered what appeared to be an auditorium with tiered seating.

"I am Blade Captain Brask Zell, your lead instructor. The other four Blade Captains will be my assistants. Your training will be broken up into three phases. Each phase is one month long," said the Blade Captain they had followed.

instructor Zell was broad-shouldered and thick-necked, with sun-leathered skin and a perpetual five o'clock shadow. His eyes were sharp and evaluating, missing nothing as they swept across the group. Scars traced patterns across his exposed forearms, telling silent stories of past combat.

"Phase One will be physical fitness and expanding on the general knowledge you should have learned in the cruiser. Phase Two will be combat training. Phase three will be the final exam. It will be a practical exam, and I won't sugar-coat it, not all of you will be leaving this planet alive." Instructor Zell dropped the news without changing his tone or expression.

Silence was the only thing that could be heard while the recruits processed what had just been said. Leon felt a chill despite the heat, the words echoing in his mind.

They didn't say anything about dying during training!

His eyes hardened and his fists clenched. His heart raced when he thought of the exam. This wasn't just harsh training, it was a culling. The Elite Track wasn't just about elevating the best; it was about eliminating those who couldn't measure up.

He glanced at Nyra, whose face remained neutral. Only a slight tension around her eyes betrayed that she was affected by the news. Around them, other recruits showed various reactions. Some paled, others straightened their postures, and a few exchanged worried glances.

"Sync to the display to get your assigned quarters. Inside, you will find all the things you will need during training. Your datapad has also been updated with authorization to view more information, including mana absorption methods. Though we advise you wait to perform the method for the first time tomorrow morning during the lecture. Are there any questions?"

No one asked a question. Whether from shock or discipline, the entire group remained silent.

"Instructions will be delivered to your datapads when we aren't around, so make sure to keep them on you at all times. The dining facility will open in one hour for dinner. You are dismissed."

As they filed out of the auditorium, Leon found himself walking beside Nyra again.

"Did you know about the final exam?" he asked quietly.

She nodded.

"I heard rumors. The Elite Track has always had a reputation. It's why some families with connections try to find ways around it."

"And you still volunteered?" Leon couldn't keep the surprise from his voice.

Nyra's lips curved in a humorless smile.

"Some of us don't have the luxury of safer paths, Leon. Sometimes the only way up is through the fire." She gestured at the datapad in his hand. "You should check that mana absorption info. You'll need every advantage you can get."

As they stepped back outside into Ferros' relentless heat, Leon realized that his path had just narrowed significantly. There was no backing out now, no safer option to fall back on. He would either survive the Elite Track or he wouldn't leave Ferros at all.