Grissom Academy, Orbiting the planet Elysium
Year: 2185
-N7-
Ward, Jason and Abby sat on one side of a long banquet table in the largest hall on the station, formally known as Orion Hall. Many students came up to the table, some were inquisitive about what the program had to offer while others were eager to gloat about their prowess at technological combat, Biotics or (in the case of one student) skill at arms. As he walked off Jason scoffed at the idea and leveled a look at Ward that could only be read as "Bitch, Please."
Still, after an hour of waiting for their targets to sign up, the N7's found themselves looking at a roster of less than twenty names, none of them the students they were assigned to recruit two days prior.
"Ward, we haven't seen a single one of our listed students sign up."
"Yeah, not to mention none of the wolf cubs have popped in either. You'd think they would have ambled on in by now, especially given how driven they seemed yesterday?"
"Just be patient, we've got a whopping three hours more to sit here and collect student signups. Besides, this firecracker might help pass the time." Ward nodded dead ahead, towards a female student striding to their table. As she approached she looked at each of the three N7's in turn before picking up a data pad containing the requirements of the N7 Preliminaries.
She began to read loudly to herself "Students will train for a period of four weeks, afterwards they will be administered a two part test designed to test both physical and mental attributes. The first part will be set of three examinations, two written and one technical. The second part of the examination will be a solo match involving a series of opponents that must be eliminated before the student can continue. Falling below an 85% in any one examination will result in a failing grade and disqualify the student from entering the N-Training program… WAIT WHAT?! This isn't even the N-Division test. This whole thing is an entry exam?!" The girl, who had been reading the data pad with dismissive tones, was now taken to utter shock. Ward's line of work was built upon judging and determining targets frequently as a means of threat assessment.
The girl he had judged as being both a piece of work and a high threat to his mental stability.
"This is just the entrance examination, not even the real thing. How are we expected to pass this?!" The girl half-shrieked at the N7's, as though such an action dignified responses from the Marines.
"Miss, what do you think the N-Division is exactly?" Abby asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Special Forces, you just have to be among the best to get in I know that. But this is absurd! How do you expect anyone to pass this test, let alone all of the training that goes on in places like Rio or Titan?"
"The washout rate for N-training is pretty high. Then again, the interest in N-training is even higher. The program isn't about how good you are, it's about determination, diligence, commitment, and above all else drive. If you don't have that then it won't matter how talented you are because Miss, I can assure you that the N-Division washes out slackers like you can't believe." Ward wasn't here to sugarcoat the truth for any student, especially not a diva such as this one.
The girl stood mouth agape at the N7's. "Are you calling me a slacker? How dare you!"
Abby rubbed at her temples, but Ward didn't flinch. "Actions alone are the only indicator of an individual's worth. Everything else falls by the wayside when it comes down to it. You think you are the best? Prove it to me, sign up and take the test. There's no penalty in failing, and it's far better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all."
The girl waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever Herr Platitude, this is a joke-"
"No Kelly, that hairdo is a joke, and hardly funny at that." Came the spiced voice of Mitra, tailed by Maynard, Neil, Flint and a lanky African-American student. The cavalry had officially arrived.
Kelly's eyes narrowed at the sight of the Persian girl and her flock of Sentinels. "The Iranian brownnoser and her lapdogs have arrived to the aid of the Alliance. Why am I even surprised?"
"Because you're a Terra Firma piece of trash who thinks her daddy's money can buy her everything?" Mitra shot back.
Kelly merely rolled her eyes at the group. "Whatever, like I need to deal with you losers." Kelly turned to leave before pausing. "Oh and Neil? Give my regards to the New York nympho for me." Kelly winked and blew him a kiss, to which Neil visibly recoiled from.
As she walked away from the table and out into the hallway, the group of Sentinels approached the table. "Christ, what a twat. I can't believe you were actually sleeping with that." Flint murmured.
"You've got quite a mouth on you kid." Jason stated amusingly. Flint shrugged. "You got a problem with that, tough guy?"
"Easy now Flint, We're not here to pick fights." Mitra spoke soothingly. Flint eyed her warily but nodded nonetheless.
"Now that we have settled such accounts, let us get down to business, so to speak." Maynard ponderously spoke. "And Mr. Thompson, this is Terrence Bloom. He was quietly studying yesterday while we were introducing ourselves and causing unnecessary noise." Maynard gave Flint and Neil a reproachful look. Neither looked repentant in slightest.
Ward nodded in Terrence's direction. "Pleasure to meet you Terrence."
"Terry works just fine." The lanky student replied.
The group reviewed the data pads, asked several questions, and proceeded to sign on for the program.
The next two hours were a blur of activity. Rosalind, Kae-Song and Theodora popped in after the Sentinels had gone to class, all signing up. Dustin appeared a short while later, signing up and leaving. Adrienne appeared hot on the heels of Dustin. The girl merely read over the program, and seemed to be in a state of turmoil over it. Eventually she signed under Dustin's name and moved on.
Ward recognized the mousy Vanguard they had seen yesterday evening sign up. Putting the name Freesia Arnold down on the list, she nodded at Ward and Jason before leaving. The sickly looking Liam Allen walked into the hall with Harper following close behind him. Liam asked about the severity of the physical program before signing on, with Harper almost obligingly signing on after him.
Two hours into the registration, Carolina Bernson stopped by their table to apologize for her drunkenness that night and had even convinced several of her students to sign up for the program. Ward watched as the hulking colonial girl Kara, the savvy mastermind Camilla and the glowering bodybuilder Victor applied their signatures to the roster, albeit with varying levels of disdain.
Ten minutes later Kiril Ouradnik stopped by the table to ask about the program. With little fuss, he too applied his name to the roster.
The silent Casildo stalked into the room next. Wordlessly he walked up to the roster, signed his name and left Orion Hall. "Well, at least he's not creepy or anything." Jason quipped.
"So far no engineers. What should we do about that?" Abby deferred to Ward.
Jason snorted. "If you'd like we can go break them out of their dorm room. I'm sure Augustine won't mind. Maybe a little bit."
Ward shook his head. While he was starting to get worried about the students he figured they would show up as soon as possible.
Tsuruko Hi appeared next. "Any luck with potential new recruits?" The powerful biotic asked as she signed on the roster.
"We've gotten most of the high performers to sign on, but so far none of the engineering students have shown up."
"Given their… conditions color me unsurprised. They would have needed to have gotten permission from Dr. Isaacson if they wanted to leave the dormitory. What makes it worse is that everything they need is located in their part of the station it isn't surprising that they don't get to leave frequently."
"How do you know so much about the engineering wing Sue?"
"I was there for a year before Augustine relocated me to the Adepts wing. I tested high on most of the mechanical placement tests before coming to Grissom. While I enjoy mechanics, I prefer them as a hobby rather than a full blown profession. When Augustine came around to take me off to the Adept wing Isaacson was left with little choice but to accept. If I had spoken up then, I might have been able to tip Augustine off about Isaacson's activities, but I didn't." Sue sighed and cracked her knuckles. "I plan on doing right by them now, and making up for my mistake to not expose Isaacson then."
"What stopped you in the first place?" Ward asked the fiery spacer.
"Fear. Hesitation. Doubt. Even then I wasn't assured in my actions and choices. Now I have no regrets."
Ward nodded slowly. "I look forward to seeing you on the training mats Sue." Sue raised an eyebrow at him and excused herself.
Jason chuckled. "Nice job Ward, way to make it sound as creepy as possible."
"I know right? Who are you exactly? Humbert Humbert?" Abby added jokingly
"She knew what I meant; you two just have your heads in the gutter. As usual it would seem."
As the last hour ticked by Jason excused himself to grab some lunch for his comrades. As he left Ward and Abby looked over their roster and double checked the logistics of their training for the next few weeks.
So engrossed with their work were they that Lily Greene was able to approach the table and begun inputting her signature on the data pad. When Abby looked up to see who was signing up she caught Lily red handed:
In front of her was a sheet of paper with the signatures of her classmates and with her Omni-Tool she was scanning the signatures onto the roster.
Lily and Abby locked eyes, with Ward also watching what she was doing with her Omni-Tool. As understanding slowly sank in the N7's were left with what should have been a fairly obvious moral choice. Yet, the context of the situation drove them to act otherwise. Lily finished scanning the signatures, closed her Omni-Tool and quietly thanked Ward and Abby before leaving.
"Do you realize that that move could get us dishonorably discharged right?"
"Abby, you realize that this whole mission could get us imprisoned for life? I think that a dishonorable discharge is the least of our problems."
Jason returned to the table bearing several sealed dishes and bottled drinks. As he began to parse everything out he stopped and stared dead ahead of him, eyes on the last figure on their list. Ward and Abby stopped arguing and looked up to witness the judging gaze of Gideon Lewis.
"In the Galaxy, there exist over two hundred separate mercenary companies large enough to pay me double the salary of a commissioned officer of the Alliance Military. With my biotic talent alone I could live like a king on Omega, or find comfortable work elsewhere. There is no reason for me to work for the Alliance, and every reason to work for a group like the Suns or Eclipse."
"The same Suns that harbor ex-Horde members? The same Eclipse that took money from both sides during the Anhur Rebellions? Those don't sound like organizations a son of Mindoir would care to join." Jason replied quicker than Abby had, which was unexpected if nearly identical in consequence.
Gideon's eyes narrowed but he remained where he stood. "The Alliance does have one bonus in store for me though, one factor that these companies could never really provide. One condition that will make it all the more tolerable." Gideon strode towards the table, placed his palms on surface and locked eyes with Ward. "I will join your organization, for the same reason I have remained at this Alliance organization." He picked up the data pad, signed his name off on the roster and tossed it back down on the table.
"That condition, First Lieutenant is opportunity, and the reason is vengeance."
"Your commitment should be towards the Alliance Gideon, not towards a grudge match with the Batarians. Most likely we will be tasked with taking down other criminal elements besides the Hegemony-
"Save it for someone more gullible. I watch the feeds, I've heard the murmurs. The Batarians will be on our doorstep soon, and when that day comes I want to be there to greet them."
"And if that doesn't happen? If the Hegemony never strikes and you are left nursing your wounded pride in the Alliance? What then will you do, Gideon Lewis?"
"It's not a question of if the Batarians will attack Lieutenant Thompson. It's a question of when. And if it takes a decade for them to strike then so be it."
"Would you rather serve to fulfill your revenge or would you serve to prevent another Mindoir from ever happening again?"
Gideon scoffed. "A naïve viewpoint, there will always be another Mindoir, another Elysia, another Shanxi, another Anhur, another Lusia, another Taetrus, another Torfan. These things don't just stop and it is foolish to think otherwise."
"You didn't answer my question." Abby was a Doberman with a bone.
Gideon didn't deign to answer, walking away from the table and out of Orion Hall.
With 109 signatures collected, the N7's set about confirming all requests and confirming the absence of students from various classes due to the training of the students.
Ward's Omni-Tool beeped, indicating he had received a message. As he opened the com-link he found himself face to face with a stern faced older man.
"Mr. Thompson, we need to have a discussion about several of my students."
The board is set, and now the pieces will begin to move.