Hunter spent most of the family day showing his family, friends, extras, and girlfriend around Fort Draco with Treyden, Theo, and Andrew. Of course, they didn't go anywhere they weren't allowed, but Hunter showed the obstacle courses, medical barrack, the shooting and grenade range, the chow hall where they ended up stopping just in time for lunch, then where the other company areas were, and the drill sergeant quarters. Other places were the main building where they got sorted out into their groups at the start of nine weeks ago. Treyden, Andrew, Theo, and Hunter told the group stories about how training went; good and bad times. Salvatore and Shane seemed the most interested about everything, the rest not so much and Hunter expected that.

It would take time for them to get used to him being in the army, that was all right. Hunter didn't mind giving them that time as long as they weren't giving him shit about his choice anymore. Hunter was glad they all decided to accept it, though, he couldn't shake the feeling that his mother was faking it just to stay around him since Hunter told them to deal with it or leave. Hunter didn't care if she hated it, she couldn't tell him what to do or how to live his life since he had his GED and was in the army. Being Hunter was a minor, those two factors meant he was legally emancipated from his parents. It said he could make his own decisions without their consent and do whatever he wanted as long as he didn't brake Island laws.

Emancipation was the process of freeing someone from another's control; in Hunter's sense, it meant that he was relinquished from his parent's authority. Hunter still loved them and held respect for both, but the emancipation declared that he as a minor would take on adult responsibilities such as taking care of himself and making his own decisions in life. Hunter would still live with them, Salvatore stated that he could so really, Hunter wasn't allowed to drink until he turned eighteen. That was his only restriction of still being a minor. Hunter could drive, make choices, and no longer had a curfew. It was a sweet deal for him, and he wasn't much for drinking anyway, his father had allowed him to once or twice when he was fifteen.

The day was going swell compared to how it had started; everyone was getting along if it could be called that. Eddie was still quiet having not liked to be threatened by Hunter's army friends but other than that things were okay. At the moment, they were sitting outside enjoying the weather and talking. Hunter was telling them how graduation was supposed to go and that a lot of the soldiers who weren't staying at Fort Draco for AIT would be leaving Sunday afternoon or night and then some would leave at different points during the week.

"So you don't technically start AIT until after this coming week?" Audrey asked.

"That's right. We start the 29th, give the others who aren't staying a chance to leave and others to come in. This is the main base for infantry training, only four weeks so that it won't be horrible," Hunter said.

"And you said earlier that we might get to see you before final station assignments?" Caitlyn inquired.

"It's a slim chance. After graduation from AIT, we'll be informed of our first duty station and when we go there. Soldiers who are married get ten days leave before going to their assigned spot because they need time to find a house and arrange everything. Us single soldiers don't have as much work to do so we might just get sent to our stations and possibly get leave when that is settled," Andrew mentioned.

"Well, that seems unfair, fourteen weeks away from home and they should be willing to let you go for a few days," Viola frowned.

"The military doesn't have to be fair, Mrs. Haddock. It's their job to send us where we're needed to do our jobs that we've spent thirteen weeks training for. I say thirteen because Reception Week doesn't count for training," Theo stated gently. "Some companies deploy immediately after AIT is completed," he added.

"Oh my, heaven forbid it!" Viola said quickly with a hand over her heart.

"You're not...deploying right after training, are you, Hunter?" Shane asked.

"I don't know. We haven't been told anything about when AIT is over. We likely won't be informed until after we're done, can't deploy us if we aren't ready with incomplete training. I assume the wait is to make sure everyone passes AIT. For us, we're infantry soldiers and first in land combat to fight. We're active duty so we would deploy before anyone in the reserves or guard goes," Hunter shrugged a bit.

"But you will know beforehand if you do, won't you? They can't just announce you're deploying and send you off, can they?" Heather asked gently.

"We can if it's a matter of urgency, but it rarely happens that way," came Asher Holgerson's voice as he made his way over to them. "Most of the time, the soldiers work on rotation schedules based on numerous factors. Some groups complete training and don't deploy for up to five years later on. At the same time, there are some who leave within a month. However, in the rare case it's immediately after finishing AIT it is because conflict location lost a lot of soldiers in a set time frame and needed back up instantly. As I said though, that's a rare occasion,"

"Do the soldiers know how long they deploy for on their rotation?" Renee questioned.

"The soldiers can deploy from anywhere between six months to eighteen months for a single rotation. The deployment time is also based on a bunch of factors about the situation they would be sent into," Asher replied.

"And they will know ahead of time when they go, so they can say goodbye to people and pack up, right?" Fisher inquired.

"Yes. That is the case for most deployment orders. They will receive a phone call from their platoon leader about deploying and given instructions to follow to prepare for such. The chance is high that the soldiers return to this base for debriefing, additional training, evaluations, and physical exams to ensure each soldier is ready," Asher informed.

"How will they know the call is for deployment?" Audrey asked.

"Much like a phone tree works. The orders will come from the military headquarters for which companies will be deploying. Sometimes it's one, and others it can be more. Those orders will go to the base where the platoons of those companies are stationed. Once it gets there, it will go to the company leader or leaders if more than one. Then continuing down the tree to platoon and squadron leaders. For Plasma Fire it would go; Andersen, me and the other platoon commanding officers, then on to the eight squad leaders who would be in charge of calling the twelve soldiers from their unit. So in this example, if Plasma Fire deploys, Striker One squad would get their orders from Richard and Striker Two from Victor," Asher explained.

"So they would just get told by their squad leader that it's to deploy?" Shane said calmly.

"Well, it would be worded as mobilization alert for Plasma Fire company, report to such and such base at this time on this day. On suggested day, the soldiers will know where they are going, how long for, and when they leave. The soldiers will be given some time to get their affairs in order and go through the preparation to leave as I said before with evaluations and exams," Asher stated. "Came to tell you boys to get ready for your dinner show, Richard has the rest rounded up. I'll take yer folks, sibling, friends, and girlfriend to the chow hall for you, Haddock,"

"Yes sir," Hunter saluted as he and the other three got up, and they hurried off to their barrack.

"What exactly are they going to do?" Sal asked.

"I know nothing about it, none of the officers do. It was up to the soldiers to plan in their down time during the last phase of Basic," Asher chuckled as he motioned for them to get up and follow him and so they did, all wondering what they would get to witness tonight.

(Dinner; Chow Hall)

Everyone was seated in the chow hall in their respected spot waiting for the show to begin, they were most curious to see what was planned for their entertainment of the evening. Finally, Asher came out on the make-shift stage and tapped the microphone to get their attention, and it got quieter.

"Welcome to dinner! As you remember, we gave you a show for lunch, and we are giving you another for dinner put on by the soldiers of Alpha Hooligan platoon! Not sure what they are doing but we're sure it's gonna be great. So sit back and enjoy!" Asher announced as there was little applause and then quieted down when they heard marching and commands being called from outside.

"Left! Left! Left, right left," was repeated a few times as the two groups came in, twelve on each side representing Striker squads one and two but Alpha Hooligan platoon as a whole. The twenty-four soldiers marched in place for a moment, and then music began playing as it did when the soldiers came out earlier that morning.

"What song is this? There was only music this morning," Eddie asked quietly.

"You'll see," Salvatore smiled.

"It's time to strap our boots on. This is a perfect day to die. Wipe the blood out of our eyes," the soldiers began together while starting to march forward in sync. "In this life, there's no surrender. There's nothing left for us to do. Find the strength to see this through," they continued towards the stage.

"We are the ones who will never be broken. With our final breath, we'll fight to the death. We are soldiers, we are soldiers! Woah woah woah whoa! We are soldiers," Reaching the stage, the small group they formed themselves together to help each other onto the stage as if it were one of their teamwork exercises. A few of the girls would step in the male's hands and get a firm lift up so they could do front flips and be caught by the men already on stage. With all on stage, they stood together in a line to start again on the next queue.

"I stand here right beside you. Tonight we're fighting for our lives. Let me hear your battle cry. Your battle cry!" Hunter sang out as the rest of the soldiers yelled out. It was now that Richard and Victor brought out a long wooden case and opened it up to start passing out guns, though, they were plastic and white used for drill team or practice.

"We are the ones who will never be broken. With our final breath, we'll fight to the death. We are soldiers, we are soldiers!" the soldiers sang together while holding their guns and spreading out a bit but staying grouped up and keeping the butt of the gun on the stage floor, tapping it to the beat of the music. "We are the ones who will not go unspoken. No, we will not sleep. We are not sheep. We are soldiers, we are soldiers! Yeah!" after that they lifted their guns and started doing drill team work with them.

Spinning them around their backs, over their shoulders, switching with someone else, and following an impressive routine. Finally, they set their guns across their chest but kept them firm in their hands. "We stand shoulder to shoulder. We stand shoulder to shoulder. We stand shoulder to shoulder," the soldiers lined up and got close enough to have their shoulders touch. "You can't erase us! You'll just have to face us!" they said calmly. "We stand shoulder to shoulder! We stand shoulder to shoulder! We stand shoulder to shoulder! You can't erase us! You'll just have to face us!" the soldiers yelled out.

"We are the ones who will never be broken. With our final breath, we'll fight to the death. We are soldiers, we are soldiers," a slight pause as they began separating and moving to different places of the stage or room. "We are the ones who will not go unspoken. No, we will not sleep. We are not sheep. We are soldiers, we are soldiers! Yeah!" they continued while keeping a rhythm going by stomping a foot down and others putting their guns down and clapping their hands to a beat at the music got softer.

"Woah woah woah whoa! We are soldiers. Woah woah woah whoa! We are soldiers," this time the music cut completely and the twenty-four soldiers took up a position with their gun. Some standing, others pressed against a wall, a few kneeling, and the rest of them laying down but all ready to fire. "Woah woah woah whoa! We are soldiers!" Somewhere the sound of guns firing was heard, but it became apparent that was part of the effects. The crowd went wild with cheering, hollering, and clapping for the display. The soldiers smiled as they made their way back to the stage and stood together to give a salute, then bow before beginning to put the drill guns away and move towards their table.

Asher got on the stage with a proud smile. "That was incredible Alpha Hooligans! Sounded great and looked perfect. Very well done! I have to know how you came up with such an interesting idea and developed it with so little time? You only had the hour and a half of personal time every night during the red phase, and you weren't allowed out of your barracks unless it was for laundry," he mentioned.

"That's when we worked on it, sir," said one of the soldiers while she sat down.

"During laundry?" Richard blinked a bit.

"Here and there, we found time," Conner shrugged.

"And how did you come up with all this, what inspired it?" Harry asked curiously.

"Hunter came up with it. Well, we heard him singing it while twirling one of the guns when he got that punishment for throwing a weapon down on the range. We thought it was unbelievable how easily he could do it and then when we got picked to do the show tonight, we asked if he would teach us the song and how to make the moves with the guns and so we just worked on it when we had the time. We used sticks and hid them in our laundry bags then practiced while doing laundry," Treyden chuckled a bit.

"Wonderful job and clever way to practice such a routine with a song that represents all soldiers. Now, I think we should enjoy our dinner," Harry announced. After that, everyone began to engage in light conversation and talk about things, mainly the dinner show because that was great. Time passed, and soon it was 7:00 pm and the families were hanging around with their soldiers in the barracks or just outside them with the lights on so it wasn't too dark.

"That was a cool show your platoon put on, Hunter," Travis mentioned.

"Eh, I didn't even know they were watching that day and more surprised when they asked I would teach them," Hunter shrugged.

"Always been one of your favorite songs," Sal reminded.

"You showed it to me," Hunter smiled gently.

"Ah, that I did. So I take it we have to leave soon?" Sal inquired.

"You should probably leave now," Hunter suggested.

"Why, we still have an hour?" Audrey murmured.

"Yes, but I doubt you want to be stuck in the traffic of leaving the base when everyone else leaves at 8 pm," Hunter replied. "Did you follow through on what I suggested, Dad?" he added.

"Oh, bringing an extra set of clothes? Yes. Caitlyn told everyone first thing this morning when you sent me the text. What do we need them for?" Salvatore arched a brow. Hunter went into the barrack for a moment and then returned and handed his father something before stepping back. Sal saw some money sitting in his hand and blinked at Hunter some.

"When you leave here, take a right out of the base and go ten minutes down the road. There will be a motel on your right called Cloud Comfort Inn. Let the clerk behind the counter you have a reservation under Hunter Haddock; three rooms total. One for you and Mom, another for the girls, and one more for the boys. There will be beds, cots, and a couch available for sleeping arrangements. Don't worry about paying in the morning; it's prepaid from my card. Use that for breakfast for yourselves, and I'll see you in the morning at 11 am for the ceremony," Hunter informed.

"Why get us a motel for the night? We would have driven back tomorrow," Caitlyn asked curiously.

"I felt that sleeping ten minutes from the base might be easier than driving forty-five to fifty minutes home, then back, and home again later as you already drove up this way one. Why waste more gas? Come on, I'll take you as far as the gate, but I can't leave the base," Hunter offered.

"You sure we can't stay longer?" Viola tried.

"It's easier to get out before everyone else does, trust me or you'll be sitting in line to get out for an hour or so. Besides, after you leave I'm grabbing a shower and going to sleep myself," Hunter told her.

"Aye, he's right. It's been a long day and tomorrow will be the same, he needs his rest," Salvatore nodded in agreement as everyone began to get up and dust off a bit from sitting in the grass. Hunter led them towards the gate where there were a few guards.

"Heading out for the evening folks?" the guard asked as Salvatore, Drew, and Eddie handed the man their tickets to where there parked cars were, and three soldiers went to get them. Hunter hugged his mother, sister, father, and girlfriend while shaking the hands of the others and stepped back. "Drive safely now!" the man said.

"See you tomorrow son," Salvatore smiled as Hunter waved to them while they got in the cars and drove off of the base. Hunter returned to the barrack 7:45 pm while everyone was getting ready to leave Hunter couldn't pass up the chance to prove he had been right, so he snapped a quick photo of every rushing to their cars to leave then sent it to his father and friends with the added message of; ~Aren't you glad I had you leave when I did? Lol, see you all tomorrow morning. -Hunter~ After that, he grabbed a towel and his nightwear clothing. Hunter moved to the bathroom and took a hot shower, then dried off, got dressed and reached his bed. Overall, today had been a pretty decent day after all.