It was 05:00 and the grounds of the academy were tranquil, of course, it was the beginning of the year and soon the grounds would be buzzing at this time of the morning with cadets running on the grounds to warm up for the day. Lindbergh Strauss arrived even before his secretary at his office. He opened the door and placed his hat and overcoat on the hat rack next to the office door. He sat down on his chair and started to read his pads and then turned on the nearby radio and tuned it to the local academy radio station. He sighed in frustration as the station began playing the 2375 re-recording of the old American folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". It was a popular song after the war on many of the core federation planets along with many others. As one of the many Starfleet veterans who came home after the war, he grew tired of the song amazingly fast. Of course, he understood why it was popular, and it was not the only old earth song to gain popularity.
Lindbergh soon heard a ping at his office door and a gruff voice "Sir it is Janar" "Come in" Janar strode into the office and sat down on the other side of the desk. The two of them were good friends, as they served together during the war on the USS Watoga. Both were young and inexperienced and neither knew that they had gotten themselves into. It was Strauss who got his old friend the position of Commandant of the academy in the first place, it was a well-needed break after a long stretch as first officer of the Farragut following the war, as he wanted to spend more time with his family on earth. Lindbergh sighed and tugged at his uniform collar "You know Janar, I am extremely nervous" Janar ever the stoic type replied, "Well Superintendent, it is your first year as head of this academy, it is natural that you would be nervous about the upcoming school year" There was truth in what he said, after years of being stuck behind a desk and being retired he was ready to get back in the saddle even if it was a mechanical horse. He thought about telling his old friend about his grandfather's journal, but he decided not to. He grabbed ahold of his cane made his way to his window and raised the blinds looking out on the campus "I must admit I am nervous about meeting SACO" Janar grunted "Yes SACO Alpha unit will most expectedly cause quite a stir around the academy. Strauss sighed "You don't know the half of it.
A moment later there came a ping at the door and the sound of Strauss's secretary "Sir the gentlemen from SACO are here" Strauss let out a breath as he and Janar prepared for their guests "Let them in". He then pressed the button on his desk cutting off his office from the secretary's desk mic, this was a classified meeting. The door to the office opened and in came three figures. All three were dressed in uniforms similar to that witch where worn by Starfleet but looked more military-like, being all black with a combage having the SACO patch on the right shoulder, consisting of the usual Starfleet insignia but with a sword coming through the delta instead of an orbit, and each one wore a blue beret. The first man was a human, he looked about forty with light sandy brown hair and piercing blue eyes. The second was an Adorian woman, she was tall and imposing, and neither had the same effect as the third figure. The third one was a large male Hirogen, a tall and imposing figure, he looked almost out of place in the uniform.
The Hirogen were a Delta quadrant species, hunters and nomadic by nature. The recent ease of travel to the Delta quadrant has caused several species to express interest in Federation activities and some individuals were recruited for Starfleet's new SACO unit. The Hirgoen were strong, smart, very skilled with technology, and had natural skill in combat. The three of them stood at attention calling out their names and Ranks the man said, "Colonel O'Neil reporting for duty sir!" the Adorian woman called out "Major Shran reporting for duty sir!" The Hirogen stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice "Captain Kruwl reporting for duty sir" Strauss nodded "I am Commodore Strauss and this is Commander Janar, at ease marines" They all nodded as the SACO marines sat down in chairs across from the desk. "General K'Goth mentioned you were coming to the Acadamy, but he didn't say what for" Colonel O'Neil spoke up "Yes superintendent the General has requested that we stay awhile in Starfleet Academy to assess certain... candidates for the SACO program."