President Micki

The train arrived at its destination. The Space Station of Nova Occasio. It was located on the outskirts of the colony, so the train ride was lengthy. The classes that had their initiation day were Class Lupus, Class Ovis, and Class Serpens.

Every class in Celio’s Military Academy was comprised of 9 students. Each class had a ‘main instructor’ who would be their main authority figure and lead them through their initiation missions. All in all, 30 people were to participate in this event.

The group from the academy made their way to the main hanger of the space station and they were greeted with solemnity. Red carpets, the army lined holding their riffles upright, and members of the press with their cameras. At the center of it all stood the President of the Dominion of Nova Occasio, Bobulanov Micki.

President Micki looked like someone’s nice, good-natured old grandpa. If you were to see him on the street in plain clothes you would assume it was your average old man and that’s how he conducted himself when speaking. He didn’t have a scary voice or an intimidating look.

However, in stark contrast to his demeanor, the presidential clothes he was wearing told a different story. His presidential gowns were a mix of various styles. They were inspired by the designs of the Roman toga, with elements of a traditional suit with a tie and buttons complemented by military motifs such as ranks and stars on the shoulders and sleeves.

Micki is the first and so far only president of Nova Occasio in its 16-year history. Despite his harmless demeanor, he was a very powerful president.

A female reporter whom Brigham remembered from TV this morning approached the president. She was the host of the morning program and the climate debate moderator. She asked a few questions and he gave his replies speaking relaxed and smiling. They were too far away for the kids to hear what they were talking about.

Once they finished talking the president turned his attention to the students who were walking towards them. Micki waved his hand: “While if it isn’t the future of the Dominion here in our presence. The best and brightest this country has to offer. Come here children let’s meet.”

Instructor Mok shrugged and said to his class quietly: “Start getting used to having to do these photo-ops. They are only for show but since you will be the elite of the Dominion it will be expected of you.”

All of the kids one by one got to the president, shook his hand, and posed for a photo. Once Brigham got his turn he was sweating nervously. He was practicing in front of a mirror for days. He wanted to make a good impression.

Brigham stepped towards Micki and nervously said stuttering: “Um… it’s an honor to meet you and I deeply respect your dedication to our country. It is my ambition to walk in your footsteps sir and to achieve many great things worthy of your accomplishments and more. I vow to solve poverty, hunger, and inequality. Not just here but all across the galaxy. And when I become president I hope to bring all of humanity together and to achieve world peace!”

Brigham bowed his head. Micki found the boy’s determined speech cute and endearing. He extended his hand to Brigham, smiled, and said: “Well Mr. future president I certainly hope you keep up those spirits once you end up standing in my place and reaching my age. You will find that the world doesn’t change so easily. I wish you luck regardless.” Brigham shook the president’s hand firmly while the press took their photographs.

After all of the students finished with their greeting of the president the instructors were next. Instructor Mok moved in and gave the president a big hug. The two older men embraced each other. They were old comrades. Both were a part of the pioneers. The founding fathers and mothers of Nova Occasio. Instructor Mok was a general in the war of independence for Nova Occasio and Micki was the supreme commander. They had a long history of friendship even before the war.

The other two instructors got just simple handshakes like the students. Class Lupus were all grinning as they felt the eyes of envy from class Ovis and Class Serpens. Mok was just cooler than the other two and he was no less than an old friend of the most powerful man on Planet Spark. This made Lupus’s admiration of their instructor even greater.

“Come now everyone,” President Micki gestured his head and started walking. The 30 participants and the press walked behind him as he spoke. “I would like to discuss the details of your mission. We must, before you depart, have lunch of course and you are to meet up with a few more guests I have prepared. Listen closely this is your mission.”

President Micki cleared his throat and spoke uninterrupted:

Your mission is as follows. The three classes will be given 3 ships. Each class it’s own ship. You will depart for the Rubin asteroid belt. It is a very long journey and you will need to use warp speed. The technology that has allowed humanity to quickly travel across space. Once reaching the Rubin asteroid belt, on asteroid NB011, we have placed a Dominion training camp. It is of course internationally recognized as our territory so you shouldn’t run into any problems with the Americans (NATO) or the Russians (Warsaw Pact).

Once you arrive you will stay in that camp for a week while your Instructors grade your behavior. The asteroid NB011 has temperatures that go into a deep cold and is covered in snow. The camp is one of the most basic our military has. There you will experience cold temperatures in the camp itself with limited water and food supply. It will be a test of your survival skills and teamwork.

All three classes can fail and all three classes can succeed. It will be up to each group individually. You are not in competition with each other and the three group’s quarters are separate. Failing to work as a team will result in an instant failure. Your instructors can prematurely stop the mission and bring you back to Nova Occasio.

Beware of the Kortonian beings on the planetoid. While humanity hasn’t found any intelligent life in space it has found hostile animalistic creatures that seem to attack us on site. These are the only types of life forms out in space we have found so far. Asteroid NB011 has these hostile aliens and they will provide you with some real hands-on combat training.

Don’t be too afraid because the type of alien on NB011 is not a high-level threat but you can come back with a classmate or two dead if you don’t work together. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Your instructors will be your safety net should things become too dangerous or out of control.

This is a dangerous assignment and this whole year will be filled with practical exams of this type. Not to discourage you young students but every next assignment will be even more difficult. We plan to bit by bit slowly take off your training wheels and turn you into true soldiers.

One thing to look forward to is the uniforms you are wearing now, this assignment will be the last time you will be wearing it. If you complete this mission you will be given new uniforms of space cadets. The uniforms you wear now represent your attachment to the soil of Planet Spark. They are fitting of school children but not of space cadets.

It is time to take your next big step into this world. This day is the beginning of your initiation into the military.

Wear those uniforms with pride, face the challenges head-on, be fearless, be smart, rely on your comrades, and be reliable to them. May your gods, whomever you pray to, hear your prayers and grant you the tenacity and spirit necessary for what Nova Occasio needs of you in space.

Godspeed students, future cadets, officers, men and women. Good Luck.