One month after the announcement of the successful candidates for the United of Sagitarius divisions, the day of training finally arrived. Marina and Valencia, having both passed the selection, traveled together toward The Haast headquarters to begin their training.
"Are you ready, friend?" Inside the cold subway car, Valencia noticed Marina's persistent nervousness.
"E-eh, I'm ready. Besides, I've already done some studying beforehand, just to be safe." Marina clutched her owl-shaped drone in her hands.
"Hehe, you're so ambitious. I haven't even cracked a book; I just looked up some interesting facts about the base for preparation." Valencia pulled her tablet out of her bag and began playing with it.
Their train passed through several stations toward the Haast district, where the headquarters stood. The cold air and the muffled sounds of the city above made Valencia feel drowsy.
"There are still a few kilometers left; I think I'll take a nap first." Valencia tucked her tablet back into her bag and fell asleep in her seat.
Sitting beside her, Marina watched in awe as Valencia fell asleep so quickly.
"You fall asleep so fast, Valen. Honestly," Marina muttered, shaking her head at her friend's behavior.
The clock showed 5 a.m. local time, an hour when very few people had started their day. The train finally emerged from the underground tunnel and moved onto the elevated tracks, revealing a sea of cars, trucks, and other vehicles below.
"This city is so beautiful, even before most people are awake. Hehe, what an incredible opportunity to see this view." From the window, Marina's gaze was fixed on the sophisticated, living cityscape.
The train eventually plunged back into the underground tunnel. Only a few stations remained before they reached Haast Station, their stop. After a few hours of waiting, an announcement signaled their arrival. Marina urged Valencia to wake up.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, w-wake up." Marina nudged Valencia. "We've arrived at Haast Station." Valencia's eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Huh, we're here already? That was fast." Still looking groggy, Valencia stretched her body.
"Let's get off before the train leaves again." Marina stood up, grabbed her bag, and told Valencia to get ready.
"Alright, alright, I'm up. Just a second." After finishing her stretch, Valencia stood, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the train with Marina.
They stepped out and saw many other young people who also seemed to be successful applicants. It was now 7 a.m. local time. The two of them climbed the stairs and exited the underground station.
"Finally! The Haast headquarters, here we come!" Full of spirit, Valencia marched ahead of Marina.
The morning air was crisp, and the radiance of Planet Romeus's primary star shone in all directions, bringing warmth and hope to the city that never sleeps.
"Valen, w-wait for me!" They both crossed the street, which was starting to buzz with vehicles and activity.
After crossing the busy road, they walked together toward the main gate of The Haast, the same gate they had passed once before. The giant clock on the gate was clearly visible, followed by the sound of officers shouting at the new recruits to form lines.
"Everyone, fall in line!" a soldier shouted in a loud, booming voice.
"Hurry up, Marina!" Valencia suddenly grabbed Marina's hand, startling her.
The two of them lined up according to the duty officer's instructions. The soldier then informed them that they would be escorted to the hall for a welcoming ceremony. Once the group was complete, the line Marina and Valencia were in marched into the base through a side entrance.
They passed through a vast open area where rows of spacecraft and starships were neatly lined up. Countless robots, drones, and other machines filled the sky above the base with their mechanical hum.
"Hey, look at that!" a young man beside them pointed to a starship currently under repair.
Surrounded by massive circular walls, the base looked incredibly sturdy and advanced.
After a long walk, the line finally reached the hall doors. Officers began distributing cards containing numbers whose purpose was still unknown, and they were told where to sit.
"Aw, I'm sitting so far away from you." Valencia looked sad at the thought of being separated from Marina.
"It's okay, Valen. I'm in the front section, and you should be able to see me from the back." Marina touched Valencia's shoulder and gave a thin smile.
"Alright then, take care. See you later!" Afterward, Valencia headed toward the back rows where she was assigned to sit.
"Y-yeah, you too, Valen." Once Valencia left, Marina walked to the front and took her seat.
After a while, the hall was packed. An officer then sealed the doors.
Suddenly, a figure in a white robe and glasses appeared—clearly a professor based on his appearance. He began to speak into the microphone.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the welcoming ceremony for the new members of the United of Sagitarius!" The professor greeted everyone in a loud voice, accompanied by thunderous applause.
"Before we begin the ceremony, allow me to introduce myself to all of you." The professor started his introduction.
The event lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time. Once finished, the new members, including Marina and Valencia, were directed by officers and soldiers to line up again. They then began walking out of the hall.
"Huft, that took forever...." Valencia looked visibly exhausted.
"I got so much information from the ceremony," Marina said, showing her tablet filled with notes.
"Heh, I didn't take a single note!" Valencia was shocked to see Marina's long list of notes.
Valencia's voice caught the attention of a nearby soldier.
"You two. Quiet." The soldier warned them.
"Oh, sorry, sir," Marina answered nervously, then glanced at Valencia.
"You... be quiet, Valen," she whispered, urging Valencia to shut her mouth.
"Yeah, okay, sorry, hehe," Valencia smiled sheepishly at Marina, which only made Marina look slightly more annoyed.
After walking through several corridors, the group stopped at a fork in the road. Officers began instructing the new members to head toward their respective division dormitories through the different paths.
"Looks like we have to part ways here." Valencia looked at Marina, who had been paying close attention to the instructions.
"Mm, alright Valen. Take care, and s-see you later." Afterward, Marina walked with her group toward a different path than Valencia's.
The two separated to go to their respective dormitories and prepare to begin their training.
Meanwhile, in the outer part of the headquarters, a soldier was seen running toward a figure in a reddish-gold cloak.
"General Vorta!" He was panting, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Yes, what is it, soldier?" The tall general with blonde hair and red eyes responded.
"I have brought information that there will be a meeting for an important mission tomorrow." The soldier was still exhausted from running, his breathing irregular.
"Rest, soldier. Sit down and calm yourself." Vorta told the soldier to sit on a crate nearby.
"There will be an important meeting to discuss a mission within the next two days. According to the intel, this mission is a preventive and protective measure for a vital government facility, General!" the soldier explained in detail.
The lights of the base began to shine brightly as Planet Romeus's star dipped below the blue horizon, replaced by the planet's moon and the stars in the sky.
"Hmm... very well. Thank you for the information, soldier. You are dismissed." Vorta crossed his arms and signaled the soldier to leave.
"Yes, General!" The soldier saluted and walked away.
"Facility protection, are they going to attack again? They haven't appeared for months; this might be a significant sign. I better observe the situation if they resurface." He tilted his head back, looking at the stars and thinking.
"The Primes will likely task me and the others to handle this." He gazed at the bright moon of Planet Romeus.
A crest was visible on Vorta's chest, a symbol indicating that he was a very important person within the United of Sagitarius. Under his name, his rank was written: "High Sentinel."