Chapter 6: An Unexpected Mission

“At ease! Red Dragon Squad dismissed. Go maintain your tanks—I want to see them as pristine tonight as when they first rolled out. As for Blue Team, everyone change into your physical training uniforms. Logistics, grab the tools and level that dirt mound outside the West Gate!”

The Blue Team trainees looked utterly dejected, tears brimming in their eyes. The dirt mound outside the West Gate was man-made—after last year’s battalion exercise failure, they were punished by having to dig soil from the desert and pile it up into a mound. Now, it was their turn to dig again!

“Look at those faces! Sixteen against four, scattered and defeated, and you think you can just go back to your dorms and sleep comfortably? Dream on! All your leaves and outings are canceled. From now on, training doubles! Dismissed!”

The old man bellowed fiercely into his megaphone.

“Yes, sir!”

“Also, Clini, stay behind.”

“Huh?”

“No ‘huh’—I have something to discuss with you. Don’t worry, it’s good news!”

McMillan tossed the megaphone to a nearby officer to supervise Blue Team, then cheerfully approached Macarius.

“Do you know who’s arrived at the base?”

“The Armored Corps Director?”

“How did you know? Oh, right—there’s nothing at this base you don’t know about. The girls in logistics are always sharing what they hear with you. Kid, your charm is something else.”

“That’s probably due to mistakes I made when I was younger,” Macarius replied in a strangely mature and world-weary tone for a sixteen-year-old. It sounded incongruous, but everyone at the base was used to it—besides his famous tactical skills, his surprising quotes were well known.

The young women officers in logistics especially liked that about him. They often tried to pull him into social gatherings, but when squeezed together with the girls, Macarius’s favorite pastime was playing poker while sticking notes onto their faces.

“Enough of that! I’m here on serious business—something involving Major General Mann.”

“What’s up? The general thinks I have talent and wants me as a son-in-law?”

“That kind of luck, no way. Well, maybe they did consider it, but forget it—both the general and I have sons. The reason you’re involved is that a bigwig upstairs took on a political task. The Zeon Principality Military Academy is set to conduct a joint training and competition exercise with the Federation Military Academy! Headquarters has ordered us to select elite personnel, and the director chose you!”

“A military exercise with Zeon? We just finished one here! And now I have to travel all that way again?”

“Take that up with the guys in Gaboro. Don’t you have your own channels?”

McMillan laughed heartily. From what he knew, the bigwig who took the job also had ties to Clini.

“Then I’ll obey the orders. But can we use live ammunition during the exercise?”

McMillan’s eyes widened instantly.

“Live ammo? What do you intend to do?”

“It’s tough for Zeon to get officer candidates. I say we send them all to the skies with a single shot! What do you think?”

“Impossible. You better behave. If anything happens, even your grandfather, a Federation lieutenant general, can’t save you! So, don’t do anything reckless!”

McMillan gave Macarius a sharp kick, though if he could kill him, he would have done so long ago. As a staunch hawk, the old man had disliked Zeon for a long time.

“Understood. Then we’ll conduct a standard exercise, competing with style, skill, friendship, and pioneering spirit!”

“Don’t be sarcastic. Behave during the exercise—times have changed! It won’t harm you. By the way, I checked your squad’s deployment preferences. Why is everyone assigned to the Side 3 garrison?”

“The benefits are better there! Higher pay, good food, and sometimes you can earn military merits through fellow countrymen. You don’t expect me to guard the Federation Parliament in London, do you?”

McMillan suspected Macarius was teasing him because he was from London. The ‘security guard’ role referred to the Federation garrison on the British Isles, responsible for protecting the Parliament. Since local public order was relatively good, service there was quite relaxed, earning the garrison the nickname ‘Parliament Guards.’ Of course, the training and discipline were strict—the garrison represented the Federation’s image, especially the navy, which endured rigorous training every month.

Side 3, the satellite cluster housing the Zeon Principality, was far from Earth. Separatism was rampant, with frequent unrest, so the Federation troops stationed there bore the heavy burden of maintaining security and suppressing disturbances. Given the hostile relations between the Zeon government and the Federation, serving there was like sitting on a powder keg. Naturally, the Federation garrison there received generous treatment—if trouble arose, they’d be the first responders. In ancient times, their role was akin to border troops guarding the frontiers; they deserved no neglect.

Moreover, the Federation troops stationed there were well-equipped. Although the M61A2 tank had been introduced to Federation Army units, due to production constraints, only the Side 3 garrison had received the full complement. Many Earth-based units still operated the older M61. Macarius had no desire to command an old model.

“Still short on cash? I heard you’ve made quite a bit scheming and hustling at school.”

“Earned it skillfully, never enough. Besides, I know you snagged a vehicle from the principal during the last exercise. Wasn’t that partly thanks to me?”

“Alright, enough. Your squad did well in this exercise—keep it up. The Federation’s future depends on young talents like you. Rest well for a week, then prepare to deploy! Don’t embarrass us over there.”

“Understood, sir! Student dismissed!”

“Go ahead and prepare the tanks—ensure everything’s perfect. When the exercise begins, the transport ships will carry you and your vehicles over.”

After saluting the old man, Macarius jogged to the garage. At that moment, the other Red Dragon squad members were busily maintaining their tanks with great enthusiasm. Just as infantrymen must cherish their rifles like beloved wives, armored troops must care for their equipment. Thorough maintenance, cleaning, and inspections were absolutely essential for tanks.

Moreover, with a high-ranking visitor at the training base, there was always the chance of an unannounced inspection of military assets. Hence, the Red Dragon squad took extra care in maintaining their vehicles. After all, a unit’s combat effectiveness was reflected in such details. Besides, soldiers sitting inside a gleaming, well-kept war machine felt proud themselves.