Luna looks back, her eyes twinkling as she nods at the heavyset woman.
"Alright everybody, settle down. I go by the boss Cody Lancaster. That's tech Sgt. Cody Lancaster if you want to get specific. I'm really enjoying traveling the world and enjoying life. The plan is to find a beautiful woman along the way and make the most of the time I have on this planet."
"Yeah, I hear you there. Let's put some bullets in these losers." Marcus took his middle finger and pointed it toward the sky as if shooting an unknown entity that cannot be seen by anyone else in the room.
"Don't worry, this is your chance to kill some people," Captain Dashner says. She let go a small smirk. "We are going to do a lot of killing from what I've been told by the Lt. Col."
Cody looks back at Marcus and puts two fingers up, I look forward to laying some lead downfield. I'm from the city of Flora, north of here at the capital. I spent some time doing banking but I found that I want to work with my hands more. I also know a little bit about mechanic work, so if you have any issues with things of that nature I can help you out. I'm not the best shot with a pistol." Cody cast a glance over at Abby who was sitting there not paying him any mind. "So I've got nothing else. Captain Dashner, back to you ma'am."
Captain Dashner's eyes traced the room and landed on a fair skinned man with a scar above his right eye who sat in the back. His hazel eyes were like fall leaves, his gaze unwavering.
The massive man stood up, his right eye twitching while his scar moved up and down like a wave, as if trying to settle but unable to find any ground. "My name is Derek Adams and there's not much to say about me. These hands are for killing and that is what I am here to do." The man sat down, putting his hands together, looking straight forward like nothing in the world matters but bashing someone's skull in.
Captain Dashner put her hands on the front desk and leans over. A heavy sigh protruded from her throat as she stood there shaking her head. "Now that we're all acquainted, I am more than confident that this is going to be futile. Got to get to work people, I need everybody to be on their game. We were all equipped to be the best versions of ourselves in training and life experiences. I need everyone at their peak potential."
"So what you're saying is that we are fucked up beyond all reason. That's not very elegant," Ian says, putting his fingers as if something was clawing at him and he was trying to drag it off.
"Why do you talk like that? You just waste everybody's time. Just say what you want to say without all the extra adjectives. If I hear another word from you, I don't know if I'm going to be able to kill anybody down range. I may snap your neck while you sleep." Derek looks over, his eyes bulging widely and a vain mark appearing on his head above his scar.
"You're disgusting," Ian responded, putting all his fingers up and brushing off Derek as if he was a pathetic fly. "It's people like you that make the world feel less graceful. But I will dismiss your ignorance because you may be tired."
Derek didn't respond. He simply turned his eyes back towards the chalkboard and away from the room, his fists clenching as if holding on for dear life. He stood there motionless, his bald head emanating steam as if about to explode.
Luna looks over at Abby, her hand trembling slightly. "I don't feel so bad with all these other crazy people in the room. Maybe I'm not as crazy as I think. Maybe they'll take each other out and just forget about me and won't ask any more questions."
"I have to agree, with the way things are looking we're all going to be dead before we even fire one bullet at the enemy. I honestly think Derek may snap Ian's neck if Ian says one more word about elegance. You can only have so much elegance before it starts to become annoying." Abby let out a giggle as she stared over at her friend. Her cheeks flared.
"It sounds like all of you are having quite the day." A strong voice emanated from the front of the doorway.
Captain Dashner stood, her eyes wide as she noticed her superior some feet away from her. "Oh, Lt Col Rayfield, I'm sorry. Everybody to your feet!" The room fell silent as the stern officer made his way to the middle of the classroom.
The commander's steps were heavy like cement as he slowly walks from the entrance all the way to the middle of the room and turned to left, his eyes meeting each person in the room. He stopped and focused on Abby, examining her outfit before giving her a smirk. "I was in the hallway for a few minutes. The comments I heard were unacceptable. Please know if you make one mistake here, you will end up on the front lines back in the main force instead of carrying this noble badge of honor as a marksman. Do I make myself clear?"
All the troops in the room look up at him as in reverence, like some sort of god.
Matthew put his hands behind his back as he slowly stepped around the room between the tables. "All of you may not make it through this training. We are going to have to operate at maximum efficiency. I'm not saying that you cannot have a good time, but you must work together. If you cannot trust the person next to you in a classroom, that same level of distrust will manifest on the battlefield. After I leave this room, you will be heading to the arm squadron to find your weapon of choice. Based off the files I reviewed and recommendations from Captain Dashner, you will be given a few weapons to choose from. You can campaign for a transfer of weapons if you qualify. You will be training with this weapon. It will be your best friend and your lover as you move forward. Without that weapon, you are useless on the battlefield."
"Sir! A question, if I may." Abby stood as she saluted and put her hands beside her waist. "A question for you."
"Go ahead." Matthew nods, fixing his gaze on Abby.
"Will we be able to use personal weaponry?" Abby stood there, putting her hands over one another and rubbing her dome in the palm of her hands, sweat building as she awaits a firm no.
"Seeing as there is an arms shortage across the nation, personal weaponry will be approved on a case-by-case basis. You can put your request in with Captain Dashner, and I will consider it at my earliest convenience."
Abby nods slowly as she took her seat next to Luna.
"If there are no more questions, please give your heart." Matthew put his hand on his chest.
Everyone in the room stood as Matthew left the room, his right eye homing in on Abby.