Screw Pile Developments

The Hundeerde Space Defence and Communications Network Academy:
Theden University

At 07:50 the Hundeerwagon containing Seb, Raven, Lewis, Scott, Timo, Hans and Toby entered through the wrought iron gates of the Hundeerde Space Defence and Communications Network Academy at Theden University. The Hundeerwagon pulled up smoothly at the drop-off zone, situated next to the finely manicured gardens. A circular garden and fountain sat within the grounds, home to an armillary sphere sculpture made of brass rings, with the golden academy star at its centre.

First impressions of the Academy building itself were of impressive grey stone construction and high arched windows running the length of the main façade. The building itself seemed to rise directly against the mountains behind, with its spires and towers catching the low autumn light. An impressive entrance plaza led up to the main wooden doors, contained within a large stone arch. A larger central tower stood high above the rest, flying the Academy flag with two smaller towers either side also flying flags. Beyond the building, Lake Theden lay flat and pale, with two small islands near the shore connected by long stone arched bridges.

Directly behind the main building a large flight apron contained two Houndswift spacecraft. These were immediately clocked by Timo.

Something different caught Lewis’s eye: the Theden Observatory, a short distance beyond the main Academy campus.

Scott turned and looked at the silver dome of the observatory.

The group grabbed their bags and headed for the main doors of the Academy, where around twenty or so others were all milling around waiting. They had almost made it to the first step leading up to the main doors when a loud voice boomed across the plaza.

An imposing Hunde Rottweiler of solid build, in Network uniform, was the source of the bellowed instruction. The group from Veldmeer and a few others hastily formed a straight line facing the Hunde.

Krieger promptly turned and marched off at a brisk pace. The cadets scooped up their bags and followed on behind. He led them through a side entrance and then a maze of corridors until they came to the cadet barracks, three long rectangular dormitory-style rooms with five beds down each side and a high arched window at the end. The beds all contained a bare mattress and one uncased pillow each. Two large navy banners hung from the end wall, the one on the left with the academy armillary sphere logo and the words: Discipline Today. Stronger Tomorrow. The banner to the right with a golden paw logo read: People, Knowledge, Service, Exploration.

The first ten in the group, which included the boys from Veldmeer, entered dormitory C and quickly chose a bed, most putting their bags at the foot, but Timo, in his excitement, simply threw his bag onto the bed.

Timo had gone to the window and was looking out at Lake Theden, the clouds, and the ridge of mountains behind the city, already daydreaming about how much lift they would provide a glider.

A booming voice sounded behind him.

Timo immediately jumped completely into the air, the internal springs in his Jack Russell legs launching him over twice his height. It was quite impressive, that is if you were not an unimpressed Flight Sergeant who had noticed an inability to follow a simple instruction. Timo landed, turned and faced Krieger.

Krieger pointed his paw at the nearest bed.

Timo frantically looked around the dormitory and noticed all the other bags at the foot as instructed.

His ears drooped.

Timo quickly put his bag at the foot of the bed and started his twenty push-ups.

Next, they were taken to the supply department and were issued with five blankets: one teal green and four grey, two sheets, a pillow case, and three sets of uniform. Fortunately, they were also each issued with a large cargo bag, as it was quite the stack to carry back to their dormitory. On returning, they were instructed to pack away their civilian clothes (‘…the last you’ll be needing those for a few weeks’) and put on their uniform.

The uniform consisted of olive-green fatigues with black trim — a stand-up collar, zip front, and a plain black belt with no markings. Cargo pockets ran down each thigh, paired with knee pads and fingerless gloves, finished off with heavy lace-up boots. A plain black paw mark was stitched over the heart, the same mark repeated across the back. Gold trim, and especially the golden paw, they were told, had to be earned.

Then came the beds. The teal blanket covered the mattress and needed perfectly mitred corners of exactly 45 degrees. The grey blankets and sheets would be folded into a cube-like bundle or bedroll. Once completed, the roll would alternate with a blanket, sheet, blanket, sheet, blanket, with the fourth blanket tightly wrapped in a band right around the outside to hold the roll in place, leaving the striped layers of blankets and sheets visible. The pillow would be placed on top with the open end of the pillow case pointing away from the door.

After a few false starts, which involved sub-standard attempts being unceremoniously pulled apart to be remade, they were finally able to produce a bedroll to Krieger’s satisfaction.

Following the bedroll making came their first drill session, out on the flight apron.  The Houndswifts they had seen when they first arrived were nowhere in sight. There was instruction on how to stand at attention, how to stand at ease, and march — and then halt; all not without one or two hilarious pile-ups.  Which would have been hilarious if it were not for the numerous sets of twenty push-ups awarded for each mistake.

Around and around the flight apron they marched, and despite the early autumn chill, the Humans were all soon steaming with beads of sweat and the Hundel panting like steam engines. Krieger continued to bark his orders and instructions, getting them to practice over and over, until they got it right.

A loud — bing-bong — sounded. It came from the tallest tower and could be heard right throughout the campus.  Lunch. 12:00 to 12:30—exactly thirty minutes. Everything on a schedule and an allocated time to do it.

The food was good, hot, and plentiful, and they were all surprised at how hungry they had become following their morning of drill and marching.

Following lunch, came their first classes. Hundeerde military history and rank structure.  When and how to salute an officer. Coming to attention when an officer or NCO entered the room. Rules and regulations. Lots of rules. The afternoon soon passed, and they finally had a few minutes of precious free time back in their dormitory before the dinner bell rang. Dinner. 18:00 to 18:30—exactly thirty minutes.

Just as dinner was about to end, Flight Sergeant Krieger came up to the table where the C-Wing cadets were sitting.

A few at the table raised their hands and paws.

Between 19:00 and 20:00 there were evening lectures, introductory classes on planetary and solar system geography and stellar navigation. Eventually the cadets found themselves back in their dormitory for an hour. While they could technically relax, the reality was that the time was spent checking their uniform over for the next day, polishing their boots till they shone, and generally reflecting on their first day.

SWACK!

At precisely 21:00, Flight Sergeant Krieger arrived in their dormitory to march them to the shower block. Raven saw Krieger first and alerted the others.

Everyone immediately stopped whatever they were doing and came to attention.

The ten cadets from the C-Wing dormitory quickly formed up with everything they would need for their showers. In reality, the showers were only 50 metres down a long corridor, but as they were fast learning, at the Academy, they marched everywhere.

Once they reached the shower block, Krieger left them with one instruction.

In reality, this now meant that they really only had 20 minutes for everyone to get through the showers and be ready for the march back to their dormitory. No one wanted to waste any time, and everyone was soon peeling off their uniforms and removing their boots ready to hit the showers. Except for one. One of the cadets was still just standing there with his towel and shower gear under his arm.

Raven had already peeled most of his uniform off and was down to just his boxers.

By this time most of the cadets were already stripped and heading to the row of showerheads, hot water already streaming.

At this point, Hans, who was already naked, decided to stage an intervention of reason and logic.

This argument made sense to Scott even if he didn’t like it. He just shrugged and started taking his uniform off.

Then as if by some chronological miracle, all ten of the C-Wing cadets were showered, dressed in clean boxers and T-shirts, and formed up ready to march back to their dormitory at exactly 21:29. By lights out at 22:00, when the bell rang for the last time that day, the cadets of C-Wing were more than ready to put their heads on their pillows and fall asleep after a very full first day at the Academy.