"We're now live on the Kostroman assembly as Republican representatives hold council with the Kostroman delegates on changing the nature of the Reciprocity Agreement, due to ongoing pressure by the Alliance of Free Stars. Elector Vindicare, unhappy with recent trade negotiations now seeks to further the reach of Kostroman influence. Granting immu-" 

Lieutenant Kaiden turned off the frequency, the radio onboard the RCS Grandwing Corvette so old it still gave a whine as it was shut off. Briskly he spun to present to his subordinates, two dozen men and women under his direct command, though only one of the three groups that had arrived on the ship to Herculaneum to integrate into Commodore Welkins squadron of ships. Under the command of Captain Harkin, Kaiden had been given free rein in how best to keep his cadets, ensigns, and spacers prepared. 

The day began at 0500 where they performed light exercises led by Kaiden himself, before a hearty breakfast which was followed after by gun drills until noontime and lunch, where the platoon broke to eat for one hour, and for the next two hours they would do station runs and recite every damned emergency in the book to be crisp and ready at the sign of any trouble. At 1500 they were allowed their leave until they were directly called to be given any task that came up. That is until 1900 where they were given briefings on the Commodore's directives in case anything had changed within the past fourteen hours. 

Just now it was lunchtime, and the Lieutenant had thought it best to let his subordinates listen to what exactly was occuring elsewhere in the galaxy. He didn't think anything ill would occur in his lifetime, but he'd be damned if he didn't drill them to perfection. It's what had been hammered into him and he would pass on that discipline to others. "As you can see, tensions are escalating." He exaggerated, strikingly dark blue eyes hard and set, traveling from soldier to soldier. "The only way to be prepared is to prepare. I fully expect tomorrow's drills to be a farcry from the bullshit I saw earlier. [i]Is[/i] that clear?" 

"Sir!" They said in unison. 

"At any moment we can be called to action. Do not-" 

Midshipman Otis approached him, holding up a communication for him. The dark haired Junior officer snapped to him, eyes blazing before he snapped the device out of the man's hands. Placing it to his ear, he blanched when he heard Captain Harkin's voice on the other end. Kaiden's visage stiffened, and then his eyes glazed over as the information that he and a handful of his cadets were being transferred to the RCS Viscount, another Corvette he had ironically done his ensignment on. 

"You're not serious." Kaiden said, before he realized who he was speaking to. Somehow he never did quite get over talking down to others or forgetting his protocol when around superior officers. "Erm, sir. You're not serious, sir? Yes...yes sir. No sir, my apologies. Yes, of course. Yes...as you will. Thank you." He shoved the device back into the midshipman's hands with a look of distaste, turning to his portion of the crew who seemed both confused and amused at his sudden lack of composure. 

"Ah, you lot seem to think something is funny? Very well then. Higgs, Randals, Enrique, Bushman, and Harwen, you're coming with me." He said, and then men and women blinked. Kaiden brushed a hand through his stark black hair, tied behind his neck in a tail, a fashion used by most up and coming young officers. "We'll see how amused you are at being transferred. The rest of you, take lunch. You'll report to Captain Harkin directly until you get yourselves a new Liuetenant."  

The trip to the Viscount was only an hour, as all the Corvettes had been docked on outlying islands in close proximity to one another. Unfortunately, it meant skipping lunch which made him even more irittable than usual. A part of him thought of that, but the greater part of him was dreading the dreadful meeting with Sabatine Hickoring. 
[@Penny]