At a military camp in the area formerly known as western Germany…
Kelly Lagerty, Kyam Berlin, and 48 other military academy cadets and recent graduates were sitting in a similar classroom with another instructor. The other 150 military academy cadets and grads were stationed in 3 other bases along the demilitarized zone that lay between the Alliance and the Hegemony. Having learned the truth of the Alterra Project well ahead of everyone else, the military academy was ahead of everyone else in terms of getting ready for the war. Matchmaking? To them it was a drill not a game. They would be the first line of defense and the first to attack as soon as the Eurasian Treaty expired in a little over a month.
"Hey, how're you holding up?" Kyam asked turning to Kelly.
"…Fine. I will be ready September 1st if that is what you are worried about. You?" Kelly replied.
"Nervous, excited, scared, and kinda hungry honestly." Kyam replied honestly.
Kelly laughed slightly "Yes, I thought I wouldn't miss having to eat, but sometimes it is the simple things in life that we enjoy the most and fight for."
"You mean you're fighting for food?!?" Kyam replied jokingly with a grin.
"Go play on some railroad tracks…" Kelly rolled her eyes at Kyam. "I'm here so others don't have to be…"
Kyam noticed her looking off into the distance as she said this and thought to himself "Who are you thinking about I wonder…"
__________
"Ugghhh… I don't wanna fight a war!" complained a beautiful woman wearing a long white gown and a tiara made of emeralds whom appeared to be of Asian descent.
"Milady, you don't have to fight, leave that to your soldiers, you only need to lead them" a middle-aged woman kindly reminded the girl in the white gown. She appeared to be an advisor of sorts for the younger woman.
"I know, but let's just go have fun instead! I hear Miss Maven is coming around this way!" the woman jumped around excitedly while playing air guitar to some song in her head.
"Fun or not, things will change in the next month." The middle-aged advisor mumbled to herself.