"Good morning to all the students, I hope you have rested well…"
Just as Alex and the others entered the assembly hall, they heard the director of the institute start the talk. It was a standard speech, where he encouraged everyone to study hard and become the pillars of the confederation.
"...Ahem, well, with that said, I leave you with the new team of instructors in charge of the next four months of teaching, so that you can compete for a position in the lunar academy."
Alex was surprised. He remembered that the director of the space agency had mentioned a team would go to build the lunar base in two months, so sending students to the moon just two months later seemed too hasty.
"Hello everyone, students. My name is Elizabeth García, currently with the rank of captain. I am accompanied by Lieutenant Leonardo Abatino and Lieutenant Alexander Nicolau, along with Sergeants Ramírez, Wang, Petrov, and Volkov."
While Alex was deep in thought, a woman with a slender figure stepped onto the podium and began to introduce herself and the soldiers with her. Alex was surprised—not by the woman's beauty, but by the ranks in the army. The dark-haired woman was a captain, and the two men behind her were lieutenants. He began to have a strange feeling that something was wrong.
"First of all, thank the director and the teachers for their hospitality. With that said, I inform you that starting tomorrow, the selected students will be part of the instruction program and will have to move to the area designated for their training and education over the next four months."
Everyone, including Alex, was surprised. They thought there would be a test before selecting students, but it seemed the students had already been chosen in advance.
"T-This, Miss Elizabeth…"
"Captain García, Mr. Director. I am currently on an official mission, given by the General of the Northern Western Hemisphere."
Director Ohanyan's eyes widened. He knew more than the confused professors around him. Currently, only eight people held the power on Earth, just below the parliament. One of these men, the General of the Northern Western Hemisphere, had given an order.
"Ahem, my apologies, Captain García. But...isn't it too hasty to choose students without first examining them?"
Director Ohanyan was sweating bullets. He knew this woman could ruin his career with just a few words, but he couldn't afford to fail either. He had superiors who demanded performance from him.
"Mmm…of course, you are right, Mr. Director. But we are only interested in the students who are at the top of the list. We will be responsible for examining them."
With a sharp look, Captain García made it clear there was no room for negotiation. With a sigh of helplessness, the director nodded and took a step back. He looked at all the students, who were completely stupefied, and prayed that at least one of them could pass the tests.
"Hey...hey Alex, aren't you the one at the top of your class?"
Ivan, with a surprised look, asked Alex.
"Ivan…aren't you the first in yours?"
There was silence when Cindy reminded Ivan of his academic position, and they turned their gaze to the captain and her group, who were preparing a list from what the director had just given them.