Scales of Fate [CANCELLED]

Part I - Chapter III

The Second Cadet Group of First Year Dormitory Number Two was led to a large building towards the center of the campus. It was four stories high, all the windows had bars, the front door was metal, and a dozen grey clad Guardsmen patrolled the perimeter. Flying from a wall mount near the door was the flag that flew next to the Commonwealth flag at Hampden's statue, which bore the white lion in the center.

"Now that you all have seen the academy's mathematics building, I am now going to show you all the academy armory!" Cadet Seward said as he pointed at the building. "Now, before we go inside, there are several rules you must follow! First, after today, the only Cadets that are allowed inside are those specializing in Field Command and those partaking in War Gaming! Second, and this is important, if you are partaking in the activities I mentioned, do not take anything from this armory without supervision and that applies with equal urgency to those who are not!" The American pointed to the flag near the door. "Those of you with functioning eyesight, which I assume is a majority of you, have most likely noticed this flag around campus! Those of you who are unaware, this is the flag of the Protectorate, the source of Britannia's power! This whole campus is owned by the Protectorate! So, if any cadet is caught with stolen items from this armory, that cadet will not only be kicked out of the academy, that cadet will be tried and punished by a military tribunal!" He looked around the group. "This has only happened once, back when I became a cadet here! The whole campus was locked shut, every cadet was searched, and even the village was shut down! All because one cadet thought it would be funny to steal a rifle and box of ammunition! And this was when the War was still going on, so he was lucky to have spent a couple of years on the Isle of Mann rather than facing a firing squad!" He looked around at the cadets, who were quieter than earlier. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" The cadets shouted.

"Good." Seward said. He then smiled. "Now that I put the fear of God into you, how about I show you some weapons?"

As several of the cadets let out a quiet chuckle at the quick change of tone, Seward spoke to one of the guardsmen at the door. After exchanging a salute, the guardsman produced a key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. After a moment, a bell began to ring in a quick burst, causing Molly and Sarah to jump, which then quickly came to an end when the guardsman turned the key, allowing the door to open inward. Seward led the Cadets into the building. The large room was filled with desks along with the sound of typewriters clicking. Many of the people in this room were dressed in the same Observer uniform as her father. Unfortunately, Molly didn't recognize any of them. She moved that thought to the back of her mind as Seward spoke to another guardsman who unlocked another door. This door took the group down a small flight of stairs, which led down into a large, cold room. The room was filled with shelves of boxes that contained the largest arrangement of weapons and ammunition the group of cadets had ever seen. Seward led them down one aisle of shelves and to a table with various weapons on it where a man waited. This man was dressed in light brown army uniform and had short black hair, a mustache and chin beard to match, and a pair of dark brown eyes that looked to be the definite article of mental exhaustion.

"Cadets, I welcome you to the armory." Seward said. His voice was lowered but loud enough for everyone to hear. He then smiled at the soldier next to him. "This gentleman here is Arms Master Zachariah Harrington. He will explain the various weapons that you will see around campus and if you are taking any classes and activities that involve them. Arms Master, I'll let you take the floor."

"Thank you, cadet." Harrington said. He spoke in an accent that placed his origins in either America or Britannian Canada. "Like the cadet said, I'll be showing you all the weapons that you will see while you're here at the academy." He cleared his throat, which caused him to unintentionally cough. "Now, before I actually show you the weapons, how many of you have actually used a gun before?" Nineteen of the cadets, including Molly and, to her own surprise, Sarah, raised their hands. "Alright, good start." He looked around the crowd of cadets. "You, cadet with the pin stripes, what's your name and what sort of weapons have you used?"