Life On This Planet

Chapter 6

To my astonishment and the amazement of others, I get my security clearance for PDS in a fortnight. So do Coral One, Azure, Coco and Dace. Three people failed the assessments. A girl called Ocean (not Golden Ocean), Coral Three (the bossy one) and a boy whose name I don't remember. They were gone after breakfast, and now there are nine of us left for the rest of PDS training. Unfortunately, Ray gets his clearance and is staying on. He attaches himself to me as we head in for our first briefing with the team leaders.

'Listen, Zee, how about we grab lunch together? I notice you could use some help with your hacking and driving skills. I mean I did get the highest score after all.' Ray boasts, taking my arm to direct to me.

Even though what he says is true and I definitely need the help, I shake off his hand. 'I'm meeting Coral and Coco later.' I rush ahead to secure a chair in the meeting room.

'Congratulations,' says Atlas, addressing the entire group once everyone is seated. To my annoyance, Ray sits next to me.

'You have all received yellow rank security clearance. At the end of the year, if you choose to remain with P.D.S, you will be given green rank in three years.' She tells the group. Everyone is excited about that, and I know there are four clearance ranks. The one after green is red and the highest rank is black.

Team leaders are green, section leaders are red, and directors are black. Within each rank are several sub-sections based on performance and experience. As the ranks increase, we are allowed more access to restricted information. Things that no one else on the planet knows. I'm pretty excited.

Cole takes over the briefing from Atlas.

'Congratulations to you all; I look forward to getting to know you better.' He gives Ocean a big smile, which she returns. I notice Atlas frowning at him.

'For the next three months, you will be given access to some of our records. You will learn about the Great Planetary War, The Deserters and The Banished. This planet's three greatest security threats.' He pauses for a second to acknowledge an older man who walks into the room and then continues, 'You will have a one-hour briefing with Section Leader Lang. He will then hand out your first assignments.'

I have my communicator set to take detailed notes as he speaks, not wanting to miss any specifics. I see a few others do the same. Everyone here wants to make a good impression. I knew it would be competitive. I just hope everyone plays fair.

Cole goes on, 'These are not field assignments. I know many of you are keen to get into the field, but for the next six months, you must first learn your history. Atlas will be in charge of history. Every alternate day will be physical training with me.' He grins menacingly.

I groan silently. Physical training with Cole. Oh no. Another I will probably be terrible at.

Atlas and Cole leave the dais, and the stern-looking older man who came in earlier replaces them. The older man who is introduced as Section Leader Lang glances around at the recruits and very subtly acknowledges Dace. I wonder if they know each other. A holographic movie begins to play, and the section leader narrates as it goes along. I already know some of this from school, but some are new.

'The Great Planetary War officially began in the year 2032, but events leading up to it started as early as 2016. The entire war lasted twenty years. Two human factions with opposing political and economic beliefs battled for supremacy. During the war, the weapons that were developed by each faction wiped out thirty per cent of the global population. In early 2052, two spaceships left Earth for an exoplanet called Proxima Centauri C. The Endurance and The Explorer. Two billion people boarded the ships, largely the wealthy and powerful, known as celebrities.'