UNSC New Recruits

Chapter 3

It's only been fifteen minutes and my legs were already feeling dead. I sighed and pulled my legs to my chest. Resting my chin on my knees, I listened to the teachers announcing their announcements and wondering why we had to sit through two hours' worth of announcements when most of them weren't relevant for another couple of terms.

Without warning, I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the sound of the Year 7s standing up and shuffling off somewhere. Yay. Year assemblies. I sarcastically thought. As the other two Year groups started to go to their assigned Year assembly areas, us Year 10s stayed where we were, whispering amongst ourselves. But then we were silenced by one of our Year advisors.

"We are very privileged to have in our midst some navy marines. They are going to be observing everyone and taking over a few classes this year for you, Year 10," the Year advisor declared proudly.

I suddenly snap my eyes to the front, straight away noticing something wrong. By this time, all of Year 10 were silent and looking at the front, our gazes fixed on the few armed and uniformed military men standing at the front. The Year advisor went on:

"They'll be training you and assessing you to see whether you're qualified to be recruited. If you are, then you'll have to go to their special navy academy and train and learn even more to be full-fledged marines."

As quickly as the silence fell, angry and disbelieved murmurs started to ripple around like a leaf causing ripples in a pond. The teachers tried to quieten us down, but the muttering continued. The marines stepped in to help, but no one seemed to want to stop murmuring. This is obviously surprising the teachers. I thought, watching the teachers instead of the marines.

We're not normally like this....well....we usually quieten down when asked to at assemblies....but we're obviously not going to stop talking about it. Already, there's a rumour going around Year 10: We're going to have a boot camp at school. Typical. I'll bet they're not planning on it. But if we keep saying it, they'll plan it.

An unfamiliar and gruff voice shouted up from the front "Keep murmuring and I'll have you do ten full laps of the soccer oval!"

Everyone quietened down and looked at him. Even the teachers were quiet. The man who yelled looked to the Year advisor, indicating that she could continue.

"The captain and the sergeant have already read your reports and your profiles and already have some people in mind. Those people are going to have marines watching their daily routine until they have chosen the new recruits."