A wave of energy washed over the vehicle, an APC Charon was informed by Morris.
"That's the scan. The HQ has a Rank 6 Mind Mage, scary bastard. He helps keep everything orderly, but also scans everyone who enters or exits the base. I'd like to see the elves try and get a spy in here."
A few snickers broke out, but nothing more, professionalism taking charge during their arrival at the base.
'A rank 6 mage? How many ranks are there? I know I'm rank 1, a Novice. The way he described it, 6 is probably pretty powerful.'
He wasn't very knowledgeable on any rank system, just assuming there were weak and strong mages. The System, however, did find it important enough to mention in his status, so it was probably a good idea to research it a bit more.
'I never knew my lack of education would be this bad. I feel like I know nothing about magic!'
The APC began to slope up, the rough terrain changing to a smooth ramp. Muted voices shouted just outside the metal walls, orders being conveyed.
The man who had barked at him to get into the APC leaned back from the cockpit, yelling at every else.
"Alright boys, welcome home! Now get your asses moving! We have to be set up by twilight, so get to it! Lieutenant, go talk to the general before he dies of old age!"
The men closest to the door launched from their seats, exiting the vehicle in record time, followed by the next row, and so on, until Charon was the last one still inside, eventually making his way outside.
The driver stayed, flooring it the second Charon left, squealing away to allow the next APC to offload more troops.
Looking around, he found himself in a wide-open hanger. Dozens of different vehicles drove around, avoiding even more parked ones. Soldiers marched in formation, following the orders of a drill instructor or the blaring of the intercom.
A booming voice came from right behind him.
"Once you're finished ogling the beauty of the armed forces, get your ass out of here, lieutenant! You have better things to do than be an overpaid ornament!"
Charon turned with a frown.
'Aren't I supposed to be an officer? Soldiers aren't allowed to talk to officers like that!'
Preparing to chew the man out, he caught Moriss' gaze. It was full of warning, the kind that was intended to teach, not offend.
Charon's retort died on his tongue, realizing the other men would know better if this was the time to assert rank or not.
'If it keeps up I'm going to say something, consequences be damned! I'm not here to get insulted at every opportunity.'
Turning to Jameson, he hoped that he would be the most likely candidate to give him directions without messing with him.
"Where can I find the general?"
The platoon medic gave him a flat look, sighing as he spoke.
"Go through that doorway and up the first staircase you find. The general's office is at the very top. Look for the golden plaque that says 'General Mongrave'. Make sure to knock before you enter, and try your best to be respectful."
Charon thanked him, appreciating the added words of caution before leaving the unit to deliver his letter.
'If every soldier was like Jameson, this thing would be a breeze.'
Sadly, he had already seen how that wasn't the case. The other men seemed to enjoy their pranks a little too much.
Angling for the door Jameson had pointed out, he staggered back as another APC rolled past without slowing even a fraction, coming within a foot of hitting him.
'Gods! Does the military not teach these people how to drive?'
His question was answered when a smaller vehicle, about the size of a truck, zoomed behind him, also narrowly avoiding a collision.
Realizing the danger he was in by staying in the hangar, he began to run, streaking across the metal floor. A few soldiers gave him odd looks, his clothes denoting him as a civilian. A few even made attempts to call out to him, but Charon ignored them, more focused on surviving his first day than building rapport with the infantry.
Reaching the door, he threw it open and rushed in, slamming it behind him. Panting, he combed his sweat-soaked hair back, wiping the residue off onto his pants.
'I'll be getting a uniform anyway. Who cares if my pants get dirty?'
Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hallway until he saw a sign with a depiction of steps on it, going through another doorway before finding a talls staircase that terminated on a landing, before switching back the other way.
'Great, stairs. The universal requirement to reach a destination.'
Biting back a curse, he began to ascend them rapidly, going up multiple flights before he started to slow down, his energy waning.
'Just how tall is this place?'
He got his answer in the form of another dozen flights, his suffering only ending when he turned a corner to see a metal wall rather than more torture devices.
Raising an exhausted fist in triumph, he exited the stairway, finding himself in another hallway with a long line of offices. Walking down them, he stopped in front of the final office, that held the plaque he was looking for.
'General Mongrave? That name seems a bit familiar.'
Lifting his hand to knock, he looked down at his raggedy appearance and tucked his shirt in first, doing his best to look as presentable as possible.
Feeling somewhat satisfied with his effort, he completed the action, rapping a few times before waiting, standing ramrod straight with his hands at the side.
A deep voice called to him from the other side.
"Enter."
Opening the door with trepidation, Charon found himself in a large square office space. The side he was on had a few chairs, while the opposite end held a tall oak cabinet space with a desk in front of it.
The man sitting at it was old, most of his hair having fallen out, leaving only a few gray whisps. His mustache was immaculately kept, extending just to the edge of his lips. It was silver, just like the uniform he wore.
A massive array of medals was pinned over a sleek coat, covering at least half his right breast.
Charon recognized the man immediately, and the name finally clicked.
'This guy… I know him! He was on the holovids, Captain Erik "The Hammer" Mongrave! He must've been promoted to general after everything he did!'
Although it had been a few years, he remembered seeing the films broadcasted about "The Hammer". He had managed to successfully repel a dwarvish invasion of Pluto, single-handedly terraforming the planet's surface to destroy the advanced technical machines the dwarves deployed.
'I'm seeing a legend in person!'
His excitement must have leaked out on his face, as the general looked up from the report he was reading and frowned.
"I see I have another fan."
The general extended his hand, laying it out flat.
"I presume you have something for me?"
Snapping out of his wonder, Charon fumbled with his pants until he managed to withdraw the black letter from his pocket, handing it over to the general with starry eyes.
'I can't believe I'm meeting this guy! He had every kid I know praying to the God of Earth to bless them so they could grow up to be him!'
General Mongrave wordlessly took the envelope and peered at the seal, showing no reaction to it remaining sealed. He then popped it open with one hand and retrieved the contents, which was a single folded piece of paper.
His eyes darted left and right, his frown deepening as he read, before unceremoniously tossing it to the side. He folded his hands into a fist and rested his chin on them, leaning forward to look Charon in the eye.
"So, the God of Death decided that you deserved his attention, huh?"
Unsure how to respond, he opted for the basics.
"Yes, sir."
That caused the man to chuckle, the sound harsh and grating.
"At least you know how to say that, even if it's the only military experience you have. Usually, when I get a letter like this, it's for some priest or politician's kid to be given special favors as he gets thrown at the top of the stack, circumventing years of military training."
The general gestured with his elbow to the discarded letter.
"Your commission letter, conversely, recommended that I put you in a spot that'll give you a difficult stay here. I'd normally believe that was code for something more difficult than the usual slop they send, but then I saw the platoon you got."
He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, causing his collection of medals to clink together.
"So, tell me, soldier, who did you piss off to be assigned to the Zeros?"