Chapter Three: The Admission Order from the Stars

Six hours later, on the surface of Helios-9, Kellan Royce stood at the edge of the academy training field with a face darker than the sky after a dust storm. His father, the Academy Committee, several officers, and a line of cadets were present. At the center of the field rested a shuttle bearing the silver mark of the Ninth Frontier Fleet. Leon descended the ramp. He wore a temporary Federation cadet uniform. It did not fit well, the sleeves slightly long, but the restored cadet pilot badge shone on his chest. Kellan stared as if he wanted to burn through it. "You got lucky," he said under his breath. "Finding a monster mech does not make you a pilot." Leon took the miner's meal voucher from his pocket.