be the best. You'll be Officers of The Imperial
Fleet, Ship's Command Deck Officers of the greatest unity that ever
existed.
59 But don't get too confident! Three years ago, out of the
five-hundred that started in that class, only one-hundred-and-thirty
graduated. That's not a record, but it was the worst class I ever had,
and I don't want a repeat! If you flunk out, the first year, you're
done with the Service. If you don't make it the second year, you'll
probably
be transferred to Ground Academy and be done with Fleet, except as a
passenger. If you don't make it in the third year, you'll probably end
up as a low-ranking Engineer or Technician. If you get to the fourth,
you could make it as a Navigator or Beamer.
60 But if you graduate, it's the greatest prize of all! The top get
Command positions, the next ten, Second Officer's positions, the next
twenty, Third Officers, the rest, whatever positions on the Command
Deck they best fill, but with top position on the promotion list. so
you've got a lot to work for, and a lot to lose.
61 You Cadet Officers have an extra load. It is your job to inspect
your men each morning and see that they are ready for class, to get
them to their appointed stations on time. They'll come to you first
with their problems and if you can't handle them, call me. But I'll
want to know why you can't. You were chosen as Cadet Officers because
your grades warranted it, and you have already shown leadership
abilities. Now, enough of my jabbering! Coms!" the Commandant cried.
62 From the opposite corner of the stage from where the Commandant had
entered a small robot cart loaded with black pocket coms made its way
across the stage. Two more followed it. They stopped beside the
Commandant. He reached out and picked up the first com.
63 "You will shortly," continued the Commandant, "take The Fleet Oath
and be issued your battle coms. Whenever you