a com. "Cadet Officer Morning Star," he said,
"report for duty!"
67 Morn pressed the com's activation button and spoke. "Cadet Officer
Morning Star, reporting for duty, Academy Station."
68 The Commandant nodded and Morn returned to his seat. The Commandant
handed North a com. "Cadet Officer Northern Star," he snapped, "report
for duty."
69 Pressing the button North said the words he had been waiting so long
to speak, and with the Commandant's nod, returned to his seat.
70 When all the coms were passed out, and the Cadets seated, the
Commandant again spoke to the class. "Welcome to Academy, gentlemen! "
he told them. "I understand your two leading Cadet Officers are damned
good ball players! Ground Academy has taken the trophy two years
running. I want it back, gentlemen! You can consider that an order, if
you like! You'll be eligible for the sports program the first three
years you're here. You'll be too busy for the last two! So for the next
three years I WANT that trophy!"
71 "Yes, sir!" Morn and North repeated in unison.
72 "There are, gentlemen," the Commandant went on, "certain pieces of
information in your coms that are temporary. One is the blueprints to
Academy. Two, is the list of Instructors and their rank. In six months
this information will automatically erase, and if you don't know it,
you'll flunk. I'll also mention it can't be copied. Any attempt to do
so will mean automatic dismissal. Academy Officers, dismissed! Cadet
Officers, ATTENTION!"
73 Morn and North and their fellow Cadet Officers came to their feet.
"Sir!" they cried.
74 "Get your men up, gentlemen!" ordered the Commandant.
75 "Cadets, ATTENTION!" they cried.
76 "You have textbooks and equipment to pick up, gentlemen. I suggest
you go to it! You will report to orientation classes tomorrow morning."