Meals became silent and reserved affairs. Everyone ate with a book held before his or her nose. If any students ventured to
strike up a conversation, the rest of the table quickly and violently shushed them. In short, they made themselves miserable.

“Sometimes I think this is as bad as the Speer Massacre,” Kitay said cheerfully. “And then I think—nah. Nothing is as bad
as the casual genocide of an entire race! But this [studying] is pretty bad.”

“Kitay, please shut up.”

---
“I wonder what a Federation soldier looks like,” Kitay said as they descended the mountain to pick up sharpened weapons from
the armory.

“They have arms and legs, I’m guessing. Maybe even a head.”

---

“It’s sort of exciting, really,” Kitay said.

“Yes,” said Rin. “We’re about to be invaded by our centuries-old enemy after they breached a peace treaty that has maintained
a fragile geopolitical stability for two decades. So very exciting.”

“At least now we know we have job security,” said Kitay. “Everyone wants more soldiers.”

“Could you be a little less glib about this?”

“Could you be less depressing?”

“Could we move a bit faster?” asked the magistrate.