NationStates

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Morning dawned slowly over the mythic mountain fortress-city of Sevan with its floating bridges and delicately suspended city districts. Above the hush of waking streets and the perfumed airs of the gardens and the great river itself sounded the call to prayer, interwoven with the soft tolling of Orthodox church bells. It was a time of quiet beginnings, of a new day. Things were calm and still even at the impressive halls of the Rrazmakan Akademia near the heart of the city, through the arch bearing the university motto "Honor virutis preamium"—"Honor is the reward of virtue".

At least, quiet for about a minute.

"Mina, let it go! Take the hand offered. You know it was not meant," a male student said, grabbing his fellow by the shoulder. The Arusai girl's gray eyes were narrowed, her fingers touching blood from her lip. Looking at her was the nervous figure of another young woman, darker skinned like the average Nalayan, her hand outstretched.

"I am sorry, I did not—"

The Arusai slapped away the hand and spit blood onto the stones. "I will not forget this, k'ats!" she hissed, shoulders squared for a fight.

"The catfight is over, ladies," a voice barked sharply. Dressed in a black uniform, the grim figure of Khajag Vratsyan advanced on the scene. "Petrosian, get that lip cleaned up! You're supposed to be handling new arrivals! Do I have to do everything myself?"

"On it, Himnakan," Mina said, heels clicking together as if on reflex. She dabbed at her lip again with murder in her eyes. Later, when she was free of duties, there would be a settling of scores.

If Sevan was calm, it was only because of the Akademia. The unified front Nalaya presented to the world was a thin veneer of civility layered over fierce loyalties, tribal mind sets, rigid honor codes, ethnic and religious tension, and old grudges. Anahid Vaneni had worked a miracle in creating Nalaya, in blending cultures together and forging a nation unified despite its fractured past. But the work was far from finished, a delicate balance maintained only with difficulty. And yet, a spirit of optimism prevailed here: the old rivalries slowly faded into irrelevance as students worked together and struggled to excel, slowly replaced by military camaraderie and mutual respect.

Khajag frowned. "I expect better from you, Petrosian," he boomed. "It won't happen again while you have duties, will it?"

"No, Himnakan," she said stonily, looking straight at the beautifully groomed grounds of the Academy, resembling perfectly maintained forest more than a neat lawn, albeit one with stone paths meandering pleasantly through it. The Akademia itself was built into the side of the mountain, a smooth stone front decorated with delicate arches and carefully trimmed climbing vines.

This was what their new foreign students would see at the gates, their introduction to the Nalayan world.

Nursultan had walked far from the spot where the Qyryq transport car had dropped him off. He walked quickly, not feeling the slope of the mountain due to his adrenaline. He was very excited for this. He approached the school and stopped at the large arch that led to the great halls of the University. They said "Honor virutis preamium", a phrase in a language that he didn't recognise. Seeing the arch made him exceptionally thrilled.

Nursultan walked through the arches, but instantly became nervous. In an instant, his excitement was blocked. He hadn't learned of what to do upon arrival at the school. He wasn't even sure where he was to go. He just placed his suitcase and his instrument case on the ground and sat.

Alexander de Luna stood at the gate to the Akademia, taking in the majesty of the Nalayan college's architecture. It was declicate, fragile even, yet it was ruggedly carved into the mountain. Spectacular. Majestic. And nothing like his homeland, Carceno. The mere thought of his homeland brought doubts. "Why was I chosen to come here? Should I be so far from home?" He recalled his nation's motto; "The world offers much." He wondered what Nalaya would have to offer him.

He shivered from the mountain cold, shoving his hands into the pockets of his longcoat. Looking around, he saw several Nalayan soldiers. He had several friends in the Carcenoan military, but they seemed more...laid back then these black-clothed soldiers.

Alexander noticed another student walk past him, carrying a music case along with his other items. Having nothing else to do but wait for instructions, he picked up his suitcase and followed the man inside.

Mirabelle Karlsson had been in Nalaya for less than a handful of hours, but was already surprised at how close and yet how different Nalayan culture was to her own, yet she had only saw people kissing eachother on the cheeks and holding hands, even two men. As she walked up to the gates of her new, but temporary home, she looked around and took in the scenery, the arches, the grass, and the fact that it was built into the side of a mountain.

She was wearing her Imperial Riemaian Army service dress uniform, which also doubled as mess dress and regular clothing if she took off the overcoat. The uniform itself was mostly blue, but with red cuffs on the coat and a red tartan skirt, and also including an orange scarf she always wore around her mouth and neck, even in the heat of the summer. On her back was an overfilled bag with literally all of her possessions inside, which was mostly clothing, but also included some books, a laptop, and her handgun which she kept in a locked Riemaian ammunition box.

"I can't believe i'm actually here, about to go to a school in a nation where everyone has to join the military instead of volunteering!" She had thought to herself as she started her way into the main gate, but as she entered her eyes widened to the sight of people shouting and hitting eachother. "I read about duels and honor, but I never thought I would see something like that in the first few hours!" She quietly said to herself as she continued to slowly walk and take in the first impressions.

Carceno wrote:Alexander de Luna stood at the gate to the Akademia, taking in the majesty of the Nalayan college's architecture. It was declicate, fragile even, yet it was ruggedly carved into the mountain. Spectacular. Majestic. And nothing like his homeland, Carceno. The mere thought of his homeland brought doubts. "Why was I chosen to come here? Should I be so far from home?" He recalled his nation's motto; "The world offers much." He wondered what Nalaya would have to offer him.

He shivered from the mountain cold, shoving his hands into the pockets of his longcoat. Looking around, he saw several Nalayan soldiers. He had several friends in the Carcenoan military, but they seemed more...laid back then these black-clothed soldiers.

Alexander noticed another student walk past him, carrying a music case along with his other items. Having nothing else to do but wait for instructions, he picked up his suitcase and followed the man inside.

Nursultan noticed a man following him. He took the opportunity to be social. He approached the man, "Hello! I am Nursultan. I come from Qyryqstan, and I am to study here. How do you do?"

Mina stepped forward when she saw the few foreign students, clearing her mind quickly of the unpleasantness earlier. That could wait until she was released from her charge. "You must be our newcomers," she said, offering them a small smile. She had the stiffness of a Nalayan trying not to offend a foreigner: that would relax with time, as they were integrated into the Akademia. "I am Serzhant Mina Petrosian, your guide for this morning, at least until you get settled in and learn where your classes are." She was not unfriendly, a fair-skinned girl in the green fatigues of the Nalayan military with a white shirt underneath. Her eyes were pale compared to most in Nalaya (blue was a very rare color), but her hair was still dark.

Nalaya wrote:Mina stepped forward when she saw the few foreign students, clearing her mind quickly of the unpleasantness earlier. That could wait until she was released from her charge. "You must be our newcomers," she said, offering them a small smile. She had the stiffness of a Nalayan trying not to offend a foreigner: that would relax with time, as they were integrated into the Akademia. "I am Serzhant Mina Petrosian, your guide for this morning, at least until you get settled in and learn where your classes are." She was not unfriendly, a fair-skinned girl in the green fatigues of the Nalayan military with a white shirt underneath. Her eyes were pale compared to most in Nalaya (blue was a very rare color), but her hair was still dark.

Nursultan looked at the Nalayan with a strange sense of envy. Nursultan's cousins had all gone into the military, and the woman's military discipline made him crave the army. He stood very straight, trying to show that he is strong and formal, and said, "Thank you, I am very excited to come to this University.

Nalaya wrote:Mina stepped forward when she saw the few foreign students, clearing her mind quickly of the unpleasantness earlier. That could wait until she was released from her charge. "You must be our newcomers," she said, offering them a small smile. She had the stiffness of a Nalayan trying not to offend a foreigner: that would relax with time, as they were integrated into the Akademia. "I am Serzhant Mina Petrosian, your guide for this morning, at least until you get settled in and learn where your classes are." She was not unfriendly, a fair-skinned girl in the green fatigues of the Nalayan military with a white shirt underneath. Her eyes were pale compared to most in Nalaya (blue was a very rare color), but her hair was still dark.

Mirabelle looked Mina over, making sure she could see every detail possible before walking up to her as she gave a smile back, which couldn't be seen due to her scarf being wrapped around her neck and mouth. "Hello Sergeant, I am Löjtnant Mirabelle Karlsson, it is nice to make your acquaintance!" She happily said to her through her scarf. Mirabelle had the average Riemaian skin tone, which was quite pale and more accustomed to the very chilly climates of Riemaia. "Your eyes, they are quite beautiful, you have the first pair of blues I have seen since my arrival." She said in a friendly tone, in an attempt to make her first friend in Nalaya.

Tanjiro walked towards the impressive view of the Akademia, it's arch with it's motto practically gilded for the flocks of students to admire.

This was his first time in Nalaya, and so far it had seemed that everything he had heard about his neighbor in Xanadou was at least partially incorrect. There was a certain air about the entire place, a certain link of honor and structure which couldn't be replaced by anything else less genuine. Confident at this, Tanjiro noticed a formation of students gathering inside the gate. Walking ahead, he carefully straightened his school uniform (worn in schools in his home country) and walked over to a group, deciding nothing social was ever gained by being hesitant.

First giving a customary bow to the one who was obviously a Nalayan sergeant, Tanjiro followed suit with other nearby members. "It is an honor to meet you, Sergeant Petrosian. I am Tanjiro Nikko."

His Japanese accent was faint after years of practice, but a light accent remained in his speech, but not to very easily impede conversation. After all, one had to expect a certain degree of "communication" here at the beginning.

"Most say they are gray, but you are kind," Mina said, seeming to preen a little at the compliment —the Arusai could be best marked as apart from other Nalayans by their lighter eyes, so it was a source of great pride .She did have a streak of vanity to her nature, as evidenced by an immaculate appearance, but it was not quite to the level of vice.

The Nalayan smiled warmly at Nursultan. "Welcome to the Akademia. For the purposes of rooming and such, you have all been designated as a unit. You will share classes, schedules, and rooming arrangements. I will be your liaison officer, the equivalent to an RA. Hopefully everyone finds this agreeable?"

Mina had earned that responsibility. As difficult as she was to work with sometimes, when push came to shove she was an excellent soldier and a talented NCO. She'd served in the war against the Imperium as regular army, winning a place as a veteran in the Vanguard. Those two tours were how she had gotten the chance to apply here in Sevan, near her family.

She returned Tanjiro's bow politely when he joined them. "Paron Nikko, it is a pleasure to meet you. I was just explaining to the others how your lodgings are arranged. All of our foreign students will be together, to make things perhaps a bit less of a struggle. To have a unit is to have family and friends, even far from home. Or so the saying goes."

Ishmael Suico stood at the gate of the Akademia, taking notes of the Nalayan college's architecture and the statement on the arch which he presumed to be Latin. A civil engineer by discipline and a combat engineer by training, Suico admired the way the structure fit into the mountain.

Magnificent, he thought. Wearing a civilian suit that hid the fact he was a reserve officer in the CEV Army, Suico said a silent prayer.

Seeing several other foreigners converge over what appeared to be a Nalayan NCO who seemed to know the ins and outs of the Akademia, he decided to join them. With a certain degree of confidence, he introduced himself to the nearest foreigner in an attempt to befriend the person.

"Hello. My name is Ishmael Suico, civil engineer and reserve commissioned officer in the Central and Eastern Visayan Army."

Mirabelle continued to listen to Mina and what she had to say, but due to a training accident that involved a very close discharge of a rifle near her left ear, she had a slightly difficult time hearing what she had said. "Liaison officer, sounds häftigt!" She excitedly said to her, before turning around as she heard someone behind her.

"Nice to meet you Ishmael Suico, I am Mirabelle Karlsson of Riemaia, i'm a Lieutenant in the Imperial Riemaian Army and also a Platoon leader... or well I was, since I decided to use the money and leave I saved up to get a better education... and well here I am! A reserve officer, how udda, we don't have a reserve program in Riemaia, but we do have a National Guard which I would think would work just like a reserve. But civil engineering, I have a friend that is in a similar field, she is currently helping in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in some far off corner of the world... so what brings you here might I ask?"

Sevan, city of riddles, city of mysteries. City of exotic scents, of curious markets and hands ready to knives, of poetry and incense, of ancient glory and bloody feuds, of beautiful archways and the heady wine of her musical languages. Adah Weber arrived at the Academia riding her grey and black gelding with a hawk on her fist, wearing her full dress uniform. Had been riding since she was 8, and she sat on the saddle like a centaur. As she came cantering down the street she reined in and dismounted, giving a firm but loving command to Sonneteer, and glanced at the other students. A slim, light blonde haired young woman with dark blue eyes, wearing the full dress of the New Edomite cavalry, a cherry red uniform with silver-grey braid and black and blue trousers tucked into riding boots. she placed the hooded hawk carefully on the pommel of the saddle and walked forward to introduce herself. "Cornet Adah Weber, reporting to the Academia." she said in a pleasant voice.

"Oh but Eli what If I don't like it?" Tzipporah asked the High Priest who was sitting opposite her at the table in the palace. Tzipporah felt worried about going to a new school and meeting all new people.

"Believe me Princess I think you will do just fine at the new school, it was always in your character to do so, I believe you will excel beyond the le of intellectual level of most people," The High Priest said smiling at Tzipporah with his blue eyes glinting in the light of the room.

"Thank you Eli," Tzipporah ended by hugging the High Priest and heading out the room. Waiting for the princess as she walked downstairs were: her school bags and a opened car and a few slaves to accompany her. "Alright let's get this over with then," Tzipporah said getting into the car. Twelve while later she boarded a plane and was off to her new life in Nalaya.

About four hours after the plane took off she landed in Nalaya and headed straight for the school, she had already been here before and recognized some things about the city. When she arrived at the school she waited for some assistance with her many, many things.

Sam stepped out of the black car he had been riding in. He told the driver to leave him at the bottom of the hill so he could walk up, examine the building and the area around it. He knew he'd be seeing much more of it, but you could never replace seeing something for the first time. Especially not with the view this school provided. Sam grabbed his military bag from the trunk of the car and tapped the back glass three times to let the driver know he was fine, and to go back to wherever it is he was from.

Sam began walking up the hill with his bag slung over his shoulder, just as he had been taught to carry it. He didn't particularly know what the dress code for this institution was, and as such, he wore the only thing he had been wearing for 3 and a half years - his dress military uniform. The jacket was tan, the pants were tan with a thick brown stripe going down the side. He wore a black tie and white shirt, his belt buckle was also brown. His rank was listed as a full bird Field Marshal. An O-6 in the military. (OOC: Ranks of Aquitayne's military can be found here.) Of course he wouldn't obtain that rank immediately when he did formally enlist into the Aquitaynian Marines, however for now, he did outrank many of his classmates. And it wasn't for bad reason, either.

Throughout the 3 and a half years he had been at the Aquitaynian Military Academy, he was given a multitude of national awards, such as the Gold Valor Award; for duty above and beyond that of a citizen. Another was his Search and Rescue ribbon, which he was awarded after he lead a team of Aquitaynian Civil Air Patrolmen to a downed jetliner, saving over 50 lives. Those images still haunted him.

Overall, Sam had been awarded with 18 medals, many with one or two stars signifying that he was awarded that particular medal more than once. 4 ribbons per row, creating 5 brackets of brass. He wore the medals with honor and pride, and knew that anyone who looked at him saw the ribbons. People loved looking at them. He continued walking up the steep hill, and noticed it'd be good for jogging when he found the time. Eventually, he reached the top of the incline and saw the entrance into the new academy. He looked at the sign, but couldn't distinguish what it said. "Well, I'm here for a reason. Reading that might just be it." He laughed and walked through the gates, noticing a couple of other people who also seemed to be new arrivals.

Menassa wrote:"Oh but Eli what If I don't like it?" Tzipporah asked the High Priest who was sitting opposite her at the table in the palace. Tzipporah felt worried about going to a new school and meeting all new people.

"Believe me Princess I think you will do just fine at the new school, it was always in your character to do so, I believe you will excel beyond the le of intellectual level of most people," The High Priest said smiling at Tzipporah with his blue eyes glinting in the light of the room.

"Thank you Eli," Tzipporah ended by hugging the High Priest and heading out the room. Waiting for the princess as she walked downstairs were: her school bags and a opened car and a few slaves to accompany her. "Alright let's get this over with then," Tzipporah said getting into the car. Twelve while later she boarded a plane and was off to her new life in Nalaya.

About four hours after the plane took off she landed in Nalaya and headed straight for the school, she had already been here before and recognized some things about the city. When she arrived at the school she waited for some assistance with her many, many things.

Nursultan nodded to the Sergeant, happy to have somebody to structure his time in Nalaya. Nursultan loves structure. Anything with a set schedule. He turned around quickly to see a girl with many belongings, and rushed to assist her. He is helpful by nature. "Hello there, I am Nursultan. I can help you to carry your things."

At the gates of the Academy, Captain Daniel Carpenter got out of his cab and tipped the cabbie with a small smile. The Nalayan, clearly curious as to Daniel's purpose, gave him a once-over and then took the money and drove off, leaving Daniel on the Academy's doorstep.

Well, here I am, Daniel thought. He looked at the city around him. It's certainly exotic, that's for sure. The scents of foreign spices, jasmine and cumin, tickled the young man's nostrils. I doubt that I'll fit in here very well. Well over six feet tall, with lightly-tanned pale skin, ash-blond hair, and blue eyes, Daniel felt almost like a different species from the few people around him on the street. He felt an uncomfortable sense of being set adrift; used to the comfortable rhythmn of military life, the sudden freedom of being on his own in a new place was discomforting.

At the back of his mind, too, lingered a dark certainty that had been there ever since that Saturday in Zion City. I should be dead. For three days, Daniel had lain buried, in a tiny air pocket, beneath the corpses of thousands of other Norvenians. Surrounded by the dead, in that pitch-black hole, the young man had come to believe that he too was dead, that this was his tomb and that he was but one more corpse among so many others. And when after three days of death the rescue workers had dragged him back into the light, he still could not quite shake the feeling that he should be dead, that by rights he was dead. It had lingered through all the therapy, and it lingered now. He knew exactly how King Lear must have felt: You do me wrong, to take me out of the grave.

Daniel shook himself sharply. Enough. Deal with things one day at a time, Dan, one day at a time. He reminded himself of who and what he was. You are an officer of the Norvenian Army. You were chosen right out of the Academy for the elite Tenth Airborne. You saw combat in Sremski Okrug, and you've been awarded the highest and the third-highest decorations for heroism in the whole Norvenian military. You were the unarmed combat champion of your entire division. You have bodyguarded the Chancellor of Norvenia! There's nothing here to put you off your stride. Get your head screwed on right, soldier!

Somewhat reassured by this internal harrangue, Daniel turned and started for the arch. Honor virutis praemium, he thought. Well, that's true enough. Glancing around, he saw various other foreign students. Daniel himself wore the black uniform of the Norvenian Rangers, his last unit. It was a tunic and trousers of plain black wool; a broad white stripe ran down the trousers, which were tucked into gleaming black leather boots. The stiff collar, cuffs, and shoulder boards of the tunic were white as well,trimmed in gold, and a gold aiguillete marked Daniel out as one of the Chancellor's guards. A broad black leather belt and Sam Browne, white gloves (with lead shot hidden in the knuckles), and a white peaked cap with the Rangers' gold unit pin completed the uniform.

Over one shoulder, Daniel carried a black duffel with his few possessions: several spare uniforms; a first-aid kit; a moleskin journal and silver pen, both given to him by his parents when he graduated high school; and several books: the Bible, the Confessions of St. Augustine, Kierkegaard's Works of Love, a history of Nalaya, and a pocket dictionary of Nalayan words and phrases. The duffel also held, in small velvet boxes, Daniel's decorations: the Cross of St. Michael and the Rose Cross, Norvenia's highest and third-highest awards for valor; Daniel saw no reason to advertise by wearing the medals in public. I'm visible enough as it is. He also carried no weapons; he had heard that there was a rule against them at the Academy, and as one of the finest martial artists in the Norvenian Army, Daniel felt no need for them.

Slinging the duffel more securely over one shoulder, he set off to where he saw a young man in Aquitaynian uniform dripping with medals - show-off, Daniel thought grimly - a aristocratic young woman in cavalry uniform sitting atop a horse with a hawk on her arm - well, she's never seen combat, Daniel thought with wry amusement - and a nice-seeming young man of Central Asian appearance helping a small redheaded girl with her bags. Daniel strode over to those last two. "Share the load?" he asked in English - it's our most likely common language - as he picked up one of the girls' suitcases. "I'm Daniel Carpenter, from the Commonwealth of Norvenia - I'm a captain in the Norvenian Rangers," he added, by way of explanation for his uniform. "What brings you here?"

Alexander looked around at the new arrivals. "So these are the people I'll be associating for the next...however long I'm here." he thought. He couldn't get past the fact that he was a civilian in a military academy. He...wait...the group was moving along. Quickly, he picked up his suitcase and started walking after them.

"Wait up!"

"Don't worry, I will try not to leave anyone behind," Mina said pleasantly as she started to lead the way to their dorms. "Cornet Weber, I'll have one of the others see your horse to the stable, but the care of your animals is your responsibility. Your bird can stay with you, of course."

The halls of the Akademia were definitely of Nalayan style, often opening up onto internal courtyards. Delicate arches blended with the walls, many bearing inscriptions or murals, to support the weight of what must have been an entire mountain. Their dorm room was deep in the Akademia, cut into the rock itself, with few windows to the outside. Those skylights that they had were quite distant, set into long shafts leading up into the sky. There was a main room with a few large, low tables and cushions to sit on, as well as numerous oil lamps to illuminate the place at night. The area was surprisingly warm for a place with no apparemt central heating.

The floor was technically stone, but several layers of overlapping rugs gave it a much more comfortable softness. Most of the walls were obscured by books, most text books and reference material for class. However, there were large empty sections for their personal reading choices.

"The baths are through there," Mina said, indicating an archway closed off with a dark curtain. "They draw their heat from the earth, as this whole place does. From winter to summer, you can expect the Akademia to be constantly about seventy degrees. "Through those double doors across the room is your sleeping area of the dorm. You all have a bed given to you by name and a footlocker. You can trade amongst yourselves if you wish, I do not mind. Once I get sizes from each of you, I'll go see the Zenk' Varpet and get you uniforms. They'll have your unit patches and a few other things, but for foreign students the regulations are much more relaxed."

She gave them a smile. "Welcome home."

Nalaya wrote:"Don't worry, I will try not to leave anyone behind," Mina said pleasantly as she started to lead the way to their dorms. "Cornet Weber, I'll have one of the others see your horse to the stable, but the care of your animals is your responsibility. Your bird can stay with you, of course."

The halls of the Akademia were definitely of Nalayan style, often opening up onto internal courtyards. Delicate arches blended with the walls, many bearing inscriptions or murals, to support the weight of what must have been an entire mountain. Their dorm room was deep in the Akademia, cut into the rock itself, with few windows to the outside. Those skylights that they had were quite distant, set into long shafts leading up into the sky. There was a main room with a few large, low tables and cushions to sit on, as well as numerous oil lamps to illuminate the place at night. The area was surprisingly warm for a place with no apparemt central heating.

The floor was technically stone, but several layers of overlapping rugs gave it a much more comfortable softness. Most of the walls were obscured by books, most text books and reference material for class. However, there were large empty sections for their personal reading choices.

"The baths are through there," Mina said, indicating an archway closed off with a dark curtain. "They draw their heat from the earth, as this whole place does. From winter to summer, you can expect the Akademia to be constantly about seventy degrees. "Through those double doors across the room is your sleeping area of the dorm. You all have a bed given to you by name and a footlocker. You can trade amongst yourselves if you wish, I do not mind. Once I get sizes from each of you, I'll go see the Zenk' Varpet and get you uniforms. They'll have your unit patches and a few other things, but for foreign students the regulations are much more relaxed."

She gave them a smile. "Welcome home."

Nursultan was fascinated by the building. It was cut into the stone. "This is very much like Qyryq architecture. I love this place." Nursultan smiled. Then he realised what the Sergeant had said. "Excuse me, Xanım, but I am not part of a unit. I am a musician. What shall I do?" Xanım is a very polite Qyryq word used to address a woman.

Sam looked around, examining the architecture and the way this school had been created. The only structures that were dug into mountains in Aquitayne were Top Secret military compounds. The kind you don't want to go to if you're not staff. He looked around at the other students, and had some questions for their host. "Excuse me as well, I just have a couple of questions. Will I be permitted to wear my ribbons? Also, are we sharing rooms or are we given our own dorms?"

Aquitayne wrote:Sam looked around, examining the architecture and the way this school had been created. The only structures that were dug into mountains in Aquitayne were Top Secret military compounds. The kind you don't want to go to if you're not staff. He looked around at the other students, and had some questions for their host. "Excuse me as well, I just have a couple of questions. Will I be permitted to wear my ribbons? Also, are we sharing rooms or are we given our own dorms?"

"I believe we are sharing rooms, if I heard correctly." interjected Alexander.

"You are all part of a unit now," Mina explained to Nursultan. "Whether or not you were before. Your language, it sounds very much like to Nava'ai." She beamed at him. "You will do very well here. Nalayan students speak a dialect very close to that. You will be able to make yourself understood easily."

She turned to Sam. "It is like in the army: everything is shared. As for your ribbons, I will ask. Normally such decorations are saved for dress uniform."

"Of course. I wasn't sure if we were going to be given BDU's, dress uniforms, or something else entirely. If we are given something other than dress uniforms, it would be uncustomary for me to wear them anyway."