ON reporting to Captain Ullerman, Linc learned that Colonel Weyer had asked to be notified immediately when Linc returned. Captain Ullerman called Colonel Weyer's office and was informed that colonel would like to see him and Linc there. After going off line to check, the adjutant Captain Ullerman had spoken to called back to say they were scheduled into a slot just over an hour later Linc went away to clean up and change after his journey Then he used the time to collect together his kit and other belongings in the billet in readiness for moving out. The senior cadets bantered while they picked and tried to act nonchalantly in an effort to hide the nervousness tearing them apart inside, while the rookies who wouldn't be going watched enviously. Linc remembered how it had felt. But at least they would be getting a stripe.
Only one person was with the colonel this time when Linc and Captain Ullerman were shown into Colonel Weyer's office: an officer in a uniform similar to those worn by Grayling crew but with an altered cut to the collar and different insignia. Colonel Weyer introduced him as Captain Seyger from the flight engineering crew of the Armstrong.
Obviously, Linc was told, with all that was going on, there wasn't time now to change the administrative arrangements concerning him that presently stood. This came as no surprise. It had never occurred to Linc that anyone would think there might be a way to alter things. The proposal put to him was that after arrival at the Outzone, he would be offered the option of going into the Fleet Engineering School as a technician apprentice. The training he would get there would provide a background that could lead later to a broad range of skilled professions in such areas as development and construction, repair, or maintenance in any of the space-borne or surface bases coming into existence all over the Outzone, or as spaceflight crew. Alternatively, he could remain with the military and transfer into one of the technical branches, again with a range of possible space-going or base-oriented futures. The voyage out would give him time to think it over. Captain Seyger would be available during the voyage to answer any questions.
Linc was too overwhelmed to think of anything much to ask just then. The only question that came immediately to mind was, "What difference will it make to where I go after we get there?"
"None at all, to begin with," Colonel Weyer replied. "Practically all new arrivals are processed through Coombe, on Callisto, which is becoming a miniature city these days. They do their first three months adapting and acclimatizing there before going on to the destiny they've got planned—or whatever fate has in store for them."
"Er, I was really thinking about after that . . ." Linc wasn't sure if it was appropriate to bring the topic up and looked at Captain Ullerman questioningly.
"I think Cadet Marani is concerned about his young lady, sir," Captain Ullerman said.
"Ah, yes . . . nurse's orderly Yeats." The colonel's eyes twinkled for a moment. "Medical trainees normally go through their introductory phase at Coombe too, of course. As to after that . . . well, you may rest assured that the powers that be will do their best to accommodate such preferences as you have indicated. Fair enough, young man?"
"Fair enough, sir," Linc agreed. Captain Ullerman winked at him. It would be okay.
And so, after bidding farewells to friends and making all the usual pledges to stay in touch and get together again when they were next in the same place, Linc and his group found themselves hoisting kit bags and tramping for the last time through the lime-green metal corridors that had become, in a way, a strange kind of home. They took the conveyor elevator to the Axle, where there were officially checked out of Grayling Station. Forty minutes later a personnel carrier detached to ferry them across to the waiting ship.