The Commoner Noble

On the day the recruits were elevated from that status as recruits to troopers was a grand day, the grand hall in the capital city Eclipseon was the location where the official ceremony would take place. The hall was unlike any other facilities in the entirety of the Barony's military complex the recruits had been to.

The towering columns of polished stones rose high above the hall, supporting the various gilded banners clinging from the ceiling. These banners bore the insignias of many noble vassal houses under house Voss, including the Barony's crest.

The floor beneath was made of reflective marble, shiny enough to mimic a wet mirror-like floor, all while covered with an intriguing, beautiful pattern designs crafted by skilled artisans.

Upon entering the enormous hall, the first sight was the many rows of guests seated in accordance with their ranks both within the military and society.

They ranged from generals, admirals, high-ranking military and civil officials, and to many noble vassals.

Among them were Trooper veterans, those who had served for years and had long since retired. Though their faces were hardened, the slight glimmer of pride in their eyes for their years or service and the graduation of new Troopers was present.

Including everyone the number of guests in attendance was overwhelming, ranging from hundreds of thousands of people.

At the front of the hall, behind an elaborate podium stood a projection of all the dignitaries of house Voss. Because of the many guests and large hall, those at the back would watch the holographic projection, which was at the moment showcasing the noble family house Voss limited with Nielson, along with other high-ranking officials of the noble house and noblemen seated in a throne-like arrangement that showcased their hierarchy in the planet with Nielson at the middle.

Above him was elaborately and intricately placed, the banner of the Baron's household. Draped across it was the mighty and glorious crest of the Barony, a symbol of both its power and heritage.

The Crest of House Voss was a masterful design, a testament to the noble house's legacy. At its heart was a silver shield, a simple yet intricate design that symbolized both strength and protection.

The shield was flanked by two stylized white wings, wide and sweeping, symbols of the Barony's influence and reach within the Empire and the galaxy.

Beneath the shield were three black planetary objects, laid in an intricate, linear form, they signified the Barony's role to protect and shield their people, along with those of the Empire.

Above the shield were five golden stars smaller than the planetary objects but still visibly laid in a sort of zigzag formation, these symbolised the fallen heroes to come out of house Voss along with those who gave their lives for the family.

Enclosing the whole crest was the Barony's motto inscribed in an ancient language that ran down the sides from the wings below three planetary objects and up the wings in an arc form:

"Our Legacy Lies in the Stars, Our Will Commands the Void."

That motto served as a guiding principle for all those who wore the crest, it was a reminder that the path of the noble soldier was that of honour and loyalty in house Voss, and their legacy lies within the success of the noble house.

…

The recruits stood in formation, all dressed in their new Trooper military uniform, each felt a mixture of excitement and solemnity. They had trained for this moment, where they would finally become troopers of house Voss.

Wein was also excited, being a trooper not only brought them honour and elevated them in society but by default their families would be entitled to certain benefits that many families in the Empire did not have, even if they did had money.

For one, the recruits had the right or qualifications to move to a better neighbourhood and rent or buy homes there for themselves and their closest families to use.

Second, they could begin earning enormous amounts from graduation granted they would be immediately deployed, but that meant their families would be living very respectable lives.

After deployment, the life of a Trooper was luxurious, from the money you get as payment, you could live a comfortable life, develop a business, invest or aim for a higher position in the society.

Wein was looking forward to this even more because he, unlike the other recruits was already set for what he would do after deployment.

Once during training, Wein and the recruits were talking about the benefits troopers get and better accommodation for oneself and family came up.

Wein remembering the favour that the Baron owed him sent his intentions for desiring a beautiful mansion that would be his with no rent, nor taxes in a good neighbourhood forever.

After his deployment, Wein would have a mansion, a trooper's income, and connection to the Baron at his will. He would be able to live a very comfortable life and might even move up in society if he played his cards right, he could not wait.

…

The hall fell silent as the Baron himself took to the podium wearing his ceremonial military attire worn during the most important occasions of the Barony.

Nielson was an old man and as he stood there on the podium, that fact was cemented on the new troopers but Wein, though he was further back behind the stationed recruits and was watching through the projection could tell there was a difference between the man on the podium and the man he once met at the infirmary.

"Today," Nielson began, his voice commanding yet weaker, "we gather to honour and promote our newest generation of Troopers."

Before him was a tablet written with what he had to say and around was nothing but silence in that massive hall. His voice reached the ends of the hall thanks to the speakers placed on the many sides.

"You have risen from being recruits, endured through daunting and straining trials that would break lesser men, and emerged stronger for it. Today, you shed your recruit status and become troopers, the sword and shield of the Barony."

He paused, his gaze sweeping through the thousands of new troopers, who stood tall, shoulders squared and pride radiating from them. Faced with that sight, expected to be proud Nielson was indifferent, he continued:

"With your induction, you are entrusted with a sacred duty- to serve and defend the Barony with your lives, strength honour, and loyalty. From this day forth, your names will be courage and discipline."

Nielson raised his hands, a signal to the recruits to kneel, one by one they all knelt. Nielson who saw this stretched his arms out wide towards them as if to embrace the troopers into himself.

At that moment a metallic liquid-like substance descended slowly before his eyes and swam around him in a secular pattern like a planetary ring. From the substance bits of itself emerged as if plucked out by an invisible force, revealing silver pins refitted with the crest of the barony.

The pins flew away from the Nielson over the recruits, each stationed above a recruit until all the recruits had a corresponding pin, and in unison, they descended and fitted themselves into the uniform of the recruits, signally their new status as Troopers.

After getting their pins, Nielson rested his arms and the troopers each stood and saluted, directed to the Baron and the crest of house Voss. They each stood uniformly, their posture firm and in sync silently.

From the right side of all the new troopers emerged poles, rising like an elevator which were clear and flat with nothing on top. At the end, the tips of all the poles opened like a lid to show a small compartment, small enough only allowing a finger in.

"Pledge your oath!" spoke Nielson.

The troopers put their thumbs into the compartments and each face slightly contorted as they felt a stinging pain even when they tried to hide it. With their left hands placed across their chest, the troopers recited the Oath of a Trooper aloud:

"I pledge as the Sword and Shield of my lord, to stand as a protector of this land, to defend its people with unwavering resolve. I vow to uphold the honour of House Voss, to fight with courage in the face of my enemies and be a beacon of hope in times of despair. I promise to honour the fallen and carry their legacy with pride. With my strength and power, I pledge my all to House Voss and its cause."

The hall returned to silence as the recruits finished the oath, their voices from thousands of recruits all speaking at the same time were clear and concise because of their uniform declaration.

After the oath, the steel poles descended and disappeared leaving behind a stinging pain on the fingers that were put in them. All the troopers knew that just then, as they recited their oath their blood was taken.

Nielson stepped down from the podium and threw a look at a nearby high-ranking officer as if to instruct him with the following step in the ceremony. He went back to sit down on his seat and watched the next item of the ceremony.

The high-ranking officer did as Nielson intended and went to the new troopers, he was followed by two young men, possibly his subordinates all wearing the same greyish military uniform.

He went and stood before the first trooper and received a salute, he started his duty and led the graduates in the formal March of the Troopers. This was a ceremonial act where the troopers marched in uniform in perfection to note their accession as Troopers.

The officer was stern looking, his posture leaving no room for criticism, he and his subordinates marched in unison a perfect gesture that invoke pride from the veterans who responded with a salute, and after the troopers followed.

The hall erupted with all the guest saluting to the march save the high-ranking officers who watched from their seats.

As the Troopers marched, their destination leading them out of the hall, the audience stood and began to applaud and cheer, their cheers filling the air.

Each Trooper's movements like the three officers were precise, synchronized, and confident. Their posture spoke volumes of their training- the preparation, mental conditioning, the gruelling battles they faced in the simulations, and the solidarity they had found in each other.

After that straining training, the recruits were now Troopers.