Old Man's War

On his 75th birthday, John Perry goes to the cemetery to visit his wife, Katherine’s, grave for the final time. He then goes to the recruiter’s office, where he enlists in the army.

The recruiter walks John through several different paragraphs, which he has to sign and acknowledge his understanding of. He will be joining the Colonial Defense Force (CDF), the army of the Colonial Union (CU). In doing so, he renounces his US citizenship and is legally declared dead on Earth. He will enlist for two years, with the possibility of an eight-year extension if the CDF deems it necessary. One paragraph explains that he will be subjected to whatever medical treatment the CDF deems necessary, which is his true reason for joining. Everyone on Earth has heard rumors that the CU has found a way to stop or reverse aging. No one can know for sure, however, as Earth has no real communication with the CU, and the soldiers never return.

After John has signed all the documents, the recruiter explains that John will leave Earth within the next 72 hours. She gives him a plane ticket for Nairobi, where he will board a “beanstalk” to the Colonial Station.