Silver Elite

Wren is disgusted to learn that Cross is a Redden. Lyddie tells her that Cross’s older brother, Travis, works in Intelligence, while his half-brother, Roe, is the General’s son by a woman who is not the General’s wife. Roe arrives late to their first day of classes, and Wren notes tension between him and Cross. Wren finds Roe arrogant, lazy, and dangerous. Roe’s friendship with Anson, the sleaziest recruit, confirms her negative perception of his character. Their first class is weapons assessment. Cross singles Wren out because he saw her impressive shot at the wolf-coyote in Hamlett. Wren deliberately underperforms, hitting the target’s edge or missing entirely. It hurts her pride, but she’s determined to annoy Cross.

Wren gets her own bed for the barracks. In geography class the next day, Kaine jokes that the lost continent of Carora must be full of cannibals, given that no one has heard from them in over a century. A recruit named Bryce asks why the Command hasn’t established an outpost there; Instructor Dava explains that several attempts were abandoned. It was deemed too risky, as ships and aircraft that travel there never return. Roe antagonizes Wren during afternoon break, and she exchanges insults with him before walking off.