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Cadet Days at the MDF Academy
Day 1: Arrival at the Academy
Stepping off the shuttle, I felt a mix of excitement and dread. The Mutual Defense Force Academy looked nothing like I had imagined. It was bigger. Much bigger. Back home in Nairobi, we trained in the shadows of Mount Kenya, but here, the looming mountains are towers of steel and glass, structures that dwarf everything I’ve known. Thousands of cadets, just like me, moving in perfect synchronization. I feel like a grain of sand in a desert.
But I’m not just anyone, I’m Kamau Nyaga, and I’ve worked for this my whole life. My mother was in the African Union Security Forces, and her stories of courage and survival in various conflicts inspired me to take this path. Now, it’s my turn to write my story. As the shuttle doors closed behind me, I knew there was no going back.
Day 3: Settling In
I’m starting to get the lay of the land, but it’s been overwhelming. The academy feels like its own city, with people from all over. My roommate, Aiden, is from Luna Barra, and we couldn’t be more different. He talks about zero-gravity sports and the cold of space like they are everyday things. I guess, for him, they are.
In Nairobi, I spent my mornings running the hills, the orange sun rising over the horizon as the city slowly came to life. It feels so distant now. The Academy is a different rhythm, regimented, precise, like clockwork. I haven’t had much time to think about home, and maybe that’s for the best. I need to focus. There’s no room for mistakes here.
Day 7: First Physical Drill
Today was brutal. The instructors pushed us hard, testing our stamina and endurance. The terrain simulations weren’t anything like Earth; they were modeled after some of the most dangerous environments on Terra Secundus and beyond. Heat one minute, freezing cold the next. I pushed through, but by the end, I could barely stand.
Aiden seems to have an advantage with his low-gravity upbringing, but I refuse to let that get to me. I’ve got something he doesn’t—grounded grit. Growing up in Nairobi, you learn to hustle, to fight for what’s yours. I’ll need that to survive this place. They say the real tests are still ahead. I just hope my body holds out.
Day 10: Combat Simulations Begin
We’ve officially entered the next phase: combat training. It’s been an eye-opener. Today was our first simulation—an ambush scenario in an urban environment. I got hit twice, and it stung more than I thought it would, even if it was just virtual. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was seeing how disorganized our squad was.
We’re all strangers, from different worlds, with different ways of thinking. Back home, in the streets of Nairobi, everyone knew their place in the group. Here, it’s chaos. We’ll need to figure that out if we’re going to survive future drills. I’ve been assigned as the squad’s second-in-command, and I’m going to have to find a way to bring us together.
Day 14: Nairobi Calling
I woke up this morning feeling homesick. The Academy feels so sterile, so rigid. I miss the vibrant colors and sounds of Nairobi. The food here is... adequate, but it’s nothing like the rich spices of home-cooked ugali and sukuma wiki. I miss the sense of community, the way everyone looks out for each other. Here, it feels like everyone’s out for themselves, at least so far.
I called home, but it was a brief conversation. Mom was proud, of course. She told me to keep my head up and reminded me that the Academy is just the beginning. I know she’s right, but it didn’t make it any easier.
Day 20: Zero-G Training
Today was the first time I experienced zero-gravity. It’s not what I expected. Floating around, everything feels disorienting at first. You must move with intent, every little push sending you spinning. Some of the cadets who grew up on space stations or moon bases handled it with ease. For me, it was a struggle. I must have bumped into a dozen walls.
But I’m improving, and that’s what matters. The key is to stay calm, to focus. It reminded me of my early days of parkour training in the alleys of Nairobi, learning to control my body in midair, making every movement count. I’ll get the hang of this, too. I have to.
Day 25: Learning Tech
We spent hours today learning about the tech we’ll be using in the field. Exo-suits, plasma weapons, tactical AI systems—it’s a lot to take in. The instructors say we’ll be trained on a wide variety of gear because, in the field, adaptability is everything. I struggled at first, but then I started thinking of it like solving the problems back home, things break, you fix them. Nothing’s too complicated if you break it down.
Aiden’s been helpful with this part of the training. Growing up on Luna, he’s got a knack for tech. He’s been walking me through some of the more complex systems, and I’m returning the favor by helping him with the physical side of things. We’re starting to become a team.
Day 30: The First Tactical Victory
Finally, we had a win. Our squad managed to beat another team in the combat sims today. It wasn’t easy, but we worked together, and that made all the difference. I took charge in the heat of battle, calling out positions, and directing fire. It felt good. Maybe this second-in-command thing is something I can do after all.
After the drill, the squad gathered in the mess hall, sharing stories of what went right and what we could have done better. We’re learning to trust each other, bit by bit. Trust is everything in this line of work. If we can’t trust the person next to us, we’re finished.
Day 35: Tactical Mistakes
We had a tough day. Another ambush scenario, but this time we fell apart. The enemy outflanked us, and before we knew it, we were pinned down. I made a poor decision in the heat of the moment, ordered a charge when we should’ve retreated. We lost the simulation. It stung.
Afterward, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I did wrong. Leadership is a heavy burden. Back home, I always prided myself on my ability to make quick decisions, but here, with so many lives on the line, even in simulations—those decisions carry far more weight. I’ve got to learn from this if I’m going to make it.
Day 40: Communication is Key
We had a debrief today, and the focus was on communication. It’s become clear that in the chaos of battle, clear, concise communication can make the difference between life and death. I’ve always been a talker, growing up in Nairobi, you had to be to survive, but here, it’s about learning to be effective in the fewest words possible.
Aiden and I have started practicing outside of training, working on our hand signals and quick radio calls. It’s a start, but we’ll need more time to really master it.
Day 45: Overcoming Fear
Today, I faced my biggest fear, space combat. I’ve always been uneasy about the idea of fighting in the void, where there’s no up or down, no cover to hide behind. But the instructors were relentless. We suited up and entered the simulation.
Floating in the blackness of space, with nothing but my HUD to guide me, it was easy to feel exposed. But as the enemy fighters appeared on radar, something clicked. I focused on the mission, on my squad, and the fear began to fade. By the end of the exercise, we had won the day. I’m still not comfortable with space combat, but I’m getting there.
Day 50: Combat Stress
The mental strain is starting to catch up with me. The constant simulations, the never-ending drills, it’s exhausting. I haven’t slept well in days. I know this is part of the training, that they’re preparing us for the real thing, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll be able to handle it when the time comes.
Mom always said that being a soldier isn’t just about physical strength, but mental endurance. She went through worse back on Earth, during various conflicts. If she can do it, so can I.
Day 55: Team Building
We had a team-building exercise today, something a little different from the usual drills. The instructors sent us into the wilderness surrounding the Academy with nothing but a map and a compass. We had to navigate rough terrain, find waypoints, and make it back to base within a limited time.
It wasn’t easy, but it was refreshing to get out of the sterile environment of the Academy. We worked together, relying on each other’s strengths to get through. By the end, I felt closer to my squad than ever before. We’re becoming more than just a team. We’re becoming a family.
Day 60: The Crucible Looms
The Crucible is only days away, and the tension is palpable. Everyone knows it’s the toughest challenge we’ll face at the Academy. I’ve heard stories from older cadets, 72 hours of non-stop action, no rest, no breaks. It’s designed to push us to our limits and see who cracks. This is the moment I’ve been training for. Everything we’ve learned, every drill, every hardship all comes down to this. My squad and I have been preparing as much as we can, reviewing tactics and strategies late into the night. I feel a mix of anticipation and dread, but I know that I’m ready. We’ve come a long way as a team, and I trust these people with my life.
I just hope I can live up to their expectations and my own.
Day 65: The Crucible Begins
We’ve been dropped into the simulation. The Crucible is everything they said it would be—and worse. It’s not just about physical exhaustion; it’s the mental games, the constant pressure. The terrain is rugged, switching from scorching deserts to frozen mountains within hours. We’re given minimal rations and have to conserve every bit of energy.
The enemy AI is ruthless, adapting to every move we make. We’ve already lost several simulated "lives," but we’re holding together. The key is not panicking, even when things go sideways. I can feel the weight of leadership more than ever, but my team is strong. I have to keep reminding myself that this is just a test though it feels so real.
Day 66: The Breaking Point
We’ve been at it for over 48 hours now, and I’m beyond exhausted. My muscles ache, my mind is foggy, and I can see the fatigue in my squad mates’ eyes. Some of them are starting to break, snapping at each other, questioning every decision. It’s my job to keep them focused, to remind them why we’re here.
We faced a brutal ambush earlier today. Aiden took a simulated "fatal" hit, and it rattled him. He’s been quieter since then, more withdrawn. I pulled him aside during a brief lull in the action and told him we need him, he’s our tech guy, and we can’t do this without him. I could see the doubt in his eyes, but I think I got through to him.
We’re almost there. Just a little longer.
Day 67: Victory, Barely
We made it. Barely.
The last few hours were a blur of firefights, tactical retreats, and pure adrenaline. At one point, I didn’t think we were going to make it. The enemy forces were relentless, and we were running on fumes. But somehow, we pulled through. My squad rallied, and we managed to outmaneuver the enemy in the final phase of the simulation. I couldn’t believe it when the debrief ended and they told us we passed.
The sense of relief is overwhelming. We did it. We survived the Crucible, and we did it together. It wasn’t perfect, and we made plenty of mistakes, but we didn’t give up. That’s what matters.
As we sit here in the mess hall, recovering from the ordeal, I look around at my squad. We’ve been through so much, and now, we’re stronger than ever. I think we’ve earned a little rest.
Day 70: Post-Crucible Reflection
It’s been a few days since the Crucible, and I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. The instructors pulled us aside for individual evaluations today. They told me I performed well under pressure, showed strong leadership, and kept the team together when things got tough. It felt good to hear that.
But there’s always room for improvement. I need to work on my decision-making in high-stress situations. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about making the perfect choices every time, it’s about making the best choice you can in the moment and owning the consequences. I’ll carry that lesson with me wherever I go.
Day 75: Graduation Preparations
Graduation is coming up soon, and it feels surreal. The past few months have been some of the hardest of my life, but also some of the most rewarding. I’ve grown so much, both as a soldier and as a person. I came here as a kid from Nairobi with big dreams, and now, I’m leaving as a cadet of the Mutual Defense Force.
There’s a lot of talk among the cadets about what comes next in terms of assignments, deployments, the unknowns of our future. Some are nervous, but I’m excited. This is what I signed up for. To protect Terra Secundus, to stand alongside my squad, to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
Day 80: Final Combat Simulations
Our final combat simulations are underway. These just are not tests anymore; they’re about proving we’re ready to serve. My squad performed flawlessly in our last run. We’ve become a well-oiled machine, anticipating each other’s moves, communicating without even needing to speak.
It feels good to be part of something bigger than myself. I’ve learned to trust my teammates completely, and they trust me. The camaraderie we’ve built will carry us through whatever comes next. I know it.
Day 85: Saying Goodbye
Today was hard. Some of my closest friends at the Academy are being assigned to different units, and we won’t be seeing each other for a while. Aiden is headed to a space patrol unit, while I’ve been assigned to an infantry squad stationed one the planet Pittman in the 279 G. Sagittari system. It’s bittersweet. We’ve been through so much together, and now we’re going our separate ways.
But this is what it means to be part of the Mutual Defense Force. We go where we’re needed, even if it means leaving behind the people we’ve grown close to. I’ll miss them, but I know we’ll meet again. The galaxy is a big place, but it’s also small in its own way.
Day 90: Graduation Day
I never thought this day would come. Standing there in my dress uniform, receiving my insignia and commission was a dream. The ceremony was grand, with speeches from top brass and even a transmission from Terra Secundus itself. But the best part was seeing my family in the crowd. Mom was there, and when I met her eyes, I saw the pride in them. She gave me that same nod she always does, the one that says, “You’ve done well.”
The cadets who graduated with me aren’t just friends; they’re brothers and sisters in arms. We’ve shared more than just training, we’ve shared our fears, our victories, our losses. Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
I’m ready for whatever comes next.
Day 95: My First Assignment
I’ve received my first deployment orders. I’ll be heading to Pittman in a few days to join a forward reconnaissance team on the planet’s outer territories. It’s a dangerous post, but it’s exactly what I wanted. I want to be on the front lines, protecting what we’ve worked so hard to build.
There’s a lot of uncertainty in the air, rumors of mysterious events in that part of space. But I’m not afraid. The Academy has prepared me for this. And even if the challenges ahead are bigger than anything I’ve faced before, I know I can handle them.
After all, I’m no longer just Kamau from Nairobi. I’m a cadet of the Mutual Defense Force, and I’m ready to make my mark on the galaxy.
Day 100: Departure
The shuttle is ready. My bags are packed. I’ve said my goodbyes to the Academy, to my friends, to this chapter of my life. As I sit here, waiting for the final call to board, I feel a strange mix of emotions. Excitement, fear, anticipation.
I think back to the boy who arrived here months ago, wide-eyed and full of dreams. I’m not that person anymore. I’m stronger, more confident. The Academy has given me the tools I need, but now it’s up to me to use them.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know one thing for sure: whatever comes my way, I’m ready.
This is just the beginning.
--- End of Journal ---