The large room buzzed with restless energy as students—mostly juniors and seniors—filled the chairs lined in rows. Some whispered to each other, eyes drifting toward the soldiers standing at the front. A few K-9 units sat alert beside their handlers, drawing both curious and nervous glances from the students.

Captain Price stood near the windows, arms crossed, scanning the room with his usual steady gaze. Beside him, Laswell checked her watch, clearly not thrilled to be there, but composed as always.

“Well,” she muttered, “at least it’s indoors this time.”

Price gave a faint grunt. “Could be worse. Could be doing a speech in the rain.”

One of the K-9s let out a soft bark, drawing a few startled gasps from the back row. The handler quickly gave a hand signal, and the dog settled down immediately.

“They’re trained better than most people,” Price remarked dryly.

A nearby soldier chuckled under his breath.

The room grew quieter as more staff filtered in. The principal and a few professors were still missing, but the students were already gathered, waiting.

Laswell glanced toward the doors. “We’re just here to talk, not recruit. Keep it clean and simple. Let them know tomorrow’s visit to the base isn’t a field trip—it’s a reality check.”

Price nodded, eyes still scanning the crowd. “Got it.”

The atmosphere was tense—but not uncomfortable. A quiet reminder of how serious things had gotten lately. And the message they were about to deliver couldn’t come soon enough.