Rebels

'What is even happening?' Khan wondered as he approached the buildings.

Khan had learnt about the consequences that those crimes could cause. Deserting could ruin entire careers and even lead to jail time, so he couldn't understand how the soldiers on Ecoruta could consider those options.

"Is something the matter?" Khan asked when he reached the soldiers arguing next to the buildings.

"It's a damned mess," Moses commented while stepping aside to make space for Khan. "Half of the thirty-seventh battalion is leaving the planet instead of joining the main army."

"Can they do that?" Khan asked.

"Well," Lieutenant Leville replied, "No one forces the soldiers to remain on Ecoruta. They only need to get accepted in another position to leave the thirty-seventh battalion. Their families can even help remove eventual punishments. Captain Clayman is also quite permissive, so he probably allowed everyone to depart before HQ could say something on the matter."