Chapter 375: Anonymous
Later that evening, the party had kick-started. It was held at a large cargo bay area where commander Volkov had given the go ahead to.
The cargo bay had been completely transformed. What was usually a sterile space filled with supply crates and military equipment now pulsed with colored lights and the steady thrum of bass that seemed to vibrate through the station’s hull.
Kelvin had somehow managed to requisition party supplies from three different star systems, and the result was a celebration that felt more like a nightclub than a military facility.
It was almost like he’d been planning this for the better part of their time in hell and not an idea that just happened on the spot.
Soldiers packed the makeshift dance floor, their uniforms replaced by casual clothes that made them look like the young adults they actually were instead of hardened warriors. The air was thick with laughter, conversation, and the smell of actual food—not the regulation nutrient bars they’d been living on for nearly a week.
Kelvin stood on a makeshift stage at the front of the room, his cybernetic arms catching the light as he gestured to the crowd. His natural charisma was in full effect, and every person in the room was hanging on his words.
"Before we get this party started properly," he announced, his voice carrying over the music, "I want to introduce you to something special. See that screen over there?"
He pointed to a large display mounted on the wall, currently showing a simple interface with a text box and a submit button.
"That’s our anonymous confession booth. No names, no tracking, no way to trace anything back to anyone. You can say whatever you want—confess your deepest secrets, tell someone how you really feel about them, complain about the food, whatever. Just type it in and hit send."
A murmur of interest rippled through the crowd. Some soldiers were already pulling out their personal devices, grinning at the possibilities.
"I’ll read some of them out later," Kelvin continued with a wicked grin. "But for now, let’s party like we’re not fighting a war tomorrow!"
The music kicked up, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Soldiers who had been carrying the weight of combat stress for weeks suddenly looked like teenagers again, laughing and dancing with an energy that had been missing for too long.