64 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1

Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142

House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero

M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null

Term: 2, Round: 1

Daedalus Operating Capital: 130,000 bitcreds

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It was Sunday, and unlike term one, cadets arrived in droves towards the end of the day unpacking in a frenzy. There were no orientations, nor tours to conduct.

Each subject had a package with term plan, course notes and assessment criteria to cover the next ten weeks. The Thoth cadets unpacked their exos, gear and began to review the terms coursework package:

Physical Training: cadets are encouraged to follow the training regime created to their specific needs. Martial arts introduction is compulsory for all cadets. Assessment will derive purely from obstacle course results in term two.

Martial arts assessment had not yet begun for cadets in M1.

Physics: cadets will complete coursework in thermal dynamics and mechanics. One project for the term relating to the current fields of study unless an alternate is approved by Chief Vincent. Assessment is seventy percent project weighting with thirty percent coursework tutorial completion.

Tech Studies: cadets will complete coursework for electronics two, ranged weapon systems, sensory devices and applications. One major project is prescribed for the term relating to the current fields of study unless an alternate is approved by Chief Elliot. Assessment is solely derived from the cadet's major project.

Mathematics: cadets will complete coursework in game theory and computation methods. Assessment is on completed coursework with bonus points for completion of provided advanced problems.

Reference: cadets will complete coursework in space travel history and military regulations. Assessment scoring is derived from coursework completion.

Strategy: cadets will learn about thinking methods.

Ai Nurturing: cadets will follow coursework designed to their specific needs and results from the previous term. Assessment criteria are derived from the performance of cadets AI to complete the five provided critical tasks for the term.

Gunnery: cadets are expected to spend a combined six hours per week on the gunnery range and in squad arena practice sessions. Bot guidance and coursework on the gunnery range are optional. Assessment is derived from gauntlet scores and tournament performance.

Piloting: cadets are required to complete the minimum arena practice and weekly workshop. Assessment is derived from gauntlet scores and tournament performance.

Human Studies: term two coursework involves profiling and conflict management. Assessment is derived from monitoring cadets applications of the coursework in real situations.

"Much the same?" Picard asked the squad after reading.

"I hear it starts getting squirrely in term four," Vannier replied. "Do we have our bookings?"

"Obstacle course 0600, Arena at 2015 and Gauntlet 2230," Daedo replied.

"Oh sneaky," Barran said, "You want the Gauntlet at the end of the day to slip in that late time."

"I guess I am going to have to learn to powernap," Picard stated. "It's a long day from 0600 to perform at peak at 2230."

"Power napping is a superpower," Barran said nodding.

"I wonder if mech pilots power nap in their mechs," Axelzero said wistfully, "You know when they are in the field for long periods of time."

Thinking about mechs Vannier was dying to ask Daedo. "How did you go with Old Dawg?" Vannier asked, "Is he walking around?"

"No," Daedo answered, "We stripped him down, cleaned him up and started manufacturing a few of the parts. I want to wait for the power core. Give Cisse some time to come up with a better fusion or even something from our current experiment."

"Are we done with the Mocaps?" Picard asked thinking about her schedule.

"We almost have enough I think two more ninety-minute sessions. Can you fit them in during the week?" Daedo enquired with Picard and Barran.

"I have tonnes of time," Barran answered.

"How the hell do you have tonnes of time? You just got the course notes and haven't planned anything!" Picard said frustratingly.

"You just tell me when babe and I will be there," Barran answered. It was squad rule that cadets had to refer to each other by their designated name. Daedo implemented it to prevent the silly little nicknames that Barran was coming up with for him.

"Refer to a cadet by their correct name at all times," Vannier stated reminding Barran. The girls liked the rule because it prevented the plethora of babe, baby, cutey etc. names coming out of Barran's mouth when he addressed them.

"It's still Sunday," Barran said trying to dodge the regulation.

"You're in uniform and in the Academy. All regulations apply from now until the end of term," Vannier shot back.

The normal penalty for infractions could range from incline sprints to academic tasks. Nothing that verged on hazing or torture was permitted. Daedo had the perfect penalty for Barran which was not only permitted, but encouraged by Master Nader.

"That's your warning Barran, all further infractions with incorrect names will result in one-hour remedial math tutes," Daedo stated trying to hide his enjoyment.

Barran looked downcast, they were barely an hour in, and he had lost his freebie. He threw his hands in the air, "Ah come on. Don't I get some credit for the Daedalus bank balance?"

"Sure. Well done," Daedo replied succinctly.

"What's the balance?" Vannier asked.

"Somehow these two managed to convert two of our promising leads, and we have gone from less than ten kay to one hundred and thirty kay," Axelzero brought up the balance sheet to show everyone.

"Yeah and we still can't buy a VTOL carrier!" Barran showed his frustration.

"We need a lot more Barran," Daedo simply said. He wasn't even sure what the details were, but he knew from experience from three years ago, and this year, it was best to have credits saved. Things came across their path, for example, the workshop itself, or even So-Ra Kang, where they needed creds to further their goals. And Daedo dreamed of obtaining a holding on the spiral and launching AI controlled mining and construction ships into space.

Vannier decided to change the topic of conversation back to the schedule, "We need to create the schedule framework for next week." Most of the coursework the cadets scheduled themselves, but the group activities evolved over term one.

"Meals stay at 0730, 1200 and 1715?" Vannier asked and received nods from the other five cadets.

"Daedo tactics review will move to 2100 after arena, do we want to chase partner sessions?" Vannier asked.

"I think we've learned that all we need to do is drill and have a weekly skirmish with someone like Shu M3 ideally," Daedo replied. "Can you set that up?"

"Anyone else?" Vannier asked.

"Unless you can get Colonel Martin to supply an exo squad for us to fight, just stick to the M3 semi-finalists and Thoth Squad one. We need to help Gaumont improve his squad," Daedo replied.

"So more than one skirmish per week?" Vannier asked.

"No more than our allocated five sessions, we can drill on the weekends in privacy. Give Gaumont one skirmish per week and one to an elite M3 squad," Daedo said, "leaving the other three free for drills which Gaumont can join or not, up to him."

"Can we charge for skirmishes?" Barran asked coyly.

"No, let's not go down that road. If we train others its free. We sell equipment only," Daedo said.

"Any restrictions on what we sell? Do we keep a competitive edge?" Barran asked.

"No, sell whatever you want. It will cause problems with our skill and tactical development if our equipment far exceeds that of our competition." Daedo replied.

"Assuming we have worked through royalties with the IPO for that piece of equipment, I will keep the released list updated. We can't afford to get into trouble with the IPO," Axelzero said. Although she had been with the family for the entire break, she had done a mountain of study and hired experts to assist Daedalus.

"Okay," Vannier interceded to bring them back on topic, "from 0600 we have the Obstacle course, then physical training at the gym doing circuits, the first meal of the day at 0730 followed by the gunnery range or an open session."

"We should do a form of tai chi or yoga before Martial," Picard suggested.

"If that's what you recommend we could do PT at 1030 and move martial combat to 1115," Daedo said.

"Leading to lunch at 1200," Vannier brought the schedule up onto a large screen for all to see.

"We will need free time from 1245 to 1715 to focus on academics and in my case a power nap," Daedo added.

"So 1715 last meal for the day," Vannier slotted the group activity in. The squad was lightyears more organised than term one. They knew what to expect and how to structure the group and individual time slots. This allowed cadets to work on martial combat together at a pre-arranged time, eat all meals together which doubled as discussion and general information sharing. In the first term they planned three group activities, in term two there were ten.

"We can slot in AI tutor at 1800 now we moved Gauntlet to 2230," Daedo said.

Vannier slotted in Arena at 2015 with Tactical meeting immediately after at 2100. "I think that about covers it," Vannier said looking at the schedule.

"Ok, we can program in our individual coursework priorities around this, any issues?" Daedo asked.

"All good," Barran said. Picard and Axelzero agreed.

"What about you Mace?" Daedo asked she had been quiet since they got back to the Academy.

"Oh, it's fine. I am just working out when I can work on chem eng, it's not even a subject until U1," Mace replied.

Daedo did a quick calculation, "I'm able to squeeze in twenty-one hours of R and D into this schedule."

"Really?" Mace said, "hmm." She quickly mapped out her schedule. "So you are spending what? Seven and half hours total on Math and Physics for the week?"

"That's an excellent estimate, spot on," Daedo replied.

"Only you can get away with that, I will have to work a little harder," Mace stated.

"I am sure you best will be good enough Mace," Daedo said.

She looked at him seriously, "Okay," and then said accusingly, "but you don't make it easy with the example you set."

"What now?" Barran asked, "last term they opened the obstacle course early on the Sunday."

"Go ahead," Daedo agreed with the suggestion, "Vannier and I need to see Master Nader about the vacancy, among other things, at 1900."

"Oh yeah," Barran said, "I barely noticed we are down to six. Good luck with that." Barran waved as he headed off. Picard and Axelzero followed which a quick mock salute, Mace turned to look back when she stood in the exit to the main corridor from the quarter's common room.

"Go go," Daedo said before looking back to Vannier and nodding. It was almost 1900 they made their way to Master Nader's door and waited.

Within moments the door slip open.

"Enter cadets," Master Nader said in her robotic sounding voice.

Daedo and Vannier stood at attention in the centre of Nader's office. She walked from behind her desk which immediately slipped through the floor. The walls and floor were blank at the moment.

Master Nader stood in front of the two cadets, she was over 1800mm tall, making Daedo and Vannier feel smaller the closer she got.

"I trust your break was productive," She began before pausing and pulling up the specialisation report on the wall to her left.

"Not too many surprises," She said tonelessly, "Mace is possibly a good choice for Chemical Engineering. It was either that or put her onto Metals and Composites." She scrolled down.

"I see you expanded the scope to include the business part of Daedalus," Master Nader observed frankly. She hadn't asked a direct question, so Daedo remained quiet. He was a firm believer less was more when Nader was involved.

"I have one query," Master Nader concluded her summary with a question, "Did you expect to find the metallurgist and propulsion expert in one package?"

"Assuming you mean a cadet or person as a package. No, not necessarily. We have filled vacancies with Cisse and Ikaros thus establishing that some vacancies can be filled with direct employees who are not cadets. The specialisations we need are listed. How we fill them is yet to be determined," Daedo replied.

Vannier looked at Daedo for a moment. The wording of his reply was rather contemptuous. Especially when you consider the recipient. Vannier had a feeling that Daedo's feelings had changed towards Master Nader. His demeanour was not respectful or fearful, it was challenging.

"Cadet Daedo, this term will be demanding. You will see a marked difference in the Gauntlet, and the end of term tournament will determine positions for the Inter-Academy league which starts in term three. Not to mention political interference. There is even a possibility of an honour council trial. You and your squad will need to improve and dominate to sustain your momentum," Master Nader warned.

"The main reason for the increased difficulty levels is that I have petitioned and succeeded in having the Gauntlet and Obstacle course synced across all three M levels. You will be completing the same Gauntlet as the M3 and M2 cadets. Your scores, although only graded across M1 can be directly compared to M3. The reason I have done this is to facilitate your selection in the Inter-Academy league. It is possible you could compete in term three in the team of eight representing Fortescue Military Academy. In the arena, the gauntlet event or both."

"In regards to the needed specialisations, I anticipated the three areas of need and have someone who can fulfil chemical engineering and propulsion. You would need to reallocate Mace to metallurgy," Master Nader stated.

"Cadet?" Daedo enquired stunned at having to change Mace already. It was not something he wanted to do.

Master Nader nodded, "A cadet from Cambridge Military Academy."

Daedo was surprised. "You are able to grab a cadet from a tier two academy, convince them to move here and have this accepted by Fortescue as well?"

"Yes." Master Nader replied evenly.

"Can I interview the cadet? Get to know them?" Daedo asked.

Master Nader was quiet for a full minute. It seemed like an hour.

"Cadet Daedo. I have an extensive database of every candidate on the planet. My experience and data analysis have led to the identification of the ideal recruit for your squad." Master Nader said evenly.

Daedo just stood at attention and said nothing.

Master Nader returned the silence.

Vannier felt like running from the room or talking to break the silence, but she could do neither.

Master Nader finally relented and spoke, "I approve of your command initiative Cadet Daedo. You will be able to meet the recruit tomorrow when they enter the Academy. You will be able to spend the week with them because they will be in your squad. You can submit your assessment of their suitability at 1700 on Friday."

Daedo didn't ask what was the point of doing the report when Master Nader had already identified the need and sourced a recruit. It was a leadership exercise that she had set and although Master Nader had authority over Thoth and all its squads. She had no authority over Daedalus.

"Cadet, in line with our new working relationship I have been candid with you. I think you will find the prospective new member of squad zero will measure up to your high standards. Do you have any questions?" Master Nader said this was her version of sweet talking. It was approximately one billion light-years from Barran's version.

Daedo considered bringing up the outcome of the previous Sunday's night dinner and the realisation that all proof of an imminent alien invasion was proof which related to the actions of humans. If those humans were misguided or misinformed, then it was no proof at all. In his judgement, this important distinction while somewhat comforting made no difference to their actions and preparation. If mankind was mistaken, the only thing lost would be effort and creds. If mankind was not mistaken and Daedalus did not do everything in their power to fully prepare the repercussions were far greater. In Daedo's mind, it did not matter if the information was baseless.

The only thing that had changed was his blindly following Master Nader. He would take responsibility for his perceptions.

"None at this stage Master Nader," Daedo replied.

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The term two obstacle course made the five from term one look like a cake walk. The design now included travelators, pendulums and even artificial opponents who tried to knock a cadet off the course. The robots would push, trip and chase a cadet. Daedo came out battered and bruised from his first attempt, reaching for the magic spray as soon as he finished.

Daedo spat, "fifty-five, forty-nine. How bad is it?" He asked Mace who finished well before him. He was considering not wearing weights for the next attempt.

"Not bad, it's early, but you are in the ten percent. See what it looks like at the end of the day," Mace replied as she looked up the full chart.

"What are the other times?" Daedo asked.

Barran 44:19 (refuses to use weights they cramp his style)

Picard 49:45 (15-kilo weights)

Mace 49:35 (10-kilo weights)

Vannier and Axelzero yet to finish.

After Daedo finished with the magic spray, he handed it to Vannier who just crossed the finish.

"Thank you, Master Nader," Vannier breathed out a curse.

"I can't wait to see the Gauntlet," Daedo responded to Vannier's anguished self-pitying statement.

After collecting herself, Vannier stood, "I guess its time to meet the new recruit."