Chương 14: Chapter 13

Beep. Beep. Beep. I waved my hand blurrily, trying futilely to silence my alarm. Morning came wayyy too fast. I groggily tried to remember what happened last night as I dragged myself through my morning routine. My hangover was brutal, and I only remembered bits and pieces. Unfortunately, we were discovered shortly after the kiss and dragged back into the afterparty, not having a chance to run off. Heh, Charlotte was pretty annoyed about that. … To be fair so was I.

After that, things were a bit of a blur as we were fed alcohol and pleasant company, until we somehow got back to our rooms late into the night. I think we were both too out of it to try any funny business after those haymakers they made us drink… I blinked, only now noticing the notification light in my ICI. ═══════════════ First requirement met. Note: Hey, Jax. If you're reading this, then things have started out well for you, you rascal.

Can't fit much info in this datapackage, but more should be explained once you open the box. Just, be careful. Once you do, there isn't much going back, and I can warn you that there are a lot of people that will be quite incensed with you about this if they find out. P. S. That little thing is a teeny tiny bit experimental, so be careful lol <1 file attached> <Open/Delete> ═══════════════ What the…? Before I could do much more, my slate started buzzing.

On it, Vera's name glowed with a message of impending pain to come. Extra session tonight. 1900. Training bay four. Bring water. I groaned and suppressed an involuntary shudder at what had happened the last time I went through a "training session" with Vera. Using that adrenaline, I quickly showered and dressed, running through the day's schedule in my head. Today we had… Command Psychology? The syllabus had been vague about what that actually meant.

— Charlotte was leaning against the corridor wall just outside the cafeteria, arms folded, looking like she'd slept ten hours and woken up without a care in the world. Her silver hair was neat. Her uniform was unwrinkled. There was color in her cheeks. I became acutely aware of my own reflection in a nearby window. I whined.

"How do you maaaanaaaage it?"

"Morning to you too! And whatever do you mean? ~" she beamed, batting her eyes innocently at whatever was left of me.

"You know what I mean…" I grumbled, gesturing at all of her.

"You look way more chipper and…" My slowly moving gears ground to a halt as the distance between us had rapidly shrunk while I was lamenting. Today she was wearing the standard school uniform which, while not as form fitting as our training outfits, certainly did nothing to hide either her curves, or how well the blacks and reds of her clothes complemented her silver hair and eyes.

My mind drifted to yesterday, and the feeling of her lips pressed firmly against mine, the heat of her body though her clothes, her hand in my hair, on my neck, grabbing my shirt, and how it felt to press her against the wall, her pulling me deeper and deeper into those beautiful, beautiful… From so close, I could see her cheeks start taking on a crimson hue as a cute squeak escaped those same lips. Ah. The way she was looking at me told me I hadn't kept that last part exclusively in my head.

Her previous confident swagger was nowhere to be seen as the flush started travelling up her ears and down her neck. I also noticed that sometime during my little daydream her back had hit the wall, that I was leaning over her, and that both of our breathing had started getting ragged. My own face at that moment felt about as hot as she looked, and I wanted nothing more than to-"Heyo lovebirds!" a chipper, familiar, redheaded, voice sounded right next to me.

"Don't mind me, I just want to be eeextra close to the action~" Both of us froze and slowly, mechanically, turned to look into the green eyes of a grinning Lysara, who was leaning one hand against the same wall, and way too close for comfort. After a full second to process the mental flashbang and adrenaline crash, we both yelped and jumped back. Of course, Charlotte didn't have anywhere to jump back to, so she just ended up hitting her head and hissing in pain." Owwww."

I wasn't much better, as I just barely managed to avoid tripping on the carpet, steadying myself on the opposite wall before rushing back to Charlotte to make sure she was ok. Meanwhile, Lysara doubled over, laughing hysterically and wiping a bit of moisture from her eyes.

"Ha! Oh… your… HAHA… faces!" she tried to get herself under control and swiped her hand, pinging both of our interfaces.

"This! Ahahaha! Void above, I am going to… HA… frame this…" I scowled at her and opened the notification, getting greeted with a high res retina close up of me and Charlotte staring at her with the goofiest and most slack-jawed expressions I'd seen in recent memory. Ok, it may have been a little funny. Still, I suppressed my own chuckle and continued frowning at her.

"You can't just do that! You're going to give both of us heart failure at this rate!" Once Charlotte regained her senses, she jumped on the bandwagon and started poking her. I could almost tangibly feel the murderous intent coming from those pokes. It was all undercut by how her pouting face was incredibly cute. Lysara just laughed harder. —"You got Vera's message?" Charlotte asked between bites.

"The cryptic one about training bay four? Yeah."

"She sent me one too. Same time, same instructions." she took a long sip of her drink.

"Any idea what it's about?"

"None. You?" I cut into the omelet-like substance that was in front of me.

"Lysara might know something. I saw them talking after you beat Philip at Dominion." Charlotte grabbed a tray and started loading it with food.

"Speaking of which, she messaged me earlier about wanting to have dinner with us tonight before Vera's training session. All three of us."" Helloooo, I'm right here." I paused, mid bite.

"All three of us. As in..."

"As in she wants to get to know you better." Charlotte's voice was matter-of-fact.

"I told her yes. Unless you object?"

"You can't keep ignoring me forever! Come on, when are you gonna let it go?!" Lysara waved her hands between us. We ignored her.

"No, I don't mind at all. It's just… a lot to take in."

"Take your time." The corner of Charlotte's mouth twitched.

"It's a lot to process." I turned toward the window, hiding a smile. Lysara changed tactics. She stopped waving and leaned in close between us, her voice dropping to a murmur.

"Oh, you bet I'm gonna be a lot to process." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. We both kept eating.

"It's all connected, you know," Charlotte said, her tone turning serious.

"The intensive training, the political games... it all leads back to the war. Have you heard the latest rumors?" I shrugged, pushing food around my tray.

"Only what my friends message me. They say demand for new gear hasn't slowed down, and some sectors can't keep up."

"That's consistent with what I've heard." Charlotte lowered her voice.

"The official narrative is optimistic, but the underlying data is more... concerning."

"Should I be worried?"

"Not too much." Charlotte set down her utensil.

"The Strategos Program trains commanders. Whatever is happening on the frontier now could be the war we're sent to fight in a few years. Understanding the truth of it, rather than the propaganda version that is regurgitated to the masses, is part of being prepared. In any case, that's still a few years away." Just a little bit more stress into the proverbial bucket, what's the big deal, riiight?

"On a lighter note," Charlotte said, changing the topic, "are you ready for Command Psychology?" Something closed around my thigh. I managed not to choke on my food. Lysara's smirk was visible in my peripheral vision as her hand inched higher. Charlotte was still looking at me expectantly.

"I don't even know what Command Psychology is."

"It's related to Resonance Theory. Foundational even." Her eyes lit up in a way I hadn't seen before.

"It's about the intangible factors of leadership. The things that can't be quantified but make the difference between a unit that fights and a unit that breaks."

"Like morale?"

"Morale is part of it. But it goes deeper." Charlotte leaned forward, genuinely animated now. I studiously ignored Lysara's slowly wandering hand.

"Have you ever wondered why some commanders can inspire troops to hold positions that should be impossible? Why soldiers will follow certain leaders into situations where the odds are suicidal?"

"I assumed it was training."

"Training and discipline explain why soldiers fight. They don't explain why soldiers choose to die." Charlotte's voice had taken on an intensity as she spoke.

"Command Psychology studies the spiritual dimension of warfare. The will that exists beyond physical capability." Lysara jerked and let out a little yelp as I poked her. Ticklish, hah. It's not like I didn't like what she was doing, especially after Charlotte's somewhat-approval, but a public cafeteria was definitely not the place for it. She smirked at me in victory and mouthed 'I won'. Damnit.

"Spiritual dimension?"

"Not religious. Or at least, not exclusively religious." Charlotte seemed to be searching for the right words.

"Think of it this way. A unit's combat effectiveness isn't just the sum of its equipment and training. There's something else that emerges from the collective, something that can't be measured but absolutely exists. Have you ever wondered why there's a Spirit stat beyond just Body and Mind? Command Psychology is about understanding and cultivating that." I had never heard Charlotte talk like this. She seemed to almost vibrate while talking about this subject. Before I could respond, the cafeteria's clock chimed.

Time for class.

"Let's get going," Charlotte said, standing and still pointedly ignoring the smug redhead.

"Trust me, you're going to find this class quite interesting." – I shouldn't have been surprised that the Command Psychology room was a simulation bay. Charlottes warning was still ringing in my ear when I saw the rows of immersion pods lining the walls. Each pod was a sleek black capsule with neural interface ports and biometric sensors. The setup reminded me of the gaming rigs back home, but far more advanced. Professor Maren stood at the center of the room. I almost missed a step and shivered.

Of course she would be here.

"Welcome to Command Psychology. As you can see, this is not a lecture course," she began, panning her gaze across the room. I could have sworn she lingered a bit longer on me, but it could have been my mind playing tricks again.

"You will not sit in chairs and take notes. You will learn by commanding soldiers in combat and making decisions under pressure." She gestured at the sleek black rows of pods lining the walls.

"These are military-grade simulation rigs. Full sensory immersion and neural-linked to your ICI. When you're inside, you'll be commanding troops without the power to attack yourself. Your men will respond to your orders. They'll fight for you, and if you fail them, they'll die for you. Now, for those who are seeing simulation rigs like this for the first time, a quick explanation. Command Psychology is focused around your Spirit stat. In fact, each of our classes focuses on a specific stat for you.

Physical conditioning is for your Body stat. Tactical Theory is meant to train your Mind stat." Maren pulled up a holographic display showing the familiar ICI status screen.

"You all know your Spirit score." She tapped the Spirit indicator.

"While most places state that there is no systematic way to increase your Spirit stat, that isn't completely true. It is just that ninety nine percent of institutions do not have the funds for it. Consider this as one of the cornerstones of the Strategos Program. In the simulations that you'll face this term, we'll be focusing on combat exercises. Each of you will command a squad." The display shifted to show a progression chart. Spirit levels on one axis, unit types and quantities on the other.

"Your Spirit determines your command capacity. How many soldiers you can effectively lead, and what quality of troops will follow you. A Spirit of ten gives you command of four basic infantry. A Spirit of twenty gives you a full squad of twelve, with access to specialized units. A Spirit of thirty..." She smiled thinly.

"You start commanding officers who command soldiers. And so on." Professor Maren dismissed the display.

"You only have one singular purpose in this class. Win. It doesn't matter if you crush the challenges thrown at you with force, or drag them into the mud and win dirty. All that matter is winning." She grinned.

"The experience you gain here is real, tracked by your ICI, and it will determine how far you can rise as a commander." Maren walked toward the pods.

"Today, you'll face a standard defensive scenario scaled to your Spirit level. We'll talk more about the class after you're done." She gestured sharply.

"Find a pod. Connect. You're running in hot." I found a pod near Charlotte and Lysara. The interior was surprisingly comfortable with a reclining memory foam seat that molded to my body, full of neural contacts that settled against my temples with a soft click.

"First time in a command sim?" Lysara asked from the pod beside mine.

"That obvious?" She smiled slightly.

"Don't worry. The physical feedback is limited. You'll feel pressure, heat, and cold, but nothing that can actually hurt you."

"Comforting." The pod sealed around me, feeling like a coffin lid sealing me in darkness. Then the ICI activated, and I was somewhere else. – I stood on a rocky hillside overlooking a valley. The sky was overcast, heavy with the promise of rain. Wind cut across the exposed ridge, carrying the smell of damp earth and smoke.

A notification flickered at the edge of my vision: ═══════════════ COMMAND SIMULATION - TRAINING TIER ═══════════════ COMMANDER: Jax Akana SPIRIT: 11 COMMAND CAPACITY: 4 units (Basic Infantry) OBJECTIVE: Hold the valley for 15 minutes THREAT LEVEL: Basic Training - Level 1 REWARD: Spirit experience based on performance ═══════════════ Four units. I looked around and found four soldiers in Imperial combat armor waiting behind me.

When the nearest one turned to face me, I could see the tension in his jaw and in the way his fingers tightened around his weapon. Every thing and every one felt incredibly real.

"Orders, Commander?" he prompted. I took a moment to assess my squad. Two men and two women. The ICI helpfully labeled them: Infantry A, Infantry B, Infantry C, and Infantry D. Infantry A was the one who had spoken; a heavyset man with the look of someone who had seen action before, and had not fully emerged unscathed on the other side. Infantry B was younger and constantly scanning the valley below. Infantry C stood absolutely still in perfect parade rest as he waited for my command.

Infantry D was checking her rifle for the third time in as many seconds.

"Spread out along the ridge," I said, trying to project confidence I definitely did not feel. Weird.

"Five-meter spacing. Use the rocks for cover." Actually, no. What's weirder is that I could speak with Charlotte and Lysara so freely. I shook my head. I would deal with my inconsistent Spirit later. They moved to comply, but I noticed hesitation in their movements. Infantry B, in particular, seemed uncertain, looking to Infantry A for confirmation before settling into position. They don't trust me yet, I realized. I pulled up the tactical display on my ICI.

The valley stretched out below us, a natural chokepoint between two steep ridges. Our position commanded the high ground, which was good. But we were exposed on the flanks if anyone managed to circle around. I pointed.

"Infantry C and D, you're watching our backs. Anything moves on those ridges, I want to know about it."

"Yes, Commander." Right then, there was movement in the valley.

"Contact," Infantry A called.

"Six hostiles, approaching from the south." I moved to a position where I could see. Six figures were making their way up the valley, using the scattered boulders for cover.

"Hold fire," I ordered.

"Let them come into range." The figures advanced. At two hundred meters, I could already make out some details. Despite never seeing them in person before, I knew that these were Orc raiders, the most common type of Orc soldiers. They were only lightly armored and had normal weapons.

"Open fire at one-fifty meters," I commanded.

"Controlled bursts. Conserve ammunition." The wait was agonizing. I watched the Orcs advance, counting the distance and feeling the tension build in my squad. Infantry B was breathing too fast. Infantry D had stopped checking her rifle and was now gripping it like a lifeline. One hundred seventy meters. One sixty. One fifty.

"Fire." Four laser rifles fired simultaneously. The first Orc went down immediately thanks to clean shots from Infantry A and Infantry C. The second took a hit to the shoulder and stumbled behind cover. The others scattered, returning fire with crude but effective slug-throwers. Rounds cracked against the rocks around us. Infantry B flinched, his next shots going wide.

"Infantry B, steady," I said, keeping my voice calm, suppressing my slight annoyance and panic.

"Breathe."

"Yes, Commander," the soldier responded, squaring his shoulders, following my advice and exhaling slowly. His next burst was better and even clipped an Orc that had exposed itself while repositioning. The firefight settled into a rhythm. The Orcs advanced in bounds, using what cover they could, while we picked at them from our elevated position. Another Orc fell. Then another. The remaining three pulled back, disappearing into the rocks at the far end of the valley.

"Hostiles retreating," Infantry D reported.

"Stay alert. Those were most definitely just scouts." I checked the timer on my display. Twelve minutes remaining. Oh boy.

"They'll be back with friends."