Chương 3

The gravity eased as the shuttle leveled out above the atmosphere. Through the window, the curve of the planet stretched below us. We were high enough now that individual cities had become smudges of light. After a moment, Charlotte pulled out a thin data-slate and began tapping on it. I watched the planet shrink for a while, then found my attention drifting back to her. The data-slate's screen was angled toward me, which helped me recognize the game that she was playing.

"Is that Dominion?" I asked. Charlotte's fingers paused.

"You know of it?"

"I've played a few rounds." That was an understatement. Finn had introduced me to the game two years ago, and I had spent more hours than I cared to admit studying its mechanics. Dominion was a military simulation that ran through the neural interface, rendering battlefields in the player's mind rather than on a screen. Nowadays, the data-slate was just used for those that preferred tactile input commands.

"I don't play through the ICI," Charlotte said as she tilted the slate so I could see better. It was filled with unit markers and terrain modifiers displayed as numerical values.

"The new versions have too many visual assists. It feels like they do half the thinking for you."

"Fair enough," I said, noting her unit positions.

"That's a bold opening." She had committed heavy armor to the center while leaving her flanks deliberately thin. It was the kind of aggressive stance that either crushed an opponent quickly or collapsed under sustained pressure.

"You sound like you disapprove."

"More like someone who's beaten that formation before." Charlotte raised an eyebrow. The challenge was implicit.

"The shuttle has another two hours before we arrive," she said.

"Care to back up that confidence?" I pulled out my own data-slate. The game interface materialized in my neural link, overlaying the cabin with a ghostly representation of the battlefield. I dismissed it and found the older version of Dominion after a bit of digging.

"It's been a while since I played the classic version."

"If you lose, we can play the new version," Charlotte said confidently. I laughed. It has been a long time since anyone I knew could beat me. Challenge accepted.

"Standard rules?" I asked.

"Fog of war enabled. No time limits between moves."

"Works for me." We began. The first twenty minutes sped by as we both made simple probing actions and set up our economies. I pushed scout units forward to test her reactions while keeping my main force in reserve. Charlotte did the same, though her scouts moved in patterns I hadn't seen before. She was either improvising or working from a playbook I wasn't familiar with.

"You're being cautious," she observed after I pulled back from an engagement I could have won.

"I'm being patient."

"Same thing, fancier words."

"Patience is waiting for the right moment. Caution is being afraid of the wrong one." I advanced an infantry division to claim a ridge that would give me sight lines into her territory.

"I'm not afraid." Charlotte responded by routing three armored units around my flank. It was a move that would take ten turns to complete, telegraphing her intentions well in advance. Either she didn't care that I could see it coming, or she wanted me to see it. I strongly suspected the latter. The game settled into a rhythm. Attack, counter, reposition. Even without the ICI helping, my mental map of the battlefield grew more and more detailed with each exchange. Charlotte's style was becoming clear now.

She was all elbows and edges, especially when she forced battles that were on paper worse for her. She was good. Better than Grant, who treated strategy games like bar fights. And even better than Finn, who relied too heavily on optimal solutions.

"You're smiling," Charlotte said. I hadn't realized I was. Huh.

"It's been a while since I had to think this hard. It's… nice."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Is this a tactical distraction?" I asked.

"If so, then it's working." Charlotte laughed as she flashed her own smile back. Point! Maybe this whole socializing thing isn't as impossible as I thought after all. Somewhere around the forty-minute mark, I became aware that we had an audience. A girl and her friend opposite us had leaned forward in their seats, watching us with undisguised curiosity. The seats were arranged in groups of four, facing each other, so it was trivial for others to pay attention if they were interested.

Two more were leaning over from across the aisle. I caught whispered fragments of conversation.

"I always thought Dominion was just a simple RTS, but I'm not sure I could pull off some of those moves."

"Look at his formation on the left flank. It's a classic high wedge pincer, but he's executing it without an ICI."

"She has a false gap though."

"Shh. Don't disturb them." Them hovering so close was annoying, so I set my slate to project a spectator-friendly stream onto the table, and tuned them out. The battle demanded all of my attention. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Charlotte had sprung her trap. The flanking force I had watched approach for the last ten turns suddenly split into two groups, one continuing its original path while the other reversed direction entirely.

She had been repositioning under the cover of an obvious feint, hiding real movements behind expected ones. Clever. My defensive line was oriented the wrong way against the new attack. I had maybe three turns to adapt before her forces hit my exposed rear. Not enough time for a proper redeployment. I could pull back and consolidate, but that would cede the center. I could push forward aggressively and try to take her base before she took mine, but the math didn't favor it.

Or I could do something she wouldn't expect. I moved my command unit forward toward the split off units she had just revealed.

"That's suicidal," Charlotte said. Her tone was flat, but I caught a flicker of uncertainty in her expression.

"Maybe." The command unit was valuable but not irreplaceable. Losing it would hurt my coordination for the rest of the game. Yet, by putting it out in the open, it would also distract her units instead of allowing her to execute her carefully planned assault. Charlotte took the bait. She redirected her split forces to intercept my command unit, unwilling to let such a tempting target escape. And in doing so, she gave me the three turns I needed.

By the time she realized what I had done, my defensive line had reformed. Her assault hit a wall instead of an opening. The command unit died as expected, but the sacrifice had served its purpose. The game ground on. An hour passed since we had started. The crowd around the projected screen had grown slightly, maybe half a dozen students now watching us wage a silent war.

The screen showed the whole map without the fog of war and both our forces fully visible, so it was the perfect solution to people crowding over us. It even had an automatic vision blocking functionality tied to our ICIs to prevent cheating. I silently thanked the developer that cared enough to work on that. Charlotte adapted. I adapted back. We traded advantages in increments so small they barely registered individually, but still, they slowly accumulated. At the ninety-minute mark, I held a slight edge.

Maybe a five percent advantage in total force projection, which could evaporate with a single mistake. I didn't make one. Neither did Charlotte, but she was the one playing from behind. In a battle of attrition where both sides execute their plans flawlessly, the one with fewer resources loses. It was just math. The end came not long after that. We traded a few battles where both sides lost men. When it was her turn again, Charlotte studied the board for a long moment, then closed her data-slate.

"I concede." A murmur ran through our audience. Someone actually applauded before cutting themselves off in embarrassment.

"Good game," I said, and meant it, feeling a bit of sweat running down my back now that I was moving again. She really pushed me hard.

"You sacrificed your command unit," Charlotte stated in frustration and admiration in equal measure.

"I had you. The plan was perfect."

"It was. That's why I had to break it before you could finish."

"By losing a piece you needed."

"By trading a piece I needed for a position you needed more." I put away my data-slate.

"The command unit was worth less than your momentum. Once you stopped to kill it, the attack lost cohesion." Charlotte was quiet for a moment. Then she laughed.

"I'm going to want a rematch."

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't." The crowd began to disperse as they drifted back to their seats now that the show was over. Before Charlotte and I could continue our conversation, a new voice spoke up.

"That was an impressive display." I looked up and saw another student. She was tall, with dark hair cut in a severe line just below her jaw. Her uniform looked weaponized, buttoned to the very top with a silver pin shaped like a screaming hawk.

"You're a first-year?" she asked as she met my gaze.

"Yeah."

"What's your primary field of study?"

"I haven't declared yet."

"I'm Vera Castellan. Third-year. I coordinate recruitment for the Entoli Society." She produced a small card from somewhere and held it out to me.

"If your other qualifications are just as good, I think you would fit well with us. We're always looking for members who can think well under pressure." I took the card. It was plain, with just a name and a contact code.

"What does the Entoli Society do?"

"We compete in simulations and war games. The Imperial Fleet sends observers to our tournaments." Vera looked slightly dejected when she realized that I didn't know of them. It was only for a moment, and I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't looking right at her. Because of the conversation. Not her eyes. Yupp. Despite her stern aura, I found the reaction cute.

"Last year, two of our members received direct commissions after graduation. No officer academy required."

"That's impressive."

"It's the result of serious practice and talent." She glanced at Charlotte, acknowledging her for the first time.

"You played well. We would like you to join too, if you're interested."

"I'll think about it," Charlotte replied. I noticed that there was no card for her. Vera returned her attention to me.

"The card has my contact information. Reach out once you're settled. First meeting is next week." With that, she walked away without another word. I looked at the card in my hand.

"Well. That happened. So, is this club important?" Charlotte looked shocked for a second before she laughed.

"The Entoli Society is one of the most exclusive clubs at Magna Protos. Getting an invitation as a first-year is unusual."

"You got one too."

"Only because I was in the right place and time." She didn't sound bitter about it though.

"You should probably consider it. Fleet commissions are hard to come by."

"Are you going to?"

"Maybe. I came here to study, but it might be useful to know people who think strategically. Clubs like that come with a lot of politics though, so be aware." The shuttle's speakers chimed in that moment.

"Attention passengers. We will be entering final approach to Magna Protos Station in approximately fifteen minutes. Please secure all belongings and return to your assigned seats." Through the window, I could see our destination emerging from the darkness of space. Magna Protos Station was massive, being a ring of interconnected structures orbiting a small moon. The university itself occupied the central hub, its spires and domes visible even from this distance.

Smaller vessels moved around it like insects attending a hive.

"It's bigger than I expected," I said.

"Most things are." Charlotte gathered her belongings.

"It was good meeting you, Jax Akana."

"Same. And I'll take that rematch whenever you want."

"I'd like that." She gestured with her data-slate, and touched it to mine after I took it back out of my bag.

"My contact info. Don't make it weird."

"I'll do my best." The shuttle began its docking approach. Students around us were buzzing with anticipation as they pressed against windows for a better view. I let myself get caught up in it for a moment. This was real. I was actually here. Then my ICI pinged me with an incoming message. I glanced up and left, bringing up my notification display, expecting orientation information or housing assignments. The message bore the official seal of the university administration.

════════════ MAGNA PROTOS UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDIES ════════════ STUDENT: Jax Akana STATUS: Incoming First-Year You are required to report to the Office of the Dean of Studies immediately upon arrival. Proceed directly to Administrative Hub, Section One, Office 1-A. This summons is mandatory. Do not proceed to housing or orientation until this meeting has concluded. ════════════ I read the message twice. Well. This wasn't concerning at all. Nope. My anxiety spiked.

The shuttle docked with a gentle thump. Around me, students began gathering their things and moving toward the exits. Charlotte had already joined the flow, her silver hair disappearing into the crowd. I looked at the message again and sighed. Something told me my time at Magna Protos was going to be a bit more complicated than I had planned.