The day of the simulation came faster than I liked. The other cadets had started to call it “the crucible”. Too pretentious for my taste.

There wasn’t enough room in the simulation room, so we got the interface headgear to use in our own capsule beds. The system took some time to integrate us all, but then we found ourself inside the simulation. A derelict spaceship, drifting in space. I checked the next console and found all internal systems dead, except life support and artificial gravity. The corridors where lighted by green emergency light. All doors stood permanently open and could not be closed. I switched my simulated gun to stun mode, to avoid piercing the hull. Decompression without operable doors would lead to the death of everyone inside. In a real boarding action, we’d be using combat spacesuits and wouldn’t care about pressure or oxygen.

I looked around and found my team converging in a nearby corridor.

The voice of Sir-Screams a lot sounded in my ear. He sounded a bit annoyed: “Well done cadets. Only one of you failed to switch to stun mode when finding the emergency doors jammed. Tonio di Marco will leave this station in shame for missing this obvious clue. The rest of you: Well done. Continue.”

But even as we prepared to face our adversaries, another obstacle loomed in the form of our fellow cadets, still harboring resentment towards Malfeasony for his previous use of the tactical implant. Their anger simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment and disrupt our focus.

Ignoring the tension in the air, I took a deep breath and glanced at my teammates, determination burning bright in their eyes. We had trained for this moment, honing our skills and refining our tactics, and now it was time to put our abilities to the test.

With a nod of silent agreement, we charged into the fray, the simulated environment erupting into chaos as gunfire echoed off the metal walls. Malfeasony, his implant still deactivated, struggled to adapt to the lack of tactical assistance, his movements hesitant and uncertain. His marksmanship was still good, but in a firefight against dozens of highly trained and motivated cadets, it wasn’t enough.

Beside him, Delfi moved with a grace and agility that belied her years, her twin pistols flashing in the dim light as she dispatched enemy combatants with ease. With a smirk of satisfaction, she unleashed a barrage of gunfire, her laughter ringing out over the din of battle.

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Meanwhile, Savanna fought with a quiet intensity, her focus unwavering as she picked off enemies with precise shots from her sniper rifle. Despite the chaos around her, she remained calm and composed, her movements calculated and deliberate.

As the battle raged on, the Deathshooters proved to be formidable opponents, their tactics cunning and their firepower overwhelming. Their leader, was a force to be reckoned with, his strategic brilliance matched only by his ruthlessness on the battlefield.

But even as we faced relentless opposition from our rivals, the true challenge came from within our own ranks. The simmering resentment towards Malfeasony threatened to undermine our cohesion as a team, the animosity of our fellow cadets serving as a constant distraction and hindrance.

Yet despite the obstacles arrayed against us, we fought on with a tenacity born of determination and camaraderie. With each passing moment, we grew stronger and more united, our bonds forged in the crucible of battle.

As the battle reached its climax, the simulated starship echoed with the sounds of gunfire and explosions, the air thick with the scent of ozone and burning metal. But amidst the chaos, a sense of purpose and solidarity emerged, binding us together as we faced our adversaries with unwavering resolve. When we finally stormed the bridge, we thought ourself victorious. Until four groups of cadets rushed out from four different corridors and another team stood up from their hiding places behind the command consoles. They had united against a common enemy. Us. I felt multiple shots hit me, until the simulation dissolved.

We were doomed. This was it. We’d never join the space force. We’d be gone with next week’s shuttle. Was there any chance to fake bridge access by then? Could we find a way to climb through the air vents? But no. No sense deluding myself. This was a top-notch military installation. There was no easy access to do the thing I’d come here to do. Not while I could use the same access to destroy the whole space station. Sometime next year the new contractor would arrive to replace our software with theirs. There was no way they would not notice. My family would be sentenced to meet the “Pretty Lights”. An ominous euphemism I’ve started to hate. Being instantly evaporated by high powered lasers might be the fastest way to execute someone, but they’d still be dead. I’d probably be spared since I was a minor when the crime was committed.

I took of my VR set and my senses returned to reality. Instead of the faint humming of the air condition of the capsule bed, I was greeted by bright flashing lights and sirens. Red alert!