We all remained on edge as the new instructor, Nolan, began his speech about the future that awaited us as soldiers of the Federation. His words were relentless, and his presence overshadowed all of us.
"You, ladies," he began, his voice resonating with undeniable authority, "when you complete this process, you will be entrusted with a corvette and a crew of a hundred people. It may seem simple, and some of you might be thinking, 'Great, a corvette to do as I please!' But you are sorely mistaken!"
Nolan slammed his fist on the table, causing several of us to jump in surprise.
"As captains of a ship," he continued firmly, "you will have the responsibility to take care of your crew, pay their salaries, upgrade equipment, maintain the ship, and, of course, fulfill your tax obligations."
Surprise and confusion overtook many of us upon hearing about taxes in a virtual reality game. Taxes in a world like this? I knew that in strategy and construction games, it was common, but this was entirely unexpected.
I had sworn the manual was lying. Looks of astonishment were exchanged among the aspiring captains, while Nolan's expression remained unwavering.
"Damn," I muttered under my breath as the tension in the room continued to escalate. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in for each of us.
Instructor Nolan continued his speech, making it clear that this was not just about piloting a ship and living exciting adventures. He spoke of the need to pay salaries, upgrade equipment, and keep the ship in optimal condition. As he broke down these responsibilities, an overwhelming feeling washed over the room. The idea of commanding a corvette with a hundred souls on board and all the tasks that entailed loomed like a dark cloud over our aspirations.
"You must also cover the maintenance costs of your ships, which will require you to embark on constant journeys to perform jobs for both the Federation and independently," Nolan emphasized, his tone laden with thinly veiled malice, "unless, of course, you don't die before that...". His words seemed designed to sow doubts and fears in all of us, as if he were warning us that this path would not be easy and that danger was a constant threat.
My fists involuntarily clenched as I watched him. His comment had served its purpose and had sown uncertainty in our hearts.
Instructor Nolan instructed us to put on the virtual reality goggles that were on the desks. It was time to learn how to command a ship and lead our troops into battle.
One by one, the players put on the virtual reality goggles, ready to acquire the skills needed to become captains of their own ships.
The virtual environment that unfolded before my eyes was simply astonishing. We were on the bridge of a colossal ship, the model and name of which remained an enigma. The bridge buzzed with activity, with more than fifty people focused on their respective stations. Screens surrounded the area, providing a panoramic view of the situation. An imposing holotable dominated the center of the room, and in front of us, there was a majestic view of Earth.
"Incredible..." I whispered, amazed by the magnitude of the simulation. The feeling of being in the heart of a spaceship in full operation was truly impressive.
The grandeur of the scene left me breathless. It was a constant reminder of the magnitude of the battle we were about to face and the significance of our mission. Despite being immersed in a virtual reality game, the intensity and realism were astonishing.
"Welcome aboard the USS Sapphire, the flagship supercarrier of the Federation," Instructor Nolan proudly proclaimed. His words resonated in the virtual room, instilling in each of us a sense of purpose and responsibility.
Instructor Nolan continued his explanation as he toured the USS Sapphire's bridge. He introduced us to the ship, a colossal supercarrier spanning over 5 kilometers, with the capacity to house both troops and sufficient resources for planetary sieges. It was undoubtedly the Federation's crown jewel and an essential piece in our fight.
As we explored the virtual bridge, we could feel the immensity of the Sapphire around us. The control room was bustling with activity, with crew members attentive at their stations and screens displaying critical information about the situation. The details and textures were so realistic that it felt like we were truly at the heart of the ship.
"Now, I'll show you how to command a ship," the instructor explained as he pointed to the captain's chair. "You'll notice that it's quite straightforward. Just keep your attention. If you'd prefer not to do it, you can find the automatic mode option in your menu for the crew to manage things themselves. However, I must warn you it's considerably less efficient than being commanded by a human."
His words reverberated through the ship's bridge, and all of us present were eager to dive into learning how to pilot a spaceship.
Instructor Nolan continued the lesson, and we were all prepared to absorb his knowledge about ship command. The idea of having an automatic mode button to ease the workload during necessary times seemed highly practical.
"Very well, let's begin," the instructor announced with a firm voice. "Set a course for the Icari system." His command was immediately followed by the coordinated action of the NPCs that were part of the crew. Several of them moved to the consoles and began operating the ship's systems.
It was truly astonishing to watch everything function in perfect harmony and with enviable precision. The virtual crew moved like a well-oiled machine, each member performing their role flawlessly. The USS Sapphire's bridge became a hive of activity as the ship's systems came to life and the course to the Icari system was set.
Instructor Nolan approached the holotable, a futuristic liquid crystal surface, and activated it with a skillful hand gesture. In seconds, an impressive hologram materialized above the table. It was the representation of a planet, noticeably smaller than any known planet, and its surface was tinged with a vibrant and mysterious red color.
The hologram stood out in the darkness of the Safiro's bridge, casting a crimson glow that illuminated the control room. All eyes were fixed on the representation of the planet, eager to learn more about our upcoming mission.
"Icari system, not a well-known tourist destination, but it specializes in space mining on its moons. Its planets are not suitable for colonization, so it doesn't have a large population," Instructor Nolan informed us. "However, a few days ago, we lost all contact with one of the moons in the system, and we've been requested to investigate what's happening."
The atmosphere on the bridge was tense as we processed the information.
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Instructor Nolan continued to lead his crew as we prepared for the mission.
"Atención, crew," he announced firmly. "We're heading to the Icari system, where we've lost all contact for several days. There's a possibility of encountering an alien presence. Prepare for combat."
Tension in the command bridge immediately escalated, and the sounds of the crew bustling about to carry out their tasks filled the room.
Alarms blared throughout the ship, and flashing red lights filled the corridors of the USS Safiro, creating a tense atmosphere filled with anticipation. Although the situation was thrilling from a gaming perspective, I couldn't shake the reminder that we were immersed in a virtual experience that could turn deadly.
The command bridge was a hive of frenetic activity as the virtual crew assumed their roles and prepared for the unknown. Hearts were pounding amid the tense atmosphere and the blinking red lights.
"As you can see," Instructor Nolan continued, his strong and authoritative voice filling the command bridge, "it's easy to issue basic commands this way. However, in the heat of battle, the situation will become much more challenging. That's why we're heading to the Icari system, where we may encounter the Yoters and put our skills to the test in a real battle."
Despite being fully aware that we were immersed in a virtual reality simulation, my body still quivered with excitement, and my breathing quickened. I felt like a small child, dazzled by the experience, despite the dangerous reality of our game.
"Entering hyperspace in 3... 2... 1," one of the officers on the command bridge announced.
As his countdown concluded, the ship accelerated to maximum speed, and suddenly, as if we had crossed an invisible threshold, we vanished from the solar system in a matter of seconds. It was an indescribable sensation, traveling distances that would normally take millions of years in mere moments, while the space around us distorted into incomprehensible colors and shapes.
My heart raced so intensely that it felt like it could burst at any moment. The wonder of the technology we were experiencing and the imminence of the unknown merged into an intoxicating mix of excitement.
"Very well, soldiers," Nolan announced as he watched us with piercing eyes. "It's time for all of you to deploy your menus and access the space combat section."
Following his instructions, each of us opened our personal menus, which unfolded in front of us. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw a new option that read "Space Combat," something that had not been available before. It was evident that this function had only just unlocked upon entering hyperspace.
I pressed the new option, and a detailed map of the ship appeared before me, showing shield systems, defense, available ships, and engine life. All indicators showed a healthy 100%. Next to them, in the upper right corner, an option titled "RTS" blinked, though it remained locked.
Even though I couldn't access this function yet, my mind was already filled with anticipation. The RTS (Real-Time Strategy) genre was one of my favorites, so I felt confident that when the time came to use it, I could handle it skillfully.
I know it's wrong to feel good at a time like this, especially considering we're stuck in this dangerous video game of death, but... Shit, I feel like a taliban watching a big tower with extremely healthy plans.
A considerable amount of time passed, approximately an hour, during which Nolan provided us with a detailed explanation of how the ship worked, how we could modify it if we had the necessary funds, and how our strategies would affect the morale of our crew. He also reminded us that in this game, death was permanent, both for real players and NPCs. The constant responsibility of recruiting and replacing fallen members fell on our shoulders.
The seriousness of the situation became increasingly evident as we absorbed the information. We knew we were immersed in a dangerous virtual world, where the consequences were very real. The ship, the crew, and our own virtual lives were at stake, and we had to learn to handle everything expertly if we wanted any chance of success in this thrilling but also frightening experience.
"Sir, we're receiving a distress signal from the Icari system!" an officer urgently exclaimed as he quickly typed on his computer, automatically displaying what appeared to be a voice message on the holotable.
The room filled with tension as we listened to the distress call. "This is Base Zeta-05. We're under attack! The Yoters have launched a lunar siege." In the background, we could hear gunshots and desperate cries. "We have wounded. We can barely hold out. We need help!"
A shiver ran down my spine, from my lower back to my neck. It was a simulation within another simulation, but why the heck did it feel so real?
"How much time until first contact?" Instructor Nolan asked with a hint of urgency.
"Five minutes!" came the immediate response, and the tension in the room became palpable.
"Excellent! All right, students, prepare for combat. Each of you will command a section of soldiers on board the ship."
Right after that announcement, a notification appeared on my interface.
New troops added to your command.
With the urgency in mind, I returned to the combat section in my menu and selected the option that had previously been locked.
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Space combat troops:
53 F-75A16 starfighters
1 Corvette-class subship.
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The air troops I had at my disposal were displayed in an RTS-style screen, reminding me of that old game "Star Wars: Empire at War," although this time, we were in a more realistic scenario, without Star Wars ships.
I could select the starfighters and deploy them in formation, controlling them without needing to be physically in one of those starfighters. It was an exciting experience and a challenge for my strategic skills.
However, I also noticed that I had an option for ground troops, and out of sheer curiosity, I decided to explore it.
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Ground troops:
30 transport ships
20 tanks
40 light vehicles (Humvees)
200 orbital drop pods
30 armored vehicles
1 Infantry Battalion (600 Soldiers).
_________________________________________
In this option, a pop-up window appeared with small example images and a mini-tutorial detailing how to handle the troops. The gameplay interface resembled that of any RTS game, with mechanics very similar to a combination of "Halo Wars," "Men of War," and "Company of Heroes," which felt familiar and easy to understand.
What surprised me the most was the ability to issue orders using my voice, adding an additional level of immersion to this virtual experience. I could also communicate with the troops through radio or even join them personally and lead them in first-person.
The orbital drop pods caught my attention as well, and if I'm not mistaken, they closely resembled the ones from the "Halo" series. It was evident that they had drawn inspiration from various games, explaining the sense of familiarity I was experiencing. In such a rich and diverse virtual world, it wouldn't be surprising that they took inspiration from elements of other games to create this unique experience.
I snapped back to reality when one of the NPC officers on the ship addressed Instructor Nolan with the words: "Exiting hyperspace..."
What happened next left the vast majority of us in a state of shock, even though this was just a hologram or tutorial, or whatever we wanted to call it.
The ship emerged from hyperspace, and before us lay the moon we had seen in the holotable hologram. But in the real space, that moon had turned into a hellish scene. The sight was breathtaking and terrifying, and the atmosphere in the bridge was filled with tension and anticipation as we witnessed the chaos unfolding before us.
Ships from the infamous Yoters rose up before us, more than fifteen in total, each of different sizes and with designs that defied human logic. They were true alien vessels, fiery red and equipped with imposing cannons aimed directly at our ship as we came into view.
The space around us was marked by destruction. There were destroyed ships and debris from what had once been a space station, drifting aimlessly in the void. I could even see human bodies floating in space, victims of the Yoters' brutality.
"Very well, students. Prepare for combat! Bwahahahahaha," laughed Instructor Nolan, although his laughter carried a hint of unsettling excitement.
Suddenly, like a scene from a space horror movie, a swarm of alien fighters emerged from the Yoters' ships, advancing directly toward us. The room was filled with tension and chaos as we prepared for the impending confrontation.
I swallowed hard, acutely aware of how dire the experiences for players would be in the future. If battles unfolded in this manner, it seemed like we were destined to lose always, as the Yoters' ships were clearly superior.
However, I had to remind myself that, despite the circumstances and the imminent dangers, I couldn't afford to die. Survival in this virtual world was essential, and I had to find a way to overcome the odds and triumph in this space war.
"I will make it out of here."