“Volumetric displays are what many of you would call holograms.” The stern Lizard like woman said as she pointed at the hologram behind her. Her lecturing tone continuing as she continued the lesson while walking around the display used to teach the circular room full of students.
Zathris sighed internally as she followed the lecture. It was much the same as they had studied the day before but their teacher was determined to hammer it in one more time. She was an orphan being raised in a military institute were all orphans were placed in the Mik’ir empire. All raised to join the military and sail the stars onboard their starships.
She was almost about to fall asleep when a short ringing chimed and the display in the middle of the room turned to form runes that spun in the air. Runes that spelled out an exciting set of words.
‘All students are to report to the selection station for classification viewing and selection by officers.’
It was selection day! It was finally here! She could hardly contain her excitement as she took her spot in the lines of students making their way out of the classroom and down to the basement level of the academy. She thanked the empire for having made the hyper lifts. Otherwise, she’d have to go insane waiting for the grav lifts to go up and down with their loads of students.
When they finally made it into the large hall where they were instructed to report to, there was a total of around two hundred students. Four classes each comprising fifty students, each numbered for ease of call-outs.
She waited patiently, though almost vibrating in excitement as she listened to each number get called out. “A 02, D 34, C 49, B 25!” and so on. She waited, and waited, and waited…. And waited. To the point she was the only one standing alone in the large hall, fidgeting and rubbing at her clothing.
The standard clothing each orphan was given was a set of clothes comprising of pants, thigh-high boot-like shoes, a long-sleeved top and the outer garment. The outer garment was an article of robe-like clothing which comprised of three distinct sizes of the same clothing, with two going over the shoulder laying down like one had placed scarves on either shoulder that reached just bellow to one’s knees. Then the middle layer came around the midriff which made the garment appear like some sort of robes of the martial arts order initiates.
Right now she had one of the drooping fabrics in her hands rubbing it together along her index fingers first knuckles as she squeezed it in her clenched fists. She was so nervous and fearful that they’d forgotten about her somehow as she looked over her shoulder at her teacher who simply stood at attention with the other three class teachers.
“Zathris?” A deep rumbling voice asked and she stiffened as she looked back and then up.
Before her stood a robed figure wearing something similar to her outer garment but much more voluminous yet also somehow remind her of armour. With plates on top of the shoulders that went down into a breastplate without turning into shoulder pads and the armoured gauntlets that reached up the entirety of his forearms or the similar combat armoured boots.
The hood over the mans face cast a shadow over his face but the twin blazing red suns that he had for eyes couldn’t be hidden as he stared down at her. “Are you D 50, Zathris?” He asked her again and she saluted and nodded in a hurry.
That only seemed to amuse the man as he chuckled before giving her a simple gesture to tell her to walk by his side as he began to guide her towards the hallway the other children had been guided down as well. “Do you know what I am?” He asked curiously as she had gotten the hang of walking next to him.
She nodded. “A mystic?” She asked as she looked up at him, curiosity blazing in her eyes.
The mystic only nodded and hummed a little to himself. “Then do you know why I’ve come here to guide you to your classification viewing and selection?” He asked as they reached the hallway and continued down it. Passing each of the doors on either side of it as they walked.
Zathris had to admit she was thoroughly confused as to why a mystic of all things had come to pick her up unless… her mind froze and she stopped in her tracks before looking up at the mystic. “I’m a mystic too?” She asked her tone one of hope and alarm.
The mystic only chuckled as he looked down at her before ushering her along. “Well I suspect you might, you are an unusual case after all.” This caused her to frown. How was she unusual? She came in ninth in her class in everything but combat and martial classes. There she was competing for the top three spots.
“I see you’re confused. Just be patient it’ll all be made clear soon.” The mystic said as they continued on in silence until they came upon a single door at the very end of the hallway.
Once inside she was amazed at the sheer… plainness of the room. It was a roughly 3 by 3 meters room with the same measurement for height. In the centre was a simple metallic tube that formed a ring in the exact centre of the room. Otherwise, the blue-grey walls were highly unremarkable.
“Move to the centre of the circle please.” The mystic ordered and she did as she was told.
Once she had stepped fully into the centre the ring began to glow slightly and a holographic grid sprung up in a cone upwards. A few lines went over her body as a scan finalized and several window’s popped up. The graphical visualization only there to show the mystic what she saw to allow him to help her in her choice of paths. The first among them said this.
Congratulations! You’ve reached the age of classification and will now be allowed to select from the following paths your soul can provide you with! Your soul has the gradient of Steel and !%$%#!$&’s gradient is Silver, this grants you access to the following classification types.
Gradients: copper (Poor) > Bronze (common) > Iron (uncommon) > Steel (Rare) > Silver (Epic) > Gold (Legendary)
Classification types: Poor > Common > Uncommon > Rare > Epic > Legendary
Classifications will increase an aspect of the starting skills and abilities you will be granted. Remember to choose carefully as there is no do-over if everything is processed through. So choose wisely and choose well.
She was a bit confused as she noted the other one, whatever that was had a Silver gradient the one needed to become a mystic. She had wished desperately to be a silver so she could pick mystic as her classification but her face fell as she saw she was only steel.
“Hmm Steel, I see. Well it’s all right, you might not become a mystic or a general right at the start.” The mystic said in a kind voice as he took off his hood and Zathris gasped as she saw the metallic skin. That wasn’t a mystic but an artificial.
His face was angular and strangely striated, like a biological, that was without skin with his jaw forming tight angular lines as the face resembled a skeletal one if not for the thin skin around it. Though she’d more call the thing creepy.
Before anything, though she looked at her screen and back at the artificial with suspicion forgetting her questions on him specifically for the problem before her eyes. “You only get one classification right? Ik’rir said he was sure he’d get three.” she asked almost with narrowed eyes and suspicion. Acting like she was sure she was supposed to have more than one classification.
The artificial began to laugh heartily. “Well, then I guess Ik’rir will have to be disappointed as he’ll only be getting one, just like you. It says it right here.” He said pointing at the line that spoke of her steel gradient soul.
Did the artificial not see it? Perhaps this might be her chance if she could pick the best from both steel and silver gradient options. She salivated, almost, over the idea to get to pick two classifications but she reigned it in. She didn’t know how this artificial would react to the news of her having two gradients and she didn’t want to risk it. Her gut told her so.
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Without giving her much more time to ponder a large loading circle appeared before her and she looked at the artificial he spoke. “It is going through all of the classifications you can pick from and selecting the ones you are most suited for. You can take the suggestions which more often than not are truly the best ones for you to take or you can browse the list if you so wish.
Then the loading screen suddenly expanded to become a new box and she noted the two other smaller boxes the size of her fingertip right at the top of the rightmost corner of the notification.
The following choices are yours to make, choose wisely and choose well.
Zatrhis, grade – Steel.
Commodore
Commando
Force commander
!%$%#!$&, grade – Silver
Berserker
Champion
Mystic
Zathris was almost jumped for joy and mentally selected Mystic for the mystery gradient she’d received before looking closely at her own. “What is a Force commander?” She asked as she looked up at the artificial.
“Oh? A force commander? We haven’t had one of those in a few decades.” It said with a smile on its horrific smile. “A force commander is someone that is rather rare even among Steel grades. We were suspecting it should be a silver, to be honest as force commanders are those that mix the brigadier and commodore classifications together. Able to direct combat both in space, air and ground effectively though lesser than any pure admiral or general could direct their ships or troops.”
The artificial began to rub at his chin as if in thought. “To be honest its a weaker blend of an admiral and general classification but more capable in their own right as their skills while at the lesser classification stage of both brigadier and commodore, their abilities flow seamlessly between the two.” He said in a lecturing tone.
“So are Force commanders usually those that plan the space combat and ground combat of a campaign?” Zathris asked to which she got a firm nod in return.
“It is the reason most of us feel that it should be silver grade rather than steel even though it is very inferior to a pure Admiral or General classifications simply due to their versatility.” The artificial smiled as he saw her hungrily eye the button to confirm force commander.
However, she paused a bit before making her final choices. “So this all sort of selects the paths I’m most suited for right? So if I chose Force commander I should be a talented one right?” She asked as she looked up at the artificial who thought for a moment.
“Not entirely, it simply means that out of all the choices those are the most suited to you. It will mean you’ll be at least competent at that task. Talent will always rely on your own efforts. So I take it you’ve made your choice then?” It asked with a kindly smile, a smile ruined by its ghastly appearance.
“Yeah, I’ll be a Force commander.” She said as she made the mental click and waited as the loading gave her a little time. “What should I call you anyway?”
The Artificial cocked his head a little before smirking. “M4l-1C3.”
She frowned as she thought it through with how some had decided to turn letters into numbers when it came to artificials. “M47-1C3?” She asked looking up at him with a frown only to have a shiver run down her spine before the new screen filled her vision again.
Choose the following perks and skills to start with.
Force Commander: Skills
Command, Rank 1 / 10:
Aids in instilling you in command of your forces and makes them follow them with better precision.
Fire!, rank 1 / 10:
When you use this skill while ordering a volley, the volley has a better chance to hit their target.
Sense motive, rank 1 / 10:
While most would use this when negotiating or smooth talking someone the force commander can also get a very vague sense of his or her opponents strategy.
Force commander: perks
Hold the line:
Allows morale to last longer for those under your command when in dire situations.
Gut feeling:
Your intuition is strengthened and sometimes seems almost mystical in it’s guidance, though this effect is rarely triggered.
Leadership:
Those that serve under you for long enough become increasingly loyal to you if treated right.
Mystic: Skills
Telekinesis, rank 1 / 10:
The ability to move things with ones mind, limited to things weighing under 10 kg and only capable of producing the pushing strength of a light shove to cause a slight stumble.
Empowerment, rank 1 / 10:
Focuses mystic power into the body of the user, increasing speed, strength, agility and toughness by small markings.
Jump, rank 1 / 10:
Allows the user to double their standing jump and triple it if given a running start.
Mystic: perks
Mysticism:
Grants the mystic more power when using their powers outside their body. Increases potency and range to mystic skills aimed outside the body of the user.
Balance:
Very slightly increases power and potency of the mystic’s skills across the board but only by half of what a singular focus would grant.
Inner core:
Grants the mystic more power when using their powers inside their body. Increases potency and range to mystic skills aimed at the body of the user.
This time she took her time but by the end, she made her choices.
The following have been selected.
Force commander: skill
Sense motive, rank 1 / 10
Force commander: Ability
Gut feeling
Mystic: Skill
Telekinesis, rank 1 / 10
Mystic: Ability
Balance
She let out a slight breath and then looked at the artificial, no M47-1C3 again. “So I’ve chosen my skill and ability, so what's next?” She asked as the artificial looked her over and then at the pulsing ring around her.
“Last is to confirm it all. Once that is done you will only be able to see your status sheet once you step onto a classification platform such as the one under you. After that, you shall go straight to training to become an officer worthy of the empire.” M47-1C3 said with a slight sneer.
Zathris didn’t dignify him with a response and instead selected through the confirmation screen and accepted it. She felt a tingling sensation run up her spine as foreign senses and knowledge trickled into her, like fingers massaging and tapping across not only her brain but her entire body. Before she could get used to the strange sensation it vanished and she almost fell to her knees.
Cold hands moved around her biceps as M47-1C3 helped her stand and then marched her off to training where the years became a blur. Turning from an eleven-year-old orphan cadet to become a full-blown twenty-four-year-old officer on graduation. She’d learned everything she needed to know from basic fleet tactics and ground tactics to being familiar with every system aboard a ship, if not able to help with very basic repairs.
Logistics, trade, infrastructure and more were touched upon in case of an exploratory mission to set up new colonies was needed. Despite the rigorous mental and knowledge-based training programs her combat and fitness was also tested and trained until she sported corded muscle underneath her uniform.
Then as Zathris took her first steps aboard her first flag ship’s bridge, wearing the long coat like outer garment of a naval officer she beamed with pride. The Overlord and its crew was a simple frigate with two more corvette class ships that would be under her command all ready to go in orbit awaiting her orders.
Right as she was about to say something the world began to darken, not her eyesight but the literal world around her. As her consciousness began to still with the darkening universe she felt oddly at ease.
Then I woke up.