The classroom was a far cry from anything Jackie Stewart had ever known. Instead of traditional desks or rows of chairs, the room was arranged in a semicircle, with raised tiers so that each cadet could see the massive sandboard dominating the center. The floor-to-ceiling screens on the walls flickered with data, schematics of mechas, and tactical maps that updated in real-time as they practiced their maneuvers. It was an impressive setup meant to simulate the feel of commanding troops in the field while conveying the weight of large-scale mecha combat.

Jackie shifted in her seat, her gaze locked on the instructor at the head of the room, an imposing man with a hard face and a gravelly voice that carried easily across the space.

"Large-scale mecha engagements aren't just about one-on-one combat," the instructor, Major Lisinski, barked. "It’s about coordination, control of the battlefield, and using your assets—mecha, artillery, air support, everything—in unison. If you go in guns blazing, you’ll end up a smoking pile of scrap before you even realize what hit you."

He stabbed a thick, calloused finger at the sandboard, and the grains shifted with a quiet hiss, forming the miniature landscape of a city. The buildings were unevenly spaced, some taller than others, the kind of urban terrain where mecha squads often found themselves deployed. A grid of streets spread out from the center, and in the middle, a trio of small mecha models appeared—scaled-down versions of the types of units Jackie and her classmates would eventually pilot.

Jackie leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied the map. She could already see how tight the quarters were, the way the city streets would funnel units and limit movement. This was no open battlefield; it was a place where a single wrong move could get you pinned down or ambushed.

"Stewart!" Major Lisinski called out, snapping her attention back to him. "Get up here. Please show me how you'd deploy your squad in an urban environment. You've got three mecha, and let's say the enemy has six. Heavy artillery, but limited maneuverability. You've got support through two light scouts, and your mission is to secure this building." He tapped the sandboard again, and one of the larger structures lit up red.

Jackie stood, suppressing the flash of nerves that shot through her. She’d never been afraid of a challenge, and mecha school was full of them, but the eyes of her classmates followed her as she approached the sandboard, each one silently judging, measuring.

She picked up the pointer and hovered it over the landscape, her mind racing through the tactics they had been drilled on. This wasn’t about instinct alone but about using the terrain, the intel, and her squad’s strengths.

"First," she began, her voice steady, "I'd split the scouts and send them through these side streets here and here," she pointed to narrow alleyways on either side of the map. "Their job is recon—find out where the enemy mechs are clustered and relay that info back. With their light armor and speed, they’ll stay mobile and avoid direct engagement."

Major Lisinski nodded but said nothing, his expression unreadable.

Jackie continued, “Once we’ve got eyes on the enemy, I’d keep one of my mechs in reserve behind this cover.” She pointed to a large, half-collapsed building. “It’s our fallback position. Meanwhile, I’d use the other two to outflank the narrow streets. These heavier enemy mechs will struggle in tight quarters, and if we stay mobile, we can force them to split up.”

She paused for a moment, eyeing the layout again. "Once they’re divided, we hit them hard, focusing fire on one at a time. We use the terrain—move quickly, keeping them guessing. If we thin them out before they converge, we’ll have the advantage when we move on the building."

The room was quiet as she finished, and Jackie set the pointer down, stepping back from the board. The sand settled into place, leaving her battle plan etched into the terrain for all to see.

Lisinski eyed the map for a long moment, then returned to the class. "Stewart’s plan has merit," he said finally. "She’s using the scouts effectively for information, she’s relying on speed and mobility, and she’s thinking about how to use the environment to her advantage. However—" he tapped the board again, causing another group of enemy mechs to appear. "What she didn’t account for is the possibility of reinforcements."

Jackie’s stomach dropped slightly, but she kept her face neutral.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"You always need to consider the broader battle," Lisinski said. "Enemy units don’t operate in isolation. The moment they see a flank maneuver, they’ll call for backup, and you’ll have an even bigger fight on your hands. So what do you do?"

Jackie frowned, thinking quickly. "I’d have to adjust the plan. Keep one of my units back farther to guard the rear and prepare for reinforcements while the others press the attack. And if things get too heavy, we fall back to the designated building—use it as a choke point for defense until we can secure it fully."

Lisinski nodded slowly. "Better. Remember, tactics in mecha combat are always fluid. You can’t rely on a static plan because the battlefield is always shifting."

As Jackie returned to her seat, the tension in her shoulders eased. She wasn’t perfect, but she could feel herself improving, piece by piece, learning how to adapt to this new world of mecha warfare.

***

The room was dimly lit, the only illumination source coming from the holoscreens that lined the walls. A series of graphs, charts, and names flickered across the displays, each representing the progress of the new cadets. The instructors sat in a semicircle around a central table, their expressions a mixture of mild interest, skepticism, and weariness. Weeks into the semester, the novelty of recruits had worn off, and now it was time to evaluate who had potential—and who didn’t.

Major Lisinski leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the display before him. "Alright, let’s get started," he said, his voice gruff but commanding. He tapped a button on the console in front of him, and the first name appeared on the screen.

"Cadet Willis. Top of the class in theoretical assessments but still struggling with practical applications. His mecha control is... clumsy, at best. He’s overthinking everything," said one of the instructors, a middle-aged woman with a sharp gaze. She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.

Lisinski grunted. "Overthinkers don’t last long in combat. Has anyone seen improvement?"

A younger instructor, Captain Reyes, chimed in. "Slight improvement, but not enough. He’s cautious, but in this field, caution can get you killed. He freezes in simulations when the pressure ramps up."

"Noted," Lisinski said, moving on. "Next, Stewart. Jackie Stewart."

There was a brief pause as the other instructors glanced at each other. Her name had already become somewhat of a topic among them.

"She's a natural," Reyes said, his tone betraying a hint of admiration. "Solid instincts, quick to adapt, and her mecha piloting skills are coming along faster than expected. Her tactics in the field exercises show promise. She’s aggressive but knows when to pull back."

"She had a good showing in the tactics class," Major Lisinski added, tapping his console again to bring up her profile. "Used the urban terrain to her advantage, split her forces well, and executed a decent flanking maneuver. She’s not afraid to take risks."

Another instructor, Lieutenant Dane, leaned forward. "But she still has that rookie overconfidence. She didn’t account for reinforcements in the last scenario. Almost lost her entire squad because she was too focused on the immediate threat."

"That can be trained out," Lisinski replied, waving his hand dismissively. "I’d rather have a cadet who takes action than one who sits and hesitates."

"True," the older female instructor nodded. "She’s progressing quickly in hand-to-hand combat too. She’s aggressive, no doubt about that. Sometimes too aggressive."

"That's something we can refine," Reyes said. "Better to dial someone back than try to push them forward. She’ll learn to temper it as she goes."

Lisinski flipped through more data on his console. "Overall, she’s outperforming the majority of the class. I’ll keep an eye on her, but I don’t think she’s a problem child. Yet."

The next name flashed onto the screen: Cadet Torres. The mood in the room shifted slightly.

"Torres... he's the opposite of Stewart," Dane said, his tone flat. "Careful, methodical, but lacking initiative. He performs decently enough in simulations, but he’s too hesitant. Almost like he's afraid to make a mistake."

"Not good for a pilot," Lisinski grumbled. "You hesitate, you're dead. Is he showing any improvement?"

Reyes shook his head. "Not really. He gets through the simulations, but his scores aren’t improving. He’s competent in theory but lacks the killer instinct needed in the field."

Lisinski made a note. "We’ll have to keep an eye on him. If he doesn’t show more aggression soon, he’s not going to make it through."

The next several names passed without much discussion, the cadets either being written off as average or dismissed for lack of significant progress. Then, another name appeared on the screen: Cadet Foley.

"Foley..." Lisinski muttered. "How’s he doing?"

The older female instructor leaned forward, adjusting her glasses. "Foley’s a wildcard. He’s got raw talent, no doubt about that, but he’s undisciplined. He takes unnecessary risks in simulations, goes off-plan, and almost always ends up compromising the mission."

"That can be a liability," Reyes said. "But it’s also the kind of thing that, with the right guidance, could make him one of our best."

Lisinski raised an eyebrow. "Are you volunteering to mentor him, Reyes?"

Lisinski made a final note before closing the display. "Alright, that’s enough for today. We’ll keep an eye on the outliers, but the rest... they’ll either improve or wash out. Let's see how they handle the next round of field tests."

As the instructors filed out of the room, Lisinski stayed behind, his thoughts lingering on the names they’d reviewed. Jackie Stewart. Foley. The cadets were shaping up, but the real test was yet to come.