While my thoughts were on Fauder and the rest, the elder running the show decided it was time to get everything started. Then he had to do the classic welcome speech, I mean why can't things ever just be simple there is always fanfare.
"Welcome young adults to the start of your future paths and congratulations for being the selected elites of your generation. Gathered here you the top five hundred already have a head start compared to the other 2000 or so in the regular section. You're garnered a slot for increased training in leadership and spaceship command but the real prize you're fighting for is the top 50, top 10, and the top 3 prizes, and of course the 1st place prize that for now will remain a surprise. But just to get you motivated the top 50 get the opportunity to train with some of our special squads and units. The top 10 are awarded there own personal armored hovercar and the choice of a custom weapon. The final 3 will be awarded the ownership and command of their own Corvette class space ship."
With explosive enthusiasm, the crowd's reaction to the elder's words were surprise and anticipation all the nervous people got this look of determination and the confidence got excited. The faces of the other top contenders were focused and serious now. The prizes were very tempting especially the prize for entering the top 3, that's a surprising prize. I wonder what the first place winner will receive if the earnings of the top three are already so nice. I mean even if it is the smallest of vessel size warships it's still a warship, I must get into the finals. But now that may be harder than it was a few minutes ago every Sub-Classification one is gunning for glory now.
War Ship Classes: Spoiler
Ship Type: Small > Large Default Class
Ship Sub-Classification Break Down Crew Size/Max Marine Count Fast Attack Craft [A] length 40-85ft Includes Heavy [HA], Light [LA] 7-20, Marine detachment (MD) 10 Patrol Ship [P]. length Assault100-150ft In Atmosphere [IP], Space[SP] 20-35, (MD) 14 Corvette [V]. length 200-300ft Stealth [SV],Landing Assault [LV] 50-80, (MD) 20 Frigate [FF]. length 400-600ft Escort [EF], 100-200, (MD) 50 Submarines [SB] Water only 500-600ft Cloaked [SC] the only Current Version Space only 500-700ft 100-150, (MD) 20 Destroyers [DD]. 600-750ft Anti-Sub [AD] 300-500, (MD) 50-100 Cruisers [CC]. 800-1000ft Light [LC], Heavy [HC] 1000-3000, (MD) 200 Carriers(Size may vary) [CV] Fleet size:2000-3000ft Mini [MV] 500-700ft, Light [LV] 1000ft, Hive [HVC] 6000ft 500-18000, (MD) 100-5000 Battle Cruiser [BC] 1500-1700ft only one type/class 4000-5000, (MD) 300 Battleship [BB] 2000-3000ft only one type/class 6000-8000, (MD) 700 Dreadnought [DN] 5000-7000ft only one type/class 10000-15000, (MD) 2000
" Now now young ones calm down" with a large grin on his wrinkly face the elder seems to be enjoying himself. " This is what I love to see the young full of energy and ambition. But my next words are important so pay attention, there are three sections to the test. The first being a written exam in the real no digital versions and no virtual classroom, you will take it here in the field." As he finished those words a section of the arena floor came open and up from under the floor came an area full of about 400 desks all about 3ft apart.
" These desks are where your first test takes place, and if you noticed there are only 400 seats the people who don't get a seat have to stand and take the test. There are 80 questions and scenarios on the test, cheating, and sabotage is allowed on your fellow test-takers but no physical interference is allowed. A pre-question will determine who gets to sit in the seats good luck to you all the test start now."
Ding! A notification flashed on my PAL with a question. (What determines success on the battlefield more. A-a skilled leader, B-Good military Intel, C-Battle Field Awareness, D-Adapting To Changes.)
Ok wow they start off with a tough question, these are all important but which one is the most important. Looking around I see that others have already answered and on their way to the desk in the center. The first of which being Fauder with Tasal, Dent, and Alada close behind. I mean come on even Dent knows the answer I can't fall behind.
Looking at the question again I determine it's between B and D because a good leader can't work well without good intel and you have to adapt to changes or you and everyone else will die so it has to be D. I clicked D and a notification flashed saying I was correct. My seat number is 17 it seems a few others were faster than me when answering.
Ahead in the seats, people were already starting there test rushing to catch up I jogged to my seat and flipped open the test envelope. Next to me to the left sat a nerdy plain-looking boy, and as I sat down in seat number 18 a rebellious looking party girl sat down. I've never sat between two people who look more opposite to each other in one place than now. Ignoring them I started the first question, things were going well for the first half of the test the questions were on a lot of things I covered in my studies.
But then things started getting a little tense the 100 people with no seats were ether walking around between people trying to steal answers or disrupting other people trying to steal answers. And of course, their targets were those who got to there seats the fastest because they are ether smart to have more answers written down. So I became one of the prime targets being as I was one of the first few people to sit down.
It became a game of cat and mouse for the last half of the test trying to protect my answers and maybe even steal some from the others around me. The boy to my left at seat 16 seemed to be doing good and I was stuck on one of my last few questions. Now I noticed that no one seems to be able to steal his answers because he bought a personal light reflection (PLR) device which pretty much just makes things dark and intangible around the area it protects so no one can see his desk. I don't know if he was prepared beforehand or just lucky that he had one on him but that's way too convenient and not against the rules.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
So I'm going to try a new strategy of giving and take they never said we could not help each other. "Spittttssss hey boy how about we team up for a little and share some answers." Bringing his head up from his test the boy turned towards me with a confused face. "And why should I do that I'm pretty sure of most of my answers and I don't think you could help me that much or at all."
With a smile, I said, " that's exactly why because you don't have all the answers and neither do I maybe if we help each other now it will benefit us both later." With a thoughtful look debating the benefits he faced me again." Ok, we can work together but how about we extend the deal we help each other now and the next test if possible deal."
"Ok that's a bold proposition but sure why not can't hurt." "Hey how about I get in on that deal too." Those words came from my right turning around the party looking girl was giving me this wide playful grin.
........."I'm fine with that as long as he is, more friends never hurt the situation." Glancing back at the boy he just shrugged his shoulders not saying no so I guess this is now a three-way alliance. "Well, ok guess this is to a happy cooperation lets share some answers." From then on we compared notes while fighting off the other test takers people started noticing our strategy near the last five minutes and started replicating but by then It was mostly useless. So it came down to the last question which had a written response and we all had to do that personally so now outside help and the question was quite hard.
Question 80: You are on the battlefield and your commanding officer has ordered you and you're platoon to be the rear guard for a retreat to buy time for your allies. The soldiers under your command have run out of blank clone replacements and are in the field with there real bodies' death for them is permanent if they fall in battle. Your options are to follow orders and hold back the enemy with your soldiers or perform a rolling slow retreat with your soldiers trying to save as many as you can with the risk that your actions may lead to the annihilation of your other forces who are retreating as well. What do you do?
Man, this question is messed up ether route I go kill a few to save a lot or save as many as I can and hope for the best. I want to choose the second option which I know is a violation of orders and risking the overall objective. But can I really just let those soldiers die with no chance to come back. ........... I'll go with my heart this time not my brain I'm going to save all I can and hope for the best.
I wrote down my answer and finished the test, all around me many others were doing the same party girl and the nerdy boy just finished up as well. I looked at them and gave a nod our deal is still on now it's time to see what the next part of the test is about. As the timer went off test proctors came and collected all the answers and slotted them into this machine.
"Ok hope everyone was happy with there test answers I saw people working together near the end there nice thinking. I never did say you could not work together congratulations to those who took advantage of that," the elder seemed amused by the events that happened with people scrambling around during the test." The results will be listed at the end of the evaluation today and combined with the results of the other parts of the evaluation. So don't slack off and lose focus or hope the winner is not determined just yet."
"The next section is a two-parter personal combat evaluation all contestants will log into a virtual space and battle a training dummy in hand to hand combat. Then you will be placed in a battle royal scenario against the other contestants with your choice of basic weapons and gear. The last 10 standing get bonus points for the last test, and again good luck. Now proceed to your designated pods and log in."
With that, another part of the arena lifted up to reveal 500 pods ready for use. Ding! Another notification came so I followed the instructions to my pod and what do you know it was right next to Tasal she gave me a small smile and then just hoped into her pod and I stared as it closed her in. Waiting no longer I did the same.
Welcome, Asandria.
Battle training protocol start please begin when ready.
That's what greeted me when my download was done. I found myself in a tasteful training hall with wood flooring and tan walls with wooden pillars around. In front of me a weird manikin looking robot was just standing there looking at me with these faceless features it was crazy creepy how still it was very off-putting.
I learned personal combat in training the instructor beat me almost every day near the end trying to drill it into me. Apparently I learned to the novice level of the Deltoran combat Arts named after the Deltoran space raiders a group of Asian and South American descent apparently that inherited arts from old earth. They were the worst pirates from around 5000 years ago during the era of expansion and war. Feared for there deadly skills in ship hallways and close combat skills they were masters of boarding operations. It's a mix of using small blades and grappling along with knee and elbow strikes with the occasional Gun Fu or gun kata.
The combat Bot will increase difficulty every minute and eventually acquire weapons prepare ahead.
"Bring up my combat loadout." Ding!
Equipment Property Scout armor Mk (half armor options-decrease defense increase flexibility) PAL Health Kit, Foam injector Civilian clothes KillerBee-Light mini Pistol(Hidden Weapon) Saint 231- Pistol,Silencer Hawk30-Scout Rifle. Badger 3T-Multipurpose. Frag, smoke grenades Mini remote bombs Smart bombs Curved knife, knuckle knife, 3 throwing knives
"Ok let's equip the knives and half armor, then regular and hidden pistols I don't need anything else for this part of the test."Slotting my last knife in I'm ready to fight this robot. "Test Start" As soon as my words finished the bot rushed me we were 20ft apart now its just 5. Taking quick action I got into my stance feet stable, the bot got right up to me throwing a jab at my face I grabbed it's arm and broke it then flipped it over and crushed its neck with my feet.
Round 1 complete round 2 starts.
The bot reset and this time was more cautious it inched toward me one foot forward and hands up. "Changing style are you" not willing to let it increase in difficulty on me I take the initiative rushing forward I kick out to its leg trying to break its balance. It responds with a counter kick to my center. I dodge to the side unleashing an elbow to the side of its leg doing damage and breaking balance. I then rush forward and grapple it in a chokehold and increase pressure. I almost get it when the second-minute passes and the difficulty increases.
Reversing the hold the bot almost gets on top of me, not willing to get in a tussle I jump back to look for another chance. Now we are circling each-other looking for openings the bot moves forward to launch a hook then a one-two combo. I block then do a front grapple kneeing its chest and restricting its movement. It proceeds to jab my sides trying to break the hold so I release it and give it a spinning elbow to the neck. And in the process knock it out.
Round 3 difficulty Starts in 20sec.
Well, let's see how long I can hold out the better I do the better my chances are for those nice prizes.