Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 405: Cerberus Training 3

Chapter 405: Cerberus Training 3
Jace appeared in the small brick house that made up the simulation setup. It was just a bit bigger than a log house. At the moment no one else was in there as the setup process was still going on. It had a bunch of text appear explaining the situation.
[You are to protect the asset from the enemy at all costs for as long as possible. The weapons for each simulation are randomized. The same is true of the enemies and the asset you are protecting. The amount for each group will be between four and twelve.
Once the simulation is complete they can be rewatched later. In addition a ranking board made up of all of the simulations will be viewable at the lobby after today. Monetary rewards will be available to be used for gear for the highest ranking simulation participants.]
Jace stretched as he swiped it away and then watched as the others appeared. There were only four others this time. So that meant there were five of them overall. He quickly glanced at the weapons that were randomly given to them along with the time limit that sat above the only door in the room that was wooden.
There were several other things that this simulation would test for that he did not tell his captains or temporary division leaders. Nor did he put it in the explanation. But it would be an eye opener if it actually occurred.
"Okay, I guess we are just being dropped right in?" One of them asked the other and then noticed Jace. "Oh! Sir, I just-"
"It is fine. Like I told the captains and temporary division leaders. Today is more about getting familiar with each other. So do not stand on ceremony during this simulation." Jace told him as he spun his hat around before walking over to the weapons rack. "There is a timer up there with the amount of time before the first wave. I suggest you pick your weapons and get ready."
One of them nodded her head before walking over and picking up a shotgun. "Okay. This is not something I am familiar with. We did not have many solid kinetic weapons in the New Hexarian Republic. They were mostly explosives and anti-mech weapons."
"That is fine with me." Jace grabbed a simple laser pistol from the picks. It was a weaker laser pistol by any country’s standards. "But I would appreciate talking a bit while we do this. So tell me a bit about yourselves."
"My name is Linda, but my friends or in this case compatriots can just call me Linds." The woman told them. "I am from the republic. I was not actually part of the military. I was part of a planetary militia where a civil war was about to break out when shit hit the fan."
Jace nodded his head and stepped over to the window that let him look out into some trees. It seems the map they were given was a forest with low hanging trees. The maps like just about everything else were randomized. The only things that were not random were the brick building and the initial timer before the first wave.
"I am Jace, I am from the Kamot System." Jace told them then nodded at the rest of them who were nervously shifting.
A skinnier man with glasses stepped forward and grabbed a laser rifle. "My name is Jack Quest. I am from Woltar Systems. I was just a logistics officer when I was with their military." He explained as he stepped toward a window.
"My name is Parker Boils." Another man with a visible cybernetic, introduced himself as he grabbed a Wildfire Assault rifle. "I am from the republic as well but I was in the military."
They all looked at the last man who was decently built up. He also happened to be the first one that had spoken earlier. He was frozen for a moment before he seemed to realize that they were waiting for him.
"Sorry, I am Harry Rain. My family are immigrants from the Crystoph Federation. We came to the Vexical Empire but never had the opportunity to join the military because they were required to be a nanohuman. Instead we became mercenaries. I joined up with the Victorium when I was given the opportunity." Harry explained as he looked over what was left and picked up the Victorium carbine rifle. "What is this?"
"A Victorium weapon. You have two minutes to figure it out." Jace explained as he began fiddling with the laser pistol. "So why did all of you join the Victorium Military?"
"I wanted to see if joining the Victorium was worth it. Or if we should try to back out sooner." Linds declared openly. She glanced at Jace expecting some type of response, but he just nodded in understanding.
"I want to defend the country my family lives in. Although a bunch of my siblings joined the military as well." Harry explained with a chuckle, "speaking of them. I was expecting to see at least one of my siblings."
"The Victorium has a strict policy preventing siblings from being in the same unit. They are very military family aware." Jace explained.
"Does the Victorium have an issue with Nepotism?" Linds asked in suspicion.
"Not so much anymore. Before the Vexical joined them there was the Elder Council but they were abolished and replaced with MILD. But people like the High Priestess, recognizes the negatives of Nepotism and will promote people because of their achievements." Jace explained.
"I joined for the pension." Parker told them and got odd stares from the others. "What?"
"Hahaha!" Jace burst into laughter while shaking his head. "You are fine. I suppose the stable pension does look nice. I forgot other militaries pay jack shit."
Jack Quest sighed and shook his head. "This is true. I suppose the Vexical Military pay was good?"
"It depended on where you landed. But yeah. We had statistically better pay. Mostly because we could afford to since we did not have massive and costly mechs." Jace explained with a chuckle.
"Well, I joined because I needed a change of pace from the normal." Jack waved the weapon he was holding. "It looks like I am on course for that."
"How about you Major?" Linds asked with a nod in his direction.
Jace shook his head, "I never had a choice. Technically I am considered a MILD asset. Not that I mind. I prefer an action packed life. Civilian life just does not fit with me."
"So you are just going with it?" Linds asked with a frown. "Not going to fight it."
"Nope." Jace answered and then there was a quiet beeping and he moved up to a window. "Times up." He made the beeping quiet in case a group was distracted while talking or planning. Just to simulate the need for a lookout.
"Oh shit... what is our protected asset?" Harry asked as he began looking around in a panic. They had spent their time doing introductions rather than strategizing. Which was fine since this was their first simulation.
Jace pointed at a box as he watched deeper past the tree line. His eyes allowed him to see farther into the darkness. "It is that." The box was an unmarked camo green armored box.
"So do you have any advice?" Linds asked and Jace shook his head as he spotted the first enemies that were just plant monsters.
"I guess that means we do not get an edge despite us being with the Major first." Jack chuckled as he looked through the window. The sky and in tur the forest were shrouded in a darkness that made it difficult to see.
"Does anyone see what is out there?" Parker asked as he aimed the rifle through a window going out the opposite side of the brick house. "I can see shadows moving but that is it."
"Plant monsters, they have vine bundles for arms while the bottom of their body leads off back into the forest. The thing above their midsection looks like a giant thing with tongues." Jace began explaining as he waited. He would not be the first one to take a shot at the enemy.
He could hear Linds take a deep breath. "Okay. Assume this is a real situation. Keeping that in mind, we need more information before we do anything. For now just close up and keep quiet because it appears they cannot see." It appears Linds can assess the situation before jumping in. That was a good sign. Let’s see how far she can get them.
But he could tell that she has already managed to stand out from the others. Mostly because she recognized that Jace was not going to take command and someone needed to be in charge. He was wondering how the other simulations were going. But as tempted as he was, he figured he should focus so he knew the plan his group would come up with.