2 mjmhahh - H.G.M.W.S.¹⁰¹

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

13 Chapter 13

The two Cadets expand their data collection the next day, after another Status gain drought, adding the piloting program for the Kepler Line Mecha to their headsets.

Though theyre far from as glorious as the Crusader Class Mecha, theyre of more immediate concern to the two, as theyre the first Mecha that ever students will train on.

The other new program they got was a Martial Arts program directly from Sargeant Zamm, to help build their hand to hand combat skills. Many Cadets view that as unnecessary in an age of high powered weapons, but in urban settings, close quarters engagement is the norm and not the exception.

Line Mecha in the standard pattern are only 3 meters tall, with the pilot sitting reclined in the torso, so they often get in close to their targets in such scenarios, and not every enemy they face will be human, or even humanoid.

The actual armament of a Line Mecha varies, but its typically simple and either slow firing or self guided, like rocket pods. That makes them perfect for hand to hand combat training once Max has memorized some of the dozens of styles Nico knew in her past life.

Compared to them, what they teach academy students is laughable, but according to Dave, thats the basic close combat style for the entire Empire, only special forces are taught anything better. Unlike some other Empires, the Command Structure of the Kepler Kingdom views ranged firepower as the great equalizer, and relies upon it for almost every situation.

Line Mecha combat is included in the program that Sargeant Zamm sent them, it was just locked by their First Year class designation, a problem they quicky solved so that they could train both martial arts and Mecha handling at the same time..

The difference between in person and in Mecha is huge, as the Line Mecha are fully manual controls, two sticks plus dozens of buttons, switches and levers to control everything. For the most part you can keep your hands on the sticks, but more complex maneuvers are often done with one hand, while calibrating systems and sensors with the other.

Far different than simply moving your own body to fight.

Third times a charm. Nico laughs the next day as they leave lunch, heading for the training grounds. They will both need at least two categories to update today in order to hit the goal, but theyve got the feeling that its coming soon.

Today they pick the tennis simulator, and Nico cranks the machine back up to maximum Stat Gains, as she always does, making Max laugh. Its obvious the staff has noticed, and because they cant blame the students, theyre blaming each other.

Max would do the adjustments himself, but since he needs to actually touch the control panel and enter the changes, he would be caught in seconds. Nico can do it from inside the VR simulation, so even if they enter under standard settings it doesnt matter.

Max is up 6 points to 5 when his Strength finally increases.

[Strength Gain]

[STR] +35%

The change will take a while to apply, and theyve got time, so Max goes for the win, trying to finish the match before their next hourly break.

[Dexterity Gain]

[DEX] +8%

[Speed Gain]

[SPD] +8%

[System Functionality Unlocked: Base Stats]

[STR] 2 +35%

[DEX] 2 +8%

[SPD] 2 +8%

Hes so happy to see the notifications that he doesnt even try to block the tennis ball that smacks him in the forehead, making Nico laugh.

Go, take your break, Ill finish up the timer against an AI opponent. She tells him, then he is forcefully kicked out of the simulation.

As much as Max loves being able to read minds, that ability of hers is entirely unfair. At least when theyre using VR tech it is.

Nico leaves the Resistance trainer only a few minutes later, so the instructors think nothing of the two taking an extended break and waiting on their Stats to update.

Theyve been so reliable with their training regimen that Max even notices that others are taking a longer than usual break, assuming that their time is up when he goes back to training.

Lets try something different for a bit. Get some real sunlight through the eyes instead of projecting the images straight into the brain. Max suggests.

Water Rugby? Nico asks, and the students around them cheer.

Water Rugby is a team sport, you need multiple players per side or its just boring. There isnt a real pool here, but the water obstacle under the log run does the job very well. They can stand in it, with water to their chest, and the logs are just another obstacle to play around.

Its also harder than it sounds, pushing through the water, especially with another cadet hanging off your back, trying to pull you under and steal the ball.

Sargeant Farhan has a new twist for them today, ankle and wrist weights as well as a weighted belt. The extra two kilos per limb isnt terrible, at least not at first, but the level of energy spent with the extra weight and the wet coveralls is much higher than simply playing on dry land.

They call the game twenty minutes before the end of training, giving them some time to dry off, since the staff wont let you in the cafeteria covered in mud or dripping wet, and none of them want to change before they eat.

To Sargeant Zamm, that means its time for the Cadets to take a jog. The base layers dry out in seconds if theyre not exposed to water, and the coveralls will dry rapidly in the wind.

Hop to it, gogogo, lets get you all pretty and dry for the cafeteria. Zamm shouts, but doesnt push them hard enough theyll really start sweating.

Hes on cafeteria duty today after all, and the fewer sweaty bodies there are in the room, the happier he is. Too many of the First Years barely understand hygiene, or the necessity of washing clothes that arent stained.

Maxs new base stats implement while hes eating, and Max can feel his uniform getting tighter. Thats a known side effect of the process, it often pushes students through an accelerated early puberty, as the nanobots optimize them for adult life.

He excuses himself to his dorm room, deciding that he can ask an Instructor for new clothes in the morning, or if the change is not too drastic, simply go downstairs in his stretchy base layer and grab them from the Commissary.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

14 Chapter 14

When Max woke up in the morning nothing fit him. From clothes to shoes to even his bed, he had outgrown them all in the course of a single night. Forget the plan of going down to the commissary in his skivvies, hes definitely going to have to get someone to bring him a new uniform.

He looks over to Nico, who had also broken past the fifty percent margin yesterday, and presumably had the same issues that he did, only to find the small figure still sleeping comfortably in bed. She certainly wasnt as small as she was last night, but Max grew quite a bit in a single night.

Getting up, he found that he could now easily reach the data screen on the wall by the door, and began to scroll through for a way to get new clothes before realizing that he had no idea what his new size was. He didnt even know exactly how tall he was. Fortunately for him there is an easy way to find out your exact size here in the academy, in the form of a Virtual Reality headset..

They might have hacked the ones they were using to adjust their size to be compatible with the cockpit size of the Crusader Class Mecha in the simulators, but the unit could still scan your body and tell you everything from your height and weight to your body mass index and if you needed a haircut to stay within regulations.

So, Max put his set on and booted it up, asking it to run a user scan and report the data but not update any settings in the system at this time. He wasnt sure hed be done growing at this point, and updating now might mess up their custom settings, making him a giant in the simulators.

According to the headset he had shot up to a whopping 170 cm tall, but still weighed only 39 kilos. He needed to eat to get enough calories into him for the nanobots to finish their work, but he couldnt very well do that naked. So, he went back to the data screen and paged Major Payne, who he knew would be up by this point anyhow.

This had better be good, Cadet. Im not your mother that you can just summon at will. She growled, coming into their dorm room with her morning coffee in hand.

My apologies Major, but both of us went through the fifty percent activation last night, and now neither of us has anything to wear that even remotely fits. I wasnt sure what to do, but going naked to the commissary didnt seem like the greatest of plans. Max explains as the Instructor looks at him in shock.

Not only did both him and Cadet Nico get through the years goal for system gains in under two weeks, but the boy had also undergone one of the more dramatic puberty upgrades, likely due to his strength based Primary Stat. As you mature, the system helps shape your body to the bonuses that youve put into it, so a high strength male would naturally be a large and bulky person, where a dexterity specialized soldier like herself tended to be more on the lean side.

Major Payne produced a tape measure from her pocket and started measuring Cadet Max, getting his arm and leg lengths, as well as his height, chest and waist measurements. The process made Nico chuckle something about his three sizes, but Major Payne did the exact same to her, finding that she was still only 135 cm tall, shorter than average for the amount of maturing that her body had done overnight. The Majors estimation was that they would still need at least two or three days for the process to complete, so they were excused from classes, and an assortment of the regulation black uniform coveralls would be sent to their dorm in the meantime.

She would be checking up on them three times a day, as well as twice daily visits from the doctors to ensure that they werent having any issues, but if they felt any sort of pain they were to report to the infimary immediately.

That suited them just fine, they could take their time and recover, with a LOT of food, and catch up on their simulator exercises that had been sacrificed these last few days in favor of extra time in the resistance trainer because they were trying for the last few gains to put them over the top.

In the observation room, the news from Instructor Payne had everyone buzzing in excitement. Not just one but two Cadets had come very close to, if not broken the Empires growth rate records, and they were both at the same academy. That would be a great benefit for their careers, as the speed of a Cadets progress reflected directly on the efficiency and skill of the Academy training them.

The news spread quickly and quietly to many other places as well, with more than one set of ears being interested in the fate of these Cadets. One in particular decided to use his sway and go see them for himself, volunteering as a course instructor for advanced Mecha Piloting at the Kepler Terminus Military Academy.

Max knew nothing of this though, all he knew was the coveralls arrived in only a few minutes and they could go fill up at the cafeteria. Not only the uniform rules had been suspended for them during this time, the portion size rules had too. During the transition, getting as much energy as possible was more important than maintaining a healthy body weight and blood sugar levels, which the standard diets were designed to do.

The only real problem was that growing hurt. A lot. Every second of breakfast was agony as his body adjusted, and he didnt think that Nico was in any better shape, despite remaining much shorter. The entire day progressed that way, just a steady stream of calories for his body to burn and intense pain that no available painkiller would even begin to nullify.

The doctors came by twice and confirmed that it was absolutely normal with a growth spurt as intense as his had been, but there wasnt much they could do about the pain without temporarily disabling the nanobots, which would cripple his advancement, and possibly his body as well.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

15 Chapter 15

Being so far ahead of the curve left the teachers assigned to Cadets Nico and Max in turmoil. If they kept pushing themselves, they might quicky surpass even the average third year students, which would be a nightmare for the placement exams and training schedules. But if they held them back there would be hell to pay with their superiors for stunting the childrens growth.

They had a few months to make their final decision still while the two Cadets suffered through the progression and their bodies adapted, but after that something would need to be decided.

What they eventually came up with, at Major Paynes insistence, was to allow them full use of the line Mecha training programs in their off time, as well as special dispensation to go home for the fall break.

First Year students had never earned the privilege before, but theres a first time for everything, and these two had earned it. That also gave them an extra week to plan their transition from the basics of First Year classes into someting more suitable for their skill levels.

In these newly grown bodies, they didnt look much different than the older students, and they were roughly the same size, allowing them to fit right in if they were transferred.

There was some talk of moving them to a different academy, to avoid the upset that would be caused among students in the year three class at the special treatment, but that was put to a sudden stop when they received the notice of a new trainer coming..

The man was a living legend on Kepler Terminus, pilot of a Phalanx Class Mecha that specialized in point defense. Alone he could hold a small city against an attack by light Mecha and conventional vehicles.

He intended to recruit the two Cadets for Classified Special Forces training, testing their worthiness here before moving them should they prove successful.

That bought them the time they needed to let the Cadets adjust to their new sizes and muscle density. Puberty in a week didnt come without a cost, and the initial pain was only part of it. The awkwardness was very real, and many Cadets basically had to learn to walk again.

The day before fall break finally came, Major Payne delivered the news of permission to return home for the early break to the Cadets, who were training on the resistance machine at the lower than usual balanced growth setting so they didnt strain anything, then returned to the main class, who were writing exams at the moment.

You know what my parents are like, why dont you come to my house? Nico asks and Max sighs.

My parents might be really terrible people, but they will get mad if I snub them for your family, and I dont want to make things difficult for you. Max sighed at Nico when the news came in that they could go home early for a visit.

What made things so awkward between them and you anyhow? Youre pretty well behaved for a first year Nico asked, putting on her best adult voice then breaking into giggles at the mental image of him beside the other First Years.

I couldnt always control my gift, but I didnt realize it was subconsciously activating right away. I didnt know that some things werent things I should know, so I spilled secrets and ruined surprises all through my early childhood until a friend helped me out. It made things really awkward with my parents and even worse with their relatives, who completely stopped visiting. Max decided to skip over the bit where his mother still insists hes her daughter not her son. Thats embarrassing enough just knowing, much less telling anyone else.

Ill fix this. Come with me. Nico instructs. As expected, Major Payne is found in front of the array of monitors in her office when Nico knocks at the door.

Yes Cadets, how might I help you? she asks.

Weve a bit of a conundrum Major. Cadet Max doesnt wish to go home, but for the sake of his mental health it is best he takes the holidays away from school. Might there be a way for him to be officially reprimanded to the campus, but still free to see my family for the holidays? Nico asks.

The Major is, of course, well aware of the Max familys issues, shes read all of the medical and observation records for her students, and knew that Max unwittingly told the recruitment officer of his fathers alcoholism and his mothers affairs and drug abuse during a routine checkup at age 3.

He would not be allowed by the Academy to return to that house anyhow, so a note that he is not permitted to return home should be simple enough.

Will your parents agree? They should have four young boys now, correct?

If all is well, yes, they should have two sets of twins. Fortunately, we are capable of entertaining ourselves, and the interaction should prove beneficial to Cadet Max. Nico smiles.

There will be cake.

Major Payne cant help but laugh at that. The pair of overly mature Cadets suddenly reminded her of proper twelve year olds there for a moment.

Go on, Ill settle it for you. See you in two weeks.

With that they were off, an academy car delivering them directly to the Tarith family doorstep.

My baby, youre back! And so grown. I read the permission letter from the school, you even brought me another girl! Youre too kind, you dont know what its like being around so many boys all day. Mary Tarith all but cries in her daughters arms.

Your mom is just a much fun as you remembered Max chuckles. Hi, Im Max. Unfortunately Im not the girl my parents wished me to be, but feel free to call me Sam or Sammy. Everyone just uses last names in the academy, so I havent heard it in a while.

Whichever you prefer dear. Its all the same to me.

Then Max it is. Max declared and gave an impish smile to the overwhelmed woman.

The Tarith family wasnt a particularly rich family, at least not all of them, but they were a close knit and very old and influential one. Over the course of the first week dozens of relatives came to see the Cadets in their Academy Uniforms, have dinner with the parents or even just watch a large group of the extended familys kids for a few hours to give everyone else a break.

The last day of their vacation was a predictably teary-eyed affair, with Mary finding every excuse to delay their departure until Nico was sure the escort driver was going to simply throw them in the car and flee.

Is she always like that, Cadet? He asked as they finally drove away.

No sir. Shes got two sets of twin boys at home though and misses having a girl around.

The driver laughs That I can understand. Ive got five younger sisters. My father finds any excuse to come visit.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

16 Chapter 16

Many things changed after that first break for the two young Cadets. Their classes were no longer with the rest of the First Years, instead they had a comprehensive new course called advanced Piloting that was scheduled to take their entire day. No separate training, or classes, just that one single item on their schedule.

It was very similar to the changeover between second and third year schedules. During the third year, Aspiring Mechanics started using basic robotics, ground crew started learning organization, staffing and mission launch procedures, while potential pilots got a control systems course.

This upgrade for him and Nico was a drastic change from the planned curriculum Max found online, which called for two years of fundamentals like reading and history before such courses started. Perhaps this is what Major Payne meant by being moved to the advanced classes?

The most obvious change in his surroundings though, stood right by the gates in front of the school. An enormous Citadel pattern Phalanx Class Mecha. This behemoth is so heavily armed it takes two pilots to operate at full capacity. One to move it and run the arm weapons, in this case an articulated hand holding a huge shield and a mighty triple barreled Ion bombardment battery.

The second pilot is entirely on weapons and sensors. The array of four independently targeted anti aircraft batteries atop its torso armor, the six chest mounted laser cannons and the two shoulder mounted twin barreled 15cm anti armor guns.

On this venerable machine, those are the only solid projectile weapons, the four anti aircraft batteries had been switched to energy pulse style quad guns at some point in its history..

From his time playing illicitly obtained simulators, Max knew that this setup, particularly the Ion bombardment battery on the right arm would draw so much power from the Thorium reactor that the whole machine would slow down at high rates of fire, even when the pilot was rapidly cycling the weapon one barrel at a time instead of firing all three at once.

It was glorious, recently repaired and polished to a gleaming black, the name plate reading Shining Darkness and a banner hanging from its hips detailing the over fifty campaigns it had survived. Just how old was this war machine? How many times was it repaired from devastating damage?

The first time they saw it in the courtyard, the two Cadets stood staring for a long while, simply looking over the magnificent work of human ingenuity. The presence of such a storied giant Mecha wasnt something they could fully appreciate with just a cursory glance.

With the Phalanx Class Mecha of course came a pilot, rumor saying he came alone, the previous second pilot having passed away. In this age, humans could live hundreds of years with modern medical treatment, dying of old age was unheard of for a Mecha pilot.

Cadet Nico, Cadet Max, you will have advanced piloting with General Tennant. He preferred to sleep in his Mecha, so report to him there. Major Payne informs the duo.

Thats not quite what Max was hoping to hear, the students that had seen the General reported him to be an ill tempered old man covered in scars and tattoos. Having years of advanced piloting classes with him didnt sound fun at all.

Major Payne had often taught the main piloting course, when she was overseeing older Cadets and she was regarded as an excellent teacher. Strict, but with a sense of humor. Having her class would be a much more enjoyable option.

Upon reporting to the giant Mecha for their first lesson the two found nobody in sight. No teacher, no students, nobody at all. Nico tried to access the Mecha, but was locked out by its security systems. Max had a little better luck though, as he could sense the pilot inside. He just didnt know what to do about it, as the man seemed to be sleeping or blocked from his Innate Talent.

Max noticed the direction of Nicos attention as she looked up at the cockpit, and did the same. How do we greet him, and where is everyone else? he whispers.

General Tennant, Sir. Cadets Nico and Max reporting for duty, Sir. Nico yells up at the Mecha in the most professional voice she can muster.

A side hatch on the torso opens when she calls out and a grizzled old soldier steps out, grabbing a wire cable from a winch inside the door and descending down to ground level using the hook.

The thought of descending from such a height, simply standing on a hook attached to a winch line makes Max feel a bit queasy, but hes sure he would get over it eventually. After all, the General doesnt seem the least bit concerned by the action, and hes likely done it hundreds of times.

So, youre it are you? The General asks.

It what? Presumably so, General? Cadet Max asks uncertainly. We were under the impression this was the advanced piloting course.

It is, Cadet. You two are the only pair that have been identified as possible candidates for a future Phalanx Class appointment on this planet right now. So you are the entire advanced piloting class.

Identified as a potential Phalanx Class team? Phalanx Class Mecha are legends on the battlefield. A single unit like the Shining Darkness can defend a city from a conventional army. Or take it from them. To most Mecha battalions, they are the most senior command element, their General, spiritual leader and strongest ally in battle, all in one massive machine. That is exactly what Dave meant when he told Max to become the sort of leader soldiers could look up to.

[To see more than one appear on each side of a battle is to see the end of your world] a local proverb says about the Phalanx Class Mecha, referring to an ancient battle that rendered a nearby planet uninhabitable for centuries. Ten Heavy Mecha Regiments faced off on a single world, the aftermath of their battle leaving the ground scorched and skies crackling with ionized energy.

So, one day, if we survive that long, we might be piloting something almost as Glorious as the Shining Darkness? Max asks in awe.

Not just almost as glorious. If you survive training and your first few tours with the required commendations you will be taking over the Shining Darkness herself. General Tennant smiles, looking fondly up at his Mecha.

Im an old man, and the Emperor tasked me with finding her successors. Ten generations of my family have fought inside Shining Darkness, each doing her proud. One legendary warrior showed so much promise he even moved past her and into the Titan Class Glory of Sol, even you young Cadets should know that name. General Tennant laughs.

Of course they did. The Glory of Sol singlehandedly took the Kepler Core star cluster and held it against four hostile armies so the Kepler Kingdom could be founded. Theres not a child in this world, or the entire kingdom for that matter, that doesnt know the name.

While a Phalanx Class Mecha could hold a city, a Titan Class Mecha, with their interstellar travel capability and unfathomable firepower could hold a small empire. Even the glorious fleets of the interstellar Navy couldnt stop them. A handful of them could hold an entire segment of the galaxy.

But the mental power and skill required to so much as power it up was beyond even most S Class operators. The Titan Class machines were said to work on a dedicated Neural link, making the operators mind part of the Mechas AI. Not just any mind could handle that.

Wait, that means the Shining Darkness predates the Kingdom Max gasps, just now realizing how much time is needed for fifty interstellar war campaigns to be finished.

Suitably awed, not too prideful, I like it. Now to test your skills. Follow me to the simulators for the first lesson in advanced piloting.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

17 Chapter 17

Alright, Cadets. Welcome to advanced piloting. General Tennant announces once all three of them are strapped into the simulation machines.

The experience is a complete VR simulation, but the body isnt inactive like a gaming headset. Instead, the simulation follows your natural bodys response inside the perfectly replicated cockpit of the simulator. The design was created to tone pilots bodies and muscle memory in the most realistic way possible.

This isnt basic piloting; I expect you understand the controls. They understand the controls very well, as both had been playing downloaded simulators long before arriving at the academy and had recently been practicing their martial arts inside the Line Mecha in the VR learning programs.

So what we will start with today is evasion. The tactical footwork that will help keep you in one piece. The best targeting skills in the world wont help if you are not alive to use them.

The Cadets are currently strapped into modified Line Mecha simulators, designed for the younger Cadets smaller bodies, making Max, who is already tall enough to use the regular simulators properly, feel like a giant.

The Line Mecha is the simplest and lowest grade of Mecha currently used by the Kepler Kingdom, the foot soldier of a fully mechanized force. Standing a mere 3 meters tall, a Line Mecha could easily fight within urban areas or forests, with its seated pilot taking up most of the chest.

Small Mecha like these werent commonly named, instead of being referred to in orders by pilot or unit designation. General Tennant preferred names when teaching Cadets.

Cadet Nico, your evasive pattern is in your heads-up display. Executed perfectly, your unit will not be hit by the pre-programmed defensive fire. Ready in 3, 2, 1..

Nico watched the pattern appear in her heads-up display as she drove the small Mecha through an obstacle course, parked vehicles, and ditches. The pattern and technique were unfamiliar but closely resembled the predictive evasion patterns from her childhood memories. She pushed the Line Mecha to its limits and took only a few hits during the entire run, mostly when her footing shifted.

Not bad for a first attempt, Cadet. But your movements are too large to react to the more rapid adjustments. Keep your feet closer to the ground unless youre stepping over something; shift more at the hip joints and less with leg extension.

Cadet Max, youre up in 3, 2, 1 Max barely had time to get himself mentally prepared, having still been taking in the advice Nico got when the instructor began his run.

Many times incoming fire barely clipped his simulated Mecha as he made his way through the course, leaving it battle-scarred by the end of the run.

The enemy doesnt wait for you to think, Cadet Max. Work on those reaction times. Youre not moving your whole Mecha into the safe zones, only your piloting compartment; thats why youre taking so much fire. The enemy can still see you. Cadet Nicos advice was for Cadet Nico.

Again!

So went the entire first day of Advanced Piloting, all twelve hours. Nico and Max were so exhausted that they could barely drag themselves out of the simulators to shower and sleep. Food could wait until morning.

Welcome to day two, Cadets. General Tennant greeted them from the cockpit of the Shining Darkness the following day. Sleep well?

Yes, General, like the dead, sir. The Cadets responded in unison.

Very good. I worried I was too soft on you for you to sleep. Now, both of you, follow me back to the simulators.

The pattern was not the same every run. It got harder to follow every time they completed it successfully. The first six hours flew by, and both Cadets were sore and frustrated from their continued failures to achieve a perfect run, despite the constant suggestions for improvement.

The General was, in fact, an excellent teacher. His demeanor was terrifying, but he knew exactly what a Cadet needed to improve and how to explain it to them.

Break for lunch, Cadets. Food will be delivered to us here. He finally called, much to their relief.

At first, they were dubious about the amount of food delivered. After all, despite the recent growth spurt, they didnt exactly have the largest stomachs. But the food was good, and they were starving.

General, is it even possible to get a perfect run? Cadet Max asked during a break between bites of cheeseburger.

If it were so easy to master, I wouldnt have to teach a course in it now would I, Cadet? General Tennant laughed.

I know youve borrowed some of my memories to help, but knowing what to do and doing it perfectly every time are two very different things. Until you can do it perfectly every time, youre nothing more than target practice for enemy mecha.

Ill give you one piece of advice while were here, outside of the Academys observation of your training. Not only is the maneuver youre given important, but so is the one youre going to get next. Work on your situational awareness and it will speed up your progression more than anything else.

If you can predict the upcoming attacks, you can easily dodge them. Both of you possess Alpha Level System Compatibility combined with reasonably high intelligence. Considering that, a level of basic precognition through data analysis should be possible for you with practice.

This was the longest time anyone in the academy had heard the General speak, and the only two to listen to it were his chosen Cadets.

Is precognition something that the System can grant? Nico asked incredulously.

Not in a true sense, but if you train it well enough, you can unlock a variety of combat analysis skills that either mimic precognition or will effectively analyze likely enemy movements in advance and give you warning of likely incoming attacks. The system is very good at data analysis, dont doubt its abilities. General Tennant replied with great conviction.

Hed been through enough battles to know to trust the systems judgment, it was right much more often than not, and a wasted round when the target didnt appear was preferable to missing the chance for a shot you could have taken.

The system was the great advantage that the Kepler Mecha pilots had over their opponents, who had to work with what they were born to. Many other nations used drugs and genetic engineering to attempt to emulate the results of the system, but so far, none had succeeded in anything that would compare to it.

The greatest threats to Kepler Mecha armies were, therefore, not other humans but inhuman beings with superhuman abilities innate to their species.

Paying more attention to the surroundings made responding to the instructions easier after only a little practice. Under ten glancing hits per run was possible for both Cadets within the week, no matter what battlefield setting the simulator gave them.

Ive never seen anything like it. Colonel Black mused, watching the simulator footage.

Theyre progressing at an astounding rate; the General has already moved the difficulty to level 2 a semester ahead of schedule. Major Payne agreed.

But he hasnt even started teaching them weapon drills. Dont you think its a bit too unorthodox? one of the Imperial supervisors asked.

All the other piloting students spend upwards of six hours a day at the shooting range improving their skills; we dont even know if these Cadets can operate the weapons systems.

The General knows what he is doing. By the time the group training for the year-end inter-class competition begins in four months, they will have covered everything they need. Colonel Black assures the bureaucrat.

The bureaucrats never understand the true genius of a combat veteran like him. Major Payne thinks to herself, silently judging the overseer sent from the central government on Kepler Prime to ensure the quality of the childrens education.

And isnt it odd that they all eat in total silence? The Imperial Supervisor asks, looking at the screen.

Yes, it is. Very odd. But as the General is the highest-ranked officer on base, none of them would be willing to call him out on using his System abilities and command codes to block the audio feed on the surveillance cameras, even if he does it every lunch hour.

Nor will they be mentioning that fact to the government supervisor.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

18 Chapter 18

With their new class schedule putting them in the advanced piloting course all day, it was determined by the academy that the two genius cadets would no longer be part of Year 1 Class 1, though for now they would remain in their old dorm room.

Officially they were part of the Advanced Education department now, which was usually reserved for Cadets in their final two years who showed enough promise to get recruited into the Special Forces training program. But lately, the quality of Kepler Terminus Cadets had been very good and their dorms were all full.

That proved to be a problem for the Academy, since the regular dorms of the First Years werent all that secure, physically or digitally, and both Cadets were known to have skills in hacking. The General thought it was hilarious, but he was the only one on staff that did.

Everyone else was fully stressed about the fact that they might cheat their way through the exams, but General Tennant knew very well that his own personal examinations couldnt be cheated on, for he only tested true survival skills that were applicable to the battlefield..

Thats why no other Instructor really understood his technique, they knew the book theory and the approved methods, but they were teachers through and through, most of them had never seen the battlefield.

The only one on the Class 1 team that had more than a single tour of combat duty was Sergeant Zamm. It was Zamm who alerted the General to the two promising Cadets here, and convinced him to come check them out.

Starting the third day, Max was starting to get used to the grueling schedule that General Tennant kept, but with years of Academy education left ahead of them, and a four year head start on the rest of the Special Forces trainees, he wasnt sure exactly what the Old Generals rush was.

The other trainees had courses ten hours a day, plus physical fitness time, but General Tennant had Max and Nico in the simulators for 12 hours a day, in 6 hour stretches.

Max had already looked up the standard rotations, and they were three hours each, so he decided that might be why the General pushed for six hours at a time, to get them prepared for the times when they might need to pull a double duty shift in the case of an emergency, heavy losses or ongoing attack.

Understanding the logic was one thing, but convincing his body that it was actually capable of surviving it was entirely different. He woke up on time, made it through the training, ate and slept, that was it. Nico seemed to be adjusting better, so he searched her mind for answers this morning while he still had the energy.

To her it simply felt natural, the empire she served during her previous incarnation used performance enhancing drugs combined with genetic engineering to create super soldiers out of their limited human resources, so this body simply couldnt yet keep up with everything that was asked of her as a Mecha Pilot in the last life.

Max briefly considers that it might not be in the far past or the future, just an empire whose technology was heavily classified or far away from where they currently are, because the way she was trained before and the way General Tennant is training them now are entirely too close to be a mere coincidence. ϺƲ∟ЕƜƤƳᎡ.СӨϺ

Or maybe combat just has some sort of universally hellish quality to it, and its the same no matter where you are?

Since youre enjoying the drills so much, I have added a new realm of complexity to it starting this morning. Randomly placed land mines. Your sensors are fully capable of detecting them, just set them to the chemical detection setting and youre good as gold. The General informs them when they make it to class for their sixth day of training.

Tomorrow will mark their first full week of training, being their designated weekly day of relaxation, so they had hoped that today would be not too bad. After all, theyd gotten good at the previous obstacle courses that the General had been putting them through.

But it seemed that he simply couldnt wait until after the rest day for them to move on to a new difficulty level.

The landmines are indeed easy to detect with the sensors, the problem is that the sensor setting that finds them cant be active at the same time as the one that detects charged energy pulses that they use to predict incoming weapons fire. The Line Mechas systems are simply not advanced enough for that level of multitasking.

Max has a decision to make, landmines or energy pulses? The anwer should be both, he just needs to determine how. For his first run, Max decides that the technique he will try is a quick scan for landmines every time hes about to move out of cover, then back to incoming weapons fire, and on to the next covered position, hoping that he didnt forget where the landmines were.

It is moderately effective, except that the quick scan doesnt always catch all the mines, and dodging the incoming shots requires moving off the planned path, which means recalculating his path through the buried obstacles.

He manages to blow himself up the first run, stepping on a mine to dodge an Ion Cannon blast, but the General doesnt criticize him, simply calls out his usual admonishment.

Youre dead Cadet. Go again.

General Tennant knows that this level of obstacle course is nearly impossible for a Cadet at this level, but the more times they face mortality, and the harder the training is to start, the better adjusted they will be to the battlefield conditions when the time comes to face real combat.

He wants these two to eventually take over his own Phalanx Class Mecha, but such an honor can only possibly go to heroes of the Empire or direct descendants of the current pilot, of which General Tennant has none that he finds to be suitable and worthy of the opportunity.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

19 Chapter 19

Good work today Cadets, youre getting better at avoiding the landmines when you dodge. Since tomorrow is a break day Ill see you after lunch for your training. Dismissed. General Tennant informs them with a smile.

Both Max and Nico saw that one coming, for a man well into his senior years, the General is a workaholic at heart, there was no way that they were actually going an entire day without any form of training going on. At least not under his command.

General Tennant had a good reason for that though, a little bit of duty every day builds a habit of training. Once that habit is instilled into the Cadets so well that it becomes subconscious they will continue to do it well beyond basic training and instill it into the troops under their command as well. The fact that most commanders let their troops slack on long interplanetary missions is something that he considers one of the biggest killers of Soldiers in the Kepler Empire.

The first days of combat are when the battle is the most intense, targets are the most heavily defended and soldiers are the best equipped. If troops have been on transit for a month or more, barely training enough to keep up their skills, what do commanders expect will happen to them? Of course theyre going to get slaughtered, you dropped them from the military version of a vacation directly into a hell full of anti mecha firepower and guided missiles..

Not just the Mecha Pilots either, the mechanics, the medics and the infantry as well. Everyone suffers from that same malaise after a long period of little training and no real work.

To some his method might be unorthodox, or considered a social experiment, but General Tennant has been successfully using it for decades now, and its built him the reputation that he has as a brilliant strategist and peerless commander. With these two intended to be his successors, his work ethic is the most important thing he believes that he can impart to them before they graduate to actual combat.

Compared to his advanced piloting course, the observers noted that the other classes seemed to have it excessively easy. The intensity of his training simply put everything the government approved in their interplanetary education guides to shame.

The Cadets having the most fun were definitely the Mecha Ground Crew students. They learned radio etiquette, proper movement patterns and launch control. All in a virtual reality setting. To the students, it was like getting to handle real Mecha all day, even their book work was studied inside the virtual reality simulation for the most part.

The mechanics had it rough though. The very basics of their specialty were mecha repair theory and diagnosis. How did it break, why did it break, and what broke to cause this effect. They wouldnt get to the actual fixing until later their third year or maybe the fourth. Diagnosis and fine tuning of a Mecha system was life or death for pilots relying on top performance, no gaps in knowledge were allowed in the elite class.

Out of the three main courses theirs was the most knowledge intensive. Ground crew needed discipline. Pilots needed skill. But Mechanics needed insane amounts of knowledge. This caused their dropout rate from elite to regular courses to be the highest of the specialties. Higher even than the piloting course. МƲⅬΕМƤΥᏒ.ϹӨϺ

For their first half day, General Tennant had a special treat for his students. Targeting practice. Now, he wasnt so kind that he would let them do it in a simulated firing range with a stationary Mecha and stationary targets the way the other Cadets started. No, this was his advanced piloting course, not the sad joke that he viewed the regular elite piloting course as. He was going to introduce targets to hit into the existing avoidance scenario. Only five for today, and hed see how the Cadets could do without getting shot to fragments or stepping on land mines.

The very first attempt went better than he had expected, with Cadet Max managing to hit three of the targets and complete the course without getting blown to pieces. There was something odd about Cadet Nicos targeting method though. General Tennant was watching, and she never pulled up her targeting array, only designated a firing point and shot on the move, hitting all five targets with ease. Hed never seen anything like it, so he investigated the data logs and found that the targeting array was indeed pulled up from the very start, but she only pulled the basic targeting crosshairs on to her Heads Up Display to process on her own instead of relying on the Mecha to determine appropriate leading distance.

Cadet Nico, might I ask, how did you hit the targets without using the Mechas targeting calculations? He asked once hed finished reviewing her run.

Im pretty good at guessing General, its like an Innate Skill, but not officially. The petite Cadet responded with a smile.

You should see her in action in the dorms, even if you dodge, she can still hit you with a paper ball. Max confirms, referring to the normal horseplay in the first year dorms and cafeteria.

Impressive, but since it works at this level of difficulty I will let you continue. With any luck you may get a targeting related System Function unlocked when you hit a hundred total bonus points as your first additional function.

Max thinks about his own talents, what might the system unlock for him? He hopes it isnt some pointless buff to his already imbalanced Strength stat. The System is known to provide you with benefits to what youre skilled at, not what youre lacking in, so that is a distinct possibility that Max is trying to avoid happening to him. But hes not sure that he has another skill thats significant enough to get noticed and pull the Nanobots AI away from continually increasing his strength.

Without any frame of reference, isolated as he is with only Nico and General Tennant, Max really has no idea how far his piloting skills have progressed beyond the average, or how incredible the observers found it that he was able to nearly keep up with the dexterity and speed specialized Cadet Nico in the avoidance drills.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

20 Chapter 20

Every day the two Cadets returned to their First Year dorms, but every day they felt a little more out of place. They were still the only ones to have reached the fifty point mark two months after the Fall break when their training with General Tennant began, and they had physically matured well beyond the level of their supposed peers.

Not only that, but their speed, stamina and physical skills were well beyond almost anyone they met in the Dorms, even when they went to the main floor mess hall for dinner.

No longer did they feel threatened by the seniors, though they were still a little bigger than Cadet Max, the progression slowed down so much that very few would reach 150 bonus points before leaving the academy for the University.

Feeling that the difference was getting too small to be normal, Max decided to check his System bonuses for the first time in a while. It had been over two months since the thought even occurred to him after all, being so busy with General Tennants training, and not expecting much.

The notifications still came in now and then, but always when he was at his busiest, so they were easily forgotten and rendered irrelevant compared to mastering the next technique that the General had set for them.

Shooting while on the move was now a standard part of their training, and the targets only got more and more tricky as the simulations went on. The combination of dodging incoming fire and ground obstacles while trying to hit those targets required every bit of mental fortitude he possessed..

Stuffing lunch into his mouth, Max opened the System interface to see how his stats had come along.

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

[STR] 2+60%

[DEX] 2+16%

[SPD] 2+16%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

That partially explained the phenomenon to Max, his bonuses had put his strength over 3 points modified, well beyond what the Beta rank and lower senior students could boast of, starting with a base of only one point to modify.

Even if they too had Strength as their Primary Attribute, they couldnt compare to him physically. Max decided that must be what was causing his sense of disorientation around others, the System had pushed him too far from the human norm.

He briefly wondered if Nico felt the same way, or if her modifiers were too low to have caused that level of difference yet. She had just as much of a total modifier as he did, but it was split between Dexterity and Speed, giving her a good balance, but no truly outstanding stat.

The next break was coming up, which for every Academy Cadet meant crunch time, preparing for their end of Semester exams. General Tennants class was no different, just smaller than usual.

He gave them a deadline of the next break to learn suitable aim for first years and integrate that knowledge with their handling skills. According to the General, the difficulty level that he had just increased was the bare minimum for Special Forces training standards, and if they couldnt keep up with that theyd be falling behind on their accelerated education schedule.

Making that standard was not going to be an easy task for any Cadet. What the Cadets Max and Nico didnt know was that piloting students in the other elite classes first worked on mastering the point firing technique. The method they were taught was to stop and brace their Mecha for accurate fire, then move on to the next target. The regular classes would start learning that in year 4 instead of 3.

Both Max and Nico had major advantages in this area though. Max had mentally scanned and memorized everything he could about shooting theory, targeting and firing on the move from every teacher he met, including the General. Nico, on the other hand, could use the Innate Talent from her System to directly interface with the targeting system and use it more like an extension of her own body.

General Tennant had been quietly astounded by the skill the students showed from the very first day, but locked away those thoughts using one of his system abilities while teaching so that the mind reading Cadet Max wouldnt pick up on it.

That was also why he kept them exclusively with him, one open minded teacher could give away the entire project and let them know just how unusually advanced they were.

Some civilian experience in simulators was nothing new for elite piloting course Cadets, but these two were not normal. They didnt have the mentality of the usual twelve year old Freshmen Cadets even before the System accelerated their maturation, but now they began their training runs showing matched emotionless faces suitable to seasoned combat veterans or hardcore VR gaming professionals.

Inside the simulation their shots are methodical, well planned, but lacking a bit of muscle memory and intuition only constant combat or physical practice could provide. Much better than any of the other Cadets could boast.

Within the week after he added shooting to their training, they had mastered point shooting to graduating Cadet standards and beyond, like they both had decades of experience and just needed to shake off the rust.

Their rapid progression somewhat reminded both the General and the observing instructors of wounded veterans returning to duty. Their actions gave off the impression that the Cadets knew the skills, they just needed to remind their bodies.

That left General Tennant an entire week to plan their final exams for the semester, and he had a particularly good one in mind. So far the Cadets had only shot at training targets, and faced the fire of mounted turrets. But for the exam, General Tennant intended to use a simulated battle with actual Line Mecha for them to fight.

Not only would it give him more insight into their skills, but also their teamwork and ability to function under pressure. In his mind, it was the perfect plan. To the other instructors who had to approve all final exams to prevent students from flunking out due to faulty examinations, it was a tragedy in the making.

How should they even score that? The Instructor who taught a student was not allowed to grade their final exams, to prevent bias from influencing the results, but the Generals proposal was so outlandish they werent even sure how they should grade his students.

These were students in their first year of Mecha Piloting training, but even if they treated them as Year Three students, who would be in their first year on the simulator this was too much. Should they grade it like an exit exam, where the senior students earned their qualifications on the Line Mecha in preparation to move on from the Academy? Thats the difficulty level that the General had proposed.

Even worse, if they could pass that level of an exam, wouldnt it mean that the Academy had been too soft and using inefficient methods all this time, turning out Pilots who were far inferior to their true potential?

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

21 Chapter 21

The final consensus with the Instructors was that they would grade the exam as a standard class exit exam, and then all future examinations would be done on the special forces training standards. If General Tennant believed his students were up to this, they would take his word for it, and he would take the fallout if the students failed.

Good morning Cadets. As you know, today is exam day. In honor of that, I have prepared a special surprise for you. A new course, simulating a proper battlefield with enemy Mecha and everything. Youve got three hours to complete the search and destroy mission, and its a team course, so take your time, remember what I taught you and you will be all ready for your exams.

Remember, nothing under 90 percent accuracy will satisfy me, so dont get sloppy and just start shooting everywhere. Now go, have fun and Ill order lunch when youre nearly finished.

The two Cadets share a happy glance as they get into their simulators. Getting to run a proper simulated battle before this afternoons exam is the best reward they could have hoped for.

They looked up the Third Year Advanced Class exams, and they had both been better than that the day they arrived at the academy. Theyre guaranteed to ace that exam..

Dont you think its a bit unethical to keep from the students that hes modified their exams and that theyre taking them now? One of the observers asks the assembled grading team.

Its a psychological trick to keep their nerves from affecting the outcome, youll see, theyre going to do just fine. One of the teachers explains to him, laugh lines wrinkling around his one good eye as he smiles.

The chosen battlefield is one of the final exam standard courses, an urban landscape against rebel Mecha. The goal of the mission is for the two person team to make it to the rendezvous point alive and eliminate ten of the enemy Mecha.

The exam is graded on the time taken, damage taken and shooting efficiency. Less than an hour and a half is a perfect time score, while 50 percent Mecha durability remaining and 70 percent on target accuracy are passing scores in their category.

A bit below the grade in one category can be balanced out to an overall pass, but they all understand that the General wont see it that way, as he has informed the Academy that he wants these Cadets for the Special Forces.

Max and Nico watch as the scenario boots up, seeing on the mission map that the pickup point is on the far east side of the city, directly opposite them. They only get to look at the mission map before they start, as scrambled radar is part of all exams, but thats enough for the two. Their memories are good enough they both have the basic layout of the area memorized before the countdown starts.

You take lead, Ive got covering fire. Nico suggests as the timer starts and they can pick their weapons.

Both go for the heavy Ion Cannon, in their opinion the best of the options available, while Nico adds a second Ion Cannon for her off hand and Max picks a shield.

The shield doesnt count towards Mecha damage taken, so the point man can draw some fire and take it with the shield to pull enemies into the open. You just have to be careful not to let your Mecha itself get hit.

The timer reaches zero and Max begins to lead the way through the city. Most Cadets would go for the main roads, because its easier to handle the Mecha and harder to get ambushed on them, but Max goes for a narrow side street.

Hes identified the most likely places for enemy Mecha to be set up, and this road should lead them in behind where the defenders are watching the main roads. Line Mecha arent particularly quiet, but the scenario is filled with the sounds of an ongoing battle, mostly covering their rubber padded footsteps as they make their way though the narrow alley to the first likely defense point.

Maxs call was exactly right, there are four line Mecha there, all with their backs to the alley. On his signal, Nico puts Ion blasts into the back cooling systems of two Mecha while he gets a third. The final Mecha turns around at the incoming fire, only to take a round to the cockpits Armored window, killing the pilot instantly.

[Thats four, move back into the alley, I think I hear a patrol.]

They both move just out of sight until the footsteps get close. A two Mecha patrol has found their ruined allies. when Max hears one of them lean forward to check the damage on the fallen Mecha, he steps out into the open, blasting the power core of one Mecha from the top vents while Nico again goes for the cockpit.

[Thats six. Its like fishing from a barrel.] Max jokes before leading the way down another side street to where he thinks another defense point might be.

Incredible, six shots for six kills, every one into a critical weak point. Not only skilled, but utterly ruthless. Not many pilots think to aim for the visual targeting slot and destroy the cockpit. Colonel Black commends the performance so far.

Arent they a bit too aggressive though? They only need ten kills before reaching the exit, and theyve gotten six in the first few blocks. the observer asks.

Ten minimum. Theres no limit on total kills, except that you need to make the exit point in time. Theyre still keeping a good pace towards the exit, so unless they get turned around they should be fine.

The second point isnt on the side street like Max thought it would be. Theyve actually set up a barricade in the middle of an intersection, with six Line Mecha and a collection of burnt out transports.

[Thats a bit tougher than expected. Got any good ideas?] Max asks.

[Parking garage, over there. well have to crawl or climb the side wall to get up top, but its got a good concrete barricade and the advantage of height.]

[You take the high ground, Signal me when youre ready and Ill cause a diversion.] Max agrees.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

22 Chapter 22

Nico circles wide around the intersection so shes not detected and slings her weapons to climb up the back wall of the parkade. The Line Mecha are heavy, but no worse than a light cargo transport, so the floors will certainly hold the weight.

[Im up top with a good line to the Intersection.]

Max steps from the alley and ducks behind his shield, placing three shots into the defenders, killing one and damaging two others. That turns all their attention to him and a hail of fire slams into his shield.

Theyve all turned towards Max, so Nico opens fire, leaning forward to shoot down from the parkade. Four more Mecha drop in an instant, leaving just one damaged Mecha. It turns to fire up at Nico, who retreats behind the concrete barrier at the edge of the parkade, while Max unleashes his Ion Cannon into its back.

[Too Easy.] Max Begins, but Nico cuts him off.

[Patrols coming from your right and behind you. The group at the intersection must have got a message off. Cross the street to your left and keep running in 3,2,1. Go.] Max runs across to the next alley and keeps going until he reaches the next intersection, turning right to get closer to the Parkade..

[Stay behind the corner of that building until the shooting starts.] Nico directs, her height giving her a better view of the battlefield.

She fires both hands at once into the same Mecha, both hitting the torso and destroying the power plant. That makes both patrols target her, and Max rounds the corner, seeing that her timing left two Mecha with their backs to him.

His shots drop them in an instant, and Max retreats around the back out of sight before hes noticed.

More Ion Cannon shots join the sound of the enemy Auto Rifles, and Nico sends Max more navigation points.

[Back to your first point, the second patrol is using the barricade for cover, but they had to move the transport on that side to get in.]

Max laughs as he sees the two Mecha posed up against the transporters to get away from Nicos Ion Cannons. Theyre clearly in the open fun his vantage point, their Mecha side on to him, so he simply blasts through their cockpits.

Line Mecha arent heavily Armored, theres a half dozen spots in the torso that the extreme firepower of the Ion Cannon can punch through the layers of composite armor. But since it takes an entire second before the Ion Cannon can shoot again, and the Line Mecha only has its primary weapon, any missed shots put you in danger.

Theyve cleared the defense point and both patrols now, so Nico comes down from the roof and Max leads the way through the alleys towards the exit point. Theyve got more than enough kills already, so hes just plotting the most efficient course that he can remember while trying to get behind likely defense points.

Zero damage taken through a dozen kills, smooth operation through the alleys, no running into walls or getting tripped up by debris. Plus theyre halfway across the course now, only thirty minutes in. Impressive. The observer notes.

Ꮇ∀ᒪƎМƤႸᎡ.ϹӨƜ

Thats why theyre up for Special Forces nomination. Colonel Black agrees, watching them pick off another group of the entrenched defenders.

This course has more Mecha than usual on it for an exam, with the tradeoff being that theyre fairly predictable, defending main streets from invasion. Some of the other courses, like the woodlands course, have every enemy Mecha on patrol.

The Instructors watch in awe as the duo makes their way through the city, with Max swapping his damaged shield out for a fresh one from a downed enemy Mecha.

The final trick to this mission is that the landing point is overrun. Five additional Mecha are in the open area, and the drop ship that ends the mission hasnt landed yet when the Cadets arrive. Neither Cadet expected a simple and straightforward mission though, and they simply run in shooting.

Max runs forward to get behind a cargo container, while Nico lays down on top of another and keeps up a steady stream of covering fire, every shot glancing an enemy Mecha, but unable to reach a vital spit for a kill.

Once Max is in position she climbs down the back of the container and circles, while the defenders try to get a firing line to her previous location. Max drops the first he catches in the open, then another before Nico is in place again.

The three survivors go for Max, leaving them open from Nicos side and the mission completes as scorching Ionized plasma from her Cannons burns through their power cores and cockpits. Two perfect accuracy scores, no damage taken, only 47 minutes elapsed.

Theyve graduated for sure. With flying colors. Should we clear the General to give them Line Mecha certification and move on, or will we be holding to the Line Mecha only until College policy for Cadets? One of the examiners asks Colonel Black.

Im sure that old war dog wants them cleared on everything, so theyll be moving on to Corvette Class Training whenever he deems them ready. Major Payne informed me that theyre also nearly to one hundred bonus stats already, so theyll be going through the second stage of physical development, which will delay new piloting techniques for a while, but we should expect that within the next Semester they will begin training on the Corvette Class.

Soon, turns out to be now. They both received gains from the Exam mission have put them over the threshold. Unlike fifty points, which causes puberty in young Cadets, one hundred points refines the body to be more durable and faster healing.

If the two advancement are this close together, it might affect their eventual physical growth, but neither Cadet knows that, nor do most of the Instructors. General Tennant does though, and gets them both to a cot in the restricted training center to rest off the change while he gets food and new clothes, in case they grow out of what theyre in.

For Max that bit of foresight is again a blessing, as hes grown to 170cm tall by the time he wakes up, and is gaining muscle by the second. Nico, on the other hand, only made it from 125 to 140 cm tall. Despite her body developing as expected through the accelerated puberty process, she has remained exceedingly short.

General Tennant finds the whole thing a bit amusing. One Cadet is the image of a strapping young man, the sort of chiseled blonde and handsome you would expect to see in an actor or a propaganda video model. The other is a tiny dark haired and black eyed creature with a maturity that defies her stature.

She reminds him of the Forest Folk from one of the planets he was stationed at. Even their men never got taller than 150cm. The size makes him wonder if its from the Systems interference, or if her family was originally from another planet, where the gravity is a bit different and the citizens are shorter.

That answer will have to wait though, General Tennant has paperwork to fill out, badges to requisition and the next step in their training to implement.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

23 Chapter 23

While Max and Nico sleep off their most recent changes General Tennant comes back with food and a change of clothes for them. Fortunately for him, the Academy had all the necessary pins and badges in stock, so the new coveralls are ready to go with their new Line Mecha Certification badge and Special Forces Cadet designations attached as well as the name tags. The commissary got him a full set of new uniforms; dress, casual and coveralls for his students, plus base layers and under shirts, all before dinner was ready.

Waking up to food and properly fitting clothes put them both in a great mood, the fact that they started their break in the morning was even better. The only question was if they were actually going to be able to leave the academy at all this break, having gotten a special early leave for the last one, and having started training under the intense General Tennant now.

General Tennant could easily guess at the questions that they had, and their concerns were well founded. Special Forces Cadets werent allowed to leave the academy except between years, for fear of data leaks or kidnappings happening if enemy forces should find out that they were unprotected.

Instead he had come up with a fun little field trip for them. An escorted mission to the forests along with the senior students who had also qualified on the Line Mecha already. There was very little danger to a patrol on Kepler Terminus, being so far out from the front lines of the war, or even from the majority of the inhabited planets of the Empire..

The mission doesnt leave until the next morning though, so theyve got time to familiarize themselves with the actual mecha that the Academy has on hand for students. For the mission, they will be carrying light weapons only, as the Cadets arent cleared to carry heavy armaments in public spaces until theyve graduated and officially entered the Military.

Thats hardly a loss to Max though, as simply getting to pilot an actual mecha, outside of School grounds is more than enough for him.

The Shining Darkness wont be coming along, nor will General Tennant, citing the need to prepare for the upcoming Semesters training while the students are out on their overnight field trip. One day out, overnight watches, then back to the academy.

Colonel Black will be leading the Special Units Mission Training as its officially called, along with two government observers in Crusader Class Mecha. In total there are fifty qualified students going along on the trip, a number few Primary Academies in the Empire could boast, but fairly standard for a combat patrol.

The mecha that Max and Nico have been assigned are the leftovers that nobody else on the mission wanted, the older and more beat up units from the Academy inventory, but according to Colonel Black and the Senior Year advanced mechanics class, they check out as fully combat capable. They just need a little refresh and some exterior paint to be good as new.

Everything that they should need for the mission has already been loaded inside by the logistics class and double checked, but General Tennant has them go over everything again, and double check all systems, then their ammunition levels, despite only being issued a single power cell for the Ion Rifles.

They can be recharged off the Mechas power core if theyre depleted, but without a spare cell or a hardwired connection like the heavier Ion Cannons, that leaves them without any form of weapon for hours at a time, should they actually need to use the rifle.

They dont expect to, but General Tennant is a pessimist to the core, and highly suspicious of the motivations of the Government observers. There have been whispers that the bureaucrats might be intending to stage a soft takeover of the government, getting all senior military elements and Pilots of Phalanx Class Mecha on their side to take practical control of the government despite the Imperial family having technical authority.

The Shining Darkness has been with his family since before the Empire existed, and the Phalanx Class Pilots swear loyalty directly to the Emperor, not to the bureaucracy that runs things on the day to day. Right now, that serves as a balance against corruption, but if the bureaucrats controlled the Phalanx Class Mecha, there really wouldnt be anyone to stop them from taking over.

The Military views the Phalanx Class units as their natural leaders, if they turned against the Empire, the entire Military would most likely follow. Just short of three centuries ago, when the Kepler Empire was founded from a collection of independent systems, it was the Titan Class Glory of Sol and an assembled force of Phalanx Class Mecha that upheld their declaration of unity. The military has not forgotten their heroes.

Keeping the safety of his potential successors in mind, the General also equips the Line Mecha assigned to Max and Nico with a sword each, since Academy regulations dont allow him to requisition more ammunition for them.

That should at least give them a fighting chance if something does go wrong and the patrol is ambushed. It should also be a surprise to anyone who goes against them, as they havent openly used close combat weapons while under observation.

Everything checks out for the trip, so he escorts them to the back of the pack, where the Colonel welcomes the two young prodigies to the patrol, then sends them the radio channels and encryption codes for the mission.

If anyone in the government knew of the Generals suspicions they would call him a conspiracy theorist, and possibly question his suitability to continue as the Pilot of the Shining Darkness at all, which ironically would prove him right. But he keeps his thoughts strictly to himself, using an ability gained from his system to hide the wayward suspicions from even Cadet Max and his mind reading.

The presence of the two additional Cadets doesnt attract much attention from the others, as everyone is known only by Mecha number during the patrol for ease of Communication. Max has Mecha A16 and Nico picked unit A86, declaring that the seat was the most comfortable. They are technically identical, but in an older unit, they can be worn out in different ways, and Nico is just barely within height parameters for the pilots compartment.

Mission, fall in. We leave in 3 minutes. Colonel Black declares and all the friendly banter over the radio ceases, the Cadets getting mentally prepared for what will be the first real patrol for all of them.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

24 Chapter 24

Marching out of the Academy compound in a double file line is the most excitement that most of the cadets have felt in years. Its like theyve finally succeeded and become real Line Mecha Pilots. In a way they have, they are certified on the machines, they just havent had the opportunity to operate outside of training scenarios before.

The Academy is outside of the city, due to the noise generated by mecha operations, so the trainsition from the academy to the woods is almost instant. Kepler Terminus is a sparsely populated and tropical world, with no frozen poles, where going into the woods is nearly synonymous with anything outside of a settlement, a blessing for Mecha operation.

Near the Academy is a dense tropical forest with a variety of large carnivoires, but nothing that should be a threat to a mecha. Thats not really the point though, sending the Cadets out into the woods to review the security of the outlying villages is an exercise in confidence, not practicality. The local security forces would have already taken care of anything that threatened the locals.

Taking up the back, with only Colonel Black in a Crusader Class Mecha behind him gives Max an excellent view of the operation styles and capabilities of the others in the group. The difference is easy to pick out, the regular piloting class is a bit rough with their controls, distracted by things around them and lacking practical experience to make their operations smoother. The Special Forces Candidates are much more competent and focused, operating naturally.

On the other hand, Nico seems to have gone insane inside her Mecha. Its making the strangest gesture, with its hand against the top of the chassis. Then Max realizes shes piloting by entirely mental link using her Innate Talent and the Mecha is copying her scratching her head..

[Nico, pay attention, the mecha is scratching its head along with you.] Max sends to her units heads up display and her unit turns and gives him a thumbs up.

Being patched into all communications and watching the strangely behaving unit, Colonel Black is laughing inside his cockpit. The Cadets trained by General Tennant are an odd pair, but theyre incredibly capable.

He hasnt realized that Nico is piloting with her Innate Talent, instead the Colonel thinks that both Cadets are just so attuned to their mecha that theyre instinctively moving them to match what they want their body to do. Max hasnt realized, but his mecha gestures with its hands when he talks, the same way he does, just in a more robotic manner.

He also notices that both of them are carrying close combat weapons, an addition that General Tennant must have made to their kit, but also one that the Colonel approves of. When he was still a combat officer, he preferred to have a pair of close combat guards in front of him to keep hostile targets from directly engaging his entirely long range focused mecha.

His mecha doesnt leave one free hand like so many do, instead it uses a Battle Cannon hard mounted on one arm and an Ion Destroyer on the other. At a distance, it is devastating, but when targets get in close he can be at a disadvantage.

Unlike the General, he doesnt suspect that anyone would try anything against his cadets on this mission, he just likes to be prepared at all times. It makes a good impression on others, and you dont get to be a Colonel without being somewhat of a politcian.

An hour into the mission the difference in training becomes very obvious, as the regular class Cadets start getting tired, being used to training in virtual reality. The level of concentration needed to pilot isnt the problem, theyre simply not used to the constant physical exertion.

ᎷᏙⅬЕƜРΥЯ.ϽՕМ

The academy only has twenty of the physical simulators, as theyre incredibly expensive and getting funding for more hasnt been easy. with a hundred piloting students a year, their usage is fairly limited.

Getting students used to real conditions is the hardest part of the job out here in an outlying system where nothing is viewed as high priority by the central government. But despite that, his academy still turns out some of the highest quality pilots anywhere.

The instructors in the lead have just called a break when Colonel Black starts detecting something strange on his sensors. He thought it was a central government equipment signature, but then it vanished and a few seconds later the same thing at another location.

Hes not the only one that noticed. Cadet Nico also caught the blip on her sensors, and she passed the warning on to Max.

[Keep your eyes open, were about to have visitors.]

The display screen on the left side of his cockpit blinks with the message only seconds before a local government transport comes onto the units radar, as if the unit had just been started.

Its up ahead at the next village, nothing abnormal about that, but if theres one thing theyve learned about the Academy is that everything is a test. Everything.

The transport doesnt move, waiting in the village while they take their break. Max keeps aware of anything that might be hiding around them, but cant find anything out of the ordinary. Hes started to relax his vigilance when they reach the village and find that the vehicle on their radar is a road maintenance crew, cutting back new growth to keep the road clear.

The road crew foreman talks with the lead Instructor for a moment, explaining that the road is blocked and the main class students are ordered into action. Clearing overgrowth is possibly the most common task for patrols, since the jungle here grows so quickly.

The Special Forces Candidates take positions around the main group while Max and Nico take rear guard duty with Colonel Black. The actual clearing duty only takes four at a time, two to cut with the saws provided by the village and two to clear debris.

They rotate through every fifteen minutes and the squad slowly makes progress. The next village is their overnight stop, and the destination of the road crew, who are extremely relieved to have the help. Their transport has a crane arm for clearing cut debris, but the mecha are much faster.

By the time they arrive, Max is certain hes heard the life story of half the Cadets, but the crews questions bother him. Arent they asking a bit too much about the Academy? And why would a local road crew even care?

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

25 Chapter 25

Max had scanned various minds from the work crew, but they all appeared to be honestly interested in the Cadets, who are seen as the elite of society. Thats relaxed Max and hes about to exit this Mecha to grab dinner with the others when he senses that both Nico and Colonel Black are eating from the stored rations inside their mecha.

That makes him wonder what sort of test this trip might be. He watches the Cadets chat and mingle with the road crew and it becomes incredibly clear, how could the academy not know road conditions? They must have known before leaving that this road was blocked, so the test is almost guaranteed to be about something that happened after that. Chatting with the locals, out of their Mecha, guard lowered. The test is Operational Security.

It seems to be so harmless, but in a war zone you never know where a strangers loyalty lies.

So, Max heats up a ration pack and reclines his seat to get comfortable for the evening. At least Colonel Black has a cot inside the ten meter tall Crusader Class Mecha..

Theyre a beautiful machine to Max. The top of the Mecha is covered with a curved armor shell, much like a Turtle shell, extending over the shoulder joints, with a chest plate covering the torso from lower angle fire. The arms of the Colonels Mecha both have hard mounted weapons, though the other two escorts have one hand and one hard mounted weapon. The legs are also heavily Armored, the only true weak point is the cooling fins at the back of the torso, or possibly the sensors.

For that reason Crusaders often operate in groups of three, so they can stand in a formation that covers all the backs of their units.

Compared to them the headless humanoid forms and exposed mechanical design of the Line Mecha just looks inelegant.

It doesnt help that the Line Mecha are all painted gray and orange for visibility and to identify them as Academy Mecha. Its not exactly a flattering color combination.

After dinner, watches are assigned, with Nico and Max getting first watch, along with one of the Special Forces units and three of the regular class. Colonel Black will be awake as well, but hes not officially on watch, since the students are supposed to be taking care of the duty. Its a quiet time, nobody speaking or moving, and only the sounds of small creatures in the forest keep them company.

Two hours later they are replaced by the next shift, and Max decides to follow the lead of Nico and the Special Forces Cadets and nap inside his mecha, as uncomfortable as it might be, instead of rolling out his sleeping bag near the fire to get a good nights sleep. That proves to be the best call, as just before dawn, the Instructors start waking everyone up, shouting at them to get a move on and that its time to go in ten minutes.

There was no set move out time when his watch ended, so this must be a thing they do to keep the Cadets on their toes. Since hes already in his mecha, Max simply powers up and grabs the cleaning kit to wipe himself down before getting dressed. Its not like anyone can see him in here, he could pilot naked if he wanted to, but he suspects that the worn material of the chair will be much more comfortable with a uniform on.

The Pilot suit is a form of the standard issue coveralls, so it only takes a few seconds to slip into it and put on his boots, the automatic laces adjusting them to his legs with the coveralls tucked into the top. Its an odd thing that Nico does, but its really comfortable, and keeps from stepping on the hem of his coveralls when hes in an awkward position during training. That leaves him some time to eat, and Max grabs a breakfast issue nutrient pack from the cabinet, finding that its a generic fruit flavored bar along with a pouch of some sort of dry cereal.

The cereal bag he rips the corner from, so he can pour it into his mouth while piloting later, but the fruit bar he bites into now. It didnt look like much, but Max decides that the bars are actually pretty good. He just wishes that the breakfast pack came with a proper drink and didnt leave him sipping from the Mechas drinking water supply.

The Military rations do come with more variety, but the Cadets are kept on a monitored diet by the Academy, designed by the central authority for optimal growth, supposedly. Thats not much consolation when what you really needed in the morning was a coffee, or even a glass of juice to go with an exceptionally dry bag of mixed cereals.

Colonel Black is impressed with this pair of Cadets that the General is training. He was informed that they didnt know the field trip was also part of their scoring, and that the General didnt give them any advance warning of procedures or anything else, but they both seem to have understood what they should be doing without anyone needing to tell them, a quality the Colonel appreciates in a potential officer.

Before becoming Senior Officers, Pilots are ranked by the Mecha that they are qualified on. Line Mecha Pilots are almost all Corporals, with the squad leaders being Sergeants. Once qualified on the Corvette Class Mecha, they will be promoted to Second Lieutenant and usually given command of a wing of light mecha. Most commonly in a fully mechanized Battalion that would be twenty Line Mecha, though depending on troop numbers it might be more or less.

If they make it to the Crusader Class Mecha, they will start at Captain and become Majors with experience. After that it all starts to turn into politics, as the senior officers lead much larger units than wings of Mecha. Most armies dont do things quite the same way, but in Kepler, they claim that skill is paramount, so the type of Mecha a Pilot uses determines their rank, treatment and even wages within the Empire.

Its understood that theres still a hierarchy though. An infantry Sergeant might outrank the average Line Mecha Pilot, but he will still never get the same treatment and respect as the pilots of the mighty war machines.

Colonel Black doesnt much care for the tiered system, but as an Academy Principal on one insignificant planet out of hundreds, his opinion doesnt really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

26 Chapter 26

Once they were moving in the morning and headed back towards the Academy the instructors started to enlighten the Cadets on all the mistakes and operational security breaches that theyd made during the previous days journey. The list was long, and the students were more than a little horrified to hear about the potential ramifications of their actions as so vividly described by the Instructors.

Max simply enjoyed the vibrant green foliage as they maintained the sedate pace, not stopping for breaks this time, and listened for any actual decent advice that might be hidden among the reprimands. Mostly they were just getting chewed out though, for things theyd already been taught not to do, but forgot at the first hint of civilian admiration.

General Tennant was waiting for them to return next to the Mecha hangers, a big smile on his face that both Cadets knew didnt bode well for their future.

Welcome back Cadets. I made you a very special training room that we can begin work in next week. Its got your physical simulators in it and everything. Im sure youre going to love the new surroundings. The words are friendly and enthusiastic but something about that greeting gives Max chills down his spine..

When they reported to the training room in the morning, it was just as amazing as the General suggested though. Hed turned the disused training room into a full on apartment for the Cadets. Two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, martial arts training room with a padded floor, the three mecha simulators that they use for their training, desks for book work, everything that they could need was in here. The thought that they might need to actually cook for themselves concerned Max a little. He knew how to reheat premade foods, but cooking from scratch was beyond him.

Dont look at me like that. Youll still be getting meals from the cafeteria, the kitchen is just for snacks and such, since you wont be leaving this suite until the next phase in your training is complete. General Tennant gave that same reassuring smile that always made Max think he was being tricked. As usual, he was correct.

Is this a gravity room, General? Nico asks, standing by the control panel.

Exactly right. Every day for the next two months the gravity in this chamber will increase to help tone and refine your bodies. We will spend less time in the simulators over these next few months, and more in the gym. Ive been informed that youve both gotten basic martial arts training, so we will be using that to improve your skills as well as your physical conditions. Not every planet you will land on has gravity as close to Imperial standard as Kepler Terminus. Its better that youre prepared for the change in advance.

Once hes finished his speech, General Tennant turns on the gravity system and their body weights immediately increase by a third. The General seems fine, but Nico doesnt have a huge amount of strength and visibly struggles to move normally under the effect. With his already high Strength, Max is doing better, but it still feels sluggish moving in this environment.

First things first, lets see what youve got for martial arts skills, so I know where to work from. Cadets, into your coveralls and report to the gym in ten minutes. The General instructs, watching them run to their new rooms.

The interior of the training room has been remodeled to exactly replicate the inside of a Kepler Interstellar transport ship, with walls painted Navy Regulation blue gray, the rooms were standard junior officer bunks, three meters long by two wide with a bed over a desk and a large locker. The gym too was a direct replica of the one on the last ship he served aboard. His idea was that the surroundings would be their new normal once they graduated, so the sooner he got them used to it the better. Plus, everything on board a ship was designed to survive rapid and extreme gravitational changes, should the ships gravity field fluctuate or fail entirely.

Both Cadets were back out in a few minutes, excited to have seen that all their belongings were already present in their new rooms. General Tennant was surprised to see that they didnt have anything hidden in the not so secret crevices of the room or under mattresses, it was all safely stored in their lockers, as per regulation.

Alright, Ill have you two spar to start things off. Do you know multiple styles or just the one? General Tennant asks.

A little bit of a bunch of different styles, Sir. Nico answers, saving Max from coming up with an explanation of how he learned them all from her memory.

Good, begin.

The two cadets are much more skilled than the General expected, being so used to the ranged attacks first, last and only mentality that pervaded the Kepler Kingdom. But since they were skilled, he could teach them even more without having to start from the very basics. Once you know one martial art, the basics of the others are much easier to learn, just a stylistic difference from what you already know.

The style he wants to teach them is Kep Maga, an ancient close combat form passed down in his and many other military families that teaches their children both unarmed and knife based fighting techniques. They seem to already know something similar, so General Tennant starts right in on the Grappling techniques once he gets an understanding of their current level of ability.

The additional Gravity is a great benefit to Max, who rarely won a match before. Nico has troubles kicking him in this environment, so when the General moved them to grappling and close combat, her speed and agility advantage wasnt as noticeable. Shes still much faster than he is, but its not as overwhelming as when shes free to pick the style and use her legs to counteract Maxs longer arms.

Very good, now, try with these wooden sticks in place of knives. General Tennant instructs, eager to see how his Cadets will come along.