The tension in the Interstellar Military Academy's simulation hall was palpable. Adrian Vale, standing at rigid attention, could feel the eyes of every cadet and instructor on him, even though most were safely tucked away on the second-floor observation deck. Beside him, the holographic displays flickered, casting pale blue light across the polished floor.
Dean Malcolm Reid, standing slightly behind Adeline Hart, sighed quietly. *Why does he never behave normally in front of me?* he mused, watching Adrian's unwavering posture. The cadet always transformed into a perfect soldier the moment anyone with authority appeared. A little rascal, indeed.
"Cadet Vale, are you ready?" a calm, commanding voice called from the other simulation cabin.
Adrian responded, crisp and unwavering: "Ready, Admiral Sterling. Commencing assessment."
The two men were standing in parallel simulation cabins. Sterling, legendary commander of the Federation Fleet, had no doubt seen thousands of assessments in his lifetime, but Adrian Vale was anything but ordinary.
"Alright," Sterling said. "This will be a one-hundred-vessel versus one-hundred-vessel simulated engagement. Both fleets are standard Federation mixed units. Any questions?"
Adrian shook his head sharply. "Report: none."
Sterling nodded. "Very well. Enter the command cabins fully. Assessment begins in five minutes."
The simulation hall, while smaller than the Academy's main virtual environment, offered realistic holographic immersion. Two small cabins, designed for dual-person engagement, allowed each commander to experience the fleet bridge as though they were in the midst of an actual war. Above, a circular observation deck, spanning over six hundred square meters, allowed every visitor to view the unfolding battle in detail.
Adrian entered his cabin and immediately scanned the holographic readouts. The battlefield was an asteroid belt—a complex, constraining terrain filled with floating debris and energy-distorting anomalies. Frowning slightly, he muttered to himself, "Asteroid belts… the least favorable conditions for an initial engagement."
Open space combat primarily tested artillery command, evasion, and formation tactics. Asteroid belts, by contrast, demanded adaptability and creativity. Any miscalculation would leave even a well-prepared fleet vulnerable. Adrian knew Admiral Sterling had selected this scenario intentionally. He had undoubtedly reviewed Adrian's prior simulations, identified his relative weakness in asteroid belt engagements, and designed this scenario as a deliberate challenge.
*He wants to see how I adapt when the terrain is against me,* Adrian thought.
Yet he wasn't worried. The "STRICOM-X system" had already prepared him for this. Adrian had spent countless hours in asteroid belt simulations, learning to manipulate obstacles, leverage gravitational anomalies, and deploy drone and mech units creatively. His prior weakness in this terrain was long erased.
A few deep breaths later, Adrian began issuing commands. His 20% brain development advantage allowed him to process tactical options almost instantaneously. He assigned roles to every unit on the bridge, programmed mechs and drones for coordinated maneuvers, and devised contingencies for every likely enemy action. Every movement, every deployment, was calculated for maximum efficiency.
From the observation deck, Dean Reid and Adeline Hart watched the holographic projections closely. Drones and mechs launched from Adrian's five carriers, forming intricate formations and sweeping across the belt. Tens of thousands of units created hundreds of distinct shapes, mimicking the appearance of his hundred warships. Anyone observing from afar would have assumed the fleet was far larger than it really was.
"Dean… what exactly is he doing?" Adeline whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.
Malcolm Reid's lips curved slightly. "You see, Adeline, this is why Adrian is exceptional. You tend to think in textbook patterns, rigid and predictable. But this—this is creative warfare. Mechs and drones can simulate entire fleets. It's revolutionary."
Adeline stared at the holographic display again, comprehension dawning slowly. "So… each formation… it's mimicking the shapes of the warships themselves? On radar, it could appear as a full hundred-ship fleet?"
Reid nodded. "Precisely. But the outcome depends on his tactical deployment—and whether Admiral Sterling falls for the decoy."
Meanwhile, Adrian had divided his real fleet into three sub-groups, strategically hiding behind clusters of dense asteroids. The decoy formations—composed of drones and mechs—drifted subtly toward the right flank, drawing the enemy's attention away from the real positions. He watched the radar intently, noting every blip and calculating trajectories.
Across the hall, Admiral Sterling observed the advancing fleet with measured surprise. The enemy appeared leisurely, almost casual, as if unconcerned with detection. Sterling's scout units had easily located the opposing forces. *Why would a cadet advance so openly in such a hazardous environment?* he wondered. Every trained officer knew that stealth was paramount in asteroid belt combat. He could almost sense a trap.
Nevertheless, the standard rules applied: discovered fleets must be engaged. Sterling ordered a stealthy advance, flanking toward the rear of the decoy fleet. Minutes later, his vessels were in optimal position, ready to strike what he presumed was Adrian's main formation.
In Adrian's cabin, a small, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips. Radar feeds confirmed Sterling's fleet was moving into position—exactly where Adrian intended. Every mecha, every drone, every hidden ship was in place for the unfolding deception.
*Let's see if the legend of the Federation can recognize a masterpiece of tactical illusion,* Adrian thought.
Above, the observers leaned forward. Dean Reid murmured, a rare glimmer of excitement in his eyes: "This is unprecedented. If it works… Admiral Sterling could actually be caught off guard."
Adeline's gaze remained fixed on the formations, a mixture of admiration and astonishment crossing her face. The quiet determination in Adrian's eyes, the perfect timing of every maneuver, and the ingenuity of his decoy strategy left her momentarily speechless.
For the first time, she understood the gap between ordinary cadets and Adrian Vale—a man who could manipulate perception and terrain simultaneously, creating a battlefield within a battlefield.
The stage was set. The asteroid field, once thought a disadvantage, had become Adrian's proving ground. Every observer, every officer, every cadet watching would soon witness whether his creative tactics could withstand the scrutiny of a living legend: Admiral Marcus Sterling.
The countdown to engagement had begun. A subtle tension hummed through the holographic hall, as though the stars themselves were holding their breath. And somewhere in the observation area, Dean Reid and Adeline Hart realized that what was about to unfold could be more than just a test—it could be a lesson in the art of war itself.