Inside Medium Orbital Starport No. 27, thousands of officers and soldiers stood in formation, their expressions ranging from sceptical to openly doubtful.
Adrian Vale faced them with a calm smile. Despite their unfriendly gazes, his composure didn't waver in the slightest.
"Let me guess what you're all thinking," he began, his voice carrying clearly across the assembly. "You're wondering how someone only nineteen years old became a colonel and a task force commander."
He paused, letting the murmurs settle. "Or maybe you think I'm some pampered young master from a powerful family, sent here to gain experience."
A faint smirk curved his lips. "Or perhaps you're asking yourselves, why should this guy be the one commanding us?"
Adrian's words hung in the air like sparks. The crowd shifted uncomfortably, but he continued in that same steady tone.
"Well then," he said, raising his hand slightly, "from this moment on, the 101st Task Force will follow one principle only—anyone who can defeat me in a fleet simulation battle will become the new fleet commander."
His declaration sent a wave of astonished murmuring through the ranks. No commander would ever issue such a challenge—it bordered on madness.
Could it be that they had misunderstood him? Was this young colonel truly as capable as he claimed?
A few officers frowned, trying to recall where they had heard that name before.
Adrian Vale... that name did sound familiar.
Suddenly, a major standing in the front row snapped his fingers as realisation struck. "Report!"
Adrian nodded. "Speak."
"Commander, did you by any chance participate in a simulation battle against Colonel Victor Black from Fleet Headquarters last year?"
"Yes," Adrian replied with a calm nod. "That was me."
The major's eyes widened in disbelief, then in excitement. The revelation spread through the crowd like fire through dry grass.
Of course! That was it! Adrian Vale—the prodigy who had annihilated Victor Black's fleet in a full-scale simulation, losing only a single ship in the process. The same young man who had graduated from the Interstellar Military Academy hailed as a once-in-a-millennium genius.
The tension in the air dissolved at once. The officers exchanged looks that had shifted from suspicion to awe.
No wonder he was already a colonel at nineteen, and even a task force commander. Under Admiral Marcus Sterling's command, nepotism was impossible. Clearly, this young man had earned his position through sheer ability.
Adrian's expression remained neutral. "Any other questions?"
Another voice called out, "Report!"
"Speak," Adrian said again.
"I've heard that the artificial gravity generator currently used across the fleet was designed by you. Is that true, sir?"
"That's correct," Adrian answered without hesitation.
A collective gasp rippled through the formation. Even among the technologically inclined, few had ever cared who designed such a vital piece of equipment. For most, this revelation came as a shock.
The realisation hit them—their new commander wasn't just a tactical genius but also a scientific one.
Within seconds, the earlier hostility vanished, replaced by genuine admiration. With a commander like this, their future suddenly looked far brighter.
"If there are no further questions," Adrian concluded, "return to your posts. Deputy Commander Sterling will issue specific orders shortly."
"Yes, sir!" the crowd answered in unison.
He turned to Lieutenant Elara Sterling. "Deputy Commander Sterling, take me to the research team Admiral Sterling assigned here."
"Yes, Commander."
Her tone was even, professional, though her eyes flickered briefly with curiosity. Without delay, she led the way through the corridors of the starport. Adrian followed silently, his mind already moving ahead to the tasks awaiting him.
Soon, they arrived at a massive research complex near the starport's core. Inside, more than a hundred engineers and scientists worked under the supervision of several white-haired veterans, busy unsealing and calibrating complex machinery.
Elara guided Adrian toward an elderly man in a spotless white lab coat, who was barking instructions at his subordinates.
"Dr. Harold Bennett," she said, "this is Colonel Adrian Vale, the commander of the base."
The old man turned, his sharp eyes assessing Adrian instantly. "So you're the Adrian Vale that rascal Marcus Sterling spoke of? The designer of the artificial gravity generator?"
"Yes, sir," Adrian replied politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure?" Bennett snorted. "That depends. I made a deal with that brat Sterling—if you don't bring me any surprises, I'm leaving immediately!"
Adrian gave a wry smile. Why are all of Admiral Sterling's associates so temperamental? He supposed that great minds often came with eccentricities.
"Of course, Dr. Bennett. I wouldn't dare waste your time. In fact, I brought something new that might interest you. I've already completed all the theoretical groundwork, but I'm a fleet commander—I don't have the time to handle the production and testing phase. I was hoping you could take over from there."
"Oh?" Bennett's expression shifted slightly. "Let's see what you've got first."
Adrian reached into his uniform pocket and retrieved a storage card, handing it over. "This should be enough of a surprise."
Bennett inserted the card into the optical computer strapped to his wrist and began reviewing the files. His brows furrowed as he read the folder names—and then his eyes went wide.
"Warp Drive Design Blueprints."
"Detailed Explanation of Spatial Folding Technology."
"Material Formulas and Calibration Data."
He opened the blueprints, and a holographic projection filled the air—elegant arcs of light forming an intricate lattice of impossible geometry. For a long moment, Bennett stared silently.
Then, all at once, he strode forward, grabbed Adrian by the front of his uniform, and barked, "Calm down? You expect me to calm down? Adrian Vale, do you even understand what you've created here?"
Adrian blinked, taken aback. "Of course I do."
"This—this design of yours could make you the greatest scientist in the Federation!"
He wasn't exaggerating. The warp drive represented humanity's dream—faster-than-light travel, independent of the star lanes that limited interstellar navigation. With such technology, the Federation's fleets could strike anywhere, anytime, free from the constraints that had always chained them.
This was more than innovation—it was revolution.
Standing nearby, Elara Sterling's composed façade finally cracked. She knew Dr. Bennett's reputation—a man who would scold admirals without hesitation. Yet here he was, trembling with excitement over Adrian Vale's work.
What kind of data did he show him? she wondered, staring at Adrian with newfound intrigue.
Meanwhile, Bennett had already opened a communication channel. "Marcus Sterling!" he barked into his comm-link.
Admiral Marcus Sterling's voice came through. "Dr. Bennett? What's happened?"
"What's happened? You rascal, don't play dumb! I need more personnel immediately—ten times the current number!"
Sterling sounded startled. "Ten times? Did something go wrong?"
"Go wrong? That brat Adrian has caused a storm, that's what! I can't handle this with just a hundred people!"
Sterling paused, clearly confused. "Adrian caused... a storm?"
Bennett cut the line without another word, still glaring at Adrian—though now, the glare held respect instead of irritation.
Adrian could only sigh softly. Here we go again.