The Commander

by Kevin Groh

  Enthusiastically the two helped him to cut and collect the climbing plants. They were so far away from the noise that nobody fired at them. In the end, they had some long and some shorter plants.

  Kelly said: »They’re all too short to wrap all the legs on any one of them.«

  »What if we knot the short ones together?« Tom asked.

  She shook her head: »Even if the length were sufficient, the traction would not be strong enough. The knots would tear.«

  Carter pondered, while they saw Gina climbing into the fallen tank and Rod roaring, aligning the gun.

  He waved the two to grab the lianas and they ran away. He asked Leena to clear the way for them. She ordered the last holo soldiers to line up along her path and form a defensive line. It was risky, but if Carter’s idea or Leena’s plan didn’t work out, they were doomed anyway.

  The three liana wearers rushed to the two tripods still standing, which had focused their attention on Gina’s totally inaccurate and ill-targeted shots, firing at Urma, who was running around like a lunatic. Carter explained to Kelly and Tom what he was up to and they jumped between the metal legs of the combat machines. He used the short slings to tie the metal constructs to each other at the joints. His comrades used the medium-length natural ropes to connect the two freestanding limbs of both tanks. The longest liana was left and Carter climbed up the inner connected legs to tie them together at the narrowest point where the three limbs reached into the body. Then he dropped with the loose end and called all available comrades for help. He, Kelly, Tom, Leena, and Jane grabbed the liana and pulled on it with all their strength. Even Rod, who had just defeated the last Lorgan, came to help. In a joint act of strength, they first made the tripod sway and finally knocked it down. Through the connected legs it tore the second vehicle with it. They pulled out the Gumai pilots before they could raise them up again.

  The enemy was defeated. It was a bitter victory that had cost some of their comrades and more than half of the allied soldiers. After the simulation ended, the instructors reappeared. Dunn clapped and Jazzir looked very pleased, while Banes seemed more calm.

  »Well done, recruits. This exercise corresponded to a realistic situation that we often have to experience. Admittedly, the tripod exercise without special weapons was a bit unfair of me, because rocket launchers and similar equipment can be found in most camps. But since you so often shine with your ingenuity, I wanted to see what you do. You didn’t disappoint. Our assessment of your talents was largely accurate. You have improved a lot over the past few months. Sanders, that was a remarkable achievement! Excellent sniper action, good teamwork, and outstanding improvisation talent. You are a leader, that will take you far.«

  Carter didn’t know what to say. Praise from Banes was absolutely no usual event for him. Rod, Leena, and Kelly also received praise from the major, as did Gina, Jane, Urma, and Nambur. The others received rather neutral evaluations and constructive hints. As a group, they had mastered the test.

  Jazzir asked: »Do you know why you don’t feel good despite your success?«

  They immediately knew what he meant.

  »You achieved victory, but the price was high. You have lost some of your friends. You have sacrificed many soldier’s lives, which is bad, even if you did not know any of them. Even the loss of enemy lives is a loss of life. Each of these Lorgans and Gumai had memories, feelings, a family, hopes and dreams. A future that you have wiped out. You must never forget so that you always keep respect for what you are capable of. Being able to end a life does not always mean that you should. A victory in battle is nothing to be too happy about.«

  With these gloomy words in their ears, they returned to their quarters rather low-spirited despite their success.

  The Fruits of Labor

  The following weeks flew by and the successes of the troops spread quickly. Few recruits were able to show such achievements even before they had left the training camp. They themselves did not see it as a special achievement and did not talk about it. The daily lessons did not have much new to offer but were merely intended to consolidate and further improve the contents they had already learned. They all felt that the training was completed in less than three months. They didn’t know what this meant for each of them, but the fact that they probably wouldn’t meet again so quickly afterward created a feeling of growing sadness.

  On weekends, many of them preferred to stay at the base to spend more time with their friends while they still could. This was especially true for the four of them around Carter, Rod, Kelly, and Leena. They were so close that it felt like a small family. They were happy to get out of Osilon soon, but they didn’t want to leave the others behind. Kelly was very eager to have as much time as possible alone with Carter.

  On a sunny Tuesday, as so often, the hell trail with Banes was their destination. That day he didn’t have his infamous paintball gun with him. He just stood there with his arms crossed as usual and wore his trademark, the old-fashioned retro stopwatch he had worn the first day.

  »Watch out! In the last two years, we have trained and repeated the different stations of this trail again and again. You have gone through all possible variations and have gradually become better and better. Even though it felt like an eternity, you have finally reached a level where you would have to complete the most difficult path in a halfway acceptable time. This is true even for those of you who have not received upgrades. I have several of them myself, which is the reason for the best time. This means that only those who have these upgrades will have a chance to reach my time. In your group, it’s only Sanders and Tindall. The rest can’t possibly do it. Today is the day you can prove how good you’ve become. We do our monthly timing to compare it with your results so far and to track progress. So do your best and Sanders and Tindall, you two can seriously try to approach my record this time. No one will beat it, but it would be a decent performance if you got close.«

  Carter and Rod looked at each other with determination. Since they were in Osilon, Banes had been their tormentor. Although they understood the purpose of his methods, it would be a tremendous satisfaction if they beat the record. They would definitely try. Four minutes and forty-eight seconds. Only one second faster and it would be the greatest victory imaginable. Even all the other successful exercises had not given them such satisfaction as a new best time could.

  They lined up at the starting line and as everyone knew that Carter and Rod would overtake them immediately anyway, the others let them go straight to the front. There they stretched for a moment as Banes grinned because he suspected they were going to try and beat his time. Since only one person could be on some obstacles at a time, Rod said:

  »From both of us, you are the faster one. So you should go first.«

  Carter knew he was right and went to the forefront, although he felt a little uncomfortable there because the others could watch him. Banes demonstratively stood next to the start with the stopwatch in his hand, even if the time was measured by their bracelets.

  »Well, let’s see if you’ve gotten better. Go!«, Banes shouted the last word.

  Carter dashed off as if death was after him personally. He headed for the tires where the increased endurance didn’t help, but the improved reaction speed did. He accurately positioned his feet in each of the rubber tires and got through quickly. The mud hole had dried up as usual, but Carter threw himself at the scaffolding to climb over. He took two bars at once to save power and make better use of the momentum. As soon as he dropped at the end, he squatted briefly to push his legs into the ground and gain speed more quickly. The high wooden wall, which had always caused him problems just a few weeks ago, was not much more than a smaller obstacle. He jumped with such power that he could almost simply swing over it. He only had to pull himself up a little to land on the other side. The swing on the rope over the hole was not necessary due to his walking speed, because he could have jumped over the distance. He grabbed the rope and waited until it had carried him far enough
to jump off. While he was hanging there, he looked back.

  Rod had just jumped the wooden wall and pulled himself up. The rest were still struggling with climbing. Carter turned his eyes forward with determination, where the barbed wire grid was. He threw himself on the ground and gently moved underneath, always one arm in front of the other and not too fast. He knew that this obstacle would last longer with too hectic movements. After a felt eternity, during which he constantly thought that time was running out, he was on the opposite side and came to the metal walls with the metal bars. In the distance, he saw Banes with the remote and realized that he needed the utmost attention. His improved reflexes ensured that the extending poles moved as if in slow motion so that he had enough time to avoid them. He used acrobatics to jump over some of the poles, slide through others, and just passed some. One hit him against the leg, but not enough to slow him down.

  He reached the climbing rope and jumped directly up the first one and a half meters. There he grabbed the rope and pulled himself up with sheer strength to get to the wooden platform with a gentle swing. He slid down the slope and flew over the ditch. The obstacle course was already easy for him before the upgrades, but now he just jumped while running or grabbed the ledge and swung sideways over them. Then came the most difficult part, the rope to balance. Carter slowed down and climbed onto it. He moved carefully and used his improved reflexes to avoid falling three times. ›Slow is precise and precise is fast‹, Major Dunn always said. This wisdom now enabled him to leave the rope behind and then race back to Banes along the running track like lightning. As soon as he reached the finish line, he turned around and noticed that Rod was less than ten seconds behind him. The others were far slower. Some were still fighting their way through the obstacles, the climbing ropes or the balancing act. It was the first time Carter really realized how much better the upgrades made him. Rod seemed to be thinking the same thing because he was astonished at the progress of the others.

  Banes said nothing and they waited together for the rest to arrive. Then he went through the times and they compared their progress.

  »Richards got twenty seconds better, very good! Palmer also needed almost fifteen seconds less. Powell, that was three seconds worse than last time, try a little harder. Fields, no change. At least. Whittaker was two seconds faster and Lambert even four. Talbot one was one second better, Talbot two was five seconds slower. Bolly never changed anyway and Zobek was ten seconds slower today. Some of you should really work harder.«, Banes judged disappointed.

  No one reacted to his remarks, because everyone was eagerly waiting to see whether Carter and Rod had come close to Banes‹ record.

  He checked the results and said: »Sanders, your time is four minutes and fifty seconds. Damn close! You’re a soldier to my taste, boy.«

  They were all delighted, and Rod patted Carter on the back in recognition. He knew that Rod had reached the finish a few moments later, but he didn’t know how many seconds he had started after him.

  Banes looked back on his list and for the first time in two years, his look resembled respect. He stared Rod right in the eye.

  »Four minutes and forty-four seconds Tindall. You undercut my time by as much as four seconds.«, he said in disbelief.

  The others cheered until the Major yelled at them loudly that they weren’t on a playground. But despite the yell, they all grinned and were completely beside themselves.

  Banes looked at Rod. »You beat me. After all those long years as an instructor, someone actually made it. Unbelievable. And then a recruit, at that. Normally this would only be possible for an officer candidate or specialist who received the corresponding upgrades, but the forced upgrades gave you a chance. I just never thought a greenhorn would be able to do that.«

  He kept silent for a moment to process the events, and the recruits didn’t really know whether they could talk or leave. Banes took his stopwatch off his neck and held it out to Rod. He looked at it after he had it in his hands.

  »The winner deserves the prize. I am a man of honor and I stand by my word. You deserve my stopwatch and I will finance your graduation with everything that goes with it. Congratulations.«

  His words, though with some injured pride, were serious and Rod went down in Osilon history. Of course, many recruits had passed their training with excellence and they were all marked on the plaque in the main building. However, no one had received this type of honor before. Every soldier trained in Osilon knew Banes and his bet and each of them would treat Rod with respect if they learned of it. Major Dunn made sure they heard the news because when she heard, she immediately sent a message into the Osilon Graduate Channel. After just one day, the information had leaked throughout the military, and even though Rod and the others did not notice much of this at first, Rod still received respect from soldiers he met years later.

  The rest of October flew by and the last two months began. Since the lessons hardly changed anymore and they only repeated, internalized and improved things, life outside the training became more important for them. Rod had flown to his car with Carter several times and had told him a few things about engines and they had been driving around the property. He had also been to the Skymarket with Leena, but she had always made it clear that it wasn’t a date. She tried to keep him at a distance and not let it get too close. Meanwhile, Carter’s relationship with Kelly had steadily improved and they both spent much of their free time together. He had made it a habit to continue reading his books so that he could finish the shelf at home. Since she wanted to be with him, he simply began to read it to her. He was reading fantasy books, epics, and other stories at the time, so she never got bored. One could often see them sitting on the meadow on weekends, Kelly resting her head in his lap, while he leaned against a tree and sat there reading to her. Sometimes Rod or Leena would join in to listen as well.

  Carter found this time wonderful. It was peaceful, pleasant and he spent it with the people who were important to him. But despite the anticipation of discovering new worlds, the certainty hovered above their heads that it would all end soon. But before that day came, there was still a lot to do. On a cloudy Saturday, Carter would drive home to Kelly for the first time. So far she had avoided this because her father usually had appointments and her mother was not the most talkative woman. But that weekend Ethan Richards had sworn to keep the day free for her visit.

  So this time a driver of her family drove the two from Osilon to her parents‹ country estate. It was some distance from Magnus‹ house, so that New Denver was hardly visible, but rather the nearest city, Bern City. The place was unimportant because there were no Syntech facilities there. The property was slightly larger than his father’s and less modern. Instead, it was designed like an old-fashioned villa on Earth. It still didn’t look old but like a noble mansion. Adjacent to the building was a large hall.

  Kelly pointed to it and said: »That’s the fleet. I spent a lot of time there with my father. He certainly wants to show it to you.«

  »Then you probably should have brought Rod with you.«, Carter smiled.

  They landed and Kelly walked hand in hand with him to the door. It blew open and a tall, handsome man in dark blue jeans and a shirt with a suit vest stood in front of them. The short gray hair and the goatee didn’t seem to match his remaining appearance. He glowed and embraced Kelly immediately. Without any further words, he also hugged Carter. He was astonished and a little irritated but didn’t say anything at first.

  »Hello, children! I am so happy to see you! I haven’t seen you for too long, my angel! And I wanted to get to know you for quite a while, Carter. So welcome, welcome!«

  He spread his arms and waved them in. The interior of the property was as distinguished and somewhat old-fashioned as the façade, but it was coherent and suited Ethan well. They walked through several rooms to the back terrace, where there was a huge pool with a woman swimming in it despite the cloudy sky.

  »Darling! Kelly and her boyfriend Carter are here,
would you like to join us?«

  She just shouted: »Later!«, and continued her swim.

  Kelly got a sour expression on her face and her father directed them to a veranda around the corner and up to a staircase from where you could see the whole area. It was a dreamlike spot. They sat down at a white table under a fabric gazebo, on which some tempting meals waited. Pastries, fresh fruit and various drinks in ice containers were ready for them.

  Ethan noisily sat down on a chair, stretched his legs and sighed relaxed.

  »A day off like this is really worth its weight in gold. Of course, I’m mainly at home because of you, but I can’t say I don’t appreciate the peace and quiet.«

  Carter said: »I know the look from my father very well. He realized years ago that he would have to take regular days off when his phone would be off and he would just come to rest.«

  Ethan slightly widened his eyes: »Oh yes right! Your father is Magnus Sanders, the famous Synthium pioneer. His discoveries are known everywhere. I’d love to meet him, but the toilet business rarely requires the use of Synthium. Nobody has ever had such devastating sessions in the bathroom before.«

  He laughed at his own joke and continued:

  »Kelly has told me so much about you Carter. You seem to be a very special guy. Read, sporty, friendly and even modest despite your background. You can tell that your family wasn’t always rich. You still have decency and respect, that’s unfortunately not too common anymore.«

  Carter replied: »Most of the privileged people I met were pretty big assholes. Pompous idiots who behave completely inappropriately. Remember those officer candidates at the field exercise, Kelly? Those guys were total douchebags. It’s no wonder our planet goes down the drain when such dumb-asses have commands.«

  She twisted her eyes in the memory.

  »With your upgrades, you would have finished them off with Rod alone.«