Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles 1: Wizard Defiant

by Rodney Hartman

  “I’m well aware of the specs for this holo-square, sergeant,” said TAC Officer Myers. “All is as it should be.” When the sergeant did not move, TAC Officer Myers said, “If you have any concerns, you should address them with the High Command. In the meantime, you’re interrupting our training. That will be all.”

  The sergeant hesitated. Wizard scouts weren’t officers, but then again, they weren’t enlisted soldiers either. They were a strange, grey area between officers and enlisted. Still, they were skilled specialists, and most military personnel gave wizard scouts a well-deserved respect.

  “As you say, wizard scout,” said the sergeant. “And, I will be sending a protest up the chain of command.”

  “You do that,” said TAC Officer Myers to the back of the retreating sergeant. With that, he turned to the cadets and said, “As you may have gathered, our training is going to be a little different this afternoon. If it’s a little tougher than normal, you can thank cadet 832 and his preference for challenges.”

  Richard felt nine sets of eyes turn to him. He was beginning to hate the word ‘challenges’.

  “A holo-square,” said TAC Officer Myers, “is an advanced, simulation device used to train special operation teams in scenarios which would be deadly if attempted under actual conditions. It’s a very expensive piece of equipment, but you will be seeing a lot of it during the next four years. In spite of my protests to the contrary, the higher ups believe you’re now ready for actual Academy training. As such, you are going to be introduced to scenarios reflecting actual combat conditions. Are there any questions?”

  Silence. No one ever asked TAC Officer Myers a question. He was not one of those who believed there was no such thing as a stupid question; quite the contrary. TAC Officer Myers believed every question asked by a cadet was a stupid question.

  “Fine,” said TAC Officer Myers. “Then since you’re all experts, I think we can begin. Cadet 303, since you missed the last part of the road march, you can go first.” Pointing to a pile of black, leather-looking clothing on the ground, TAC Officer Myers said, “Put it on.”

  “Sir! Yes, sir,” said cadet 303. She ran to the pile of black clothing indicated by TAC Officer Myers and started to pull on a pair of pants over her training shorts.

  “No, you idiot!” said TAC Officer Myers. “That’s a wizard scout training uniform. You have to be bare skinned.”

  “Sir! Yes, sir,” said cadet 303 as she hurriedly began to strip off her clothing.

  Stripping naked in front of other cadets was not that big of a deal. They had all shared common latrines and showers for the last two years. Still, Richard couldn’t help but notice 303 had a very nice body. She was small, but she was well shaped. Richard noticed 303 turn a light shade of pink as she removed her clothing. It was one thing to not have the protection of clothing when everyone else was naked. It was a little different out in the open air with nine other cadets staring at you. Apparently, TAC Officer Myers thought so as well.

  “What are the rest of you waiting for?” yelled TAC Officer Myers. “Don’t you see the other piles of clothing? Do I have to hand feed you idiots everything? Find the pile with your number on it and get dressed.”

  Richard ran along with the other cadets as they hurried to find the pile with their number. He had a feeling the last one dressed would feel the wrath of TAC Officer Myers. But in spite of his efforts, he did not find anything with his number. Soon, all the available piles were occupied by the other cadets.

  “Well, 832,” TAC Officer Myers said as Richard looked around confusedly. “I don’t believe you’ll need a training uniform. They provide far too much protection for someone with your high skills and abilities. I don’t believe this training would be a challenge for you if you were wearing armor. All you’ll need is these goggles. Put them on.”

  TAC Officer Myers tossed a pair of goggles in Richard’s direction. Richard caught them with his left hand. He donned the goggles. Two ear plugs dangled from the strap, so he placed then in his ears. The ear plugs were lightweight, and they did not seem to affect his hearing. Although he did hear what he thought was the sound of a stiff breeze. He was surprised when he looked back at the holo-square. The area inside the square was no longer the open area of the hilltop. Instead, it appeared to be a frozen, windblown wasteland.

  The wonder of holograms, Richard thought.

  The other cadets were soon dressed in their wizard scout training uniforms. They were not actual wizard scout battle suits, of course. Those would be issued later once the class had been reduced further. Instead, the pants, top, and boots appeared to be made out of thick, black leather. The helmet appeared similar to a wizard scout’s battle helmet, but Richard doubted it had any of the advanced electronics. They were just too expensive to waste on first-year cadets. However, they did have full-faced visors which each of the cadets had pulled down. Richard assumed they served the same purpose as his goggles.

  “Cadet 303,” said TAC Officer Myers. “I believe the best way to learn is through experience. Enter the holo-square.”

  As cadet 303 moved to a nearby ‘gate’ in the square, a utility vehicle with a large red cross surrounded by blue stars drove up and parked near TAC Officer Myers. Two medics got out carrying bags.

  “This is serious crap,” whispered a nearby cadet to her buddy.

  “You’ll go next, 422,” said TAC Officer Myers. “This is so obviously boring to you that you have to carry on a conversation with your buddy. You’ll go after her, 815, since you had the time to listen.”

  Neither Richard nor any of the other cadets said another word. As he watched 303 enter the holo-square, Richard noticed her training uniform took on the look of an actual wizard scout battle suit. He’d never seen a wizard scout in a full battle suit in real life, but he’d seen them in plenty of training videos, so he knew what they looked like. Cadet 303’s battle suit included a utility belt with a phase rod on her left side and what appeared to be a hand blaster on her right hip. Richard watched as she removed the blaster and looked at its battery indicator. She must have liked what she saw, because she placed it back in its holster. Next, she removed her phase rod and performed a function check. A meter long shaft of metal was thrust out of the handle, and small, red arcs of energy climbed up and down the shaft.

  It looks like a full-powered phase rod, Richard thought. What’s Myers up to?

  Richard didn’t have to wait long to find out. Through his ear plugs, Richard heard a series of howls. Richard looked at the far end of the holo-square. The distance did not appear to be limited to the actual physical thirty meters. Instead, Richard thought he could make out a dozen white shapes in the distance moving low to the ground and heading in 303’s direction. She saw them too. She ran to a shoulder-high boulder and quickly scrambled to the top. Cadet 303 then drew her blaster and stood facing the oncoming creatures. Richard thought she looked impressive standing defiantly on top of the boulder with a blaster in one hand and a phase rod in the other. The tight-fitting training uniform highlighted her feminine figure. Like all cadets, there wasn’t an ounce of fat on her. Two years of pre-Academy training had hardened her into a deadly killing machine.

  As the creatures drew closer, they took on form. They were all white except for their black noses and fiery-red eyes. They were about half a meter high at the shoulder, and they had six legs. While they weren’t huge creatures, Richard could see impressive fangs protruding from their open mouths. Every once in a while one of the creatures would raise its head in a blood-curdling howl. They approached 303 at a dead run. When they were about fifty meters away, she began firing her blaster. She dropped three of them quickly. The survivors started weaving in and out among each other as if they were trying to confuse her aim. Whether intentional or not, the tactic worked. Cadet 303 missed several shots before she was finally able to drop two more of the creatures. Then they were on her, gathering at the base of the boulder and jumping up to snap at her legs. She took out two more with the bla
ster before one of the creatures bit one of her legs and pulled her off the boulder. Cadet 303 slammed the creature in the head with her phase rod as they fell. Its yelp of pain cutoff abruptly as its head burst open in a spray of green liquid.

  Cadet 303 rolled as she hit the ground and made two quick swings with her phase rod as she gained her feet. Her strokes failed to connect with the fast moving creatures, but it did keep them at bay long enough for her to fire a round from her blaster. She hit one of the creatures in the chest knocking it backwards. As if on command, the three remaining creatures charged 303 simultaneously. She shot one in the head with her blaster and hit another in the side with her phase rod. The energy of the phase rod must have destroyed the insides of the creature because it flopped motionless to the ground. The third creature did not falter. Its jump carried it straight at 303. It grabbed her throat in its big mouth. Cadet 303 was carried over backwards by the momentum of the creature’s charge. They both hit the ground hard, but the creature was able to maintain its grip. The creature shook its head violently from side to side in an apparent attempt to break 303’s neck. She had lost both the phase rod and the blaster during her fall, so she beat at the creature’s head with her gloved fist in an attempt to free herself from the creature’s grip.

  “Sir! Stop the simulation, sir,” pleaded cadet 147 who had seen all he could stand. “It’s killing her.”

  “Silence!” said TAC Officer Myers without looking at 147.

  Richard continued watching the grim scenario to his front. One of 303’s flopping hands grabbed hold of a rock on the ground. She slammed it into the side of the creature’s head. It made a muffled yelp, but it did not release its grip. Cadet 303 slammed the rock into the creature’s head again. This time it gave a yelp of pain and released its grip. It backed off a couple of steps whimpering. Cadet 303 dived at the creature and slammed the rock into its head once more. It fell to its knees. She repeated the process a half dozen times until the creature’s head was just a bloody splatter on the ground. With the obvious death of the creature, 303 dropped the rock and fell on her back.

  The holo-square wavered. The frozen wasteland was replaced with the grass-covered top of hill 3025.

  “Medics,” snapped TAC Officer Myers.

  The two medics ran into the holo-square and removed cadet 303’s helmet. They worked on her for a minute or so. Before long, one of them said, “She’ll be all right, wizard scout. She’s bruised, but her neck isn’t broken. The creature’s teeth didn’t penetrate the armor around her neck.”

  “Take her to see TAC Officer Shatstot by the mess tent,” said TAC Officer Myers. “Have him give her the once over. Then get back here. I have no doubt we’re going to need you again.”

  The medics helped 303 to their vehicle. As she limbed by, Richard thought he saw blood flowing from a hole in her leg armor. He assumed the creature that grabbed her on the boulder must have penetrated her leg armor as it dragged her off. Richard was not overly concerned for 303 since her neck was not broke. TAC Officer Shatstot was a healer. From what he’d been told, many wizard scouts had healing abilities in addition to their normal wizard scout ones. While all wizard scouts could heal themselves, TAC Officer Shatstot was able to heal others. Having seen soldiers die due to lack of medical care, Richard thought the ability to heal others was a mighty useful skill set to have.

  Richard felt his biggest concern was the seriousness of TAC Officer Myers’ training scenario. Pre-Academy training had been tough over the last two years. They’d had their share of injuries, and even one death, but none of their TAC officers had ever gone out of their way to seriously harm the cadets. Richard was concerned the rules had changed. From the expressions of the other cadets on his team, he wasn’t the only one with concerns.

  Myers isn’t playing around this time, Richard thought. The guy is out for blood, and he’s already got some.

  Fortunately, cadet 303 had survived her training scenario, but just barely. Richard wondered what was going to happen when it was his turn to enter the holo-square. He wouldn’t have the advantage of armor. I’ll bet Myers won’t even allow me to have a weapon.

  Once the medical vehicle drove off with cadet 303, TAC Officer Myers turned to cadet 147. “You are relieved of command, 147,” he said. “You are to report to the TAC officer on duty tonight for punishment.”

  “Sir! Yes, sir,” said 147.

  “Cadet 303 will now be the platoon sergeant,” TAC Officer Myers said. “She’s shown she is resourceful and doesn’t quit or whine under pressure. You could all learn from her.” When no one said anything, he said, “You’re up next, 422. Enter the holo-square.”

  Each of the cadets took their turn in the holo-square. Having seen 303’s encounter, 422 did better and was able to kill the last of the creatures before any could drag her off the boulder. After her success, TAC Officer Myers upped the ante a little by adding an extra creature each time a new cadet entered the holo-square. During the next two hours, three more cadets had to be transported by the medics to see TAC Officer Shatstot. One of the cadets was seriously injured with a compound fracture.

  Cadet 147 was next to last in the holo-square. As he was preparing to enter, cadets from some of the other teams were marched up by their TAC officers and positioned around the perimeter of the holo-square. As soon as 147 entered the holo-square, a series of howls sounded. A full score of the creatures charged in 147’s direction. Cadet 147 climbed the boulder just like the previous cadets, but instead of immediately firing his blaster, he kept it holstered. With both hands free, he twisted the top off his phase rod and slid out its isotopic battery. He allowed the now useless phase rod to drop to the ground as he pulled out his hand blaster. Taking careful aim, he shot the three foremost creatures. The others were in a tight pack behind their leaders. When they were just meters away, he threw the isotopic battery in their direction. Whether he was just lucky or one hell of a shot, the round from his blaster hit the battery just as it was over the densest part of the pack.

  Boom!

  The white flash from the exploding battery blinded Richard. When his vision cleared, he looked at the holo-square. The pack of creatures had been decimated, and the few remaining ones still on their feet were staggering around barely able to walk. Apparently cadet 147 had been blown off the boulder. He was just rising to a standing position when Richard’s vision cleared. Once cadet 147 was on his feet, he walked around the boulder and began putting the dazed creatures out of their misery with well-placed shots from his blaster. It was over in less than a minute, and not a single creature had touched 147.

  The cadets surrounding the holo-square began cheering, and Richard joined in enthusiastically. He didn’t mind that 147 had used his trick with the phase rod’s isotopic battery. After all, imitation was the highest form of flattery as far as Richard was concerned.

  The hologram ended, and cadet 147 exited the holo-square. By this time, all the remaining teams had joined the crowd in time to see 147’s victory. The noise from the cadets was deafening. Richard glanced at TAC Officer Myers. His mouth was clenched tight, and his eyes seemed to blaze as 147 walked past, but he said nothing. When 147 got even with Richard, his ex-platoon sergeant gave him a wink and a smile.

  “Thanks for the idea,” 147 said as he passed by.

  “That’s enough” said TAC Officer Myers.

  The cheering stopped as if it had been cut off with a switch.

  “For those of you who just joined us,” said TAC Officer Myers. “This is a fully functional holo-square. That means the force beams are designed to simulate the actions and strength of the things being depicted in the hologram. Whether it’s a blaster round, an explosion, the effects of a phase rod, or the bite of some creature, the force beams insure the damage accurately emulates actual combat conditions. It’s all controlled by computers through the tele-network.”

  “You cadets not on 147’s team were fortunate,” said TAC Officer Myers, “because your holo-squares were set at one fou
rth power for today’s training. That percentage will be increased in the months ahead as your level of training increases. Eventually, you will be training in holo-squares at one hundred percent emulation. Cadets can, and have, died during holo-square training. I doubt your cohort will be an exception.”

  The cadets remained silent.

  “For demonstration purposes,” said TAC Officer Myers, “this team’s holo-square is at full power. In keeping with ‘cadet 832 day’, I have a special challenge for cadet 832. I was going to provide cadet 832 with a phase rod for his training scenario. However, since cadet 147 demonstrated how a phase rod’s battery can be used as a last-ditch explosive device, I’ve changed the scenario. I would highly recommend in the future none of you follow 147’s example. Any cadet doing so during future training scenarios will immediately be D.F.R.’d. To insure cadet 832 is not tempted to so use his phase rod, he will be provided with a slightly lower-tech offensive weapon.”

  Richard thought he saw an evil grin on TAC Officer Myers’ face as he said, “Enter the holo-square, cadet 832. That is, unless you’d like to turn in your D.F.R. right now.”

  Richard did not bother replying as he walked towards the holo-square’s entrance.

  “You can do it, 832!” said 147.

  “Damn right, you can!” said cadet 303 who had rejoined the team earlier.

  “You’re relieved of command, 303!” said TAC Officer Myers. “Cadets do not curse. You will report to the TAC officer on duty tonight for punishment. Cadet 147, you will report for punishment for the rest of the week. Cadet 422, you’re now acting platoon sergeant.”

  “Sir! Yes, sir,” said the three cadets in unison.

  Chapter 5 – The Holo-square

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