Seeing the meal on the table, my father moved to take a seat opposite me with a small grunt of appreciation.
“Good haul today, Ris?” he asked as he peeled back the foil of the re hydrated meal and dug in with gusto.
“Not that great, though I did find a broken simulator helmet, which is a higher grade than my basic model. I was thinking of modifying my basic helmet with the components.” I told my father, deciding not to tell him about the module just yet.
Looking up from his food, my father scanned the parts I had spread out on the table with his eyes.
“The components look like they should be compatible. Do you want my help to modify your helmet?” he asked as he gave a small glance towards his bed.
“I can do it, get some rest, dad, you need it.”
I was grateful for his offer of help, but knew how tired he was. My father nodded, the relief on his face barely concealed as he rose from his seat and slid his empty foil container into the trash receptacle. After putting his fork into the drawer of the sonic cleaner, he made his way to his bed and closed the privacy screen. He had just under six hours before he needed to return to work, though he would have had longer if not for his detour to Scotty's bar. I did not understand why he wasted his little downtime at that place, nor did I like the fact that he often gambled away many of the few credits he earned during those visits. Scotty was an older man who was fond of brewing his own alcoholic beverages, and his bar was where many of the factory workers would spend time after their shifts. It was a long-running joke that Scotty’s drinks could kill a full-grown Grignar, which was rumored to resemble the bears of old Earth.
Alone once more, I refocused my attention on the task at hand and finished pulling out the helmet’s NIC chip, the neural implant connection chip. I then swapped out the salvaged components into my basic helmet.
Fighting back a yawn, I booted up the helmet to test if the new hardware was operational. Nodding in satisfaction, as everything appeared to be working, I set about clearing off the table and putting away the tools. Living in such a small space had taught me the importance of cleanliness. Moving away from the table, I settled onto my bed and after closing the privacy screen, I pulled on the modified helmet.
Then connected it to my neural implant, and logged into the interstellar network. Once connected, I accessed an Earth history education module I had recently been working on to test the simulators' new components. The simulator worked perfectly. It was amazing how much better it was with the upgrades. Previously, there was always a slight delay between mental direction and the simulation’s response. The operation of the modified helmet was much smoother, and the connection felt more stable. With a basic model, a person could only see and hear the loaded education simulations. It was like watching a movie that they controlled with their thoughts. With the new upgrades, I felt physically present in the simulation. I could feel my own body and interact with the surroundings. Excitement built as I disconnected from the helmet and plugged in the flight simulator.
Placing the helmet back on my head, I reconnected and opened up the flight simulation.
‘Loading, loading, connecting to Beltran flight simulation.’
‘No data found for user, creating profile.
Identification verified.
Implant ID 9787689546.
Name: Aristeia Kelras.
Welcome, Cadet Kelras. Would you like to begin module calibrations?’
I accepted, then went through the various motions required to calibrate the module to ensure it was best able to interact with my implant.
‘Calibrations complete, please select from the available units.
Basic Flight Instrumentation
Basic Flight control
Basic Navigation
Basic Orbital Station Docking Procedures
Basic Flight Maneuvers 001
Basic Flight Maneuvers 002
Basic Hyperspace Navigation
Flight Scenario 001
Flight Scenario 002
Flight Scenario 003'
There were ten units to complete, with each showing an incomplete status. I scrolled through the list, looking at each unit in turn before reading the notification at the bottom of the unit list.
'All units must be completed with a score of 90% or higher before you may access additional training.’
"Challenge accepted," I murmured, and selected the first unit.
Chapter 3
I pulled the simulator helmet from my head roughly, then tossed it onto the bed with a frustrated grunt. Glaring at the discarded helmet as I rubbed a hand across my eyes, my head throbbing, I pondered the battle scenario I once again failed.
It had been almost three months since I had acquired the Beltran flight simulation module. During that time, I had completed all the units, excluding the final flight scenario. I had attempted the scenario several times but could not keep the ship intact during the battle, resulting in failure. It was frustrating beyond belief, the scenario was an escort mission while under attack by pirates.
As the pilot, I had to maneuver the ship to avoid the incoming attacks and position it to return fire. I also had to act under the simulated ship commander's orders, which was where the problem laid. The simulated commander would order the vessel in a manner that resulted in its destruction. When I rejected the orders and moved the ship to ensure our survival, I failed the scenario.
I honestly could not see the point of the scenario or how to go about passing it. The scenario was beyond frustrating, because if I could not pass the last lesson, then I could not access any new content.
Hearing a soft beep, I glanced down at my wrist display to see a new message from my mother. Frowning, I accessed the message. Its content was short and to the point.
‘@Aristeia Kelras—I will call at G22:00.’
That was it, nothing more than a few words. It was typical of my mother. She wasn't a woman who made small talk or wasted words. My parents had met when my mother's ship, a Federation battlecruiser, had suffered thruster damage because of an anomaly in hyperspace. The ship had remained at the Winaru system’s space station for repairs, and during that time my parents became acquainted.
Captain Solaria Harra had found out she was pregnant after the ship had departed the Winaru system. Unwilling to allow having a child affect her career, she sent her newborn daughter back to N2390, leaving me in the care of my father.
With a tired sigh, I saw it was already twenty-one forty by galactic standard time, which was two hours ahead of N2390's own time zone. I moved from my bed and went into the ablution unit. If I was going to have a vid call with my mother, then I needed to be a little more presentable.
Finally dressed in a light gray jumpsuit with my hair in a tight ponytail, I made my way to stand before the vid screen. I did not know why my mother was contacting me, but I would soon take my basic education exams so perhaps it regarded that. At twenty two hundred hours, the implant interface device on my wrist buzzed, and I forwarded the display to the screen.
Standing a little straighter, I watched as my mother appeared before me. Admiral Harra was in her late sixties, though she didn't look a day over forty. Her silvery blond hair could not be seen as an indicator of her age, as mine was the exact same shade. I had never seen anyone else with hair like ours, but then again, N2390 only had a small population.
"Aristeia, explain to me how you came into possession of an academy flight simulation module," she demanded, her voice cold, not even bothering with a greeting.
I tensed at her words. How did she know about the flight module? After a moment of hesitation, I decided it was best to be truthful. I hadn't done anything wrong, and lying would achieve nothing in this situation.
"I located the module along with a broken simulation helmet in the scrap yard, ma'am. I tested the module on my basic simulator helmet, and seeing it was operational, I utilized components from the broken simulator to modify my basic helmet for increased compatibility."
>
"I see, you then accessed the simulator from the modified helmet, correct?"
Her face stayed blank as she stared at me through the camera, and I did my best to mimic her composed expression.
"Yes, Ma'am. I completed all the basic and advanced education courses provided to me some time ago and wished for further mental stimulation."
I watched as she glanced at something off-screen before she looked back to me, and I could almost see a hint of expression on her face before it disappeared.
"The module connects to the academy network and logs the training data in the primary system. It was because of this that the academy has recently discovered that certain people were illegally selling academy equipment intended for disposal."
I almost flinched at her sharp look, feeling anxious. Was I in trouble for using the module? I had not known it was for fleet pilots, though considering the content of the units, I should have guessed. Civilian pilots wouldn't be expected to fight off pirate attacks or fly in patrol patterns. Suddenly feeling rather foolish, I tried to formulate a response, but my mother began speaking once more.
"Aristeia, in the past three months you have almost completed the first-year flight training module. You have also passed each of the units with a score of ninety-seven percent. This is the highest score seen in three years, very few score above ninety-five percent."
"Thank you, mother," I said, watching with a pang of hurt as she twitched in response to my neglecting to use her ranked address. "I found the training in the module to be of great interest and have been considering applying to work as a trainee pilot on one of the trade vessels that visit Winaru."
Moons above, why did I tell her that? It wasn't like she would care what I did, she never cared. I wasn't some foolish little girl desperate for her love anymore. When I was younger, I had looked up to this woman, the great captain who had led the Astrum Federation to victory against the Gallarino Alliance and reclaimed the Mero system in the war that had broken out when I was two years old. Though, the war had been over within a year thanks to my mother’s achievements.
I used to crave the brief calls on my birthday each year, for they were the only time I would get to see and speak with my mother. That had ended the first and only time I had met my mother in person. Shortly after I turned fourteen, my mother had called me unexpectedly and informed me that her ship would pass through the Winaru system. She had requested I join her on the FSS Gretna, so my father took me up to the space station. I then met with an officer from the fleet who took me on a small shuttle which brought us to my mother's battlecruiser.
It had been an awe-inspiring sight, and the battlecruiser had been well over thrice the size of the space station. I was escorted to meet my mother in a large dining room, where we ate a very awkward meal. She had briefly asked about my studies, but we discussed little else beyond that. After dinner, she rose without so much as a word of farewell and left the room, leaving me to be escorted off the ship by the same officer who had brought me on board.
I'd resented her for that, she had shattered all expectations I'd built of our first meeting. There was no loving hug or tearful reunion, no warmth or care. Meeting her in person had shattered my childhood idolization of the woman. My father had been lying when he had told me her communications had been short due to issues with the network connection. When she had called later that year on my birthday, I didn't even bother answering, still feeling hurt over what had occurred on the Gretna.
“I see,” she finally said, staring at me for several long moments before continuing. “Having seen your current education scores, and your results on the Beltran flight simulator, the fleet is willing to offer you a place in this year’s academy examinations. The examination begins in three weeks. If you accept, I will make arrangements for your transport to Velante.”
I gaped in shock, unable to hide my reaction to my mother’s words. I had considered enlisting as a pilot but had decided against it in the end.
There were two ways someone could join the fleet as a pilot, they could enlist to train as an enlisted shuttle or low orbital fighter pilot or they could test into the academy. Only pilots who graduated from the academy and were commissioned as officers could pilot larger spacecraft in the fleet. While I was confident I could score well in the basic education testing, the academy exams were notoriously difficult and they accepted only a few cadets each year. I also lacked the finances, as in order to test into the academy I would need to travel to the Sovari system, where the military academy was located, which, like the Winaru system, contained only a single habitable planet. The Sovari system was the primary base of the United Federation’s space fleet, while Velante was home to fleet command and the officers training academy.
Staring down at my feet, I contemplated what my mother had said. There was no guarantee I could join any of the trade ships; in fact, it was rather unlikely. And gaining a scholarship to train as a commercial pilot would also be difficult. While I had decided against the idea of enlisting, in a desire to fly more than just low-orbit fighters and shuttles, I knew I could not give up this opportunity. The chance to take the academy exams was not something easily attained. Even if I failed this year, there was always the chance that I could enlist and retest in future years.
Looking back up to the screen where my mother stared at me with her cold, fixed expression, I took a steadying breath and straightened my stance.
“When do I leave?” I asked, trying to mimic her expression and not show the excitement building within me.
“I will contact you when the arrangements have been made,” she said, and it shocked me to see her lips move in the barest hint of a smile. "You will discontinue use of the flight simulation, the fleet removed it from use due to an error in the last scenario, where it would fail the simulation instead of continuing to the second half. Bring it to Velante and someone will retrieve it from you for disposal," my mother said, cutting off the call the second she finished speaking, not even giving me the courtesy of a goodbye.
I stared at the blank screen for several moments, feeling a strange mix of emotions well up inside of me as I walked over to my bed. I needed sleep and time to process what had happened. Not only had my mother offered me a chance to test into the academy, but she was willing to arrange for my transport. Passage from Winaru to the Sovari system would not be cheap, nor would it be easy, very few ships came to my home system. I had not thought she would even bother calling me again, now that I was about to turn eighteen.
I felt some regret that I would need to stop using the flight module. Even knowing it was just a simulation, there was something freeing about being in the open flight simulation. To flying through the stars and going wherever I so desired. I spent hours in the simulation, visiting every simulated system I had access to.
Up there I was not Aristeia inhabitant of planet N2390, I was Aristeia, explorer of the stars.
Chapter 4
The next morning, I woke early, wishing to speak with my father before he left for work, only to find my mother had already contacted him regarding our conversation and my upcoming departure. I was annoyed she had done so, as I wanted to tell him myself.
I had already told him of my desire to train as a pilot, and he promised to support me as much as he could. Though he did make it clear that he preferred I train as a civilian pilot, which he considered safer, even if the training was far too expensive without scholarships. By joining the fleet, the cost of my training was covered as part of the first term of service. Depending on which training course I entered, I would be required to serve for a set amount of years. Those training as pilots enlisted for fifteen years initially. The cadet pilot training lasted four years, and after that I would serve a minimum term of eleven years.
My mother had also forwarded my travel itinerary. I would depart from the Winaru System orbital platform in three days’ time. Then I would spend a night in the Xi'anu system, before boarding a commercial passenger ship to the Sovari system. I w
as due to arrive in the Sovari system five days before the military academy exams. Previously, I would be on the passenger ship heading to Sovari when my basic education testing was supposed to be scheduled, but it seemed that my mother had somehow gotten my testing date moved forward. I could not do the testing on the ship, as we would be in hyperspace; I would not be able to access the network. The simulation also required a human examiner to monitor testing to prevent those with higher capability implants from utilizing AI assistance or other methods to cheat on the exams.
I was quite anxious, as the basic education exam had been rescheduled for this afternoon. Trying to settle my nerves, I spent my morning reviewing for the exam and trying to keep myself busy.
At fifteen hundred hours in galactic standard time, I grabbed my simulation helmet and connected to the main interface screen. I saw a new option called ‘Examination F465,’ so I entered the testing zone. I appeared in a white room with a silver desk and chair. I moved over to the desk and took a seat, looking around the room but seeing nothing.
“Are you ready to begin the examination?” a voice asked.
“I am ready to begin,” I said to the empty room, straightening in my chair as a holographic screen appeared before me, filled with various math questions. Focusing on the first question, I answered mentally and watched as my answer appeared on the screen.
The examination went on in the same manner as I answered questions on a variety of subjects. Each subject would start with easier questions and would progressively get harder until I found myself unable to answer any further questions. After I could not answer three questions in a row, the testing for that subject would end. I would then be given a brief break before the next subject began.
Five hours later, I pulled my helmet off and closed my eyes as I rubbed my temples in small circles to soothe the throbbing ache in my head. I was exhausted, but I had an overall score of ninety-six percent. Unfortunately, I hadn't done so great with the chemistry-based subjects. With my lower score in chemistry, it brought my overall score down.
Striving for the stars (The Kelras Chronicles Book 1) Page 2