The Azophi Academy Complete Series Boxed Set: Unique Military Education

by TR Cameron

  When they arrived it was lunchtime, and they found the remainder of the team from the mission eating together in the dining room. He sat and said, “Okay, I’ve waited until we were all in person to get the rest of the story, so spill.”

  The others laughed, and Ethan Kimmel spoke up. “Well, you can start by thanking us for getting the door open for you. We found a tablet in the ATV, and Maria stayed in very distant line of sight with the building so I could bounce commands through her to make the AI relax for a minute.”

  He grinned. “Consider me very, very grateful. I will buy you all as many drinks as you like tonight in the bar.”

  They all smiled at that, and Anton Sirenno took over the story. “Once Verrand got back to us, I drove the ATV straight to the ship. Rearden had all our clearances in order, so aside from some bumps and annoying obstacles on the way, the last part was easy.”

  Cia nodded. “We’d been cleared by the authorities for launch and had received your message, so as soon as everyone was on board, off we went.” She grinned. “The couple who acted as our advance team sent word that some naked drunk had been found wandering in the forest that night. Apparently the gossips were all abuzz about it.”

  He shook his head while the others laughed at him. “Seemed like the right idea at the time. And I wasn’t naked, just not fully dressed.” That sparked another round of laughter. “So, Veronica has been delivered to where she was supposed to be?”

  The pilot responded, “Yes, your girlfriend is fine.”

  He scowled at her. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure.”

  Instead of replying, he looked down at his suddenly buzzing wristcomm. “Well, looks like it’s time for me to have a chat with the big guy. Remember what I said. Bar. Tonight. Drinks on me. You people did good.” Another thing he’d learned from his superiors in SF: compliments are useful tools, but only in moderation, and you never exaggerated the accomplishment. But they deserved recognition for how well they’d come together to get the job done.

  The Professor’s office was the same as usual, except for the fire, which smelled like pine instead of cherry. Nikolai Maarsen sat behind his desk, sipping from a glass and looking pleased, and a tumbler of the incredible Scotch was waiting for Jax as he took his seat. “Jackson. Welcome back.”

  “It’s good to be back, that’s for sure. Although the resort was nice. I guarantee the team you sent in ahead of us enjoyed the vacation.”

  He nodded. “They deserved it. Hard workers, have been with the Academy for years. I try to send people to interesting locations when an opportunity presents itself. This one was far more luxurious than most.” Switching topics, he said, “I presume you have questions.”

  Weird debrief procedure, dude. Usually it goes the other way around. “I guess the big one is who Veronica is, and what was the thing we retrieved from the building?”

  “Perfectly legitimate questions. However, I can’t give you any more information on the first. Her real name is indeed Veronica Larsen, but any other details will have to come from her. She’s staying with us for a while, so you might be able to ask her personally.” He paused and took a sip of his whiskey. Jax noted he luxuriated in it like he was some kind of Zen master existing only in the moment. Nice work if you can get it. He sampled his own drink but couldn’t find much in the way of tranquility.

  “On the second, I’m betting you’ve already guessed. It’s another portion of the Artificial Intelligence we’re after. Veronica designed it, then others put it to use in ways she wasn’t comfortable with. The Academy has alumni in the Confederacy as well, and one of them heard something from someone who heard a rumor…you know how it goes. We made contact and she asked to be extracted, knowing her skills were too valuable for the government to allow her to leave.”

  Jax nodded. “Makes sense. Not to be self-centered, but how does this help me with my prosthetics?”

  Maarsen grinned. “I’m going to let Doctor Cray share those details. She’s expecting you when we’re done here, and you should check your comm because she wanted you to do something first. But let me ask you a question in turn. What are your plans now?”

  Jax thought that answer had been obvious to everyone from day one. “I’ll head to the Cronus and get back to work. My team has been without me for long enough.”

  Maarsen nodded. “Despite your progress so far, there’s more the Academy can do for you, so allow me to offer an invitation. You are welcome to return at any time under the same parameters as this visit: you learn, you teach, and you assist with tasks as needed. I give my word that you won’t find yourself on the opposite side of any loyalties you may have. I believe Anika would show up and shoot me if such a thing were to occur.”

  Jax laughed. “I agree. She would. And coming back is in my plans.” If only because I want to take Juno out on a date.

  Maarsen smiled, rose, and extended a hand. “Then I guess this is goodbye for now, Jackson. I wish you the best, and look forward to when our paths cross again.”

  He stood and completed the handshake. “Thanks, Professor Maarsen. Try not to let Cia burn the place down around your ears while I’m gone.” He departed to the other man’s laughter.

  Juno awaited him in the medical laboratory and smiled as he entered. “Jackson, you made it back.”

  He grinned. “Had to. Gotta leave before I can be done with my first stint.” He raised an eyebrow, and she laughed.

  “You have a point. So, if I understood your message, you got hit with an EMP that damaged the artificial leg, but the arm held up.” He nodded. “That explains why we didn’t get the data I was expecting from the cuffs. If it’s okay with you, we’ll put on new ones. They’ll be strictly local; you’ll need to download the information manually and send it to us or bring it here. No risk to you in the field.”

  Jax shrugged. “Sure.”

  “Good deal. Now, we have software and hardware upgrades for your leg, and software only for your arm. Take off everything but your shorts and hop up on the table.” She turned. Her message had told him to wear the jogging shorts that matched the sweatsuit, and he’d hoped it would be for this reason. He complied and stretched out on the chilly surface. She stood over him and gave him a smile, then tapped her tablet. A sterile field sprang into being around him with a snapping noise. “So, Doc, are you going to put me out for this or what?”

  She didn’t reply, but her next tap was followed by a sharp jab in his neck and almost immediate unconsciousness.

  When he awoke, he felt healthy and well-rested. Juno appeared, and he shared that observation with her as she helped him sit up on the table. She replied, “You should. Since we were working on you already, we dosed you with fast healing drugs, anti-toxin drugs, and a couple other proprietary things you don’t need to know about.” She patted him on the shoulder faux-comfortingly. “Now, let’s try out the new leg.”

  Jax looked down to see the same metal framework and skin graft that had been on his arm in the beginning, with the same cuff at the join to collect data. He walked around on it, and everything felt correct. Moving his arm around returned the same result. “It’s all good.”

  Juno grinned. “Ah, but good isn’t good enough. The hardware is better now.”

  He interrupted, “I have to ask. How is that you have more advanced prosthetics than the Special Forces?”

  She chuckled. “Innovation and bureaucracy don’t always go together. We’ve tried on several occasions to convince them to use us as a supplier, but they’re not willing. I’m sure it’s political at some point along the line, but it also means we can work faster because we don’t need to wait through long approval processes at every stage. Anyway, like I said, better hardware. EMP hardened, for instance.”

  “And the software?”

  “That’s the fun part. The first component you brought back is for us because we needed a more advanced tool to interact with the AI. The second was the key piece, though. Your arm and your leg are now run
ning their own small artificial intelligences that will, if all goes as we expect, identify, intercept, and repair the messages that are going awry.”

  A wave of relief washed over him. “That’s amazing, Doc. I can’t tell you how good that is to hear.” Her eyebrow lifted, and he cut her off before she could speak. “If you’re planning to say something about control issues, that’s first-date talk.”

  Her laugh wasn’t quite flirtatious, but it was on the road toward it. “If you think that’s good, you’ll love this.” She tapped a couple of controls, then pulled a beanbag out of her pocket. “Catch.” Juno threw the item off to his left. He snapped his arm out to snag it and missed entirely.

  “What the hell?” He looked at the arm like it belonged to someone else. It had moved much faster than it should have and overshot the catch.

  “You’ll need to get used to it. I’m going to dial it back now so that it’s only a little faster than normal. We’ll give you a tablet so you can adjust it as you adapt. I thought it would be wise to limit the ability to mess with the software to physical connections, knowing your line of work. Do you agree?”

  He nodded. “Enthusiastically.”

  She patted him on the knee, which was a little disappointing given all the other bare areas she might have chosen. “All right. I’m done with you, Jackson. Get the hell out of here, and for heaven’s sake, put some clothes on.”

  He hopped off the table with a laugh and slipped into his shirt. “See you soon, Doc.”

  She shook her head with a smile before turning away. “Promises, promises.”

  The medical procedure had taken up most of the afternoon, so he’d downed his dinner quickly and reported to the bar to fulfill his promise to buy everyone drinks. They’d talked for a couple of hours before the first one drifted off to his room, and finally, it was just him and Cia.

  She said, “So, I’m going to say you proved that you have the ability to treat me like a partner, although you’re still a long way from being any good at it. My threat to use loud words on you is hereby recalled.”

  He laughed. “I think there might have been some learning involved. Hard to believe, right?’

  She nodded, suddenly tentative, then asked, “You think you’ll be back sometime?” The group as a whole had discussed their imminent plans earlier. Everyone but Cia and Ethan Kimmel was headed away from the Academy in the immediate future. Neither the pilot nor the computer expert had offered any explanation as to why they were staying, and no one pushed. For all I know, she lives here now. It’s not like she’s got anywhere else to go since she’s ditched her family connections.

  He grinned. “Do you miss me already? After such a short time apart? That’s so cute.” She punched him in his human arm hard enough to hurt, and the tension fragmented and fell away. He chuckled and continued, “Yes. I’ll be back. The Professor made it clear that there are still improvements to compensate for the many areas in which I lack, and I’m not the sort of person who leaves stuff undone. Plus, you know, I kind of like it here.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, me too. So, you’re headed back to your ship?”

  “The Cronus, yeah. Leaving early tomorrow morning to drop the bike off, then train to Edinburgh, shuttle to the Moon, and a military cargo ship out to the Tau system.”

  Cia shook her head sadly as if he was the dumbest person ever. “I got permission from the Professor to fly you there in the Grace, chucklehead. Someone will take care of your motorcycle. Just give me the word on what time you want to leave.”

  It was a touching gesture, even given her avowed goal of flying whenever possible. He gave it the only response he could and heaved a condescending sigh. “See, I told you. You don’t want to let me go. I understand. It’s happened before. I’m so desirable that you can’t help yourselves.”

  She hit him harder in the same spot in the way only true friends could get away with.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Professor Nikolai Maarsen reclined in his chair, made sure his tumbler of Scotch was at hand, and pulled a small cylinder from his desk. He placed it on the flat wooden surface and said, “Activate,” and a holographic display appeared above it. It wasn’t the best image since the signal came from a single point rather than projectors all over the room, but it would suffice.

  “Connect to Zavian.” In the several minutes of silence created while computer systems negotiated with each other and intelligences human, artificial, and maybe otherwise approved of the contact, Maarsen considered the path he followed. He’d begun turning the Academy’s attention to the UCCA almost a decade before, but the urgency of that project had increased exponentially during Major Anika Stephenson’s time as a student. She’d brought her own concerns, they’d discovered intersections, and those had led to the conclusion that a significant threat lay hidden inside the military and the government, or more likely, both.

  Finally, the other man’s face materialized in mid-air. He had black hair with a widow’s peak, slicked back severely. His eyebrows and skin looked as if he received regular treatments, which wasn’t out of the question. Nikolai had seen pictures of the man before, and he was clearly quite concerned with his looks, right down to the tiniest detail of his wardrobe. However, the most gripping part of Zavian Arlox, head of the UCCA’s Intelligence service, was his eyes. They burned in a way that Nikolai had read about in the classics but never seen on any human other than Arlox. Fanaticism, cunning, and a lust for power shone through them, and he was certain deeper, darker things swam in their depths as well. His voice was heavier than you’d expect. “Nikolai. What do you want?” Arlox didn’t concern himself with pleasantries. He held the opinion, shared by many, that power obviated the need for politeness.

  Maarsen disagreed. “It’s good to see you, Zavian. I ask only a moment of your time to share a tidbit I think you’ll find useful.”

  The other man stifled a sigh, but his irritation was obvious. “Go ahead.” Arlox was smart enough to remember the Academy had access to information that would be almost impossible for him to get otherwise, placing Maarsen among the few who had the man’s personal contact details.

  So when he did have his attention, he made it count. “It appears some UCCA equipment recently reported lost has been found. Since your department conducted the investigation that came to the erroneous conclusion, I thought you might want a heads up before the knowledge comes out and the politicians get involved.”

  The man gave him a murderous glare, and eked out, “Thank you. Is there anything else?”

  “No, that’s all. Be well, Zavian.” He killed the channel and took a long sip of his Scotch. That ought to send the bees scurrying out of the hive. It will be illuminating to see what their dance reveals. He activated his wristcomm. “We’re going to need to immediately increase our surveillance of all the UCCA Intelligence agents we’ve identified, so notify these assets that they are needed back at the Academy…”

  Author Notes - TR Cameron

  June 25, 2020

  You’ve reached the end of the first book in the Azophi Academy. Thank you for reading the book, and thank you for continuing on to “listen” to me babble! I hope you enjoyed it and will stick around for the next adventure with Jackson and his allies.

  Coming up with the Space Opera / Academy mashup idea was really a lot of fun. Three authors represented by cool avatars in a virtual room kicking around ideas and coming up with something that, to my knowledge, hasn’t been done quite this way before. Martha and Michael are amazing mentors and collaborators, in addition to just being a hell of a lot of fun to be around.

  My kid and I are missing out on our normal summer joys. By now we would have usually taken a trip to visit my best friend in New York, spent a couple days at Hershey Park, gone to our local amusement park probably a dozen times, and visited our community pool equally as often. Plus, we had plans to tack on an amusement park road trip to a wedding, hitting Cedar Point and King’s Island. All of that is on hold due to the pandemic gripping t
he U.S. and the world. But it’s a small price to pay for safety.

  We’re filling the time with other entertainments, including the recently released Minecraft dungeons. My kid is a Minecraft fanatic, spending large parts of the day on family friendly and slightly less family friendly servers PvPing with other kids and cooperatively building some astonishing things. Since we can’t go to an amusement park, the kid is building one.

  I’m using SimCity BuildIt to avoid doomscrolling on Twitter, and just finished a replay of Witcher 3 and downloaded the first expansion, which I haven’t played before. It’ll be fun to see Geralt in some new stories. I rejected Triss in favor of Yen this time through, and it was actually kind of painful to watch her reactions. Why you gotta be so real life, CDProjektRed?

  Rereading Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, Butcher’s Dresden series, and David Weber’s Safehold series. New stories aren’t working as mental balm at the moment, so I’m enjoying some I’m familiar with instead.

  If you enjoyed this book, you might like my other series. Drop by www.trcameron.com and take a look!

  Television viewing is up lately, too. Watched the first episode of Perry Mason and was underwhelmed. It gets one more to try and hook me. Castlevania is a hoot, I love the writing. Killing Eve had another strong season. I’m waiting for The Boys, and The Expanse, and the return of the NFL. As much as I wanted to love Picard, it didn’t grab me hard enough to keep me.

  I’ve found myself floundering just a bit, finding it hard to cope with the overwhelming *gestures around at the world*. But I found wisdom in the unlikeliest of places, as you often do. As Anna is reminded in Frozen 2, when you don’t know what else to do, just to the next right thing.

  So that’s my mantra for the summer. Figuring out what the next right thing is can be a little challenging at times, but at least it’s a direction forward to latch onto, right?