49 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 5 (2/2)

Cillian looked abashed and must have felt guilty. He sincerely replied, ”I do, I do. It's just this squad is so amazing. In all the years we have supported Fortescue I have not seen the like.”

Stanley nodded. He did not mean to exact a guilty response from Cillian. The Marais were a loyal bunch to family, friends and even Fortescue.

”What's your assessment?” Cillian asked.

”Can I give it after the group rounds are finished? This is only one match,” Stanley replied.

Cillian nodded sadly, ”the next match is starting.”

.

.

The next match was a repeat of Horus' first match. Stanley concluded after watching twenty minutes of the action; Horus was talented for M1 and if he were to guess probably only second to Thoth. They had excellent equipment. Probably better than any other squad. But not by a great margin. They were skilled for M1, but when compared to M3 they were left wanting. They were tactically sound, just lacking experience compared to the M3 squads.

Margins were small when it came to the elite matches, and although these were tier one, they were not inter-Academy elite. The marginal differences that existed caused Horus to lose again with only two kills this time.

M3 Osiris Squad zero (2) def M1 Horus Squad zero

Thoth were up again, this time versus Amun-Ra. It became apparent the main reasons Thoth M1 succeeded where Horus failed was their tactics and execution. These were a cut above the other squads. It was another close match with Thoth winning with two cadets left standing.

M1 Thoth Squad zero (5) def M3 Amun-Ra Squad zero

Osiris who were undefeated in their first two matches lost to Shu squad one.

M3 Shu Squad one (5) def M3 Osiris Squad zero

M3 Amun-Ra zero (2) def M1 Horus zero

Whether it was fatigue or just beaten by a better squad, M1 Thoth was not invincible. They lost their next match against Osiris who had only one left standing when they took down Picard.

M3 Osiris Squad zero (6) def M1 Thoth Squad zero

M3 Shu Squad one (5) def M3 Amun-RaSquad zero

After nine matches Cillian, Stanley and Andre perused the leaderboard.”It's going to come down to the wire,” Cillian observed.

M3 Shu Squad one were on 10.4 points after competing in four matches winning three and losing one.

M3 Osiris Squad zero were on 10.0 points after competing in four matches winning three and losing one.

Currently, Mitso were on 6.7 points with one final battle. They needed to win and have three or more cadets standing at the end. They were up against a squad who had lost every match with at most killing two of the opposition. They were up against M1 Horus. Karine Fortescues squad.

If M1 Thoth squad won, with three remaining cadets, they would score 3.4 for the match which would take them to 10.1 and into the semi-finals.

.

.

Sophie Marais was as tall as her husband, one point eight metres, or six foot in the old imperial scale. She had dark hair, almost black which was cut short, curving down to reach the bottom of her neck. Her skin was pale and although there was no doubt she was well beyond her twenties it was uncertain whether she was in her thirties or forties if you were judging by her looks.

She was a strong leader for Marais industries, confident, firm and fair. Generous when she could be and a hard negotiator when needs demanded.

When the match between Amun-Ra and M1 Horus was underway she interrupted her enthralled husband and his companions Stanley and Andre.

”Cillian,” Sophie paused for a moment while his name being called cut through to his brain and then began, ”we have an important guest who would like a word.”

Cillian turned around. He and Sophie had been together for almost two decades, there was no way she would interrupt this round of matches unless the person who was the important guest trumped the event and his entertainment. Standing slightly behind Sophie was a lovely woman. They were almost the same age, she was slightly taller, elegant and smiling brightly.

Where Sophie was strong, straight and firm, this woman was all smiles, generosity and could charm the paint off one of his industrial vehicles. The chrome plated variety. She had long auburn hair which curved and swept down her body. She was wearing an Academy bodysuit, similar to the Masters. It was black with one adornment, the word Fortescue in iridescent silver.

She needed no introduction. It was Yasmin Fortescue of the Fortescue Group. Probably the second most powerful person in the organisation behind her husband the CEO. Some would argue that as head of acquisitions, she was the most influential.

Cillian bowed and guffawed. Words not quite forming correctly.

”Oh, Cillian. No no. This is your box, please I feel embarrassed,” Yasmin said sweetly. For all her power and wealth she was sweet and kind. But this was what she displayed, in order to fulfil her role she would have to be ruthless. It just did not hurt to charm potential business partners or victims, and this is where she excelled.

She took his hand and gently shook it. ”Now, where can we talk in private?” She asked.

Although the group owned the Academy Yasmin had no idea what was where in the stadium when on Academy grounds she would be led to where she needed to go. Whether by an entourage or a robot. And it was not often she was on the grounds. Once or at most twice a year she would attend for specific reasons such as the most important inter-Academy tournament which decided promotion or demotion. Graduation ceremony of the U3 cadets coinciding with an extended board meeting which reviewed the five and ten-year plans for the Academy.

Sophie promptly led the pair to the rear of the box and where a sliding door opened automatically. It was a sealed room for communications when guests need quiet and privacy. Sophie stood near the door, waiting for a sign from Yasmin whether she was required or not.

Yasmin, was astute, she looked to Sophie, ”would you like to stay or are you busy? It's not confidential nor is it earth-shatteringly important.” Yasmin watched Sophie's body language and smiled. She was still unsure. ”It's in relation to my daughter in a way,” she said and watched as the cogs began to tumble in Sophie's head.

”Then I will not intrude any further,” Sophie stated, and promptly left with a wave.

The door closed.

Cillian shifted nervously, he had no idea what this was about still.

”Let me put you at ease Cillian,” Yasmin said politely. Her tone was soft. Her voice lulling.

He nodded a small smile slowly cracking, ”Please,” he said indicating for Yasmin to go on. The match was forgotten, he would skim the data later.

”As you know, my daughter's squad hasn't been doing too well. Their elevation to the M3 competition is problematic. It wasn't cleared through Xavier or me.”

She paused and began to pace.

”She was given an important task, and I hate to see her failing before getting to the first hurdle.”

She stopped pacing and looked a little distraught. ”When I asked her why she was in this tournament she screamed at me about this other M1 squad. We can't turn back time and undo these events, but entering the M3 T1 group was disastrous for her confidence and her squad's confidence in themselves and her.”

Cillian's brain was in overdrive, he thought he knew where this was going.

”I didn't know what I could do, and I need to help her. The pressure that comes from the Group onto a young Fortescue can be enormous. Especially when that young person is ambitious and driven as she is,” Yasmin was almost pleading with Cillian.

”The M1 chiefs submitted an executive summary to me within minutes of my request. I was impressed, but I warrant they have been monitoring these events much closer than the mundane academy issues,” Yasmin continued.

Cillian merely nodded and smiled encouragingly.

”I digested the report and came to a conclusion. It's simple,” Yasmin stated confidently.

”The Thoth squad are the answer, not the obstacle she believes,” Yasmin shook her head again in mild annoyance. ”Yes, they could have been an inspiration, a spur, but the gap is too great. The Chiefs spelled it out clearly. The Academies profiling is flawed, they miscalculated the potential of one of the cadets grossly. And this potential has inspired and propelled most of his squad.”

”I have come to the conclusion; If she wants to achieve with the Academy, like her Father, and gain Tier 2 promotion. She needs to at least work with them. The ideal option for her would be to acquire their best members for her squad. Or as a worst case, join them.” She said the last shaking her head, knowing that was likely impossible.

”And you are telling me this…?” Cillian let the question hang.

”I need someone friendly to the Thoth squad to investigate her options,” Yasmin finished.

Nope. Cillian didn't know where this was going after all.