64 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1 (1/2)
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null
Term: 2, Round: 1
Daedalus Operating Capital: 130,000 bitcreds
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It was Sunday, and unlike term one, cadets arrived in droves towards the end of the day unpacking in a frenzy. There were no orientations, nor tours to conduct.
Each subject had a package with term plan, course notes and assessment criteria to cover the next ten weeks. The Thoth cadets unpacked their exos, gear and began to review the terms coursework package:
Physical Training: cadets are encouraged to follow the training regime created to their specific needs. Martial arts introduction is compulsory for all cadets. Assessment will derive purely from obstacle course results in term two.
Martial arts assessment had not yet begun for cadets in M1.
Physics: cadets will complete coursework in thermal dynamics and mechanics. One project for the term relating to the current fields of study unless an alternate is approved by Chief Vincent. Assessment is seventy percent project weighting with thirty percent coursework tutorial completion.
Tech Studies: cadets will complete coursework for electronics two, ranged weapon systems, sensory devices and applications. One major project is prescribed for the term relating to the current fields of study unless an alternate is approved by Chief Elliot. Assessment is solely derived from the cadet's major project.
Mathematics: cadets will complete coursework in game theory and computation methods. Assessment is on completed coursework with bonus points for completion of provided advanced problems.
Reference: cadets will complete coursework in space travel history and military regulations. Assessment scoring is derived from coursework completion.
Strategy: cadets will learn about thinking methods.
Ai Nurturing: cadets will follow coursework designed to their specific needs and results from the previous term. Assessment criteria are derived from the performance of cadets AI to complete the five provided critical tasks for the term.
Gunnery: cadets are expected to spend a combined six hours per week on the gunnery range and in squad arena practice sessions. Bot guidance and coursework on the gunnery range are optional. Assessment is derived from gauntlet scores and tournament performance.
Piloting: cadets are required to complete the minimum arena practice and weekly workshop. Assessment is derived from gauntlet scores and tournament performance.
Human Studies: term two coursework involves profiling and conflict management. Assessment is derived from monitoring cadets applications of the coursework in real situations.
”Much the same?” Picard asked the squad after reading.
”I hear it starts getting squirrely in term four,” Vannier replied. ”Do we have our bookings?”
”Obstacle course 0600, Arena at 2015 and Gauntlet 2230,” Daedo replied.
”Oh sneaky,” Barran said, ”You want the Gauntlet at the end of the day to slip in that late time.”
”I guess I am going to have to learn to powernap,” Picard stated. ”It's a long day from 0600 to perform at peak at 2230.”
”Power napping is a superpower,” Barran said nodding.
”I wonder if mech pilots power nap in their mechs,” Axelzero said wistfully, ”You know when they are in the field for long periods of time.”
Thinking about mechs Vannier was dying to ask Daedo. ”How did you go with Old Dawg?” Vannier asked, ”Is he walking around?”
”No,” Daedo answered, ”We stripped him down, cleaned him up and started manufacturing a few of the parts. I want to wait for the power core. Give Cisse some time to come up with a better fusion or even something from our current experiment.”
”Are we done with the Mocaps?” Picard asked thinking about her schedule.
”We almost have enough I think two more ninety-minute sessions. Can you fit them in during the week?” Daedo enquired with Picard and Barran.
”I have tonnes of time,” Barran answered.
”How the hell do you have tonnes of time? You just got the course notes and haven't planned anything!” Picard said frustratingly.
”You just tell me when babe and I will be there,” Barran answered. It was squad rule that cadets had to refer to each other by their designated name. Daedo implemented it to prevent the silly little nicknames that Barran was coming up with for him.
”Refer to a cadet by their correct name at all times,” Vannier stated reminding Barran. The girls liked the rule because it prevented the plethora of babe, baby, cutey etc. names coming out of Barran's mouth when he addressed them.
”It's still Sunday,” Barran said trying to dodge the regulation.
”You're in uniform and in the Academy. All regulations apply from now until the end of term,” Vannier shot back.
The normal penalty for infractions could range from incline sprints to academic tasks. Nothing that verged on hazing or torture was permitted. Daedo had the perfect penalty for Barran which was not only permitted, but encouraged by Master Nader.
”That's your warning Barran, all further infractions with incorrect names will result in one-hour remedial math tutes,” Daedo stated trying to hide his enjoyment.
Barran looked downcast, they were barely an hour in, and he had lost his freebie. He threw his hands in the air, ”Ah come on. Don't I get some credit for the Daedalus bank balance?”
”Sure. Well done,” Daedo replied succinctly.
”What's the balance?” Vannier asked.
”Somehow these two managed to convert two of our promising leads, and we have gone from less than ten kay to one hundred and thirty kay,” Axelzero brought up the balance sheet to show everyone.
”Yeah and we still can't buy a VTOL carrier!” Barran showed his frustration.
”We need a lot more Barran,” Daedo simply said. He wasn't even sure what the details were, but he knew from experience from three years ago, and this year, it was best to have credits saved. Things came across their path, for example, the workshop itself, or even So-Ra Kang, where they needed creds to further their goals. And Daedo dreamed of obtaining a holding on the spiral and launching AI controlled mining and construction ships into space.
Vannier decided to change the topic of conversation back to the schedule, ”We need to create the schedule framework for next week.” Most of the coursework the cadets scheduled themselves, but the group activities evolved over term one.
”Meals stay at 0730, 1200 and 1715?” Vannier asked and received nods from the other five cadets.
”Daedo tactics review will move to 2100 after arena, do we want to chase partner sessions?” Vannier asked.
”I think we've learned that all we need to do is drill and have a weekly skirmish with someone like Shu M3 ideally,” Daedo replied. ”Can you set that up?”
”Anyone else?” Vannier asked.
”Unless you can get Colonel Martin to supply an exo squad for us to fight, just stick to the M3 semi-finalists and Thoth Squad one. We need to help Gaumont improve his squad,” Daedo replied.
”So more than one skirmish per week?” Vannier asked.
”No more than our allocated five sessions, we can drill on the weekends in privacy. Give Gaumont one skirmish per week and one to an elite M3 squad,” Daedo said, ”leaving the other three free for drills which Gaumont can join or not, up to him.”
”Can we charge for skirmishes?” Barran asked coyly.
”No, let's not go down that road. If we train others its free. We sell equipment only,” Daedo said.
”Any restrictions on what we sell? Do we keep a competitive edge?” Barran asked.
”No, sell whatever you want. It will cause problems with our skill and tactical development if our equipment far exceeds that of our competition.” Daedo replied.
”Assuming we have worked through royalties with the IPO for that piece of equipment, I will keep the released list updated. We can't afford to get into trouble with the IPO,” Axelzero said. Although she had been with the family for the entire break, she had done a mountain of study and hired experts to assist Daedalus.
”Okay,” Vannier interceded to bring them back on topic, ”from 0600 we have the Obstacle course, then physical training at the gym doing circuits, the first meal of the day at 0730 followed by the gunnery range or an open session.”
”We should do a form of tai chi or yoga before Martial,” Picard suggested.
”If that's what you recommend we could do PT at 1030 and move martial combat to 1115,” Daedo said.
”Leading to lunch at 1200,” Vannier brought the schedule up onto a large screen for all to see.