67 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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Vannier left with Picard, Barran and Axelzero. It would buy Daedo more time to chat, if he needed it, as the Gauntlet start times were staggered over the forty-five minute session. Although the AR enemies would appear respectively to the user engaged it was best if the cadets weren't running into each other physically.
”Sounds serious,” Stanley said when the three of them were alone.
”No. Not in the scheme of things,” Daedo responded.
”So what is the problem, issue, whatever?” Cillian asked he was not trying to be pushy he was curious.
Daedo took a deep breath. Vannier had informed him of Mace's dedication and fondness for chem eng, and it added to the dilemma in his decision-making process.
”It starts with our specialisation needs. Master Nader wisely had us create a specialist field list to be filled by the squad and Daedalus members. The scope was a team to design and build mechs including weapons. So we created this list,” Daedo began.
He shared the extended version which contained the ancillary roles.
”Hmm,” Stanley hummed when reading and studying the list and assignments.
”I see,” Cillian said after a minute, ”Go on.”
”I had initially assigned chem eng to Mace, but when we got back for term two Master Nader had found and brought in a cadet from Cambridge who has gone a long way down the chem eng path. He is talented, experienced with the chem eng specialisation as well as being grounded in propulsion,” Daedo began.
”Modern propulsion has more to do with physics than chem eng Daedo,” Cillian stated, ”But go on.”
”The new cadet, Jensen, there is nothing really wrong with him. He lacks in piloting, gunnery and physical, but that can be overcome with effort. He has the determination and a good attitude, so I don't see this as a long-term issue.”
”We also need a seventh, someone who can fill one of the specialisation roles. Mace is smart, she can switch to Metallurgy. The negatives are that Mace will have wasted time spent on chem eng and that Jensen has not committed to the squad. He will make a decision tomorrow.”
”So what's the issue?” Cillian asked.
”Your head is telling you one thing, and your gut is telling you another. Isn't it Daedo?” Stanley observed.
Daedo considered what Stanley just said, he hadn't narrowed it down to that level. He was just feeling uneasy with the situation. Like something was wrong.
”You're not used to following your gut are you,” Stanley added.
Daedo nodded slowly.
”There is more, but let me tell you something cadet,” Stanley wore his Colonel demeanour.
”There is no such thing as gut instincts. Don't misinterpret that statement. You must listen to your intuition, it is often sharper than an analysis of data. Your instincts are shaped by your experience and subconscious processing of all information. Not everything has a one or zero attached. There is information you have consumed which is giving you this gut feeling of wrongness. It's only that you are unable to quantify it at this stage.”
”Now tell us the rest of the story. We have time,” Stanley asked. He did, and Cillian could always leave if he was pressed for time.
”Mace likes chem eng. She is working herself into the ground on the assignment I gave her and Jensen on Monday. I only gave her the same assignment to act as a baseline and check on Jensen. It was possible that he didn't work out at all and we could still use the work that Mace is completing. In each scenario, it is not a wasted effort.”
Cillian nodded, ”She is a valuable, proven member who likes the specialisation. But that alone should not discount the new recruit. He should be given a chance, it's not his fault that he came in term two and not term one.”
”Is there more Daedo?” Stanley asked. He would be disappointed if that was the only issue.
”It's hard to quantify,” Daedo said. ”There is something about Jensen that isn't….” Daedo stopped and thought for a minute.
”We met someone on break. A girl, So-Ra Kang, and she built this astounding pro league mech. Her structure and armour were lightyears better than the competitors. She had attitude, and all her Father seemed to care about was creds. But it was understandable given their circumstance.” Daedo put his finger down onto the bench, pushing and then curling his hand into a fist. ”She was special. Just as Vannier and Mace are special in their own ways.”
”Barran, Picard and Axelzero are talented, but not special as you deem it,” Cillian observed.
Daedo nodded sadly.
”Just as Jensen is talented, but he is not special,” Stanley deducted.
”Let me be devil's advocate,” Cillian said, ”Why does Jensen need to be special? Isn't talented good enough?”
”It's something Master Nader said,” Daedo answered, ”She said it's up to us. We are the ones who will protect the planet.”
”She didn't literally mean your squad alone Daedo,” Stanley said softly. ”It's up to all of us.” Unlike the adults in Munich Col. Martin took the threat seriously. But that was part of his job.
Daedo shook his head, ”No. I am fairly certain she meant us.”
Stanley pushed it aside, ”That's a problem for another day. Just focus on what's in front of you right now.”
”I have a question,” Cillian said, ”Why aren't you having this discussion with Master Nader?”
Stanley moved his hand back and forth indicating, no its ok. ”Cillian I offered to be a sounding board for any issues on my last visit.”
Cillian nodded, ”Yes. But that still doesn't answer my question.”
Daedo looked uncomfortable, ”You met Master Nader Mr Marais.” To which he received a nod, ”I wanted outside advice before confronting her on this issue. If that's what is needed.”
Cillian explained to Stanley, ”She can be quite intimidating.”
”And she is the one who found and recruited Jensen,” Stanley said understanding. ”Let's move back to selection. Is it just So-Ra Kang who is stopping you choose Jensen?”
Daedo had to think about the question. He eliminated Kang from his mind and just considered Jensen, Mace and the decision with her isolated.
After a few minutes, he answered ”No.”
”You would rather delay and find someone special, or is there something else about Jensen?” Stanley asked narrowing down the core issue that was holding Daedo back.
”I would rather someone special. But,” Daedo paused a second, ”There is something I can't put my finger on.”
”Something which makes you uncertain or uncomfortable?” Stanley asked.