90 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 5 (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: 5
Daedalus Operating Capital: -1,700,000 bitcreds
Siderus, Matthias, Deimos and St Claire met with Daedalus in the topside library. Daedo and Vannier were hosting the meeting, and the rest of the squad were in the next room studying or working on Daedalus projects.
”Thanks for coming,” Vannier began.
”And you are?” Matthias asked confrontationally.
Before Siderus could put Matthias in his place, he knew very well knew who she was, Vannier replied.
”I am Vannier, and I will be heading the selection of the Middle-Academy first team,” she replied with a genuine smile.
”Err, the what you say?” Matthias asked. Daedo sat silently next to Vannier and received a puzzled and slightly hurt look from Siderus.
Vannier pulled up the pertinent section of the contract from Fortescue group, ”As you can see in this contract Daedalus has been given the authority over equipment selection and team selection methodology for the Inter-Academy league; starting next term.”
All the M3 cadets peered closely at the contract while Vannier continued to speak, ”You will be able to confirm with your House Master, the Commander and Lieutenant General as to the veracity of this arrangement.”
Ignoring her, Deimos stated, ”It says here both Middle and Upper first teams. Are you in charge of Upper as well?”
”Yes,” Vannier answered politely, ”We are.”
”How the fuck did you pull this off? I gotta say I'm impressed,” Matthias said.
”To cut a long story short, we can get the job done without cheating or gene therapy,” Daedo said the last savagely.
Siderus nodded solemnly before responding, ”It's unexpected, but not unwelcome. What's the selection method?”
”Wait,” Matthias interrupted. ”Little Miss was in charge for exactly three days before things went to shit. How long is this going to go on for?”
”If you read the contract, the term is until the end of the year or until the league ladder points disparity guarantee us number one or last spot. If Fortescue wishes to break the contract they must pay Daedalus two million bitcreds in addition to our bank guarantee being returned,” Vannier stated cleanly as if rehearsed.
”So,” Matthias speculated, ”Fat chance they will break the contract then. Two freaking million bitcreds is a lot of dough.”
”We have concocted a rather simple method which will yield the best result,” Vannier said, ”Siderus you will lead a team and select seven cadets from the entire Middle Academy with the exception of cadets from M1TS0. You will choose cadets who will produce the best team, you will begin practising daily with this team, from tomorrow with one scrimmage against M1TS0 and one against the second team. The other three practices will be for drills set out by Daedo and yourself.”
”What the hell, who put him in charge?” Matthias protested.
Vannier tapped the contract, ”Me.”
Siderus nodded.
”Once this team is known we will select the second captain,” Vannier stated.
”Will Matthias be in your team?” Daedo asked Siderus, who nodded immediately.
”Deimos or St Claire?” Daedo asked.
Siderus shook his head.
Daedo nodded to Vannier.
”Deimos, you will be the leader of the second team. Same rules apply except Siderus has first choice, you have to select from the remainder,” Vannier stated.
”This is rather arbitrary, isn't it?” St Claire observed, being the only House Captain left out in the cold.
”That is a good observation, St Claire. Please enlighten me, what part of the Military or a top tier company is not arbitrary?” Vannier asked.
”Har, she's got you there St Claire,” Matthias said maliciously. Other than not being the leader he was satisfied with his guaranteed position in what he thought was the first team.
”Moving on,” Vannier said, ”We have much work to do, and we can't afford to waffle in these meetings.” She stared at Matthias for a moment before continuing. ”The team which will represent the Academy will be decided in the arena. It will be either Siderus' team, Deimos' team or Daedo's. Everyone will receive the latest exos, railguns and top of the range weaponry per their loadout selection.”
”That means if M1TS0 beats my team in training they will be representing the Academy?” Siderus made a statement in the form of a question.
”Yes, and we will hold these selection matches as often or seldom as we choose,” Vannier stated.
”What happens if one of my cadets is underperforming and I want to take one from Deimos?” Siderus asked.
”We have full authority to make decisions over team selection,” Vannier said, ”And we will allow any change which we think will give the Academy a better chance of winning. If that circumstance, or any other, occurs, we will make a judgment call at the time.”
”That's hardly fair,” Deimos observed.
”We're not interested in fair, we're interested in results,” Daedo said to Deimos before turning to Siderus. ”We have five weeks until the first match of the season, nearly all of my time will be dedicated to getting a viable mech ready for the Upper Academy. I'm relying on you for the exo matches. Get your team together, train your butts off and you will need to beat M1TS0, no excuses.”
”During the break, you can come to our facility in Nanterre for drills,” Vannier said. ”And we can use the topside arena for practice matches.”
”And no gene therapy?” Siderus queried.
”We're not stopping you undergoing legal procedures, but there will be no Academy delivered, let alone enforced schemes,” Vannier said sternly emphasising the word no.
”Is that it?” Siderus asked.
Daedo and Vannier nodded once. Siderus stood and looked towards Matthias, ”We have work to do.”
Matthias jumped to his feet and said sarcastically, ”Yes boss,” then burst out with a short laugh at Siderus.
Before leaving, Siderus looked back at Daedo, ”We'll see you Thursday.” He was referring to the first practice match between the Siderus eight and M1TS0.
”I must say I am not happy personally, but, I think you are doing much better than the alternative,” St Claire said before taking his leave.
Deimos was the only M3 house captain left.
”Why me?” She asked.
”Each squad needs a tactician. They make a bigger difference than any other member,” Vannier said.
”After an exhaustive analysis, you and Matthias were the best tacticians after Siderus. You are both excellent leaders as well,” Daedo stated.
”But I'm basically second or even third string,” Deimos said.
”There's no denying it. You can look at it a few ways,” Vannier said, ”One, you have a chance to prove everyone wrong, to grab the cadets that Siderus overlooks and beat him with strategy and team building. Or two, you are playing your role to ensure we succeed. If you don't want this role, we can always give it to someone else.”
”You make a good argument,” Deimos said, ”You are much more advanced than I was in M1. I was still worrying if people liked me or if I was falling behind in Math.” She chuckled at the memory. ”Vannier, you will be amazing by the time you are my age.” She said honestly.
Vannier moved towards Deimos, and they hugged spontaneously, as Daedo looked on in amazement wondering what the hell just happened.
Deimos stood, ”I need to get moving as well. Do I have until next Wednesday to put my team together?”