Sgt. Kimura brought us to a firing range, where we would learn how to shoot our weapons. He told us to line up in front of the targets, where we would be shooting. All the other cadets had already chosen their weapons. In front of us, there was a table with what seemed like magazines, ammo, and gadgets.
"Ok cadets, now that all of you have selected a weapon, let's continue. That gadget with a little screen is the Ricochet-Aim Assistance device. I will demonstrate how to attach it."
Sgt. Kimura had some kind of rifle in his hands. He took the Ricochet-Aim Assistance Device and gently lodged it close to the rifle's receiver. It displayed some numbers and had some buttons on it.
"Your weapons are specially made to be equipped with this device. Here it displays the amount of ammo in your magazine and if it in automatic or semiautomatic. But its main purpose is to show you the trajectory of your bullet and to detect enemy targets. In front of the screen, there are a few cameras that can see everything you're aiming at. This screen will showcase different aim patterns and trajectory paths, depending on your locked-in target. Using the special, piercing but lower velocity bullets, your bullet will ricochet to your intended target. The device does everything for you, so just follow what it tells you to do. Also, always make sure to not aim or shoot in a path that will hit you or your comrades."
Sgt. Kimura explained.
After that, Sgt. Kimura explained to us how to set the device. Then, Sgt. Kimura taught us how to operate each firearm individually. He taught us how to properly hold each weapon, reload each one of our weapons, what stances we could do, and how to set the weapons between semi-automatic and automatic. This process took us over an hour. After Sgt. Kimura taught me how to use my weapon, the MP5, I found out it was light and easier to operate than other weapons, judged by looking at how the other cadets handled their weapons. The girl who had stood up for me earlier seemed like she already knew how to operate and handle the MP5.
"Time to shoot. Make sure to switch the safety off and then aim at your target. Fire at will."
We all aimed our weapons and suddenly, a barrage of gunfire could be heard. We were all wearing hearing protection, but the gunfire was still very loud. I proceeded to pull the trigger, and I felt the MP5's recoil in my hands. A bullet came out from the ejector. In front of me, the target I was aiming at had a hole in it. I had just fired a gun. Everyone around me was shooting at the targets but seemed to struggle with the recoil. My weapon felt easy to shoot and recoilless. The girls had chosen SMG's like I did, and they were already shooting sporadic bursts of fire.
I felt like it was easy to shoot one bullet at a time, so I set my weapon on automatic. I slowly pulled the trigger, and I was encountered by a strong but controllable spray of fire. Others looked at me, as they saw me shoot in automatic, hitting my target. I had not noticed, but my aim was on point. I had hit 90% of my bullets on the target in front of me. I kind of fell in love with shooting my gun.
"Cease fire! All of you hit your targets at least once, which tells me all you can aim, shoot, and hit your target. This brings me to the next part of your training, run and gunning.'"
All the other male cadets looked smug from shooting a gun and hitting the targets. Especially for their first time. The girls looked unfazed and seemed like they had done it before. These girls were playing around.
Sgt. Kimura then brought us into a replica building which simulated the inside of an apartment building. There were many rooms inside with windows that made everything inside visible from the outside.
"Cadets, now you will practice "run and gun". Using your Ricochet-Aim Assistance, the device will rapidly acquire any target inside that is considered an enemy and shoot at a path that will hit the target. If there's multiple, it will show a path where you can hit all your targets with one bullet."
What Sgt. Kimura explained sounded just like a movie. The device would quickly detect a target and show you the path that you could shoot. But this took skill, training, and precision, especially in a high-stakes, rapid scenario.
"Let's begin a little test run"
Sgt. Kimura proceeded to put some type of setting into the device in his weapon and ran into the building. Inside, he ran into the first room, he jumped and rolled next to what seemed like a mannequin. As he stood up from the roll, he fired at the mannequin, but it seemed like he missed. But he actually had landed the bullet. The mannequin had a hole in its head, and the bullet had appeared to hit the lock of the next door, opening it. The device was smarter than I thought. He continued clearing each room, shooting from different angles and hitting the target each time, without having to worry about perfect aim. It was incredible.
Sgt. Kimura then ran back to the entrance, not even breaking a sweat.
"That's how you clear a building. The Ricochet-Aim Assistance made it easy for me to hit all the targets inside, while I tactically and swiftly moved through rooms. Now who wants to try it?"
As Sgt. Kimura finished, and the girl who had stood up for me yelled something.
"I want to go first!"
Sgt. Kimura didn't seem perplexed by the quick answer.
"Kaide Miura, right? I've heard of your previous experience. Show your comrades what you can do."
"Understood."
Kaide swiftly walked past all of us and walked into the building. She cleared each building, shooting and hitting each target accurately. She would break into the doors of each room, rolling and shooting the targets without a chance for them to react (if they were alive). She left everyone in awe as she cleared each room. After she was finished, she walked back to the others and was sweating profusely.
"Like that?"
Kaide said while taking breathing raggedly.
"Um… you forgot to turn the device on… but well done either way."
Sgt. Kimura said.
Everyone looked surprised to learn she had done all of that without the help of the device. The other male cadets looked like they had fallen in love with her. Her face was the complete opposite, as she hid her face because of embarrassment.
"Still, well done. You did a great job. Who wants to try next?"
Everyone went quiet as Sgt. Kimura asked. As no one dared to go next, I felt like I had to break the ice, using the Ricochet-Aim Assistance device in this setting. Kaide had done it perfectly, but she had actually not demonstrated how it worked since it wasn't turned on. I was a fighter, but I fell in love with the MP5 and shooting weapons. Just from that little sneak peek at the target practice, I felt like I could perform well inside such a crowded and quick-paced setting. It was my turn to test my skills.