Although Eneas knew that he had broken the record, and was elated, he refrained from showing his joy; such displays in front of the rest of the candidates were considered a serious breach of decorum, so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.
If the officials in the room knew at that moment about their amazing result, they hid it very well; they couldn't show those emotions to the applicants, at least not until the final results were given.
If the previous test was difficult and required skill, which Eneas would now face was a real trap for many aspirants, the assimilation of systems could be trained, but it took a long time to have significant advances; it was really a matter of adaptability and brain capacity.
Genetic predisposition, one's own innate abilities, and even education from early childhood made the difference between those who could reach high command and those who could not, and being focused during the test was important since a lack of concentration could lead to failure. He lost control of the different systems and not only did not advance in the test but went backwards, in his previous life that happened to him, he lost control of his emotions and his assimilation rate dropped to 73%, the cut-off for officers was 85% as in the previous test.
Eighty-five percent involved being able to control all the systems of a mecha, even a small battlecruiser.
That was the reason why only those who were Mecha pilots could become Admirals, in older times, this was not the case, and no one would have thought that a single man could pilot with full functionality a large interstellar ship such as the destroyers or the combat battleships.
Eneas knew of his potential; he knew of his ability and training; even his experience in the war piloting his B29 had helped him improve a lot.
He had twenty minutes to relax after the previous speed test. He didn't waste time talking to other aspirants; he sat in a quiet corner and started doing breathing and relaxation exercises.
Furthermore, he wanted to arrive in optimal conditions, and this time he would achieve it; his mother was alive, and at the moment, in this second opportunity he was not finding any stone in the way, not even in the fight against Hercules. It is true that the fight had not been the most beautiful in the world, nor had he demonstrated an overwhelming technique, but he had defeated an opponent who was, in principle much stronger and more predisposed to that test.
When the time for the test came, they assigned him another cabin. It seemed like he had suffered too much in the previous exam.
"The system assimilation test will begin when you press OK: Objectively assimilate as many systems as possible without losing control of them; to load a new system, press or say continue; to end the test, say stop"
ACCEPT
Loading flight systems... sync complete. "Continue"
Loading weapons systems—synchronization completed. "continue"
Loading firing systems—synchronization completed. "continue"
Loading Vital self-support systems... synchronization completed "continue"
Loading engineering systems... synchronization completed "continue"
Eneas had continuously loaded the five main systems to be able to run a fighter; this did not even make him break a sweat. He could see and make decisions about all of them without his mind suffering a bit.
Loading anatomical correlation systems... synchronization in progress 75%... 80%... 100% synchronization complete "continue"
While before, loading and assimilation were almost automatic, now the difficult part began. The simulator transmitted the sensations of movement as if he were moving a mecha in space in his anthropomorphic mode.
Loading transformation systems... sync in progress; 85% sync complete "continue"
He was no longer only in the fighter form or the anthropomorphic form; he could switch between them and the turret form without problems.
Loading melee weapon system... sync in progress: 65%, 75%, 93% sync complete.
These three systems marked the line with 85% of the tests. At the moment, everything was fine; Eneas was still breathing and making decisions.
Loading interstellar flight systems... synchronization in progress.... Synchronization completed. "continue"
The mental load was greater and the speed was reduced, but I was still able to handle it.
Loading star combat maneuvering systems... synchronization complete. "continue"
Loading structural safety systems—synchronization completed. "continue"
Loading damage control systems... sync complete. "continue"
Loading star weapon systems... synchronization complete. "continue"
Eneas was beginning to sweat; this was the level to be able to carry a combat cruiser or a spaceship.
Loading biomechanical systems—synchronization completed. "continue"
Loading biomedical systems—synchronization completed.
The number of screens that overlapped while he continued advancing in the simulator were so many that he doubted that his decisions were the best; however, he was not losing control... He began to take a deep breath. He had to calm down and mark a minimum of two minutes. For the result to be consolidated, he had to already be over 92% in the test... It was better not to risk it before trying to go further. In the past, this was the limit he had been able to reach.
The minutes passed. He was calmer; he had overcome the crisis. Eneas said, "Continue."
In the room, Odysseus and other senior officers were monitoring the evolution of different capsules. When the information about Eneas' capsule arrived, the Admiral smiled. It seemed that the boy was not a one-trick dog. With that result, it seemed that they had a future. Senior officer in the making.
But the percentage went up again. In a few minutes it went from 92% to 95%... how far did he plan to go, without proper training would his mind decline due to the pressure?
Eneas's heart rate was racing; hundreds of decisions were passing through his visor as he had to continue advancing in the middle of the fictitious space... Breathe, breathe, that's what he told himself, but he was beginning to get dizzy... loaded the next system, quantum navigation, and completed the synchronization, but the avalanche of information was overwhelming... had to hold on had to consolidate that score...
The next two minutes seemed like an eternity for Eneas, but when he gave the order to stop the test, he had achieved a very creditable 98% in the score; it was not a record, but he was very close.
Odysseus looked at the screen in stupefaction. The one who had been the best in his class had gotten 96% on the test, and he was already considered a genius. Who was that boy?