After a pithy preparation, I assembled my units in our bay. The hum of activity slowly quieted as the men formed ranks, their eyes on me, awaiting my words. The weight of their anticipation pressed heavily on my shoulders.
"Men," I began, my voice echoing slightly in the spacious bay. "I received my enhancement successfully..." I paused, realizing the inadequacy of my words.
I was spouting pure asteroid dust. The flicker of concern in their eyes only confirmed so. They needed more than apologies. They needed hope and assurance. They deserved better than a status report on my private affairs.
"Please forgive my absence and... failure to coordinate a successful plan," I said, my voice filled with remorse. "Do know that my inability is now obsolescence. The changes... I am sharper."
Shifting to a more enthusiastic tone, I continued, "I will be reviewing each of your personnel files and AFSE records to engineer individual plans of improvement for each man, squad, platoon, and company. We will bring our brothers back. We will always be better tomorrow than today. Two hundred minutes of R and R before meeting in the AFSE for preparation for our new mission, starting... now. Wolbrek steaks wait in the mess hall. Dismissed."
The soldiers exchanged glances, a mixture of relief and anticipation on their faces. Slowly, they began to file out of the bay, their steps lighter at the prospect of a hot meal and some rest.
I checked the countdown on my HUD. Time for reading.
I made my way to the mess hall, where the scent of Wolbrek steaks filled the air, mingling with the low hum of conversations. Sitting at a corner table, I quickly consumed my own steak while diving into the thousands of personnel files. Kill counts, completed objectives, homeworlds, families, skills, education, injuries—everything even tangentially related to service was spelled out in dispassionate detail.
With my enhanced abilities, I absorbed everything with a mere glance, processing a dozen files per second.
Wolbrek steak on my plate and a data pad in my hand, I couldn't help but observe the behavior of the men around me. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension of the battlefield. I matched faces to records with ease, noting their service histories, skills, and personal details as they enjoyed their premium food. Private Johnson, always the joker, had a background in engineering that belied his lighthearted demeanor. Corporal Paul, stoic and quiet, had a record of exceptional marksmanship. Each man was a puzzle piece, fitting into the larger picture of our unit, their spirits temporarily lifted by the simple pleasure of a shared meal and the promise of rest. I missed being able to sit among them as an equal.
Twenty minutes later, I shifted to the AFSE records, running them at a hundred times speed. The videos blurred past, each frame converted into a text synopsis, allowing me to quickly memorize the contents.
Years of footage became millions of words. I filtered through the database by completely removing the oldest half of each man's data, then narrowing the burden by summarizing all supplemental training and recreational training. This left only mission-critical and mandatory exercise in full detail.
I have 166 cycles worth of reading...
I barely scratched the trail of the comet before the timer elapsed. Leaving my quarters, I navigated to the AFSE. Most of my units were already waiting in the facility, with the final minority joining within a minute.
"I foremost apologize for the lack of detail for this exercise," I began, addressing the assembled soldiers. "AM-3S, my personal assistant unit for those unaware, is currently undergoing maintenance. Thus, I had to program this by hand. Paul, Riley, Hayes you will be the extraction squads. Marco, Hale, Ronald, Adam, Stone, Gene, and Long you will be driving the HX walkers. Pilots, in the air for infil and exfil. Domino, Tex, Walker, and Nunez your squads are in control of the rest of the infantry units. Let us begin."
The Artificial Full-Sensory Environment hummed with activity as the simulation for the upcoming rescue mission began. The holographic projectors cast a realistic replica of our hangar, except with white and black textures and slightly block geometry. My soldiers moved through the simulated environment with determination, their focus evident in their precise movements.
I stood at the back, silently observing their performance. My mind compared their actions to the theoretical plan I had formulated. Each movement, each decision was scrutinized. The discrepancies between theory and reality quickly became apparent.
The AFSE flickered as the squads boarded the drop ships with the HX units. The Centurion HX hybrid tanks, with their sleek, cloaked exteriors, landed silently on the simulated terrain. The walkers moved with calculated steps. The capabilities of the HX units allowed us to infiltrate the hot zone surrounding the enemy encampment while they remained unawares.
"Stay low and keep your progress fluid," I instructed through the comms. "We need to maintain the element of surprise."
The HXs, virtually invisible to the naked eye and many sensors, positioned themselves strategically around the perimeter of the enemy encampment. The tension in the air was palpable, each soldier aware of the critical nature of this mission.
As we neared the enemy fortifications, I observed the synchronization of our movements.
"Hale and Stone I want you on ridge Alpha. Gene, ridge Beta. Adam take ridge Gamma. Marco, Ronald, Gene you are to progress to Line Actual. Long take point Delta."
"Unleash hell on my mark," I commanded, my voice steady. "Three... two... one... mark."
The HX units shimmered briefly before their cloaking fields dissipated. The squads sprang into action, their weapons ripping through the enemy positions. The initial shock on the faces of the enemy soldiers was quickly replaced by chaos as our men moved in with relentless precision.
"Tex, I need your men to clear the way for the extractors. Walker collapse that comm tower. Nunez support Tex." I authoritatively said.
"Go, go, go!" I shouted, synchronizing the charge.
Tex's men dived head first through the kill box. Several went down, but the path to the door was secured.
"Riley, Hayes, Paul get in there!"
The simulated battlefield erupted into a cacophony of gunfire and explosions. The HX units provided heavy fire support, their cannons blasting through enemy fortifications. Riley's squad moved like a well-oiled machine, systematically clearing buildings and neutralizing threats. Hayes' team laid down suppressive fire, pinning the enemy forces and preventing any counterattack.
Private Johnson hesitated for a fraction of a second before breaching a door, a hesitation that could cost lives in the actual mission. Corporal Paul's cover fire was slightly off, leaving a small window of opportunity for the enemy to counterattack. These small deviations could snowball into catastrophic failures.
Corporal Riley led his squad with the same no-nonsense attitude he had displayed when he was in my squad. His movements were efficient, but I noticed a few tactical errors in his team's positioning. Corporal Hayes, eager as ever, directed his squad with enthusiasm, yet his men were overly aggressive, risking exposure.
"Hold!" I commanded, freezing the simulation. The men halted, turning their attention to me. I walked to the center of the room, my mind already calculating adjustments.
"Johnson, your hesitation at the breach could be fatal. Trust your training and move decisively," I said, meeting his eyes.
"Paul, your cover fire needs to be tighter. You left a gap that the enemy could exploit. Adjust your aim and timing," I instructed, pointing out the specific areas of improvement.
"Riley, tighten your squad's formation. Your men are too spread out and vulnerable to flanking," I added, turning to him.
"Hayes, control your squad's aggression. Precision over power. We can't afford unnecessary risks," I finished, looking at Hayes.
I reset the simulation, watching as the soldiers took their positions once more. The environment buzzed with anticipation as the holographic facility reappeared. The simulation resumed, and I observed closely, noting improvements and new errors.
"Hold!" I commanded again, stopping the exercise. More adjustments, more refinements. I tweaked their orders, modified their tactics, and reran the simulation. Each iteration brought us closer to perfection, but the process was painstaking.
Hours passed in a blur of virtual combat. My mind absorbed every detail, every pattern. The soldiers' performances gradually aligned with the theoretical plan, each adjustment bringing us closer to a flawless execution.
"Hold!" I called out once more, feeling the fatigue in my voice. The men looked exhausted but resolute, their eyes fixed on me.
Riley nodded, his face set with determination as he led his squad into the dimly lit interior. The walls were scarred with the marks of previous battles, a stark reminder of the enemy's resilience. The faint hum of machinery and distant shouts echoed through the corridors, creating an eerie atmosphere.
We moved swiftly but cautiously, our footsteps barely making a sound on the metal floor. The first room we entered was a barracks, hastily abandoned. Bunks were left in disarray, personal items scattered across the floor. The scent of stale sweat and fear lingered in the air.
"Clear," Riley reported, his voice low.
We pressed on, our senses heightened. The next corridor branched off into multiple rooms. I signaled for Paul to take the left while Riley took the right. Hayes remained at the rear, scanning for any signs of pursuit.
As we approached the first room on the right, we could hear the muffled voices of enemy soldiers. I signaled for silence, and we pressed ourselves against the wall. With a swift motion, we kicked the door open, and we stormed inside.
The enemy soldiers, caught off guard, scrambled for their weapons. We moved with precision, our rifles spitting fire. The room was filled with the deafening roar of gunfire and the acrid smell of gunpowder. Within moments, the enemy was neutralized.
"Clear," I said, my voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through me.
Meanwhile, Paul reported similar success on their side. "Two tangos down. Room secured."
We regrouped in the main corridor, moving deeper into the fortification. The further we went, the more resistance we encountered. The enemy, realizing the gravity of their situation, fought with increasing desperation.
"Incoming!" Hayes shouted from the rear, as a group of enemy soldiers charged at us from a side passage.
"Take them out!" I ordered.
"Riley and Paul Keep moving!" I urged, pushing us forward.
We reached a heavily fortified door at the end of the corridor, likely the command center. "Riley, get the charges," I commanded.
Riley moved quickly, placing explosive charges on the door's hinges and locking mechanism. We took cover as the charges detonated, the explosion sending a shockwave through the corridor. The door crumpled inward, revealing the command center beyond.
We stormed inside, the room a chaos of enemy officers and soldiers. They tried to mount a defense, but our assault was relentless. Hayes provided suppressive fire from the entrance, while Johnson and Paul cleared the flanks. Riley moved straight for the enemy commander.
"Drop your weapon!" He shouted, training his rifle on the enemy commander.
He hesitated, then dropped his weapon, raising his hands in surrender. The remaining enemy soldiers followed suit, realizing their position was untenable.
"Room secured," Riley reported, panting slightly from the exertion.
"Good work," I replied, "Riley , secure the prisoners. Hayes, signal for exfil. Paul, sweep for intel."
As my team moved to complete their tasks, I took a moment to survey the faux-data sent to my HUD from the intel sweep. The command center was filled with tactical maps, communication equipment, and hastily abandoned personal effects. It was clear that this had been the nerve center of the enemy's operations.
I turned to my companies, warmth swelling in my chest. "We've done it. Hold this position and prepare for extraction. Reinforcements are on the way."
"We're getting closer," I said, my tone encouraging. "But we need to be perfect. Reset and run it again."
The simulation restarted, the men moving with newfound precision. This time, Johnson breached the door without hesitation, his actions fluid and confident. Paul's cover fire was impeccable, leaving no room for the enemy to counter. Riley's squad moved as a cohesive unit, their formation tight and effective. Hayes' team controlled their aggression, executing their tasks with precision and discipline. Then another time and another. I drilled this mission until my men could sleepwalk through it.
The exercise finally concluded. No casualties, full extraction. The mission was finally clean.
"Well done," I said, allowing a small smile to break through my stern exterior. "You've all shown remarkable improvement. Rest now, and prepare for the real thing. We will bring our brothers home."
The soldiers nodded, their faces reflecting both relief and determination. As they filed out of the AFSE, I felt a sense of pride and confidence. The upcoming mission would be dangerous, but with our refined tactics and unwavering resolve, I knew we stood a strong chance of success.