April 4, 2024
I woke to the gentle hum of the ship and the dim lighting of my quarters. The soreness from yesterday's training had faded completely, leaving me feeling sharper and more energized than I had in days. My mind immediately clicked into gear, remembering Kraven's words from the night before: "Tomorrow, we start on tactics."
Swinging my legs out of bed, I stood up and stretched. I had a full day ahead of me. First, Kraven's tactical training, and then later, I'd be working with Naari. The thought of learning from the team's doctor intrigued me. She had an edge that told me there was much more to her than just medical knowledge.
I quickly dressed, pulling on my standard black shirt and cargo pants, and made my way to the mess hall for a quick meal. A few of the crew were already up, sitting around the table. Rina gave me a small nod as I grabbed a meal pack and joined them. There was a sense of routine to everything now, each of us fitting into the rhythm of the ship.
Luke, already up and stretching his arms, smirked at me. "Heard you survived Kraven's training yesterday," he said, his tone teasing but with a hint of respect. "Not everyone makes it through without breaking."
I shrugged. "I had a good teacher."
He chuckled. "Just wait. The tactics part is a whole different beast."
I finished my food quickly and made my way to the training area. Kraven was already there, as I expected, standing in front of a large holographic display showing a layout of what looked like an urban battlefield. He didn't say anything as I entered, just gestured for me to come closer.
"Today, you'll learn how to think on your feet," Kraven said, not wasting any time. "It's one thing to be able to fight, but without strategy, you'll be dead before you realize what went wrong."
I nodded, standing beside him as he adjusted the display. The map shifted, zooming in on a series of buildings. "In a real-world scenario, you need to assess threats, predict movements, and adapt, fast."
Kraven tapped the display, and the hologram began to animate. Several figures appeared, representing enemy forces, while a smaller group showed our team.
"Imagine this," he said, his tone calm but firm. "You're leading a squad through enemy territory. You have limited visibility, and you don't know where reinforcements might come from. What's your move?"
I stared at the display, my mind processing the situation. The enemies were spread out, some hidden within buildings, while others moved along the streets. Our team was cornered in an alleyway with only two clear exits.
"I'd move through the buildings," I said after a moment. "Use the alleys to stay out of sight. If we can't see the reinforcements, we need to reduce the chances of them seeing us."
Kraven nodded, his eyes sharp. "Good. That's the right move, stay unseen. But what if they flush you out? You need to anticipate that."
He adjusted the hologram again, showing enemy units closing in from both exits. The team was trapped.
"Now what?"
My mind raced. The only option was to go up. "We'd take the rooftops. Escape vertically, then use the high ground to assess their movements."
Kraven grinned slightly. "Exactly. Elevation gives you control of the battlefield. But you need to remember something, elevation also means you're more visible. So you need to act fast."
He ran me through a dozen scenarios like that, each one more complicated than the last. My brain worked overtime, processing the possibilities, thinking several steps ahead. But with every scenario, I could feel my instincts sharpening. Kraven's approach wasn't just about teaching me tactics; it was about forcing me to think beyond the immediate problem and consider the bigger picture.
"You're learning fast," Kraven said, once the final simulation ended. His tone carried a rare hint of approval. "But strategy isn't just about tactics in combat. You need to think about resources, timing, and your team's capabilities. Know when to push, when to pull back."
I nodded, absorbing the advice. Kraven's teaching style was different from Luke's, less about physicality and more about mental endurance. He was relentless in making me think through every angle, ensuring that I didn't miss a single detail.
"That's enough for today," Kraven said, turning off the display. "You're starting to see the patterns, and that's good. Tomorrow, we'll test you in a live scenario."
I left the training room, my mind buzzing with new strategies. Each member of this crew was pushing me in a different way, forcing me to expand my abilities beyond anything I thought possible.
....
By the time the evening came, I was heading toward the medical bay to meet Naari. The ship's corridors were quieter now, most of the crew either resting or working on their own tasks. The door to the med bay slid open with a soft hiss, and Naari was already there, seated at her console, her fingers flying over the keys as data streamed across the screens.
"Evening, Kane," she said without looking up, her voice carrying its usual calm confidence.
"Evening," I replied, stepping inside. The med bay was sterile, clean, and filled with equipment I couldn't even begin to understand. But that was why I was here.
Naari finally glanced at me, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, Kraven hasn't broken you yet, I see."
"Not yet," I said with a grin. "But it's only a matter of time."
She chuckled softly before standing up and motioning for me to follow her to the back of the room, where a series of advanced medical devices were lined up. "I'm not going to teach you how to perform surgery or anything like that, but there's a lot more to medicine in the field than just healing wounds."
I listened carefully as Naari explained the basics of field medicine, how to stabilize injuries, administer painkillers, and use basic tech to scan for internal damage. Her explanations were clear, practical, and grounded in the reality of combat situations. She showed me how to use some of the more advanced tools, including a small, handheld scanner that could assess injuries in seconds.
"Out there," she said, handing me the scanner, "you won't always have a medic around. You need to know how to keep yourself and your team alive long enough to get help."
I activated the scanner, testing it out on my own arm. The holographic display showed my vitals, muscle density, and even a slight fluctuation in my heart rate from the day's training.
"Impressive," I muttered, watching the data flash before my eyes.
Naari leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "This scanner's basic compared to what we have here, but it'll get the job done in the field."
I practiced with the device for a while longer, learning how to read the data quickly and efficiently. Naari guided me through it all, her tone never condescending, but patient, like a teacher guiding her student.
As the night grew darker, I could feel the weight of the day settling into my bones. Kraven's intense drills, followed by Naari's medical training.
"You're getting the hang of it," Naari said, her smile returning. "Tomorrow, we'll go over some more advanced techniques. But for now, I think you've earned some rest."
I nodded, grateful for the reprieve. As I left the med bay, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of accomplishment.