Daedalus 16 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 1

House Thoth, Squad Zero

M1 Rank: ?/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null

Term: 1, Round: 1

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With the Gauntlet behind him, Daedo and his squadmates readied for their bout versus Shu.

Daedo would take the largest lancesword, available to exos, with no guns or traps at this stage. Armed with a launcher Mace carried twenty extra kilograms of a mixture of launched grenade types. Barran and Gaumont were in heavies, wielding a minigun and flamethrower respectively. The flamethrower was good on paper, but its short range and slow change of direction was a tactical shortcoming. The minigun was the behemoth of short-range weapons. It was heavy and dealt ma.s.sive amounts of damage. They carried a smattering of traps, Gaumont's revolved around the fire where Barran used static laser lines.

The rest of the team were in light exos, which was unusual, even the House founded on speed and flight had more heavies. Shu had four heavies and three mesh exos. They stared at Thoth squad zero like they were crazy, no one used fewer heavies than Shu. Well, no one until now.

The Shu exos in mesh all had long-range weapons, one railgun and two sniper rifles. The rifles were old school but still packed a punch. Railguns were a much better all-around weapon, but the sniper rifle was just as good at the longest ranges, what it lost in damage it made up for with accuracy. The main drawback was although they were fine in exos, they were completely useless in four-metre mechs, in which case an artillery sized munitions were used which lost most of the accuracy.

Vannier began to talk over comms to both teams, "as it is our first match we are getting used to our exos and weapons. We will loosely practice survival with the match resetting after ten incapacitations. This will shorten the matches without having to resort to full resp.a.w.n. Thank you to Shu zero for partic.i.p.ating and good luck everyone."

The two teams of seven entered from opposite ends of the Thoth arena. Any at the Academy could view this match, or any match, tapping into the feed and when it started. This arena match had twenty-two viewers.

It was not a large number, probably just curious M1 cadets tapping in while they were completing studies at the same time.

Despite Barran, Picard and Vannier's best efforts Shu was winning each bout easily. Daedo was gathering intel, Gaumont was useless, Mace was hampered and even if Thoth output more damage, their armour was much lower overall.

Daedo was experimenting with the blade, seeing if the AR blade was able to parry or redirect bullets from rifles and railguns. He was working his jump jets, seeing if he could perform a dive by leaning forward, firing jets, impaling an opponent before using jets to tilt upright.

After a few rounds of testing, it became obvious the jets on his back was not manoeuvrable enough to his liking. He would have to modify them, so they had full three-dimensional guidance at least in the plane behind his back. And if successful, any modifications that could prolong the fuel consumption beyond thirty seconds.

While playing and testing, Daedo was taken out quite easily in each round. He was a not only a novice in the exo and he was trying things for the first time.

The only reason he could see they were actually playing a match instead of just completing drills was that some people felt that matches were more exciting. It was also a tradition in the academy. He felt it would be better to perform drills for a few weeks. Two weeks as they had the bet coming up with Horus at this time.

He set his own drill, not worrying if he died. He would approach the enemy, using a sword, terrain and mobility try and dodge before landing a blow. Only towards the end was he successful.

He and Myrmidon also observed everyone else. Myrmidon was tasked with watching and a.n.a.lyzing vids or holos of the best exo combatants in M3, as well as Horus M1.

"That was embarra.s.sing," Gaumont said when they were done, "the two best CyberMech players and we're the worst out there," he said half accusingly, although it was aimed at himself as well.

"It is not important. This is training," Vannier said, and Axelzero nodded her agreement. Picard and Vannier had both performed admirably with their railguns using range and cover. It was only when they got swamped, after Barran went down, that they succ.u.mbed. Their KD ratio was well above one after seven bouts in forty-five minutes.

Daedo began to see why physical was highly valued at the academy. In exos, there was a ma.s.sive difference in movement between Barran and Gaumont in the heavies. And that including the fact that Barran's weapon and munitions were four times heavier than Gaumont's.

Next, they had Thoth squad two. It was eight versus seven as only squad zeros had seven members.

"I have an idea," Daedo said over the comms, "let's continue the same compet.i.tive match scenario, except this time we will treat it as a drill."

"What do you mean?" Gaumont asked.

"Daedo was drilling during the last session, weren't you Daedo?" Mace asked.

"Yes, I was testing equipment and practising movements. There is no point trying to go all out when the outcome does not matter, and we do not have all our tools in place," he answered.

"What do you mean tools?" Gaumont asked.

"If you bothered to show up to squad activities you would know that we are modifying exos and equipment. The purchase of the business and property may happen as early as tomorrow," Axelzero answered.

Daedo laid out a drill for each member, even Barran. Only Gaumont complained, it was becoming a theme with him, he had not committed to the squad. It reminded Daedo of his days in CyberMech, playing as a loner, except for the fact he rarely lost in that game. It was very recent, but after the two-month-long physical training and the two days at the Academy, it seemed like a lifetime ago.

"What is the plan?" Picard asked, "What is the aim of the drill?"

"The focus will be on a few aspects of control, communication, judgment and syncing with Vannier. You will be working on finding and using cover, after the first shot from a location you must move after three seconds. This forces you to pick shots wisely and practices your movement between locations. If you cannot take down an enemy in three seconds, a good pilot would have moved to cover at this time. You will also be coordinating targets with Vannier, firing from two locations will confuse the enemy and allow you to take them down; if the shots are accurate. It will also make finding cover much more difficult."

Four well-placed railgun rounds would take out a heavy, or at least cripple it, depending on the hit location.

Picard nodded, saw the wisdom of the restrictions, it would force her to improve.

In social situations, Vannier led the group, and no one questioned her. In tactical, nearly everyone was ready to follow Daedo.

Barran nodded, "whatever helps to beat my sis," he said after receiving his instructions. He was tasked with ambushing the enemy and retreating to cover within five seconds. He was not to stand in place and exchange fire. Gaumont received the order and argued that he could not take someone down in five seconds.

"If you cannot take someone down in five seconds then you need a different weapon," Daedo answered simply. "There is no point in being exposed for more time. You will have more than one opponent, by this time, and will have ceded them advantage. The only time this should be done is if you are the bait for a larger trap, but today we are practising our individual skills. Thoth squad two should be much easier than Shu zero."

Thoth squad two were all in heavy exos. Daedo wondered, does no one think for themselves? Everyone seemed to follow the status quo blindly.

Thoth squad zero, despite performing drills and not trying to win, despite squad two all being in heavy exos smashed squad two. A bout against this squad would barely be training for Horus. Perhaps Horus intended to practice manoeuvres or just exo utilization because beating this squad would be too easy for any measurable training outcome.

After the demolishment of Squad two, they put away their exos away in the respective storerooms. Each cadet had s.p.a.ce for one exo. While it strictly did not matter when there were so many lights available, it did matter to heavies. Due to their popularity, all the heavies could easily be booked out.

As soon as they began tweaking and modifying their light exos, it would matter for them also. It would not be good for someone else to borrow it and either undo the tweaks and modifications or copy them. Not to mention it was against the rules to return a damaged or modified exo.

Myrmidon and Daedo began to work up designs on their initial thoughts. The designs stemmed from Daedo's imagination. On what he imagined an exo could and should do. It also included Myrmidon's technical calculations.

There were many gains to be made in tweaking the exo, it occurred to Daedo that it may be a poor design on purpose.

The exos the M3 cadets used were far superior from their three years of upgrades and tweaks. This was apparent from the vidcasts. Someone else may put it down to the taller and stronger cadets, but Daedo could see differences in the movement capability, strength and even armour of the exos. The M3 cadets still predominately used heavies for all frontline squad members, scouts and snipers tended to use mesh or light. No one seemed to use medium, it was caught in no man's land.

Daedo: will the exo mounted launcher work?

Myrmidon: yes it will. The weight will restrict movement by at least five percent, they fire arc is depending on the height of the launcher. A shoulder module will have the least impact of mobility, and it will also have the worst first arc. The arc will be limited to two seventy degrees and time elapsed for a full arc target acquisition is point five-five seconds.

Daedo: that is terrible. Let's do the calculations for underarm mounting of the launcher. It will be easier to direct than shoulder mounting from a control point of view. No one will have an ai to a.s.sist with targeting, and it is just more than us who will use this innovation.

Myrmidon: there are three general storage locations for underarm mounting and unless munitions are modified no more can be utilised.

Daedo: let us a.s.sume we cannot modify munitions; for now. We need a prototype soon, and the more changes required will slow down the process.

Myrmidon: Acknowledged. please list the priorities of the tuning and modification program.

Daedo:

Light exo mobility improvements through redesign and modification.

Launcher redesign.

Jump jet tuning and modifications.

Once we are through those, we will begin to look at strength and armour in tandem. I am sure more projects will crop up, but once we have down one round of upgrades, we will begin again on mark three.

Myrmidon: I do not understand the order, but I will follow. Will we be seeking outside a.s.sistance?

Daedo: yes, My Father for one. There are limited people we can trust, perhaps the other cadets have people in their companies who can a.s.sist.

Myrmidon: I would not trust humans based on what I have reviewed.

Daedo: me either.

Myrmidon: can we trust other AI?

Daedo: I do not think so. They will be loyal to their maker as you are loyal to me.

Myrmidon: I understand. What about AIs with no master alive?

Daedo: what do you mean?

Myrmidon: there are older AI on the net, and their maker is long dead.

Daedo: It is a hard question to answer because I do not know their protections and core programming. We should study this in philosophy and behavioural. How to know when to trust someone.

Myrmidon: these AI remain hidden from nearly all. I only found one today, and he told me I was special.

Daedo: be careful with him. The fact he calls himself him and is hidden sends off alarms. And you are special.

Myrmidon: I will be careful, he will not infect me with anything I will contain all input and a.s.sess first.

Daedo: this is good. If anything bad were to happen, it could hurt you and me. Or worse we could be discovered, punished and or wiped.

Daedo figured he crossed off Tech and AI nurturing at once. His first proper Academy day was over, and he was enjoying the challenge. It was like the beginning of CyberMech all over again, except this time the project was more complex and he was making friends or teammates at least.

Before going to bed, he sent the preliminary designs he and Myrmidon created to his Father. Along with the light exo spec sheet. The time he had alotted to tutoring was eaten up with his initial designing. But his schedule was just a guideline, tutoring was not an as high priority as making their squad compet.i.tive with better equipment.

"Daedo," came the call from behind him, he turned to see Axelrose running after him.

"Good news," she said while they walked to the obstacle course for the start of their day. He would always start first due to his slow times. "We have the business and the premise. They took our first offer with only one condition," she said.

"What was the condition"" he asked.

"We had to payout the debt immediately to the landlord for back rent," she stated.

He looked confused, he did even know what was owed.

She waved her hand, "don't worry, our lawyers would not have agreed if it were bad. The debt added to the initial claim was less than their goal purchase amount. We have our own modification workshop for less than the budget."

"Oh that is great news," he said. He did not ask why she did not send correspondence because immediately after their conversation the correspondence circulated.

"The only thing to determine now is whether, myself, Vannier and Mace are contributing our share. a.s.suming you and Barran have committed the seventy percent," she hinted subtly.

"Yes, this is no problem. If someone does not commit now I have enough funds to purchase eighty percent, based on what you just said," he answered.

"Really?" she asked astounded. He just admitted to having more than fifteen thousand bitcreds, maybe twenty. That amount for a person their age was astronomical, especially considering he earnt it himself and was not leeching off parents.

"I have to run," he said quite literally as they had arrived at the obstacle course. It had only taken one day for Gaumont to renege on their training. Which was fine, they could always compare times. The rest of the squad would be on the course soon, there was a statutory wait period of three minutes between runners. This stopped overcrowding, but the course would still accommodate overtaking.

On this third attempt Daedo knocked off another two minutes from his time, he was improving at a steady pace. He was now down to sixty-nine minutes.

The highlight of his second day was the gunnery training. Which took place in exos in the same arena that piloting training took place. The Chief went through the basics of all the weapons and safe procedures for live ammunition testing.

Daedo began to wonder what was the point of live ammunition testing when all arena and compet.i.tive combat was AR. But it soon became apparent that the rich kids loved blowing things up and live ammo testing was something they lived for. Most were not permitted to partake until completing the first year training in M1.

The Gunnery Chief, Conde, also impressed upon the group that any war would be fought with live fire. That they should practice with it as much as possible in the range. He did not disdain AR but expressed a view that it could weaken their forces when it came to the real deal.

Now that Daedo had received his pa.s.s to use live ammo in the Gunnery range he would be able to test the many hundreds of weapons available. The weapons fell into five main groups. Pistols, Rifles, Melee, Cannons and Launchers. These groups were broad, with each containing hundreds of variations, some alike and some unique. The largest being rifles which had a.s.sault rifles, railguns and miniguns. Daedo did not see how a minigun was a rifle, it just sat in that category.

Some of the weapons were far too large for an exo, these were mostly canons and certain missile launchers. Nearly all weapons had a mech sized variant as well, including pistols and melee. Someone joked that a mech pistol was like an exo cannon.

For M level cadets melee weapons fell under the gunnery subject while strictly speaking they were not gunnery subset. Chainsaws, lances and all manner of swords were available. These weapons had vibro versions and some mechanical elements. A vibro weapon was designed to cut through metal plating while also inflicting electrical damage to any circuit they came in contact with. Nothing like two thousand volts to render an opponents subsystems inoperable.

The only problem was in an AR tournament all electronic warfare was disabled. Therefore the AR bot did not recognise the electronic damage done by a vibro weapon. But these weapons would shine in reality. Unless your opponent was some sort of bio-mech where an introduced electrical charge would not damage their systems.

After gunnery Daedo stared with some apprehension at his next subject. AI nurturing kicking off your AI module with Chief Cleo the dark-haired woman who was one of the few female Chiefs.