Chapter 2 - New Life

Unknown Space Station - New age date A.C. 302

Jako took a deep breath and start organising in his mind the events that had happened over the past 24 hours.

After leaving the outpost station, Jako was transferred between ships, buildings, tubes, elevators then onto a ship again.

Everything was so secretive and with artificial gravity he didn't even know if he is back on solid ground or still in the dark outer space.

Looking at the futuristic interior, flying space shuttles, drones and the weightless of space Jako had to accept the fact that he isn't dreaming and this isn't a joke of a story from some b graded movie... this is his current reality.

It can be said that most people at some point in their life had hope to live in the future with all the exciting high tech equipment and have wondrous adventure in space.

It would have been a nice situation to be in, if not for the concerns around his life and death which is constantly looming over him.

Just when he felt that nothing else would surprise him, the biggest surprise speaks to him. The A.I implant could actually talk directly in his mind.

"Start-up procedure has been completed, synchronisation green... Welcome host, I'm your personal Integrated Replica Intelligence System, IRIS for short or System. You can also change my name to anything that strikes your fancy." the women voice was as soft and cool as the morning breeze.

Jako is unable to get used to a women voice speaking to him in his head, it was creepy. It felt like it's generated from his own thought yet at the same time like a split of his personality or a ghost which was so foreign. He wonders if all mental and mad people have this voice in their head?

IRIS interrupts his thought, "Miss Casteer have send you a file titled 'Read and memorise this', the file consist of the agreement between you and the Institute. Would you like to open it now?"

"You sure get to business fast, IRIS... Sure, not like I have anything better to do." Frowning Jako was preparing to ask if there are some kind of terminal to read the files.

However IRIS displayed the document directly in front of Jako's eyes shortly after receiving a positive answer, this shock Jako once again

"What the…."

IRIS replied with a hint of disappointment.

"I'm able to send signal directly to your brain this signal will merge with the information transmitted form your eyes and thus forming the overlay you see in front of you. My humble suggestion is for the host to stop being surprise at little details.

Additionally, I have taken the liberty to provide you a summary of your current status, please review it before reading Miss Casteer's file"

Name: Jakobsen Bedivere

Citizenship: 2nd Class ITI Citizen

Specializations: None

Institute Points (IP): 0

Credit: 0

Current Schedule: Attend the Fleet Academy open ceremony

[Certification]

None

[Physical Attributes]

Strength: 0.6

Dexterity: 0.7

Endurance: 0.6

[A.I. Abilities]

Knowledge Injection - experimental

Skill Injection - experimental

A.I direct Body management - experimental

IRIS candid summary: Physical attribute of an average human of the host age is 1.0, thus he is physically weaker than most human his age. He do not even have a basic education certification thus concluding that the host should be dumber then most. Having 0 IP and 0 credit also indicate that he is downright broke.

Conclusion, host is weak, stupid and broke. Stay away as it might be contagious.

On the bright side, he can't get any lower then this thus there is only the way up. The A.I. is not optimistic about his chances though.

"Seriously, a sarcastic A.I. as if those that invented you isn't arrogant enough... I'm going to ignore your summary as in a sense i'm only a day and a half old... and what is up with your abilities, do you even have any abilities that are not experimental?"

Rather then answering Jako question. IRIS response in a cheerful manner. "Do note that these abilities are confidential, other citizen's A.I. are not equipped with these function.

Host is to be careful not to breach the confidentiality agreement stated under annex 2A, failure will result in your immediate termination. Please also review section 17 on termination clause, i would hate to lose the two days old you."

It seem like Jako have reach his destination as the guiding drone stop in front of a bright orange space shuttle.

The threat given on Jako's life seem never ending and having no other choice he decisively got down to work.

"Show me the files, time to find out what is the price for this new life."

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Academy City of Selene - New age date A.C. 302

A suddenly jerk of the hover car broke Jako's concentration on the files. While switching his focus to the scene outside the window, he is greeted with a mechanical voice. "My apologies sir, we are approaching our destination and will arrive in 5 minutes please ready your belonging and prepare to alight."

Jako quickly sort out the key information he have gained over the past hour. He is given a chance at a new life but this came with an A.I. implant that sounds sweet but full of dangers.

The A.I. is equipped with the ability to fry it's host's brain at anytime. It's the organization ITI chains and insurance on Jako, a prisoner without walls or guards.

His first task after transferring from the space port to his current location was to enrolled into ITI Fleet Academy. This training institution is build on the 3rd moon of Pluvia. The academy city of Selene, here shall be his home and prision for the foreseeable future.

He was given one high level objective; Graduate from ITI fleet academy with enough IP to enlist in the Military Armada, after which he is to work his way up the ranks for the coming war.

Having reach the academy's grounds Jako alight from the Taxi and recall the information of this grand Academy.

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The First Fleet Academy is one of three ITI ship academies, with it's primary focus on the military aspect of the Institution. Jointly owned by the 8 military fleets, it consist of a wide range of academic departments organised under five divisions namely; Offense, Defense, Ship, Support and Science.

All the divisions are self-governing bodies within the Academy, each controlling its own membership and with its own internal structure and activities. Its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the administrative center but mostly cluster within their division.

Before reforms in the early years the curriculum at First Fleet Academy was notoriously impractical and inefficient. Teaching at the academy is organised around weekly tutorials at the simulation chambers and halls, additional learning is supported by classes, lectures, seminars, and laboratory work by the administrative body. Everyone learns everything. 10 years ago a reform was made and the five division was born to better select members into their correct roles thus streamlining knowledge gains and producing specialist instead of jack of all trades.

The Academy is a "Academy city" in that it does not have a main campus; instead, facilities, departments, accommodation, and other facilities are scattered throughout the main administrative center. The Science division, in which most science departments are located, is the area that bears closest resemblance to a campus.

The Academy also houses ITI oldest space faring ship, the founding colonization ship. The largest academic library system and its data center and the largest shipyard of the Institution.

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A huge arch gateway stood majestically in front of Jako with the name 'ITI First Fleet Academy' in huge writing. This is the main administrative center of the academy. With mix feeling Jako turn to see his transport has quickly flown off after he alighted.

"Let's see what to do now, IRIS any ideas?"

"When in doubt follow the crowd"

"Wow, that make prefect sense, i have to say, can you be any more useless?"

For a lack of a better plan, Jako decide to follow the biggest crowd of people that seems to be going deeper into the academy center. When he was nearing the fountain in the middle of the Academy someone patted him on his back.

"You look like someone in need of help, I'm Marcus a freshman and i'm guessing you are too?"

"Yup, I'm Jakobsen or just Jako and thanks... I really do look kind of lost do I?" Jako introduce himself while shaking Marcus's hand.

"So are you here for Crew or Cadet?"

"Sorry Crew or Cadet? Hmm.. like I said I'm kind of lost."

"Why are you even here if you don't know about that, it's the most basic consideration before joining the Academy?" Marcus slowly shakes his head and produce an overly exaggerated sigh.

Jako gave Marcus his cover story. He came from the rim planet as an exchange student. He is supposed to report here to be trained as a ship captain thus he only know about the officer training. He didn't had time read up on the school related material as there are too many new thing to see on the way to this place. The truth is the trip was too short from the port to the academy and he only cover a little more then quarter of the data given to him.

"Wow, a rare true breed backwater Cadet... you are either really smart or rich to make it here. Anyway, The quick run down version for Crew or Cadet is… Crew are students that focus and specialize on subject related to the running and maintenance of a ship, engineering subject such as reactor core, electrical conduct or maybe FTL drives.

There are also some who are into gunnery and weapon systems but to me those are all the boring stuff. Seldom student will chose to be a merely crewmen but... it's good for those that know what they are good at and just stick to it. To be honest I think they are mediocre and is just too afraid to take the risk. You ain't one of them right?

Everyone should aspire to be cadets, bridge officers. In fact a huge majority of the new students, signs up to be cadets. Of cause it not going to be easy, easily 3 out of 4 students will fall out within 3 months and if they still want to fly it's the crew faction for them."

Jako recall some of the information on this portion in the files and suddenly remember his A.I.

'Yo, helpful IRIS, you could have explain it to me earlier or do that knowledge injection skill ... why do you just let me listen to this Marcus rumble on and on.'

'Oh to give a host a fish, he will survive a day, let the host learn to make friends, maybe he will survive for two days. Isn't that great?' Jako stopped walking as he was shock into a pause

'This damn A.I. will be the death of me'

Marcus had assume that Jako pause was due to his curiosity to the high drop rate, "Those that drop out hit the first wall, it will be obvious to you soon enough. But less talk and more walking, lets sign up for the new comer festival."

Jako confused look cause Marcus to burst out in laughter again, "Seriously, you didn't know that either. Good god where did the academy pick this country pumpkin up."

"The festival is one of the most important activity for a new student cadet. It's your first and only chance to impress the student in the crew faction before the actual terms begins. While its call a festival its more of a ceremony for students to display their ship commanding abilities."

"But let's sign up, action first, talks are for later..."