9 Mind games

The armory faded out of view to a white placeholder room where a holo table materialized.

"Its time to test you on your strategic and tactical planning execution, mercenary companies will live and die by this skill so it is imperative to foster it anywhere you can."

The projection of Capitan Dawson stood beside the table and directed Azamir's attention to the display. Multiple figures appeared across the table depicting a staging area for multiple dropships with 4-5 squads painted in red and 3 green squads set up to the side of the staging area in what looks to be a plan for an ambush.

"Mercenaries often get called in for surgical strikes where plausible deniability is required and you are outnumbered. It is in these cases where proper planning and tactics can bridge the gap between your companies and the opponent's forces."

"Your scenario begins as such..." Dawson began to explain the types of forces Azamir had and the tools at their disposal, he also explained that the objective was to destroy the three dropships currently landed on the staging area to prevent the transport of enemy forces. Each squad had 3 riflemen, and one specialist each. A combat medic, saboteur, and sniper for a final rounded out force. He then disclosed that the saboteur knew the weak spots on the dropship model the enemy was using and the layout of the land around the staging area.

"You have three chances to pass this scenario. Each plan will be run through 100 simulations quickly and the plan that has an average completion rate of 85% will be considered a pass. 90% is considered a professional rating and anything above 97% success is considered operational perfection. You have 30 minutes to plan each strategy, begin."

Azamir immediately went to the controls and focused on his squad's skills, the riflemen were generic frontline soldiers. Good in an upfront fight but Azamir knew that the numbers did not play to his favor. The combat medic would be immensely helpful in offering support to any skirmishes between his forces, the sniper would do well to take out important targets provided he gets set up and the saboteur was critical to completing the mission effectively.

Azamir remembered that in most combat situations the defender has the advantage and the attacker can have the element of surprise. Considering this, he decided to send his sniper around the side by himself and get the riflemen along with the medic to engage with the forces and pull them away from the staging area. This should allow the saboteur to sneak in and do his work.

Azamir nodded and engaged in the simulation and immediately. The computer processed a hundred instances fairly quickly and spat out a result.

{Mission success rate: 80%}

80%!?! Azamir couldn't believe it! He must have made the wrong choice in some aspect and went to review his plan. He took the results from the two worst failures and the best success and found something incredibly embarrassing!

His sniper was consistently caught without any cover! wether it being during the start of the ambush and him moving to flank the enemy or even after he started firing. There was a chance that the enemy came across the lone unit and eliminated him before he could provide any real value! With no cover, the leadership of the enemy forces boxed in his troops, and the saboteur was caught red-handed before he even made it to the landing pads! Not to be discouraged, Azamir also watched the successful instances where his mission was complete and grimaced.

His forces were decimated! 8 riflemen were slaughtered along with the sniper and the saboteur killed himself to take out the rest of the dropships! While the mission could be labeled a success no commander could possibly accept that kind of attrition and still call it a win! Only his medic and one wounded rifleman managed to escape the bloodbath! In fact, if all of his forces were decimated even with the dropships destroyed the system still counted it as a failure for obvious reasons!

The projection of Dawson was silent and nearby, watching the results. "Interesting, 80% on his first try? Guess that tactics course was actually worth something," the projection mumbled a bit before watching the next result.

{Setup complete: Initialize?} Azamir quickly worked over his updated strategy. He separated his squads by pulling out the three riflemen from one squad and having each one follow the specialist around. He Sent the sniper off first with his backup to attain a high position before sending the two squads of riflemen only to split and attack the staging area from both sides! The medic would stick with one squad and the saboteur with the other! Once the medics squad with 4 riflemen attack the east position they would draw all the fire and start moving away! Once the enemy was distracted the saboteur's squad would hit from behind and cause their team to split!

Oh, I could do this as well! Hehehe... Azamir noticed that the saboteur could also place traps. so once his squad drew attention they could lead them into a trap! All teams would be covered by the sniper two-man unit from the north ridge above the staging area.

"Let's go! Start the simulation!" Azamir hit the initiation and watched as the computer compiled the results.

{Pending...}

{...}

{Results inconclusive for exact performance metric. Rating estimated: 89.98%}

Woah! His strategy worked! Azamir jumped and gave a fist pump in excitement! And he was rewarded for his efforts again!

[User displayed tactical analysis skills and utilized units to great effect. Reward: Battle Tactics Skill increased to Beginner II]

He was a little bummed about not reaching 90% but for his first experience, Azamir was happy just to pass! He filed away the third strategy he was going to try and turned to the projection of the Capitan.

"Sir, my rating was above 85%! That means I pass?"

The projection of Dawson was stonefaced and didn't offer a word for a moment.

"Sir?"

Like it had just finished a thought, the projection smiled and acknowledged the trainee staring at him.

"Yes you did Trainee, and I had a punishment all picked out for you too. I guess we will need to give you a reward instead!"

A reward! Azamir internally cheered and patted himself on the back for his good showing. He waited eagerly for his next words.

"Heh, you did well. For this, you get to be next on the visits to the doctor! I am sure the extra time spent with her will be most beneficial."

Azamir blinked. "why doesn't this seem like a reward with the way he says that..."

The system ejected Azamir shortly afterward and as he lifted the helmet off of his head... He was face to face with Felicia! Startled, Azamir took a step back and almost tripped over the desk!

Doctor Simmons grinned and stood back two steps. "Good reaction time! you should perform well in your upcoming test! Come with me!"

The Doctor turned on her heel and left the room with Azamir in tow, they passed a slumped Borridin leaning against the wall. Groaning as he passed them both by Azamir became pale, Doctor Simmons giggled. "Oh don't worry about that, he is just being melodramatic. I only split and reformed his muscles artificially. He should be able to move just fine! The procedure was flawless!"

Yup, Azamir nodded to acknowledge his own impending demise. This would definitely not feel like a reward. Azamir just hoped that he could look forward to getting knocked out during this 'procedure'.

...

Back in the projection room for the tactics test, The projection of Captain Dawson was pouring over the results of Azamir's previous attempt. "Computer, pull up the average score for this test based on first attempts company-wide."

{Processing. Average test results are between 73-82% on all three iterations for the first attempt on this scenario.}

"And the second attempt?"

{Processing: Average test results shorten to 78 - 85%}

"Recalculate the last strategy using lifelike data manipulation and AI reenactment"

{Processing: Test results average 93.5% per 100 simulations.}

The Projection smirked, "Looks like we may have a budding tactician on our hands."