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Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

1 Chapter 1

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Congratulations Miss Max, you have a healthy baby boy the doctor smiles down at his exhausted patient. It had been a hard labor, and for a while they had feared the baby would be lost.

Cant you fix that? I wanted a girl. I was certain she would be a healthy baby girl.

As you probably already know Miss Max, ethics law prohibits genetic resenquencing between birth and adulthood when the patient can legally consent on their own. If you want a baby girl, you can try again and pay for the assurance treatments.

No, that wont do at all. Those treatments are more than I make in a year. Carla Max thought to herself while giving the doctor a polite nod.

Ill just have to work with what I have.

Now if youll just sign your name and the childs, youre ready for discharge A bubbly young nurse brought the new mother from her reverie.

Sign here, and here, and now, what do I name this child, that simply couldnt be born a girl? Samantha, I will still name her Samantha and she will grow into what she is supposed to be. Yes, that is the best course, Carla Max decided.

The son that Carla Max had just given birth to woke up for the first time, confused and trying to grasp at the last fading memories of his past life, just as his mother was hurrying out of the free clinic where he was born..

The clinic didnt let patients stay to recover, they just gave them a generic healing injection and discharged them as soon as they could walk again, in order to free up bed space.

This newborn boy was Maximilian, Hero of the Ten Worlds Crusade, Defender of Humanity and Bonded Pilot of the God Machine Gloriana. Or at least he was. The memories of his past life were fading fast, until there was nothing left, leaving him alone and confused in this newborn body.

The clinic was a gray market office, operated by unlicensed physicians in a run down part of town. They didnt even do the birth screenings for nanotechnology compatibility, or the screenings for physical and developmental aptitude that are so common at every reputable facility, instead they had left them all to be done at the legally mandated 6 month government checkup.

Every child on Kepler Terminus was closely monitored by the government as a potential military recruit. An intergalactic war had been raging for decades and they needed every soldier and Mecha Pilot they could get just to survive.

Maxs head was aching from trying to understand the world around him with nothing as a reference, not even a common language, but he soon found he was able to reach out to a nearby mind belonging to a newborn in a car sitting at a traffic light on the street in front of him.

[Personal Ability Active]

Max didnt even notice the dialog at the edge of his vision, or the voice in his mind, he was too preoccupied with what he found.

This infants mind contained incredible memories. Memories of war, of robotic suits fighting on far off planets, knowledge of languages and of martial arts. Who was this child whose mind he had invaded?

There was no sense of self, like they were forgetting who they were, but somehow they were managing to retain some memories of their past life. The exact opposite of Max who remembered his own name, along with his personal sense of righteousness.

Was it possible he wasnt the only one reincarnated? Max knew for certain that he was, but that was all he could clearly recall of his former life.

But Max was determined he would not forget these memories that called out to an instinct deep within him, he would carry on that love of robots from this childs fading past life. It was a love that he felt deep in his bones, one that shaped every moment of his mostly forgotten past life.

Max, as he preferred to call himself, ignoring the horrid name his mother gave him, soon realized he had a very useful gift. With effort, he could borrow the memories of those around him. With repeated use he could take on a mimicry of their personality and use skills they knew, to some extent. Currently his small body limited much of his ability to duplicate actions.

An industrial accident a millenia prior had released nanobots into the atmosphere of Kepler Terminus, where they multiplied and created an artificial intelligence net that infected every citizen of the planet, effecting each person in a different way beginning at birth. Some were born with extra strength, or long lives, some with abilities that bordered on the supernatural.

Max had gained one of those types of benefits, the microscopic machines in his body were capable of deciphering the brain patterns of those around him, granting a glimpse into their thoughts and recent memories. Such an ability was highly prized in this world, not for science or justice, but for war and espionage.

Max was unaware of that fact, so when the police came with a doctor to give him his overdue 6 month checkup, he didnt try to hide anything and they discovered he had an Alpha level Innate Talent, which caused them to automatically enroll him in the military academy, as they did for every other talented youth in this Kepler Kingdom.

The Kepler Kingdom, which spanned over two hundred populated worlds, was a relatively young Kingdom embroiled in constant war and needed all of their best and brightest from every planet. His mother was overjoyed, as parents of future academy students got an extra government stipend to help raise the talented children of the empire. A monthly credit transfer she was free to spend on drugs.

Max really didnt care, he just wanted to get away from this crazy woman and her drunkard of a boyfriend, who may or may not be his father. That was the thought that dominated his childhood. That and giant robots.

To reach that goal, he put everything he had into developing his abilities, learning to walk and talk before age one. Much of this was due to the partially active System created by the nanotechnology enhancing and helping develop his mind and body.

He had started his second day in this world with a lifetime of someone elses memories, so he had no need to learn the basics, only to tone his body to accomplish them. A feat that is easier said than done for a toddler.

In the early years of his life, Max only ever saw the one System notification, the very first, when it partially activated to help him understand the world around him. The system wouldnt fully come online until after a child had started at the military academy, where the AI network would recognize the need. For now it remained only the most basic of a shell, waiting for his body to mature.

At home, his mother still insisted he was her daughter, not a boy at all, at least when she was coherent enough to address him and acknowledge his existence. She bought him only dresses, and insisted his blonde hair be worn long and in a constantly refreshed perm. In her mind, that was the only style that properly complimented his baby blue eyes.

Were he a normal toddler he would most likely have perished of neglect before age three, but Max quickly learned to control his body well enough to manipulate small objects, like the fridge door and food containers, making himself reliant only on there being something edible in the house.

Fortunately, his drunkard of a father believed that only the finest of snacks were suitable for watching sports games. So chicken wings, prepackaged burgers, pretzels and orange juice for mixing in his mothers drinks were always in plentiful supply. If that failed, the boy would simply use his fathers data tablet to order prepaid delivery, a happy surprise for everyone when it arrived.

The planet known as Kepler Terminus was a highly advanced one, with automation and technology involved in every aspect of their lives. Had his parents been responsible, the talented child stipend, as the government called it, would have been enough to buy him an android nanny, pay off a house in a good neighborhood and buy the most advanced of educational virtual reality simulations.

Instead, Max learned from the minds of those around him and played pirated versions of the publicly available Mecha trainers with a disabled Veteran turned hacker who lived a few doors down. The man found the overly mature boy amusing, and after the toddler gave him a timely warning about the approaching minds of the cyber security SWAT team, they became the best of friends.

He fed the boys obsession with Mecha, and the boy kept him updated on police activities through regular trips to the convenience store past the local police station. If anyone thought it strange the older man in his wheelchair was always with a child that didnt appear to be his own, nobody in their housing project was willing to say anything about it.

A few times Maxs parents freaked out on his friend, thinking the man would demand money for babysitting or harm their government funding meal ticket, but by the time the boy was three they stopped caring as long as Max could be found for his mandatory checkups every six months.

Max passed his entire early childhood in that manner, learning the intricacies of Mecha handling, as well as the best ways to repair pirated technology and avoid police detection.

He also learned of the system, the artificial intelligence created within everyone in their world that was decently compatible with the technology. Alpha Rank compatibility like his could activate a higher Quality upgrade than the Beta and Gamma Ranked children, as well as having the chance of activating an Innate Talent.

For Delta ranked children, The data he found on the information nets said it would barely matter to their lives, helping them heal a little faster, or maybe helping them learn trade skills, but with minimal ability to upgrade. F Ranked compatibility, like his parents, would never see the system at all, the technology rejected them as a host.

F Rank citizens made up over half the planet, with the nanobots in their system serving only to assist doctors with testing them for injuries and illness. Alpha Rank Compatibility occurred in less than one percent of the population, making them the military elites, as that was their only available career path.

One late spring afternoon as Max and Dave were returning to reality after playing Mecha combat games on hacked VR consoles, Daves mood took a somber turn, causing Max to fear his only true friend was more seriously ill than he let on. A poisonous attack had ruined his organs in battle, but so far the nanobots had been keeping his body stable in its crippled state.

Youll be twelve years old soon, and off to the academy the first day of summer, so we need to get you ready. I got you a new uniform and some supplies. Dave finally told him, handing him a package.

The bus comes the day after my birthday, so this will be goodbye for a while at least. Ill return from school when I can. Max smiles at his friend who is searching for the cigarette pack sitting under his long numb leg.

Aye, but first you must survive another Princess themed birthday party. I swear that woman gets more delusional every year. Drugs are rotting her brain. Dave laughs, lighting a smoke from the pack he finally found and placing the pack back under his leg.

Wanna spot me a bag of Flect? If she gets high enough shell forget its my birthday. Max teases his friend, knowing he wont enable his mothers addiction.

Tempting, but no. Now go, and be well until I see you again. Dave says, trying to hide his overflowing emotions as tears run down his leathery cheeks and into his graying beard.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

2 Chapter 2

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Samantha Darling, youve got everything packed, right? The Academy bus will be here soon to get you. His mother called from the living room. About time too, he couldnt wait to get out of this house and never come back.

Twelve long years hes waited, studying what he can with virtually zero resources and even less parental support. Yet still, his mother declared last night during his birthday dinner that she wants him to drop out of the academy at age eighteen when the government funding for parents ends to become a beauty queen and support the family, refusing to this day to admit that she has a son.

While Max waited for the Academy Transport and watched a spider slowly pull a piece of chipped paint from the wall, his mind wandered to his first memories of mighty Ion Cannons and Mecha that didnt match anything in the Kepler Kingdoms Army. Those memories still stuck with him, driving him every day to learn a little more about Mecha piloting.

Mostly he learned from Dave the hacker who lived a few doors down, but he did do some official research to look good for the government monitors. After making sure hes connected to his home wireless and using a default spec generic device of course.

His parents rarely noticed if he was missing, so the two have spent a great deal of time together, weeks on end in fact, and Max had used the old veterans VR set to practice on the black market Mecha simulators every chance he could, preparing for this day when the academy would come to collect him.

There was only so much he could improve himself without having the system active, but many of the lowest ranked Pilots had Delta Rank System Compatibility, which was basically the same thing. For them only pure talent separated the top from the bottom. The very best could even surpass higher ranked slackers who relied on the system for all their improvements.

Dave for his part made sure Max was learning everything necessary to become the sort of military officer that enlisted men like him looked up to.

If you ignored the propensity for illegal online activities that is..

Are you all ready sweetie? Carla Max asks her oldest son, holding her twin daughters on her hips.

For dinner or for school? Yes to both mother. Ive been studying hard to be the very best student at the academy.

Thats good news darling. When I was your age, I was still learning to read. You study robotics for fun and have a daily workout routine. Those kids have nothing on you.

Despite his intense dislike for the woman, Max was too kind to mention that high level system compatibility enhances cognitive abilities, so an F ranked child really doesnt stand a chance against one with high ranked compatibility at the same age. Even without his unique advantages.

Plus, hes twelve already, even the most dimwitted of F Rank children should have long since learned to read by now. But thats better kept to himself.

But she was right, he had indeed been studying robotics, far more than his parents knew. From the moment he met Dave, he devoted himself to Mecha repair, design, development and piloting techniques. At least as much as he could Pirate from the civilian net or hack from the online government servers.

It became clear to him by age two that those government servers were meant to be hacked, there was nothing confidential on them, but an inquiring mind with a thirst for knowledge could find a great deal there. Like the essentials of manual robot control, academy dexterity training and how to build an antique Ion cannon.

They were powerful weapons, with the advantage of being driven off the machines power core and not running out of ammunition, but with the downside of a slow rate of fire, since the ionized plasma took a bit of time to charge.

Many Line Mecha Pilots used them. They are the Kepler Kingdoms entry level Mecha and their newer or lower ranked pilots are often lacking the skills to accurately deploy a faster firing weapon. The propaganda on the net portrayed every Mecha pilot as heroes of the Kepler Kingdom, but Max had a sneaking suspicion that many were there to be nothing more than fodder for the war machine.

Dave depised war, calling it a waste of lives and resources, but made it clear to Max that the right leader could be the difference between life and death. So he insisted Max should be that leader, both for himself and those under him.

In the larger but faster Corvette class Mecha the Ion Cannons were rare, but in the true heart of the Imperial Mecha Squadrons, The Crusader and Phalanx Class giant robots, they were a time honored favorite. Outdone in many situations by more specialized weapons, like the Gatling Cannon Max preferred in combat simulations, they could still eliminate enemy Mecha and buildings with great efficiency in the right hands.

Coming into the kitchen dressed in a black uniform shirt he got from the old veteran two days ago and a clean pair of white pants, Max almost managed to look like the academy cadet he was about to become. All he needed was academy emblems to complete the look.

Just one last meal with his family and he was free.

Im ready for dinner, wheres mother gone? Max asked, ducking his head through the kitchen doorway and finding everyone but her was already present. No matter how much he despises his parents, its not worth the beating to disrespect them to their faces, even on his last day here. Hes still in a rather small preteen body after all.

She said something about losing her little girl and hid in the bedroom to look at photo albums and cry again. Can you pretty please bring her to dinner? Peter, his father asks. ᎷѴᏞЕϺƤƳᎡ.ƇⵔᎷ

No problem. Max sighs and walks over towards the bedroom door, which hangs slightly crooked and has a large hole in the middle from a previous argument between his parents.

Mama, the food is getting cold, did you want to miss your last dinner before I head to the academy? he called through the closed bedroom door, making his father facepalm at his lack of tact and sensitivity.

Peter knew Carla had mental issues, and that her treatment of the boy was beyond strange, but he simply couldnt be bothered to wreck a good thing by making a fuss about it. The boys stipend from the government paid for everything he had and he wasnt about to give it up by alerting child services.

Peter decided that since Max was leaving, he should start encouraging Carla to make more female friends and talk about things other than her dreams for her daughters, in the hopes that maybe it would help balance his little wifes personality. At least thats what he wished for, not knowing it was a lost cause from the start. She was set on a delusional life of glamor, even if it was by proxy through her children.

Carla came running through the living room, wiping her red and puffy eyes, swollen belly cradled in her other hand.

Slow down, you dont want to trip and risk the babies. Max teased. His mother was pregnant again, another set of twins. Boys this time, and the other twins werent even two yet. Hopefully now that she had her girls these boys might fare better than him.

Im sorry honey, I dont know what got into me. Carla cried, hugging the son she had never actually cared enough about to even realize he despised her.

Dont worry mother, its only a few months until spring break and Ill be back again Max says rubbing her back, with no intention of ever actually returning.

But you dont get to come home for the winter pageants, they get you all to themselves and I will be here surrounded by boys. Carla pouts, heading to the table as Peter brings out the birthday dinner. Shepherds Pie with Cesar salad, and pumpkin pie for dessert, all Maxs favorites.

With three little boys to take care of your days will fly by faster than you know it, mom. Max teases.

Hey you little rascal I heard that. Peter laughs, glad theyre actually getting along for a moment.

Due to a number of reluctant parents not showing up on time, the Military Academy sends a bus for students the night before their first classes, in time to get them to the school residences before sundown, so they can get settled before lights out.

Dinner finishes just in time for the bus to arrive, and Peter heads back into the kitchen to do dishes, well out of range of his wifes impending mental breakdown.

Greetings Colonel, I wasnt expecting someone so illustrious to come pick up students for school. he heard Max say. That must be Colonel James Black, head of the academys Mecha repair program, and according to the news, the highest ranking officer on campus.

And greetings to the man of the hour. the Colonel says, seeing Max come out in his new almost uniform outfit.

The only difference in uniforms between genders is the color of the shirts. Gray for girls, black for boys. The uniform itself is white in the summer, black in the winter.

Yes Colonel, this is our beloved oldest child. Peter confirms, coming out of the kitchen when his wife doesnt respond, carefully choosing his words to not set Carla off.

I just love Mecha, Colonel. Max says standing up as tall as his twelve year old body can manage. Ive been practicing on the publicly available simulators and Im certain I have what it takes.

Well spoken child youve raised. Colonel Black nods politely to the parents, ignoring the ramshackle state of the apartment. Now if youll excuse us, weve got to get to the academy.

Ignoring his nerves, Max rushes out the door to the bus, not wanting the Academy staff to see any more of the disaster he was living in. Or even worse, talk with the woman who calls herself his mother. If they think he will end up like that, they just might wash him out of the advanced program.

You are Samantha Max? The driver asks dubiously and Max shows him his official identification.

So you are. Lots of students to pick up today, and youre first. Lets get a move on.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

3 Chapter 3

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As the bus passed out of the slums where Max grew up and into better neighborhoods it began picking up more students. Very few families were like Maxs and squandered absolutely everything they received.

The bus slowly filled with his new classmates, and Max took the time to look into each ones mind, evaluating them. What he found were mostly the undeveloped minds of small children. Surely there must be at least a few more like himself, who were more developed, but so far Max hasnt seen much indication of it, except in one student, who has at least played the restricted mecha simulators before.

The bus was almost full of children when a girl called Nico got on, chuckling at the students with their clothes in disarray, their eyes red from a sorrowful parting with their parents. Her reaction intrigues Sam, thats not how any of the others have reacted.

Her friend Nathan gives her a fist bump, showing her the seat he saved beside him and the girl settles in before making fun of her friend for having cried when he got on the bus.

I hope were in the same class Nathan says, looking over the bus full of kids.

It will be so boring if were not. Who else can even try to keep up? Nathan has an Alpha ranked System compatibility with Beta ranked physical potential, though he didnt activate an Innate Talent. Still, that puts him well ahead of his peers in development, and makes him the only other pre academy aged student that Sams memory scans have found to be capable of playing the VR piloting programs that Max loves..

Most of these kids can barely do multiplication, much less master the multi input processes and calculations needed to get the mecha to do more than basic, crude movements. Before the academy, most games are played on consoles, and a dozen buttons on a controller is a far cry from what is needed to control a Mecha.

The mind that just entered the bus feels very familiar to Sam for some reason, so he reaches out his ability to borrow some additional memories and learn more about this outgoing and confident girl.

To his surprise, its the girl with memories of her past life. The very first mind he ever touched after he was Reincarnated into this world. He would have recognized those memories of Mecha from anywhere. She had, and might still have, memories of an entire life of Mecha piloting, and her recent memories suggest that has been training just as hard as him to get ready for the academy.

It seems this girl is also in the piloting program, and Sam makes a devout wish that they can become friends. Her memories gave him not only reference and basic skills to work with as an infant, but a purpose in life to survive the neglect and abuse of a childhood spent with his wastrel parents. If he gets reincarnated again, hes definitely asking for some memories.

When we get there, Even identification numbers to the left, Odd to the right. Odd numbers, your dorm supervisor will be Major Amanda Payne. Respect her as your ranking officer and all will be well. Colonel Black instructs. Both Sam and Nico take note, as they both have odd numbered identifications.

Many of the students have very little idea what he means, beyond being polite and listening to her, and even that is iffy for some of the worst behaved. Their parents had been raising them wild and free, hoping the military would reject them and send them home.

Its a grossly misguided notion, the children have a decade of intensive educating ahead of them, and misbehaving will keep them in the school the entire time without a chance to visit home.

So, they simply mill about the asphalt courtyard with its yellow painted grid pattern, waiting for someone to tell them what to do and meeting their new classmates.

Major Payne is a tall woman with long dark brown hair tied in a military regulation bun, as opposed to Nicos military approved pixie cut of her black curls and Sams shoulder length blonde perm. Right to the bitter end, his mother insisted on this dreadful haircut. The first chance he gets, the perm is gone.

The major turns, looking at them all assessingly, judging who will be trouble and who to fast track. Nico knows this, it was in the government server she had gained access to, listed as standard procedure for incoming students. Sam knows this too, because Nico knows this and it was in her recent memories when he checked on the bus.

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Max spaces out, sorting through the instructors mind and quickly loses track of time and whats happening around him. Its a bad habit of his, but at Daves house he could usually hide the fact that he was zoned out behind a VR headset.

Knowing whats expected, Nico stands in one of the painted squares at ease, bag beside her, with her feet shoulder width apart, her hands folded in front, in the customary ready stance of the Academy. Nobody else did. In fact theyre still horsing around and giggling.

Sam snaps out of his reverie and gets into position next to the only other Cadet that knows what to do, feeling sheepish about his lapse in attention. Hes at the academy now, he needs to make good impressions if hes going to get himself chosen as a potential officer cadet.

From the corner of her eye, Nico sees one little blonde haired girl, standing on the mark on the floor to her left. Or is that a boy with a terrible haircut and delicate face? Black shirt, so a boy then. The major smiles a little and makes a mark on her clipboard.

Its about ten minutes before the rest of the students understand that something is expected of them, and that theres a reason why the supervisor isnt speaking or showing them to their rooms before they slowly start lining up on the marked floor.

Very good Cadets. All under fifteen minutes. You will do one lap around the dormitory at a run for every minute it took you to fall in on your arrival. Lesson one. When you arrive. Fall in.

Four more officers appear and lead the Cadets out Cadet Nico, Cadet Max, youre with me. Fall in time was under a minute. Major Payne calls.

The two are assigned as roommates, and being the star pupils in the supervisors eyes, they get first pick of the dorms. All facilities are coed at the school, to build unity amongst the future soldiers. Following that ideal, nothing that divides them except talent and unit is permitted.

Could you show us a good choice, Major? Nico asks. Not too near the bathrooms, but not too far, preferably with a window?

Excellent choice Cadet Nico. Tarith Nico, thats an interesting name, a family name perhaps? Major Payne asks in her all business tone.

No maam its Nico Tarith the girl corrects and the Major shows her the official birth record from her tablet. Tarith Nico. Her parents entered her name backwards on the form when she was born.

Thats the sort of thing he wouldnt put past his own mother, Max thinks.

From today you are Cadet Nico. You may apply for a change of name once your basic instruction is complete. Major Payne consoles her with a gentle smile. look at it this way Cadet, youre the only one that gets to keep her own given name. First names are rarely used here.

This little tidbit, intended for his new roommate, is the single greatest thing that Max has ever heard. Nobody will be calling him Samantha, the name he despises largely because the mother he likes even less chose it for him. Plus, when he finishes school, he can officially change it on his own.

The room the Major shows them to is a corner unit, the only one for students in their year, the other three corners being taken by the supervisors. Both outer walls have windows, and its a slightly larger room than the other ones theyve passed. Every door currently stands open until it has two occupants so that the supervisors can easily confirm which cadets are where and who is not getting with the program.

Thank you for your consideration Supervisor Payne Nico and Max say at the same time and the instructor gives them the fist to chest Imperial soldiers salute in return.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

4 Chapter 4

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The mood in the dorm is low the next morning, nobody else had less than ten laps of the gigantic dorm building that holds seven years worth of Class 1 Cadets.

After age eighteen, the Cadets will move to the Imperial Military College. Nico was chosen for a scholarship to the Military College at birth due to her talent level, which Sam found out last night as they got acquainted before bed. The Imperial College is essential training to become a command officer, so it is a place Max has worked his hardest in hopes of attending.

If he cant score high enough he will end up at one of the lesser colleges, becoming a low ranked Line Mecha pilot, and likely end his days doing drudge work under someone elses orders. Thats the last thing that Max wants, and Nico has agreed to help him with his goal in every way she can.

But first, they must suffer through years of basic education Nico already did on her own, from what Max has seen in her memories. Max, on the other hand, learned a great number of the things that are considered essential knowledge only today.

Hes not sure how his handwriting will be, having never actually owned pen or paper, but after multiple uses of his skill on his roommate, a very necessary invasion of privacy he feels truly bad about, he has all of the essential skills and many of the important bits of knowledge Dave missed teaching him committed to his memory long term..

Dave was an Enlisted Infantry Soldier, with a D minus System Compatibility score, he was never taught anything about Mecha Piloting, and all he knew of the officers training was that they liked to order his units to their death by the tens of thousands while they stayed back in the command center.

[All Recruits Assemble in the front courtyard at 0900] comes an announcement through the speakers mounted all over their floor.

Max and Nico both snap their attention to the clock, seeing that they have ten minutes to get downstairs. Theyre not allowed to use the service elevator and the first years are on the top floor of the building. Every year theyll get one level closer to the ground with shorter runs when these announcements come in.

The majority of the others are still sleeping, so the pair calls out to the cafeteria Thats in ten minutes and we need to get downstairs. Time to go everyone.

Wise enough to not want anther punishment for being late already, everyone heads for the stairs, many still carrying their morning meal. As they run they call out into the dorm rooms in an attempt to get the rest up.

Dorm room doors dont lock, but every cadet gets a biometric locked cabinet in their room. Max and Nico both know to keep everything secured in their lockers and the bed made, but a lot of the rooms they pass look like a hurricane just passed through.

They were only allowed to bring one small bag of personal effects and Max brought nothing at all except a few keepsakes from Dave and a single change of clothes.

Nico brought a bit more, but only enough to fill a third of the regulation rucksack that they will be issued soon.

As they reach the stairs, Nico taps the data screen built into the wall and winks at Max. The lights start flashing red and an alarm sounds, pulling even the deepest sleepers from bed. ƜѴԼΞϺρƳЯ.ϽՕᎷ

She doesnt slow her pace though, hopping up to ride the banisters down to ground level with Max right behind her. Major Payne is smiling at them and looking at a stopwatch when they arrive and fall in on the painted squares in the courtyard.

This time a few of the smarter students are not far behind them, panting from the effort of running down the stairs. Fewer than twenty of their classmates are assembled when the instructor clicks her stopwatch and the other teachers lock the doors and wait inside for the late Cadets.

Not bad Cadets. The alarm was a nice touch. You will now be issued your Uniforms, Toiletries and have the chance to access the Commissary for anything you forgot. One Hundred Standard Credits have been issued to your accounts.

A Sergeant comes by to hand each cadet a plastic bag with their ID number on it, containing their basic necessities.

Fall out and assemble here in three hours, in uniform and ready for afternoon training. Major Payne smiles at the students, many of whom start thinking she might secretly be a kind person and not a harsh taskmaster.

The relaxed first day schedule is a trap though, as are the credits. Its the entirety of their first Semesters allowance, and if they spend it all now on comforts theyll have very little for the next four months.

The academy year is split into three semesters of focused education with a break in between each. The end of summer break they wont be allowed to leave this year, but the early spring and beginning of summer ones they will be if theyre well behaved.

Lets go get socks. They only give you two pairs. Max tells Nico once theyre dismissed and starts jogging for the Commissary to get there early.

That was among the most important bits of advice in Daves mind when he was briefing Max on his first days at the academy. Clean Socks are the key to comfort, he insisted.

One standard credit each gets them a prep pack, as the Academy calls them. A high tech thermal base layer that holds optimal body temperature, with six pairs of socks and a boot polishing kit. They each take two.

Lets go, my friend says they give you the boots unpolished, Max tells Nico who shakes her head at their pettiness.

Everything the first day is a test for the Cadets. Even the uniform kit. The underwear in it is cheap and scratchy, but the prep pack base layer is silky smooth and extremely comfortable. The boots arent polished, but they have to be to pass muster. Finally, their cadet badges attach to the locking buttons, but no instructions are given as to their proper placement.

The military wants to know how fast they can adapt and how strong their decision making skills are, but it doesnt make life easy on Cadets like Max and Nico who dont see it as a mental challenge, but a series of minor inconveniences.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

5 Chapter 5

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The two young Cadets head back to their rooms to change and get their uniforms ready. Max made a mental note of the location of the patches on the older Cadets uniforms earlier, so he wouldnt get it wrong, but Nico has managed to pull the description up on the screen by the door of their room.

Is that supposed to be available? Max asks, indicating the screen.

Of course. Its not locked, they just dont think we know how to work the system or they would make the test tougher. Now, grab some hot water from the bathroom to soften the boot polish. The can is cold, so I am pretty sure they keep them in frozen storage.

Max decides they must have done too well yesterday, the Academy is pulling out all the tricks today to catch them off guard. Or maybe like Nico said, theyre being treated as idiots and the Major is planning to teach them everything step by step.

As if thinking of her Summoned her, the Major walks by their door at just that moment and Max flags her down to obtain a few more important details for their first day. Major. What uniform will we require this afternoon, the coveralls or the Dress Uniform?

Major Payne smiles at her new charge, impressed by his understanding, and then notices that the other young prodigy has started placing the polishing kits out and arranging uniform badges..

Cadet, do you both know what you need to do? She asks curiously.

Yes maam. The data screen showed us everything that we needed to know. Max responds, standing at the cadet version of attention.

Since you got the prep pack, I recommend the coveralls. This afternoon is a physical assessment. The Major informs him and walks away to help the other Cadets, who are not doing nearly as well.

The combination of the healing abilities provided by the nanotechnology and the Kepler Empires advanced technology leads to very long lives for those who can afford it, or those who remain in military service, and Major Payne has been training Cadets for over fifty years.

She might have seen more outstanding Cadets in the past, but she believes these two have a special promise to them. That assessment goes into her notes, along with a recommendation to fast track them through early education, as most of it will be unnecessary.

The Cadets dont know it yet, but their first Physical Assessment will activate their Systems. After that, she will know just how good these Cadets are. Her Innate Ability isnt a combat type like superhuman Agility or rapid healing, but its perfect for a drill instructor, she can see others System Status.

With their uniforms prepped and their coveralls matched with the lightweight training boots that thankfully dont need polishing, Max and Nico clean up their mess and neatly organize their lockers. When the dorm is spotless they head out to lunch, getting away from the crying, complaints and not so patient explanations that fill the First Year Dorms.

Theyre both certain a Dorm check is coming soon, theyre just not sure when, and they dont want to end up on punishment detail like most of their class will be.

In addition to the cafeteria on their floor, there is another they can use on the main floor. Its open to all, but Max understands that with its improved menu, it will be dominated by the top classes. But they have arrived early enough that it shouldnt be too busy.

The appearance of a pair of Fist Years, their coveralls freshly steamed free of wrinkles by the in room laundry machine that most Cadets dont figure out for weeks, startles the Cafeteria supervisor. But they pass muster with every required element in order, so he allows them to join the short line and points them to a corner of the room next to the kitchens.

МѴᏞЕϺҎႸᏒ.ϲОМ

The others are avoiding the kitchen noise, which always makes it the last place to fill, a small blessing for the two brave young souls.

Upstairs the lunch meal is tasteless protein sandwiches with a vegetable soup. Here they get the option of four lunch sets. Max doesnt recognize any of them, the names are all generic, and the Cadets are assumed to know what the dish name means. Unfortunately, neither of them read the menu before coming here and there are no pictures.

Two Lunch C Sets with Juice Please. Nico tells the worker with a smile and pulls Max along before he can decide.

The last six students all ordered it. She whispers and Max nods. Theyre in their final years here, so they wouldnt order anything awful.

It turns out to be meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Max gives Nico a look as if to say seriously and she just shrugs, digging into her meal.

Tomorrow we can check the menus first. But at least its not a recombined protein sandwich.

For some reason its served with a tube of spicy processed cheese. Max isnt sure what thats about, so he checks the mind of the seniors and finds its a very popular condiment here, but not needed for this meal and usually saved.

Max grabs both packs and tosses them to a group of seniors who are giving them dirty looks, making the boys smile.

Good call junior. You just might get along here. Their leader laughs, spreading the cheese on the noodles of his Set A Lunch.

Again, the call comes for the First Year Class to get to the courtyard. Theyre only twenty meters away from there in the cafeteria, so they finish eating quickly and take their places in the front row. In front of them an obstacle course and a variety of strength training activities are being assembled, making them glad the Major recommend the light and comfortable version of the uniform for todays class.

Max listens in to the minds passing by as they wait for the other Cadets and learns that the coveralls may be rolled to the elbows without being out of regulation, so he does his, finding that the uniforms are even more comfortable this way.

In the end they stand there for three whole hours while Cadets are reprimanded for a wide variety of failures, often being sent to correct them and then running a lap of the building.

The older students watch in amusement at the spectacle, having the whole afternoon free, since theyre not starting their own semesters classes for one more day.

Now that youve finally learned to dress yourselves, lets see if you can walk across the lawn without getting yourself dirty. A Drill Sargeant named Zamm calls out and a cheer goes up from the spectators.

Pay up punks, I told you theyd clear Uniform Drill in one shot. The boy Max gave their cheese tubes to cheers, making Max struggle to hide his smile.

Nico, Max, to the obstacle course, youre up first.

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The obstacle course that they are facing is a more extreme challenge than Max had seen on many of the television shows his father watched. It started with a rope climb to a set of monkey bars across a mud pit. Then came the rope net crossing to a rappelling wall, followed by a run across the field through swinging hammers with padded heads. Last up was the log run over a pool and then the finish line.

The fact they think a child could manage this is insane. Sure, its scaled to their size, but the strength and Agility required would have to match a well built adults to complete these tasks.

Max chalks his hands on the bag at the start and begins climbing the rope. Its easier than expected with the rope fastened top and bottom and well-placed knots, but Nico was just as fast up her side. Determined to win, Max takes the monkey bars two at a time, gaining some distance from the smaller cadet, and begins to cross the net.

Its set up like a hammock and turns easily underneath him, almost dumping him off. Nico knows some trick, though, and smoothly runs down the center, making the rappelling wall just in front of Max.

Neither bothers with the harness, simply grabbing the rope and running down the wall. Max swings away and lands on his feet running, while Nico tucks and rolls, getting dirt and grass in her short black hair.

Timing the hammers is hard, and Max takes a hit from the third one he passes, hurling him to the ground.

[System Active]

[Welcome User Max].

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

[STR] +0%

[DEX] +0%

[SPD]+0%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

When Max wakes up, hes on a mat by the finish line, next to a partially dry Nico. She must have made it to the pool before her system activated.

A fresh pair of Cadets is challenging the course now, one falling from the first rope, one from the monkey bars. The staff quickly recovers them and brings them to the finish line while their system activates, and two more Cadets are called.

None even make it as far as the Rappelling Wall before their system activates, but now that he knows the purpose, Max understands that the distance you cover isnt the point; the course is only designed to activate the system that is dormant in the new Cadets.

Beside him, Nico opens her eyes and looks around in confusion before nodding her head and closing her eyes again. Seconds later, the soft rhythm of her breathing changes, and Max realizes shes fast asleep.

Thats a talent Max is a bit envious of; hes always had trouble sleeping, so he watches the last of the contests instead.

Once theyre all finished and awake, Major Payne gets the lesson started with a shout. Class Attention.

Nico leaps to her feet and into a foreign ready stance with one hand on her hip and the other on top of it. Before her eyes even open, she shifts to the Academy Attention position under the curious gaze of the Drill Sergeants.

Maybe its a martial arts stance, Max thinks, then scans her thoughts and realizes she was going for a gun. Keeping her memories meant keeping her habits, and immediate combat readiness had been trained in to her during her previous life. Ꮇ∀ᏞЕϺƤႸᎡ.ƇՕƜ

Max makes a mental note not to wake her up suddenly.

Now that youve all had your systems activated, we can begin your lesson. The core stats of the System improve through practice. How much they improve entirely depends on your compatibility and effort.

Deltas, you will get one-tenth of a percent per upgrade. Gamma Rank gets one-half percent. Betas get One Percent, while Alpha Rank Compatibility gets two percent. Your primary stat will get a little more.

Cadet Max, what is your Primary Stat and the modifier?

Strength Maam, with a two-point-five times modifier.

Outstanding Cadet. Thats the largest Ive seen in all my years. Cadet Gomez, what is your Primary Stat and the modifier?

Dexterity, Maam, with a 1.2 times modifier.

That is typical for Delta Rank. The rest of you should fall somewhere in between those Modifiers.

A Drill Sargeant steps forward to continue the lesson. If you want to improve your System Status, you must work hard. Training that is appropriate to a stat will have a chance to level up that stat bonus. Every stat is important, and you cannot start unlocking additional abilities of the system until you get to fifty percent total improvement.

Major Payne smiles at the students again, and many begin to suspect her friendly smile is not really friendly.

As you increase an ability, it gets harder and harder to get gains. So, you will all take a holistic approach to training. Every ability is necessary, either in hand-to-hand combat or inside a Mecha. Who can tell us the most important stat for melee combat Mecha?

You, in the second row. Answer. The Drill Sargeant Zamm orders.

Is it dexterity? The student answers, and Max prepares himself for the verbal lashing the cadet is about to receive.

You will address Drill Instructors as Sir. Every time you speak to them, you will start and end with Sir, do you understand me, Cadets. Zamm yells. That was much more gentle than Max expected. Even his parents were more intense than that.

Sir, Yes, Sir.

Outstanding Cadets. But the answer is not Dexterity. Cadet Nico, what is the answer?

Sir, a melee pilot needs Strength, Sir.

Excellent. Now, who can tell me why they need Strength? Cadet Max.

Sir, Melee Mecha Pilots take huge amounts of impact and gravitational forces. Without sufficient strength, a pilot cannot properly control the Mecha during rapid maneuvers, Sir.

Very good. Inside the Mecha, Dexterity is needed to move between controls. Speed is needed to enter commands fast enough to survive. But Strength is needed to keep control when a fifty-ton, angry Cygnus Mecha tries to use you like a rag doll.

That thought makes many of the students pale, while a few share eager looks. Theyre all here hoping to become Mecha pilots, but not all will succeed. Some will be chosen for their skills in repair or tactics as support and logistics personnel. Some will be moved to an infantry program for their complete lack of talent.

Thats what happened to Dave, and Max knows from reading his mind the Horrors that wait down the path of infantry in a modern battle.

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Now that youve learned what the system is, we will train and get you your first gains. All students who have Strength as their primary attribute follow Sargeant Zamm. If you have Dexterity as your Primary stat, Follow Sargeant Farhan. Those who have speed as their Primary, stay here with me. Major Payne instructs.

Max can see that his group has easily three-quarters of the students, with quite a few going to the dexterity course. But surprisingly, only Nico is standing with Major Payne. Speed must not be a common stat to have as your Primary.

The strength training station is exactly what Max expected it to be. Free weights, resistance machines, and heavy things to move. Most of those are too much for the first-year students, so Max decides to start his usual workout with curls and then try out the full-body resistance trainer. Hes never seen such a thing before, and it looks pretty intense.

He finds a good spot and begins his workout, ignoring the horseplay and chaos around him, much to Sargeant Zamms delight. Supervising First Year students is seen almost as a punishment detail for many within the instructor corps, and Zamm is no exception.

He trains Cadets in physical and combat skills, while the First Year student typically has zero understanding of either one. Even one student that has an existing workout routine is enough to brighten his day.

The resistance machine is busy with a student trying to understand how it works, so Max moves on to weighted lunges, carefully watching for the first update notification from his new system..

Across the field from where hes working, Nico and Major Payne seem to be engaged in some form of fight with sticks. Max is pretty sure its a martial art that theyre practicing, but the speed theyre swinging the wooden rods at each other is impressive. The pattern is repetitive, he notices, not testing their talent today, and the fundamental objective is to keep up with your opponent, so you dont get hit.

His fifty lunges are almost up when Max sees his first gain notification and checks his System interface.

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

[STR] +5%

[DEX] +0%

[SPD]+0%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

Being of A Ranked Compatibility, he gets a 2% base increase, but his Primary Stat strength modifier bonus put him up to a full 5 percent in a single gain during his first session.

The fancy resistance machine is now available, the previous student had given up on learning it, so Max heads over to give it a try. There are well worn written instructions on the machine; step into the harness, press the green button to engage the sizing feature, then begin your workout; the trainer will adjust the resistance as it sees fita marvel of high tech training.

Theres an assortment of objects and a VR headset to keep the training interesting, so Max engages the feed, picks up a racket and picks a tennis program. Theres lots of movement involved, so it should be a good workout. Ϻ√ᏞΕϺƤႸЯ.ƇОƜ

[Strength Gain]

[STR] +10%

The buzzer signaling the end of the physical training session pulls him back from his tennis match, and Max notices his entire body is so sore he can hardly move. Fortunately, Nico waited for him and was willing to help him up the stairs.

She isnt a big person, but his roommate had to practically carry him to the eighth floor where they live after his legs gave out at the first landing.

Youre stronger than you look. Max laughs, doing his best to struggle up the last flight.

No, Im just smart enough not to spend two straight hours in a resistance trainer. Plus, with my healing rate, the bruises from playing sticks with Major Payne are almost gone.

Max can see what she means; fading bruises are all over her hands and arms from missing a block and getting hit with the bamboo sticks. Hes certain it must have been painful to have left such wicked-looking bruises, but Nico doesnt appear to mind.

I hope you got something to make this all worth it. Im definitely not carrying you again if you didnt at least get one gain. Nico huffs as they finally make the top floor and head for the dining hall the grab an evening meal.

Get a Gain? I got two today. With my modifier being Strength, Ill have a much easier time of it tomorrow. Max tries to smile through the exhaustion.

But Im setting the timer. How did you make out?

Two gains for me as well. Major Payne is an excellent training partner; I dont think Ill do as well if I have to practice alone or with one of the other First Year Cadets.

Nico drops him in a red plastic cafeteria chair and goes to get them something to eat, coming back with bowls of chili and warm bread loaves. A staff member brings them a large jug of ice water, and Max does his best to smile at her.

Dont worry, dear. Someone always overdoes it the first day. Some of them havent even made it back to the building; I can still see them lying in the grass after the Sergeants forced the slackers to exercise.

That makes him feel a little better; at least he wasnt the only one who couldnt handle the workout he picked or had picked for him.

By the time they finish eating, Max has begun to recover, the nanobots in his body working to repair the damaged tissue from the workout and implement the changes for his upgrades.

After a system stat upgrades, the effects arent quite instant. At the lower levels, where the difference between upgrades was more significant, it would take the system time to make the changes, up to an hour in some cases.

The instructors are still carrying recruits up to their rooms when Max crawls into bed, noticing something strange about how Nico uses the data screen on the wall. He cant tell what shes browsing, but shes not touching the screen to navigate. Is that a feature of the high-tech device? Or possibly an aspect of her Innate Ability?

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Max decides that tomorrow when theyre both well-rested and fed, would be a much better time to ask Nico about her Innate Ability, so he lets sleep overtake him. Tonights rest is much easier to achieve than usual. The pure exhaustion of the days exercise has overcome every obstacle to drag him instantly into slumber.

He wakes up to a small hand on his chest, shaking him gently. Get up and get dressed, the cafeteria opens in ten minutes, and were going to fix your hair first. They let it slide yesterday, but if you dont tie it back or cut it, theyll most likely penalize you today.

Max chuckles happily as he gets into his uniform. The white pants with a black Academy logo polo shirt and a black beret seem to be the male cadet version of fatigues, the less formal summer uniform for general purposes. That should do for the morning lessons, and its what Nico picked, though the female version of the first year cadet uniform uses a dark gray shirt instead.

According to what they found online, the girls are much more likely to wash out of piloting classes, and the logistics and operations staff all wears shirts in that same gray, but a different style, while infantry Cadets wear green uniforms. If they make it to the third year in the piloting program, all Cadets in the program wear the same black shirts, but with a stripe on the collar to mark them as pilots in training.

Its a bit annoying to Max that they put the data screens so far up the wall. Even for the adults, theyre above eye level, plus theyre touch activated, and he cant reach them without a stool. But Nico doesnt need to, it seems. She can make them work from wherever she is standing..

What did you have in mind for my hair? Max asks, grabbing his beret from his locker.

Regulation Crew cut work for you? Or do you like it longer?

A regulation crew cut sounds absolutely amazing to Max, but then he thinks of Sargeant Zamm, with his flat-top haircut and blonde hair that closely matches Maxs own.

Can you do it like Sargeant Zamm? How good are you at doing hair? Max asks quietly, not wanting to wake anyone in the surrounding rooms.

I do my own, but dont worry, I have a digital clipper.

Max isnt sure exactly what that is, but it sounds professional, so he nods. A digital clipper turns out to be a mesh towel of sorts. It sits over his head, adjusts shape to whatever Nico is instructing it to do with that strange ability of hers, and then with a wave of buzzing, Max has a brand new haircut, safely within regulations, and Nico collects the blonde tresses of his perm.

She ties one small portion in a bundle and tosses the rest in the trash bin. The bundle she places on the top shelf of his open locker and then pushes it closed with a smile.

A keepsake to remember your first days of pilot training. According to the screen, weve got introductory core studies from seven in the morning until lunch, and then physical training from thirteen hundred until sixteen hundred.

Max doesnt understand her timekeeping system, so he gives her a confused look.

Oh, sorry, thats one in the afternoon until four in the afternoon. Theyll likely go over that this morning in the core studies class, but the Kepler military counts the whole day in a row, all twenty-four standard hours. Hundred is the double zero that means right on the hour. Fortunately for us, Kepler Terminus has a disbarred length day. Ϻ√ԼЕМРҮᎡ.ϲՕƜ

Come to think of it; Max had heard Dave using terms like that before. But without a set schedule, learning to tell time wasnt a priority for him. He can read a digital clock well enough to know when food delivery should be arriving, though.

Thanks for the haircut, but arent those things usually attached to a tablet or something? Max asks, changing the topic as they head for the mess hall.

Controlling nearby Technology is my Innate Skill. It was too warm in the car on the way home from the hospital, so I rolled down the window, and that was that. My Innate Ability was set. Nico laughs.

She makes it sound so basic, but she can navigate menus and set the shape of a digital mesh without seeing the software, so its not a weak or simple skill that she awakened.

I can see other peoples surface thoughts, Max says quietly, not wanting to alert the whole class to his ability.

Now thats handy, youll always know when they have a surprise planned. Just keep me in the loop; I detest surprises.

Max suspects few things surprise her, with a lifetime of military memories and the ability to search through technological devices. He isnt sure that she can hack or bypass passwords, but with a skill like hers, shes probably learned how to by now. Even he learned the trick to cracking basic security from Dave so he could Pirate games off the Data Net.

Being the first ones to breakfast, theyve got time to custom order, so they both get fully loaded omelets with Battered bread, an egg-covered pastry concoction Nico drenched in syrup.

An hour before class started, Major Payne came to the top floor mess hall to eat and found her two star pupils going over the cafeteria schedules on one of the wall screens. The worker nodded to indicate that theyd already eaten, so Major Payne wondered what they were up to. Were they meal planning from the available options? Thats a bit unusual for twelve year olds, even if their mental growth has been enhanced.

Thats today, but the next day, everything served downstairs looks strange at lunch. If we come back up here, theyve got the Coconut Soup which looks pretty good, and the chocolate protein shakes. Max says to Nico, who sighs sadly.

Its a long walk, but thats fine. The schedule says the seniors get out of training an hour after we do, so we should be able to sneak in dinner from the downstairs cafeteria and recover before they get out of class both days.

The Major is a bit shocked, not only at their knowledge but their planning skills and the fact they hacked the class schedules. Or maybe they asked someone at lunch yesterday? Thats a possibility, though the seniors usually dont give much help to the first years.

They disappear, and the Major quickly finishes her meal and starts to work. EVERYBODY UP! Classes start in thirty minutes. Get dressed, get fed, and get to class on time if you dont want to run laps all afternoon. Literacy Skills are in the South Wing, room seventeen.

She and her Sergeants will be escorting the main group there of course, since its their first day, but shes eager to see who all might manage to make it to the class on their own and who wont even think to fall in with the group.

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Max and Nico arrive well before the others and take a spot near the door. Front Right serms to be their position of choice everywhere they go, but in this classroom its everyones choice, the morning sunlight beats down across the left half the room and there are no blinds. Its hot, bright, and distracting to students who would rather be outside playing.

Max wonders if its intentional, then decides thats a pointless thought. Of course, it is. Everything here is a deliberate test.

The friendly-looking young Corporal teaching the class hands them their class books, and Max bursts into laughter while Nico hides hers by biting her fist.

Is Something Funny, Cadets? The teachers tone doesnt sound so kind now.

Sir, no sir. Its just that the book is an introduction to the Kepler Standard Alphabet, and we can both already read the language, Sir. Nico responds while Max struggles to regain his composure. Must planets use a local dialect with its own written language, so not a lot of Cadets arrive knowing the standard Alphabet..

War might be the fate for half the population, the ones with a System, but the parents at home are rarely enthusiastic about sending their children to their fate, and nobody uses the standard Alphabet here on Kepler Terminus.

The teachers face has reverted back into a kindly half smile, and he drops a digital tablet on their desks and collects the first books. Take those to the testing booths across the hall and fill them out. That standard assessment will help with your placement, so do your best.

Max recognizes the symbol in the corner as meaning that the device is connected to the Academys internal Data Net and resists the urge to hack it. Its the Military Academy, of course they would notice if he uses a password algorithm on their tablet.

With the fist to the chest Kepler Salute, they leave the room and pick adjacent stalls for the test. The testing stations are soundproof and have no windows to keep the students from cheating off of each other. Thats not going to stop this dynamic duo, though.

Max sees the first bits are simple reading and writing skills tests, so he takes out the stylus and quickly completes the first few sections. Then its on to the very basics of Mecha control panel layout, anyone who has used the simulator will know this, so again, he flies through it.

The third is the basic mechanical layout of the Line Mecha. Not much was available about this in the public data network, so Max looks it over for clues, then decides to see how Nico is doing, using his Innate Talent to check her mind.

She not only knows everything, but shes also corrected a deliberate mistake in the exam itself. Max sorts through her mind, trying to memorize everything he can without directly copying her answers. Thats not too hard; its just a mechanical schematic, no more complicated than modifying a VR headset to bypass the bootup restrictions so he can play black market games.

With that essential knowledge, he moves all the parts on the screen to their correct locations and then double checks them against Nicos work. It looks right, so he moves to the final section on basic piloting techniques. He already knows this from the Multiplayer Simulators, so he fills in everything as best as he knows it and then goes over the whole test again, looking for mistakes.

In the exam monitoring room, Sergeant Zamm is at a loss for words. Both students are on camera, and every entry into the tablet is monitored and recorded. The fact they aced the first-year writing portion was a given, but they didnt make any mistakes on the second and third-year portions either.

Then they moved on to the mecha control layout portion. A third-year final test that identifies and correctly places every major control component in the Line class Mecha. They also got perfect scores on that portion, with only cadet Max needing to adjust an answer. The same again on the Mechanical layout. Cadet Max made no mistakes this time, he just took a more systematic approach that slowed him down, compared to Cadet Nico.

The room the Instructors are in is shielded against System intrusion, so they cant be using their Innate Skills on the observers. If it even has that much range. The only possible answer he can come up with is that one or both of them already know this information that should be confidential to anyone outside the Academy.

[Possibility Cadets have used innate skills to learn required information through year three after entering the academy] Sergeant Zamm notes as he watches them finish their tests.

The information he has says theyre both veterans of the civilian Multiplayer Simulators, so the fact they know the essentials of control isnt a surprise, but it does pose a problem.

This is the Third Years placement exam. After completing this, the standard course Cadets will be sorted into their career paths by aptitude, and not just by washing out of a program. Those with uniquely suitable skills would would officially start a trade program and finish the next three years getting ready for the intensive career training at the University, while those who didnt qualify as any form of specialists would begin infantry training immediately.

But how do you place a student who scored perfectly in everything?

Sargeant Zamm snaps a picture on his personal encrypted device and sends the final scores and student information to an old friend much further up in the Command Structure. Surely the General will know what to do with two such outstanding Cadets.

The testing room does dont unlock until thirty minutes before the lunch break, and both Cadets race out of the building after being dismissed by Sergeant Zamm, wanting to make it to the cafeteria before the seniors line up. Today theyve got the good enchiladas for lunch here, and thats not a meal either of them wants to miss.

They take their places at the loudest table near the kitchen and dig in while the amused upper-level students get their lunch. Everyone pulls tubes of the spicy cheese out of their uniforms, and Max understands why its a valuable commodity. The meal doesnt come with it, but it would make it way better.

Thats valuable survival information in Maxs mind. He will have to obtain more of the cheese tubes.

After lunch, they return to the workout area, and Max heads straight for the resistance machine. Its a full-body workout and can upgrade all stat categories, though it focuses on strength. Since the goal is fifty total points of bonus for the first years, this is his best option.

Today, Nico joins him, taking the next machine and activating a sparring scenario. Max ignored those because the haptic feedback was incredibly painful when you got hit, and you would be hit a lot. Instead, he picked a Strongman Competition today that was marked as suitable for cardio.

Endurance might not be in the first categories of Stats, but the system says theres more to be unlocked. In a long battle, Max is certain stamina matters a lot more than fancy piloting.

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Both of the Year 1 Class 1 Leaders are already obvious to the training staff. Not only are they years ahead of their peers in school work, theyre also dedicated to their training, with impressive System Modifiers.

Cadet Max has an incredible 2.5 times modifier in strength, but Nico has a 2x modifier in speed plus a 1.5x modifier for dexterity, a rare double Primary. The Dexterity modifier isnt all that great, being high Gamma Ranked, and even the Speed modifier is Very low Alpha Rank, but together, they should make for very efficient training.

Both Cadets are gaining quickly, even for students of their Compatibility Scores, and Major Payne is keeping close tabs. Regulations say they must remain in Year 1 classes until theyve reached 50 percent total bonus, and cannot graduate in the Piloting Program unless theyve reached 100 percent total.

Ideally she would like to move them both to year 3 next Semester, to more closely match their training to their skills. But that means more intensive physical skills classes, and there is no guarantee that this rate of growth will hold.

Its not strictly regulation, but its not prohibited, so Major Payne decides to change the settings for them on the trainers from smooth growth to maximum System Gains. Its usually used as a punishment setting for Cadets that slack and are in danger of flunking a year due to insufficient progress, even a few hours under those settings are pure torture.

But when she opens the menu, theyre already changed. She didnt see anyone else near them, but someone already set the machines for maximum progress. Major Payne suspects Sergeant Zamm is the culprit, but shes not going to say anything to her supervisors until she has some sort of evidence..

Instead she waits and watches as the two Cadets train for an hour at maximum intensity, then go grab a drink from the provided bottles. Theyre not water, but a form of energy drink designed to help recover energy and repair damaged tissue.

Instead of moving on to a low intensity activity, as she had expected, they both take a ten minute break, then resume their previous training programs.

None of the other Cadets dare touch their machines after seeing the workout those two received, and the consensus among the first year class is that those two are simply masochists.

Again they repeat the process, taking a break and a drink, but this time they switch programs. Now Max is doing Dexterity and Speed Training while Nico is training primarily strength.

Compared to their classmates, the two with Alpha Ranked Systems have a huge advantage in increasing their status bonuses. After a full year of this, most Gamma Ranked students will succeed in getting their fifty points to continue along the advanced piloting track. Almost every Cadet with a Delta Ranked System will be moved to a basic path or to a different specialty.

The Beta Ranked Students are usually the issue. They have it just easy enough to slack, getting an upgrade every few days to reach their goal, and it tends to make them arrogant and kill their motivation. What the instructors hope is that the clear advantage that these to Alpha Ranked overachievers will gain through their hard work will motivate the others.

Max had time for four full cycles of training before the cafeteria opens for dinner, and hes made real progress again today. At this rate, the expectations of the academy are a joke, but its possible the gains will slow down a lot as his skills increase.

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

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[STR] +20%

[DEX] +2%

[SPD] +2%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

Major Payne, what are the base stats? The system bonuses list as a percentage, but the base isnt there, Maam. Max asks, confused about how to interpret the data.

Its in your locked skills, but I can tell you in advance. Every student will start out with a base of 1 in every stat, except those with Alpha Ranked Compatibility, who will begin with 2. Once you reach fifty percent total bonus, your physical abilities will increase from that of a growing child to that of an adult in a childs body. Its the Systems way of rewarding you for hard work.

Theyre only on day two of having the system, and already Max is at twenty four percent total bonus. Hes not sure if thats normal for people like him, in the top one percent of Compatibility, but theres an easy way to check. Class 2 isnt that far away and theyre also training outside.

Max focuses hard on the childhood friend of Nico who was also Alpha Ranked, looking for thoughts of where his abilities are at.

Hes also been using the resistance trainer, though Max can sense that hes not pushing himself, smug in his superiority as the only Alpha Ranked student in his class. But where Max has seen six total upgrades, Nathan just finally got his first one, giving him 4.5 percent more strength. So hes got a 2.25x modifier on his strength, which is pretty solid, though not as lucky as Max.

His teachers and classmates are fawning over his achievement and how he might even get to the cap in only a few months. Theyre in for a huge shock when the Year Wide student progress rankings come out.

Major Payne, is it possible to increase the base stats, once theyre active? Nico asks curiously, beating Max to the question.

Possible, yes. But its not easy. Some students will increase a base stat through hard work, an Innate Skill or a System Reward, but most Pilots will end their career with the base stat level they began with.

Most pilots likely doesnt apply to Max though, he already understood that he won the genetic lottery in this lifetime, so he had high hopes for at least one or two bonus points. Though if a base of 1 is average adult, and 2 is exceptional, even one or two would be a huge advantage over the general population.

The energy juice today was a lifesaver, and Max even manages to drag himself up the stairs this time, using the stairs and railings for support and locking arms with Nico who is in similarly bad shape, but still, they made it up the stairs and got showered before bed.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

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Within the week, Major Payne has the entire class on a strict schedule, shouts echoing through the hallway signifying their change of tasks every time an alarm goes off. Class, meals, Workouts, breaks. Everything is structured now.

But Nico and Max arent with the group for most of the morning anymore, instead theyve been assigned two separate morning Instructors. Sargeant Zamm to teach them more about Mecha Piloting, and Sargeant Farhan to teach them advanced mathematics and history.

They can read well enough for the Sergeants, so literacy skills have been pushed aside for the semester, while the Academy tests the limits of their abilities.

With Nicos help Max has managed to organize the class into evening study groups to help the kids that are falling way behind in their reading comprehension. Most either couldnt read Kepler Standard, or couldnt read the language well when they arrived, but that is quicky changing, with their entire morning being dedicated to it and the assistance of the improved cognitive abilities inherent to higher rank System Users.

His goal is to make sure theyre not a class of disorganized individuals, but a single unit working towards a goal as well as proving he is a capable leader, worthy of notice and promotion. This environment is like heaven to Max, no drunks, nobody dissappearing to get high, no dangerous criminals hiding between buildings, just order and camaraderie.

At this rate the first class competition will be a massacre. One of the military observers who is watching over everything through cameras mounted all over the campus notes, while reviewing the materials being taught to the two advanced students..

Those two are natural leaders. The other class looks exactly like we would expect a class of children to look. Class 1 barely needs teachers with Cadet Nico Max around. Major Payne laughs, using their odd attachment to label them as one singular person.

Theres something off about Cadet Max though. Another observer notes.

His Innate Talent is a form of mind reading that he uses for memory duplication. I suspect that repeatedly using it on Cadet Nico and the Instructors to cheat on the assigned school work has subtly changed his personality, but theres no solid proof that he has been doing it so we cant reprimand him. Major Paynes assessment makes everyone laugh. Such an amazing skill for a shirking student.

Do we know the limitations of Cadet Nicos Technology based skill? Colonel Black asks the room but nobody answers.

Really, no ideas? A twelve year old is keeping secrets from you, the finest educators and interrogators on the planet? He laughs.

Its hacking related. Major Payne begins, She regularly penetrates school digital security to get an advantage on upcoming assignments and gather other data. But we dont know what exactly the skill can do.

The observers have gathered with the senior staff because today marks the freshmen challenge. Each Class has been ordered to do something that will shock their instructors and prove their worth. Class 2 is going to break into the teachers lounge and go for the answer keys. A daring task for sure.

But class 1 has not spoken openly, following Maxs suggestions and using hidden notes on edible paper saved from their meals to plan their stunt. That alone shows the Observers that they know theyre monitored and can adjust their tactics to compensate.

Are these really twelve year old kids? a teacher asks. Even though theyre all elites with two Alpha Rank leaders, this level of organization is remarkable.

The results theyve achieved so far are mostly from applying the military skills Nico retained upon reincarnation, but this entire first year class is outstanding well beyond their rank, they just dont have anything to compare themselves to. A deliberate action by the academy to prevent them from being influenced by outside factors.

What they have planned is a two pronged strategy. First up, the class is going to meet up in front of the class 2 dorms. The fifth through seventh years are out on a wilderness training mission right now, so Nico is going to loop the cameras and Max is going to lead the class to stage an underwear raid in the Class 2 dorms, using his own hacking skills to pop open the biometric locks.

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While that is attracting the instructors attention, Nico will escape out to the senior Fairgrounds where advanced Line Mecha handling is being taught, with the plan being for her to commandeer a Mecha and steal the school flag from the post on the roof. With their smaller bodies and her ability to Command electronic systems remotely, shes the only one in the class who could possibly do it.

That fact annoys Max to no end, but theres nothing her can do about it at the moment. Soon he will be able to prove his worth.

Thats the plan she managed to convince Max to agree to anyhow, with the wholehearted agreement of the others. Max is in charge of the raid and hes planning to make it look like they are going full in for the seventh years, but actually loot the first years lockers while they are out on their own mission and hang their underwear on the power lines outside.

Because picking on the seniors might actually get them beat up, but theyre not afraid of the first years.

Max nods the go ahead and Nico loops the cameras before getting out of bed and escaping while Max is rousing the others who are eagerly waiting in their beds, pretending to be asleep. As Nico heads to the Fairgrounds, she sees the other class is right on time. Class 2 has already entered the school building, so only 3 years are present in the dorms for Max and the rest to sneak past.

Theres a guard patrol out here looking over the parked Mecha that Nico couldnt do anything about, theyre not online connected for her to hack, and shes not close enough yet to do anything to their sensors.

So she waits until the patrol is on the far side of his loop to rush towards the parked Academy issue Line Mecha, using her talent to override the locks and open the hatch to the drivers compartment. Step 1 complete. Next is the tricky part, she needs to power the Mecha up as silently as possible, with no lights on, and make her escape while the guard is distracted by one of the classes.

Primary power is up, secondary is up, the radio crackles to life and Nico turns it down to a whisper, dimming the dash lights to nothing at the same time.

Alright, the Line Mecha is ready to go at any moment. She cant reach the controls, but using her Innate Talent for control works well enough for basic movement. Nico then straps herself in as securely as possible, the shoulder straps not designed for such a diminutive pilot.

The second class has just failed their mission, theyre jumping out windows from the main floor of the school building, trying to escape with the answer keys. They were so obvious that even class 1 knew what they were up to from whispers in the hallways, its no surprise that the academy was on to them as well.

Its go time. She leaps into action as the patrol Mecha is distracted, blending in with all the other sudden movement as guards respond to Class 2. Only she heads to the roof of the school, not the main floor.

The flag pole stands 20 meters high above the roof, nothing but a Mecha would get a student up there. The grab is good and the flag pops free, Nico landing as gently as possible in the far side of the school and ditching the Mecha to return to the Class 1 dorm with her stolen loot.

5 minutes later the rest of the Class comes in laughing, the First Year class 2s favorite underwear are out on the power lines. The administration was so into watching class 2 and their epic failure that they didnt think to check the cameras for tampering during those fifteen minutes.

The hacking knowledge Max acquired from Dave worked flawlessly, letting them into every rooms lockers at the same time, where the students grabbed a single pair of underwear from each locker before writing the room number on them and locking the door behind them.

The gigantic school flag is proudly hung in the first year common area, tacked up on the roof, as the wall wasnt high enough to prevent it dragging on the floor, which would be a punishable disrespect to the flag.

Nobody mention it. Max instructs. See how long it takes them to notice.

Nico laughs and with a thought she returns the cameras to normal, but they all forgot one vital fact. A gigantic flag is now blocking all the cameras in the common room.

Humanity's Greatest Mecha Warrior System

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Congratulations on your wonderful display of undergarments class 1. Major Payne begins as she walks into the common room and finds all her students waiting for her. You did an, how in the Empire did you manage to get that? Is that the school flag from the roof?

Yes Major. We accept your appreciation for a mission successfully completed. Thank you for this opportunity Major. Nico and Max say in unison.

Its almost noon before the school understands what happened, the splice in the camera footage was so smooth they almost missed the hack. But in their review of the patrol mech footage, they saw the parked student Line Mecha rushing to the school as if to help and it all fell into place from there.

That operation is beautiful. Whoever it is runs the machine as well as any student in the school. One of the senior class supervisors sighs.

Shouldnt it be a first year student? How would they even manage it? Its a trainer Line Mech, all physical controls, its not set up with a neural link.

Id like to meet the first year that can even reach the foot controls from the chair. Could they have done it while standing up? Colonel Black sighs..

But I can guarantee I know who it was. Cadet Nico, the hacker. Clearly theres more to her skill than just hacking the cockpit locks, and the schools cameras.

I believe the raid on the dorms was all Cadet Max though. Unless weve overlooked another student with talent, it should be that Max was the one who opened the lockers. An observer points out.

By reading minds to get the override code when dorm inspections are being done? Thats a possibility as well. Colonel Black agrees.

All day long the students of class 2 sulk about getting caught, claiming that class 1 set them up and tipped off the teachers.

The Academy doesnt tolerate failure, so theyre all on extended hours this week, and a modified cafeteria menu, with all the lowest requested options. Max winces at the thought that such misfortune might have been their fate, had they been caught. Nothing but the most bland of recombined protein products, with a side of that strange soup that smells like old socks.

Theyve made it through the most restricted period of their education now though, and the luxuries and digital devices they brought from home are being returned to them, with the requirement that it not interfere with their school work.

This too is a test, to see if they can stay focused under temptation, but all content that wasnt educational or school approved had been removed from their devices, and access to the open Data Net is strictly unavailable.

Thats not going to stop everyone though, especially a pair of hackers who are much too advanced in their schoolwork. Nico brought two full VR headsets with her, in case one broke. Packed full of her clothing, they took almost no additional room in her pack, and Max is incredibly grateful that she brought the extra.

An Academy Internal Network only, military approved version is available from the Commissary for 60 standard credits, and comes loaded with school work approved for their class level, but neither of them is willing to spend that much. In fact, theyve spent nothing at all except for the first round of essentials. Max isnt sure what theyre saving for, but the First Year Class is so restricted that anything they could get would be a waste of money.

With some careful hacking and borrowed knowledge, Nico and Max managed to obtain a VR simulator program for the Crusader Class Giant Mecha that is intended as a reward for top performing Senior Class students.

It took a little tweaking of their headsets user detection to adjust their body sizes in game to be able to work the Mecha, but theyve got it functioning correctly now and its saved as a physics learning program in their VR units.

VR gaming is a popular pastime for students, but their access is strictly controlled, only approved and class appropriate learning materials are permitted to enter the school, and no outside network access is allowed at all. Still, its better than most of the options they have, especially for the Upper Classmen, who are already learning piloting and repair courses, and as such get access to related content.

Should we reprimand the two first years and confiscate the contraband program now, or wait to see what they do with it? The digital security officer asks Colonel Black after his weekly audit of the students network access, impressed the Cadets managed to get through his security and gain access to the program at all.

Wait until the winter break is over and then delete it. Officially it never existed on their headsets, but bring me a copy of their mission scores.

Colonel Black would never let a true talent be wasted with black marks on their record. Plus, it was from the academy, so theyre not accessing anything that the military would criticize him personally for allowing them access to. If he thinks of it as an advanced class, he can pretend there is nothing at all strange about his actions and even defend himself from accusations, should his superiors within the education Ministry object.

After the class challenge, the actual classes start to get more enjoyable, but the rate at which Max is getting gains from the system has fallen off dramatically. He had gotten two or more every day before that, but now that hes near fifty points, its getting harder. Today his entire routine only gave one Strength upgrade.

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

[STR] +30%

[DEX] +6%

[SPD] +6%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

Hes so close to hitting that magical fifty bonus points that he can hardly contain himself. The prospect of being as strong as a full grown adult is irresistible to him. Only a few more upgrades and he will be at the yearly goal, not even a month into his first semester.

Major Payne has been busy with the other students, getting them motivated and progressing towards their goals, so she hasnt taken the time lately to see how the two star pupils are progressing.

She checks in on their routine daily, giving tips and making sure theyre balancing their workouts, so theyre not going to be suffering from any lingering muscle pains, strains or long term fatigue, but she hasnt used her skill to see just what the results might be.