Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 59: Packing Bags

Salem whistled in awe at what she saw before her. "Are you sure this is the ship that will be transporting us?" She was talking about the brand new Onyx-class ship that was slowly floating toward her ship.

Onyx-class ships were mainly built for speed and transport and typically reserved for merchants and traders. Usually they are completely defenseless and require escorts. But this ship had weapons all along its hull. Near the front were two stationary cannons while all along the hull were weapons with ranges of motion. It seems someone made a military version of a vessel that is usually meant for transporting goods.

"Time passes quickly Cadets!" Her sergeant yelled making her presence known. "Or I guess I should call you former cadets." She spoke softer this time, it was the first time she spoke so softly to them. "It has been a whirlwind of a time having you kids around for these last few months."

"Awww- are you getting soft on us Sarge?" Ulin asked as she stretched.

"Yeah I am, but only because this is your last day here. Usually I would have given a speech and advice about your future. But I do not know some of your final destinations. What I do know is that all former cadets are going to Oculus Station to get sorted for training and assignments." The sergeant waved her in a dismissing motion. "Go grab your bags. A ship will be here to pick you up in a bit to take you to the Wing of Pegasus."

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"With this your promotional ceremony is complete." Major Mendez announced as the small crowd began clapping. It was contained within the small venue that was set up. Usually it would be done in a large and open setting like the ceremony that occurred when they arrived. But there have been issues around the base, to be fair. Over this last month and a week their engineers have been making leaps in advancement within the field of weaponry and spacecraft technology.

The engineers actually slowly began forming a makeshift lab. Then a week ago when all of Jace's projects were emptied out of his lab the engineers took it over. They had become quite well known for their state-of-the-art technology. Which especially caught the attention of the greedy nobles who were already flying around like flies because of the Victorium prisoners and technology.

"Now there is a week before most of your redeployments. I suggest you enjoy this time since Oculus Station has been designated as the gathering point for redeployment this year and it will get more and more busy as other military vessels arrive." Mendez began explaining to the former cadets.

"What about the nobles?" A former cadet from another squad asked, he was promoted to a private.

"That is why you will be moving in groups of at least three or more. It will also get you familiar with the people you are going to your next assignment with. Good luck!" Then as the newly promoted cadets were shuffling out the Major called out to them, "Sergeant Jace Steel and Private Freya Charlie, from what I understand Jace still has to finish working on Mrs. Romav's mecha, so I have a feeling you will be stuck at the military docks. Coincidently the majority of my crew is becoming permanently posted at this base but Captain Cornwall is being given command of the ship that will be picking you up."

"Sir?" Charlie asked, impatient to get her bags packed.

"Basically, the ship arrives in a few hours and you will both be going on board immediately to drop off your gear since the Desert Dogs and Sergeant Kalil's new unnamed squad will make it their home."

"He means we will not be getting any time off. But I only need like a day to finish what is needed for the mecha so can I head out later tonight instead or tomorrow morning if possible?" Jace offhandedly explained while asking for permission.

"Fine, just give Charlie your personal items to bring to the new ship and I will have a transport scheduled to leave around midnight." Mendez answered, "honestly I am just glad I don't have a cursed cadet like you under my command anymore." Then he walked out of the auditorium with Charlie and Steel in tow. Then he veered off and climbed into a vehicle that was waiting for him.

"Let's go to the barracks then I want to see this mecha you have been working on." Charlie told him, "I heard from the mercenary pilots and engineers that have seen it say 'it is a whole new machine' and that there are only a few minor things you are fixing on it now."

"There is nothing minor about connecting the optical systems to the mecha's cabin. In fact I would say it is one of the major systems considering it is necessary for operations." Steel chuckled as he moved to the barracks where Charlie's personal possessions are likely located.

Jace had been staying on Elena's newly refurbished spaceship in the military dockyard since his lab had been packed up. These last few weeks he had been frantically putting the final touches on Elena's mother's mecha. It had taken a lot longer than he thought to make the pieces of technology that could operate with the mecha's original system.

He was actually struggling with the mechanical aspect of the mecha rather than the programming aspect. Even when his arm had fully healed he was still having difficulties. While on the programming side he was learning so much from the dormant programs that helped the skeletal frame function he figured this mecha was built to have an AI assist in the operation.

"Don't you just have to connect some wires into some ports?" Freya asked as they walked through the base. The activity on base was actually calmer then it was on the rest of the station.

"No, there are multiple optical options for mecha. Astella Romav's Astarte has both the original cabin display screens. Then it also has a piece of eyewear that lets her see through the mecha's main optics unit." Jace explained as he pulled on the cap of his uniform now that they were outside.

"What use is that?" Freya asked, genuinely curious.

Jace waved at the garage lab where some engineers were waving at him from. He was well liked by most of his former crewmates. "It is for a full immersion system, it is sometimes used in mechs. Basically they are able to move the mech like it is their own body in combat."

"Full immersion? We use something similar for replacement limbs but in reverse. Wouldn't that require an organic component interface?" Freya asked him, bringing up her own growing specialty in biotechnology as they arrived at the former Desert Dog barracks.

It seemed the Desert Dogs had already received their orders as they were packing everything up. "Actually it does not since Astella has cybernetic components in her nervous system. Most mecha pilots in other nations have a surgery in order to operate with full immersion systems."

"Most?" Freya asked as she began packing her bunk. freewebnσvel.cøm

"What are you two talking about?" Tani asked as she was standing in her everyday camo uniform as opposed to Freya and Jace's ceremonial uniforms.

"Immersion systems in mecha. Some countries specifically ban full immersion while other nations have nano humans who can do full immersion without cybernetic parts because of the nano system." Jace quickly answered Tani's question as he remembered to remove his hat.

Tani whistled, "have you got to immersion percentages?"

"No, I figured biotech had their own version so I was not going to bring it up." Jace knew next to nothing about biotech and cybernetics. The little bit he did know was researched while making the mecha's cabin.

"Ehh…" Tani shook her head, "they have compatibility percentages which are similar but different in the actual definition to immersion percentages." As the Desert Dogs began leaving the barracks Tani began following behind them. "But they are basically the same thing. The ability to use a mechanical component as an extension of the body. The higher the percentage, the greater the control. For both versions at the fifty percent point the cybernetic component or mecha will act the same as a normal limb while anything above the halfway marker will result in damage to the mind or body."

"Oh, I think I understand." Freya nodded in understanding as she boarded the bus that had parked out front of the barracks. It was not there when they entered the barracks but had likely pulled up while they were inside. It had come to bring them to the military dockyards where they would then be waiting for a transport off the station.

"Hey are you still working on that mecha?" Private Rai, a new member of the Desert Dogs asked. Jace had worked with them loosely but never really had a lot of down time and bonding time with the new Desert Dogs squad.

"Yeah, that is actually what brought up this conversation in the first place." Jace explained as he walked through the bus aisle and sat down next to Freya.

"Well from what I understand you have at least a few days to complete it before all the former cadets have their confirmed duty station." Tani declared as she relaxed in her seat. The bus began moving to the next set of barracks to pick up Kalil's group.

"Actually we are going with you. The Desert Dogs and Captain Cornwall will be dropping us off at our training location for Special Operations. Those are the orders we received." Freya explained.

"What about Steel's mecha thing?" Tani asked.

"I got permission to take the rest of the day to finish my work on the mecha." Jace answered, "why don't you come take a look at it. Apparently all Crusader-class mechs and above are rare to see."