“Settle down and listen up!” a man shouted from the stage later that sol. “If you’re not here for in processing and orientation, you have ten seconds to exit my auditorium. This includes parents, guards, and servants. Your ten seconds starts now.”
Guess that’s one way of clearing out anybody that’s not a new student, Mac thought. He looked around. People hadn’t moved and security entered the auditorium.
Mac got excited for a second. Are those droids? He took another look at the closest security guard and sighed in disappointment.
I doubt it since they don’t have synthetic skin even though they’re humanoid. Then again, maybe they’re just basic androids since they are humanoid. But everything I read and have been told is that droids have synthetic skin and a few small differences so people can tell them apart from real humans. I wonder if I could ask someone since I’ve never seen an android in person.
“Move it!” the man bellowed, pulling Mckenzie from his thoughts. About a third of the crowd exited the room after some complaints and gentle attention from the security forces.
After the room settled a few minutes later, the man on the stage spoke again.
“I am Captain Thaddeus Mahoney,” the man announced by way of introduction. “I oversee security here at Titan Custer Academy. Keep your eyes front and we’ll make sure you are who you’re supposed to be.”
Mac and what he assumed was the other new students stared toward the stage.
“Alright. You’re all who you’re supposed to be based off retina scan,” the captain said. “We’ll do saliva swabs later.”
Most of the crowd laughed. I don’t think he’s joking, Mac thought. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the young woman next to him not laughing either.
“Listen up!” Mahoney ordered. “I’m going to go over a few rules and safety regulations. Then Commandant Harris will give you the rest of your orientation. We’re going to start with a video.”
People groaned as the lights dimmed and the large screen behind the captain lit up. A video started playing.
“I bet this is just the normal safety BS,” the woman beside Mckenzie said. “Don’t rape your classmates, don’t steal from them, don’t kill them, and if you do, don’t get caught.”
A few people around them laughed, including Mac. He took a better look at the woman. She had short black hair, brown eyes, full lips, and caramel colored skin.
She’s pretty, Mac thought.
“Like what you see?” the woman whispered. She was grinning at him.
“Yeah,” Mac answered. We’re not the only ones talking in whispers and hushed tones. Seems the captain doesn’t care either.
“That makes two of us,” the woman said. “I’m Marion Hooks.”
“Mckenzie Edwards,” Mac replied. “Friends call me Mac.”
“Is that what we are?” Marion asked teasingly.
“I’d like to be,” Mac replied with a shrug of his shoulders. He then laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Marion asked.
“Fraternization is allowed?” Mac asked in reply, pointing at the screen.
“And encouraged in some instances,” the guy on the other side of Marion answered. “It’s how partnerships are often formed.”
“Figures,” Marion muttered. Mac agreed.
“I’m Scott Copeland,” the guy said, introducing himself. Marion and Mac introduced themselves. The three fell silent as the video continued.
*
Mac almost jumped out of his skin after Marion poked him in the ribs. “What?”
“You were almost asleep,” she answered in a whisper.
“I wasn’t,” Mac objected. But I am a little bit bored. It seems Captain Morgan was correct. So, I’ll follow her advice and get an older ship and the researcher implant.
“So was Scott,” Marion said. “Have you two heard all this before?”
“My family has been coming to TCA for a couple of generations now,” Scott said. “I won’t have the debt Harris is talking about nor will I start with a sloop. Most likely I’ll get at least a ketch or a cutter to begin with, though I’d prefer a schooner or corvette.”
Must be nice, Mac thought. “The captain of the ship that brought me here warned me a little.”
The commandant droned on talking about the different avenues for them at the academy as well as different ships. He also went on about the expectations the students were expected to meet as well as the life experiences they should enjoy at TCA.
“Now, let’s talk about levels and your debts,” Mac heard the commandant say. That made him start paying attention.
7
“Everyone starts at level one with a sloop unless you accept a sponsorship, employment, or form a partnership as I previously stated,” Commandant Harris said. “Even if you don’t go it alone, which most don’t and neither will most of you, you’ll still start at level one.”
What the heck is he talking about? People don’t have levels, Mac thought.
“I see the confusion on most of your faces,” Commandant Harris said. “I’m sure most of you are thinking the old man is crazy and that people don’t have levels.”
There was a smattering of laughter at that comment. Harris even chuckled himself.
“I’m not senile yet,” the commandant assured his audience. More laughter. “Your ship or more specifically, your ship’s artificial intelligence gains levels. And I’m sure you’re wondering how they do that.”
You could say that again, Mckenzie thought. Glancing around, he noticed most others were probably thinking the same thing. It must be some kind of experience-based system, doesn’t it?
“Most of you are thinking your future AI will gain levels through your experiences together. And while that’s a good guess, you’re wrong,” the commandant said. “Your AI’s level is unlocked through your earnings.”
The gathered students exploded at that statement.
*
“Settle down and I’ll explain how the system works,” Commandant Harris said, waving his hands in a placating manner. Captain Mahoney added his voice to the commandant’s. Eventually, the crowd calmed down. Harris joked, “This is one reason you have to sign ironclad nondisclosure agreements to enter any academy.”
“That’s not a joke, is it?” Mac asked aloud.
“Nope,” Scott answered.
“Suddenly, I’m glad I’m open to all possibilities,” Marion chimed in. Others nodded and agreed with her.
“To start, everyone will buy an Iwatani ShipWorks Yellowjacket class sloop,” Commandant Harris stated once the students had fallen silent and were paying attention again. “This is of course barring those in partnerships that buy a larger craft, gain employment, or gain a sponsorship. Yellowjackets are valued at 100 million credits, so with the costs of education, uniforms, implants, room, and board, your initial debt will be 250 million credits once you graduate.”
There was another outburst at that reveal. Mac groaned. I think I’ve made a huge mistake coming here. He saw others, including Marion, looked to be thinking the same thing. Others, like Scott, looked smug and not surprised at all.
“Here is a list of level one Yellowjacket features,” the commandant said above the noise. Mac saw the following on the screen.
Level 1 Ship Features
- Medkit- Nanite injectors for pain killers, wound closure, and blood clotting. Also contains bandages and gauze.
- Crash Couch- The pilot’s chair. Can recline for sleep.
- Head- Bathroom complete with two-minute sonic shower.
- Mark 1 Laser Cannon- Weak laser. Used to damage ships and other obstacles. Can be used to breakup asteroids for mining.
- Mark 1 Sensor Suite- Basic sensors. Can detect nearby ships and other objects.
- Mark 1 Shield Generator- Weak shields. Can withstand up to ten laser blasts, or two missiles, or three ion blasts from small ships.
- Half pallet of nutrition bars and protein shakes. Should last the pilot one month.
“What’s not listed is the cargo hold,” the commandant stated. “The hold is small and will only hold 20 metric tons of cargo. That may seem like a lot, but believe me, it’s not.”
“That’s it?” Marion muttered.
“Yep,” Scott answered. “Yellowjackets are the standard sloop you’ll see here in the home system, but they’re widely considered junk elsewhere as are the other Iwatani ShipWorks vessels.”
Ugh. Captain Morgan’s advice is looking better and better, Mac thought. Despite the costs, I think I still want to follow my dreams.
“It used to be that graduates had to pay off their initial debt before advancing to level two,” Harris said. “But we’re not that cruel these sols, so a graduate is given a decade to pay off their debt.”
“But what about level advancement?” someone near the back shouted.
“That’s easy. For example, earn a million credits to advance to level two,” the commandant answered. “From there, each level requirement matches the level. So, level three requires three million credits, so fourth and so on.”
The students erupted again.
“This really sucks,” Marion said.
“Yeah,” Mac agreed.
“It’s not that bad,” Scott countered. “Credits are easy to come by once you’re out there. Come across a bunch of pirates, kill them all, claim their ships, and the bounties along with the ships themselves will earn you millions. Heck, doing a little privateering on behalf of a company will net you millions though you’ll have to split the loot with the company.”
“Others will call you a pirate if you do any privateering,” Mac pointed out.
“It’s all about your perspective and what system you’re in,” another girl retorted.
“Here are some examples of level two ship upgrades,” Commandant Harris announced.
Level 2 Upgrades
- Mark 1 Galley- Low end consumer level cooking appliances, small dry goods pantry, freezer space for one month’s frozen food, and chiller space for one week’s worth of food. Also includes a kitchen table and two chairs. Food sold separately.
- Officer Cabin- Standard bunk, five-minute water shower, and sanitization unit(washer/dryer).
- Medical Pod- Can diagnose what ails you. Can repair major and minor injuries and wounds. Can apply medicine for known common ailments such as fever and colds. Also, can apply stasis nanites to ensure life until the patient can be transported to a medical facility if the patient’s condition exceeds the unit’s capabilities.
- Crash Pod- The proverbial lifeboat. This pod will keep the occupant alive for two weeks in the event of catastrophic craft failure.
- Anti-Gravity Generator- Provides artificial gravity.
“As you can see, most are geared toward quality-of-life improvements since you’ll be spending a lot of time aboard your ship,” the commandant said. Some people laughed. “Don’t discount the galley or an actual shower with hot and cold water. You’ll come to hate ration bars, protein shakes, and sonic showers.”
“That I can agree with,” Marion said. “Good food can go a long way when it comes to morale.”
“Indeed,” Scott agreed. He eyed her up and down as best he could since they were sitting. “My ship will have a galley and cook from the start. Want to join my crew?”
I should warn her against it, Mac considered. Then again, I don’t know Marion and she’s an adult. Her choice is her own.
“Maybe,” Marion answered. “I’m going to explore my options before making any commitments though.”
She’s eyeing him up just like she did me, Mac thought. Oh well, at least she’s smart enough not to commit to anything yet.
“As I previously stated, sponsorships, partnerships, and employment change things except for upgrades,” Harris stated. “Except for name, those are standard upgrade types regardless of ship manufacturer and the system the ship comes from. That last bit is for those of you wondering about purchasing ships from outside of our star system.
“All this information is available on the academy network and in your welcome packets, which we’re sending to your tablets and implants, if you have them, now. We’re also sending you your room assignments, a campus map, and some other needed information including cafeteria mealtimes,” Commandant Harris advised the students. “Take the rest of the sol to find your rooms, read up on things, and get to know each other. Solmorrow, those of you that need them, will meet with our medical staff to discuss implants and set up installation times. Welcome to Titan Custer Academy.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
8
It's not much to look at and not even half the size of my room back home, Mckenzie thought as he looked around his small, spartan room on the fifth floor. Too bad there’s no windows. A view would be nice and make the place seem larger too.
The walls, floor, and ceiling were metal and not painted, so were gunmetal gray in color. There was a small bed or bunk with built in drawers, a tiny desk and chair, and a closet which contained a sanitation unit.
Seems we’re expected to do our own laundry. That’s not a problem for me since I did laundry as a chore sometimes on the farm. That sanitation unit even looks like the one back home.
According to the welcome packet, there were communal co-ed restrooms and showers on each floor of the barracks building. Sharing showers and toilets with everyone on this floor is going to be interesting, Mac thought.
According to the packet this room is supposed to be the size of an officer cabin on a Yellowjacket minus the private head. Guess they want us to get used to the size, so we won’t miss anything larger when we’re aboard our ships.
Mac noticed there were no sheets on the bed. He checked the drawers under the bunk and didn’t find any. He checked the closet and found two sets of sheets along with three pairs of towels and washcloths.
This is worse than what we had at home! Mac thought as he checked the material of the sheets and towels between his fingers. I bet we can get better if we’re willing to pay for it.
He pulled a set of the sheets out and tossed them on his bunk. Mac then pulled out his tablet and checked the welcome packet. Sure enough, higher quality bedding, cleaning supplies, and even a servant were available if one was willing to pay for them or have the cost added to their debts.
Ugh. The cafeteria food is included in our fees but it’s frozen and canned. The only way to get fresh fruits, vegetables, and real meat is if you pay extra for it. Titan Custer is really profiting off their academy, that’s for sure.
Mac shook his head and placed his tablet on the desk. He took a few minutes to make his bunk. While not up to what mom and dad said were military standards, this will at least meet mom’s, Mac mused.
“Knock, knock neighbor,” Mac heard a voice call out from the other side of the door along with knocking on the door. He opened it.
“Marion?”
“Hey Mckenzie. I’m across the hall and was looking to see who else was on this floor,” Marion said. She peeked around him. “These rooms aren’t much to look at, but at least you’ve made your bunk up already.”
“Haven’t gotten that far yet?” Mac asked.
“Nope. Been visiting and reading,” Marion answered with a shake of her head. “I’ve been told Scott, and the other wealthy students occupy the bottom two floors. They get larger rooms and private bathrooms too.”
“Must be nice,” Mac muttered.
“Yep. Do you believe they charge if you want paint on the walls?”
“For real?” That doesn’t surprise me. Seems TCA is out to nickel and dime us to death.
“Yes!” Marion replied. “Anyway, a few of us are meeting in the common room to get to know each other and start discussing out options. Want to come?”
“Not right now,” Mac answered. “I want to investigate the implants and do some research. There’s got to be some way to get ahead other than becoming one of the elite’s playthings or paying off massive debt for the rest of my life.”
Marion laughed. “If you figure that out let me know.”
She’s got a nice laugh, Mac thought. “I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Fair enough. Don’t be a stranger, alright?”
“Alright,” Mac replied. He watched her walk away. She’s got a nice walk too. He shook his head and shut his door. He really had some research to do.
*
Seems Biodyne makes the best implants, but I can’t afford them. Titan Custer makes some decent implants according to these reviews, but they also make cheap basic models, which is most likely what we’ll get stuck with while TC charges us an arm and a leg for them. Mac scratched his nose. I need to focus on the researcher models like Captain Morgan told me because I don’t care about all the entertainment and VR stuff.
He dove back into his search. He found some promising reviews that seemed to be from real people since they included titles and names that were easily researched and verified.
Biodyne tops the list here too. Biobatum Corp is the runner up for researcher model implants and third place goes to MMI Technology. Though a lot of these academic types also recommend a small company out of Proxima Centauri called 4dFX since their price vs performance is more than reasonable and their quality is on par with Biobatum and MMI.
Mac hit up the academy’s medical department for an appointment to talk with someone to talk about a researcher’s implant. The helpdesk AI replied with the names of two clinics, Palantir Labs and DynaPath Medical. The academy had authorized and contracted with both to do procedures on students.
Both clinics belong to TC or are run by families of TC executives, Mac mused after looking them up. That doesn’t surprise me one bit.
He shrugged and contacted Palantir Labs. The AI informed him that it would be a week before he could be seen for a consultation.
Yeah, that’s not going to work for me, Mac thought. He sent that information to the AI. It replied that it was sorry and would be happy to schedule an appointment for a week anyway.
I don’t think so, Mac decided. He contacted DynaPath Medical. The AI replied that he could have a consultation that afternoon if it was acceptable. Heck yeah, it is!
Mac sent the appointment information to the advisor AI. It authorized his appointment, giving him a pass to leave the campus.
9
“I’m Doctor Thomas Walden,” the doctor said, introducing himself. He was shorter than Mckenzie and skinny, almost rail thin in fact. The doctor’s long blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he wore glasses.
I bet he wears those for appearance sakes. I’ve never even heard of a person with less than perfect eyesight no matter how poor they are, Mac thought. He shook Dr Walden’s hand and introduced himself. The doc’s handshake is firm, which is a bit surprising.
“Bodybuilder?” Walden asked as he led Mac into his office. “I’m a runner myself.” He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk as he sat in his chair. “Have a seat.”
“Uh no. I grew up on a Martian farm,” Mac replied. “There wasn’t any time for bodybuilding.”
“If you want to keep your size, you’ll have to start working out even with TCA’s fitness regimen,” the doctor said. “Nanites can only do so much. We still need to put in some of the work, especially when aboard ships. My advice is to get a gym for your vessel as soon as possible.”
“Thanks for the information and advice. I’ll do that,” Mac replied. More expense, but an obviously worthwhile investment.
“I won’t even charge the academy for that,” Walden laughed. “And you’re here to discuss researcher implants. Are you looking to get into the academic side of things instead of going on a ship?”
“No. A captain I know advised me that a researcher implant would be a better long-term choice than the standard implant,” Mac explained. “Considering the higher memory and faster processor, along with the galactic net connection and access to all the different academic databases, I think she was right.”
“That was good advice. Just remember, you’ll have to pay for GalNet access,” Doctor Walden said. “Do you know anything else about researcher implants?”
“Only that they have an assistant feature, but I couldn’t find a lot of information about what it does,” Mac answered.
“The assistant would be considered a dumb AI unlike a normal full artificial intelligence. It’ll keep your schedule up to date, sort your contacts, do research once you give it a query, and even take notes for you,” the doctor explained. “Just don’t expect to have conversations with it like a real AI or for the assistant to do your taxes.”
Mac laughed and then asked, “It’ll take notes?”
“Yes. Unlike most of your classmates, you won’t have to type on virtual keyboards or write out notes on virtual notepads. You’ll even be able to highlight certain notes the assistant takes for emphasis in real time with a thought. Just don’t go to sleep during class. TCA really frowns upon that.”
“So, what kind of price are we talking about?”
“A million credits.”
“Geez! I didn’t think it’d be that expensive,” Mac said. Walden shrugged. “The cost can be added to my academy debt?”
“Yes,” Dr Walden replied. “I might be able to offer you a deal though.”
“Oh?”
“Wait, we do still have that version five Scholar still in stock? I thought we had sent it back to the manufacturer,” the doctor said, almost to himself.
“Have what?” Mac asked.
“Sorry. Was talking to Sheryl, my implant’s AI,” Walden said, tapping his temple. “Sheryl is a full AI. In case you’re wondering, an implant with one of those would set you back five million credits and the academy wouldn’t pay for it.”
“What’s a Scholar?”
“A Scholar is 4dFX’s researcher implant. The version five we have in stock is two generations behind the current model, but it’s still far better than the low-end TC implant academy students get, which is at least four generations behind current models,” Dr Walden explained. “I remember getting this one for a cousin of mine since my old university chums said it was just as good as anything MMI had put out in years. But she decided nothing except a Biodyne Professor would do, so the clinic got stuck with it.”
“So, what sort of price are we talking?”
“Hmm… a half million,” the doctor said. “Wait. Sheryl tells me we also have the eye projectors and audio receiver for it, so that means a package deal. Let’s say 750 thousand credits. That includes installation, which I can do tosol. You’ll be stuck here overnight though so we can make sure there’s no issues.”
“What are eye projectors?” Mac asked. I’ve never heard of those before.
“Nanites that project information from your implant right onto your retina. Most people use contact lenses, so this is a nice upgrade,” the doctor explained. “We also guarantee our work for two years after installation. 4dFX has a five-year warranty on the implant, receiver, and projectors.”
“No offense, but this sounds too good to be true,” Mac pointed out.
“I can see that. But honestly, I want to recoup most of the money I spent on the equipment and get it out of our inventory so I can stop paying taxes on it.”
“You pay taxes?”
“Titan Custer owns Europa. TC calls them fees and they’re low, but everyone that lives and works here pays the corporation taxes. Every corporation will get you once you dock at their stations or on their planets and moons. If you establish a residence, you’ll pay even more,” Dr Walden answered. “So, what do you think? Want to take my offer?”
“I think the galaxy is an expensive place,” Mac answered. The doctor laughed. “But yes, I want this Scholar implant.”
“Fantastic! Let’s sign some paperwork and get you prepped for surgery.”
10
“Assistant, list my certifications and licenses,” Mac instructed his implant as he walked back into the barracks building just before 1330 the next sol. The assistant responded by showing him what he already knew.
Certifications:
- Small Engine and Reactor – Proves the technician or engineer is trained and qualified to perform maintenance on and upgrade small engines and reactors. This includes shuttles, sloops, ground vehicles, hovercraft, and farm and construction vehicles.
- Robot – Proves the technician or engineer is trained and qualified to perform maintenance on and upgrade various types of robots and androids.
Licenses:
- Shuttle – Proves the licensee is qualified to operate shuttle sized vessels. This license replaces those needed to operate Class C and B ground vehicles and hovercraft, and farm and construction equipment as well.
That’s freaky, but neat. I love how my file is already loaded too, Mac thought. I should give my assistant a name.
He blinked to clear the information away as the help files stated he could, only to run into the barracks’ wall.
“Son of a bit…” Mac exclaimed, biting off the profanity. He rubbed his nose and forehead while a few other students laughed at him as they passed by.
“You need to learn to use your implant before walking and using it, dumbass,” some guy called out to laughter from those walking with him.
“You’re a little late with that advice,” Mac replied, which made the others laugh even more as they walked away. What was so funny about what I said? He shook his head and made sure he wasn’t bleeding and nothing was broken. Mckenzie then walked into the barracks.
“Hi,” a feminine Spanish accented voice said. “You’re Mckenzie Edwards, right?”
“Yes,” Mac answered hesitantly. I don’t know her, but wow! She’s stunning. “Do we know each other?”
“No,” the girl replied. “I’m Carmen Perez and it’s nice to meet you.”
The last was said in a purr. Carmen stuck out a hand for him to shake while leaning forward. This gave Mac a clear view of her ample cleavage.
Carmen isn’t built like most of the other women here. With her shorter height and curves, she must be from earth, Mac thought. And that means she’s from an elite family and it’s possible her looks aren’t really those she was born with. Then again, it’s possible those are her natural looks, or her parents paid for her to have perfect genes. I’ve heard that’s possible, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.
“Really Carmen?” Scott Copeland said from Mac’s left. “You’re using your... assets like that?”
“I use everything I have to get what I want, Copeland. You know that as well as anyone,” Carmen retorted.
“And you want a poor Martian farm boy? Because that’s what Edwards is,” Scott said.
“I know exactly who Mckenzie Edwards is,” Carmen Perez replied, tapping her temple. “He’s a talented engineer that already has his bot and small engine certifications. And he has a shuttle license. He’s also the last of the dozen or so of our classmates with such qualifications that hasn’t been snatched up already.”
Oh, so that’s what this is about.
“Really?” Scott questioned. A few others that had been lounging around in the common room perked up at Carmen’s last statement. “Damn. I haven’t been moving fast enough.”
They’re headhunting and she somehow got my personal file, Mac thought. This kills whatever interest I have in her because she only wants what I can do for her, and I won’t be anybody’s plaything.
“It’s nice meeting you Carmen,” Mac said insincerely. “But I need to get to the cafeteria before they close the lunch service.”
“But…” Carmen started as Mac hurried past her and Scott.
Mac stopped just as the hallway started and faced the room. “In case anyone is wondering, I’m not interested in being on your crew or in your employment no matter who you or your families are or what kind of ship you’re getting or have. I’m also not interested in your family’s or corporation’s sponsorships either.”
He then turned and headed to the cafeteria. Hopefully, that puts a stop to any pursuit of me.
*
Mac sat at an empty table with his tray of food. Frozen crinkle cut fries aren’t my favorite, but they’ll do. I’m not so sure about this burger though. Even the bun looks like it was frozen and barely warmed up.
He took a bite of the burger and nearly spit it back out. This mess is barely warm and not tasty at all! I get that I’m late but come on. He sighed and finished chewing. Mac tried one of the fries. Lukewarm and soggy.
Mac took a sip of water. At least it was clean and cold. He then pulled up the elective listing.
I know they’re going to assign some basic courses like PE and small ship handling since this is our first semester, so there’s no need to look at anything other than the electives, Mac thought. If I remember correctly, we get two this semester.
He read the list while eating his sorry lunch. I’m really going to miss mom’s cooking. I can cook simple fare so maybe I should get a galley for my ship as soon as possible and take a cooking class.
“Mckenzie Edwards, I see you have accessed the elective course list,” A cultured English accented voice said.
What in the deep dark? Mac wondered. He looked around. Nobody was talking to him or even looking his way.
“Would you like to see your schedule so you can better choose your two electives?” the voice asked.
The voice is coming from my head! Mac mused. “Uh sure. Who are you?”
“I am Saagar, your AI advisor,” the voice answered.
“Oh. It’s nice to meet you, Saagar,” Mac said.
“Likewise,” the AI replied. “You should learn to subvocalize, so people don’t hear your side of a conversation.”
“I’ll try,” Mac said. A beep sounded. That’s the message notification. “Did you send me something?”
“Just some reading material to help you learn subvocalization,” Saagar answered.
“Oh. Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Saagar replied. “I am sending you your required course schedule as well.”
“PE three hours a sol three times a week in the mornings with weapons training the other two sols a week?” Mac asked after looking over the schedule. He took another bite of his burger.
“This is mandatory throughout your time here at TCA though the frequency and duration will reduce over your years here,” his advisor answered. “And since you have your shuttle pilot’s license, I can remove the small ship handling course. Yellowjackets handle similarly enough to the shuttles you learned on so this class will not benefit you as it would others. Your time and the instructors’ time would be better spent elsewhere.”
“Okay,” Mac said. “What about filling that slot with small ship repair?”
“Possible though you may not find that class fulfilling considering your background and certifications,” Saagar replied. “Perhaps… yes, I will send you a test. If you score 95 or better on this practice test, I will allow you to take the small ship repair certification test. This would allow you to bypass the course.”
“Sure, I can work on the engines and reactor, but I don’t know how to make other repairs on a sloop,” Mac protested. He ate some more of his rapidly cooling fries and drank some water.
“According to your record, you have repaired shuttles, farm equipment, and even done some light plumbing,” the AI countered. “Therefore, you can repair most issues you would encounter on a sloop. Besides, repair bots do most of the work even if you go independent, which you seem intent on doing.”
Seems the AI keeps an eye on us. Good to know.
“Alright. I’ll take your practice test,” Mac said. So much for a hopefully easy class. But Saagar makes an excellent point. “So, let’s talk about my other options.”
“Indeed,” Saagar agreed.