Road Of Advancement

With all the build-up anger and resentment from getting mentally tormented by drill-sergeant Kurys, Theo managed to improve his time in his second l.a.p, shaving several minutes off.

Kruys, however, was not impressed!

"YOU PANSY, YOU'RE NEVER GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS SHODDY PERFORMANCE! MOVE THOSE ARMS! MOVE THOSE LEGS! DON'T SLOW DOWN FOR THOSE OBSTACLES! RAISE THOSE LEGS HIGHER! .. .."

The insults on his disability to move fluidly and balanced combined with insults over how pathetic he was completely infuriated Theodore. He, however, bit his lip and continued to run even as his lungs were burning and his face was turning tomato-red. If he couldn't even stick it out for a single lesson with the sergeant, he wouldn't be able to look himself in the eyes! His pride and ego didn't allow him to quit!

So for better or worse, Theodore pushed through! Cursing the drill sergeant in his mind and directed his rage on the obstacle course.

'Users emotions are very unstable. Users energy levels are quickly getting depleted. It is advised to take a break from physical exercise and take in nourishment.' Summit reported as he detected unusual fluctuations in Theodores' mental wellbeing.

'CAN'T YOU BE USEFUL! YOUR SOME HIGH TECH AI BUT YOU DONT HELP NOW, DO YOU!?' Theodore exploded in his mind.

The monotonously AI voice set off Theodore's rage. He suddenly realised that, though he couldn't shoot his mouth off to drill sergeant Kruys, his bio-AI Summit was an easy victim to direct his rage to! The poor AI never knew what he had set upon him by fulfilling his duty! He was now getting mentally abused by his host! But what could it do!? In AI terms he was still a young fledgeling. In the end, a somewhat distraught AI voice sounded in Theodore's mind.

'Host is advised to take a rest! The host has abnormal reactions to a status report, possibly to do dehydration and fatigue!. Logging the event for further analyzing. '

'IM AWARE CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! BE USEFUL OR BE QUIET' Theodore once more lashed out.

'User request help. Analyzing recent logs. Analyzing finished. Based on available sourced a prognosis has been made.'

'The user seems stressed due to being unable to fulfil the requirements of his superior. User is currently incapable of performing the said task to satisfaction. Possible emotional volatility due to users expectation of himself and the pressure to perform to satisfaction to his family.'

'Analyzing task. Finished analyzing task. There are thirteen obstacles. The course runs five kilometres long. Set goal: 20 minutes. The average speed must be fifteen kilometres an hour in order to complete the task. The host is currently unable to physically perform the task.'

'User has untapped potential. User has undergone special optimized gene treatment. Requesting permission to hasten the integration of said gene optimization? Chance of failing is 5% Chance of negative backlash is 0.2%. By hastening the process, the users' stats will be drastically upgraded. Chances of successfully completing task rise with 12%! '

Though Theodore had set his mind upon ignoring the rambling of the AI, certain key-words quickly drew his interest!

'Untapped potential? Hastening the proves? Drastically upgraded stats? THIS THING LOGS MY STATS!? YES, PLEASE!'

'Starting the implementation process. Using the most optimal integration course. Logging process.'

Theo kept running throughout the entire scene. However, he was lucky he wasn't facing the sergeant as he would've been labelled a mad man as he runs with a huge smile with veins popping out on his arms, legs, neck and forehead! He could feel new energy coursing through his body, he could feel his body strengthening with every step. He couldn't help but smile!

'Proces underway. Successful integration of genetic treatment 2%...5%...12%...18%...34%'

'The suggested hastening of integration of the gene optimization has been successful. However, the process has been halted due to the user running dangerously low on energy.'

'Recalculating chances of successfully completing the task within the time limit...'

'Calculated chances of success are 2%.'

'Host will faint due to running low on nutrients and expanding them quickly during the process of hastening.'

'WHAT!?' Theodore quickly realised that the earlier feeling of power and energy quickly faded and was replaced with the feeling of his muscles aching.

'BUT I CAN SEE THE FINISH! I CAN MAKE IT. YOU STUPID..."

Before he could even insult the intelligence of his AI Theodore fell to the ground as he blacked out.

However, with his momentum due to his euphoric sprint, he managed to land his face just over the finish line. Next to the finish line, a surprised drill sergeant looked at the mess that his pupil was as he noted down the last l.a.p time of Theodore: 19 minutes and 59 seconds. Theodore had succeeded!

'SPLASH' - A bucket of water was dropped on Theo's face.

"Quit wasting your time on the ground cadet. Time is everything in these few months. " Kruys Sternly said to Theodore who awoke from the cold water on his face. Even though his voice was serious, his face was relaxed as he smiled looking at Theodore's bewildered face.

Theodore quickly figured out what happened, everyone could do the math. You pass out and your rudely woken up by a splash of water. The evil-doer was naturally his grumpy drill-sergeant. This once again pissed Theodore off. However, he noticed that on the scoreboard next to the course a had time was written.

DAY 1 - 19.59

This simple fact made Theodore inexplicably happy. He even forgot about the bucket of water as he smugly celebrated his victory over the sergeant in his mind!

'THAT'S IT, BABY. v YOU SET A RIDICULOUS GOAL YOU THOUGHy I COULDNT MAKE, HUH. ILL BEAT IT. HAHA' Theodore spewed his victory lines in his mind.

'Detected signs of mental instability. Host seems to suffer from psychological issues. Host is advised to seek treatment from a specialised psychiatrist.'

'Ahh shut it, you really can ruin anyone's party.'

'Hosts' disappointment detected. Logging for further analyzing.'

' Yeah, yeah. Keep logging until you have a palatable personality, you stupid AI.'

'Hosts advise has been logged and will be studied.'

This time Theodore was stumped. Though this AI was pretty stupid. It did help him with the process of hastening the integration of his gene treatment. Since it was stupid, yet surprisingly capable of amazing feats, would this AI ever develop a personality?

'This AI having a personality is just ludicrous. I must be going crazy from a nutrient deficiency with these thoughts floating through my brain.'

"Well, since you made it, you earned your breakfast. We have about thirty minutes left of the lesson. You'll have to stick it out till then. Now sit down and listen to me. We will discuss what we will be working on for the next three and a half month."

"Your balance sucks."

"Your stamina is barely average for your age."

"Your possess no idea how to apply force."

"Your strength is abysmal."

"You are slow."

Every remark slowly destroyed Theodores newfound confidence. He thought completing the course in time would at least slightly impress the sergeant. He now found he was incompetent, or at least inadequate. However, so he told himself, he was being compared to former super-star-soldiers! There's no shame in losing out to the military stars on the front! He was more of a brains type of guy anyways!

"But, you do have character, kid. No one is born a soldier! No one is born like a man of steel! Your body can be build up! We can train strength, we can train endurance, we can everything! But the character, kid, that's innate! A kitten will never be a tiger! Even if the kitten pretends to be a tiger, a predator will sniff it out! You have character, never forget that Cadet!"

"Right, that's the attitude kid. Don't look down on yourself. If you look down on yourself, others will definitely look down on you! You're now my cadet, I've never trained average people!" He nodded in satisfaction as Theodore lifted his drooping face and acknowledged his words.

"There's much to work on. But that's what I signed up for. This is your starting point. From now on, you better improve this score on the course every day! As it stands now, you're barely average. Don't even think of competing with the star recruits of KMU, you'd be lucky to even complete their tests." Kruys stated bluntly.

Theodore registered the harsh words of his teacher, he first wanted to rebut the sergeant but quickly swallowed his words. He was also very dissatisfied with his performance! Did he not promise himself to live the greatest life! Then he must work! Work until he was better than everyone else!

A fire was lit inside Theodore as his motivation had been rekindled. Reminding himself of his life mission instantly motivated him. Average was nog good enough! He would literally be shooting for the stars!

Even Kruys was taken aback for a second seeing the intense countenance of Theodore. He quickly composed himself, however. He had seen plenty, an intense face wouldn't normally disturb his calm. However, he recognised these intense eyes. The eyes of a predator. The same eyes of Theodore's father... The likeliness was uncanny. For a second he thought to see the large shadow of the person whose glory in the military was widespread.

Kruys shrugged and coughed';

"Since there is just half an hour left, and you're fatigued, I'll quickly explain the military differences between Regus Army and the Keppler Alliance forces.

"Regus fields four distinct corps; The Royal Space fleet, The Royal Defence Army and The Royal Intelligence Agency and the Noble's Army. As you can hear by their common theme, the first three are all fighting under the royal banner of the Regus family.

However, the fourth is a corps under the direct command of the noble families. This corps however only exists during wartime. In peacetime, this corps is dissolved into the private armies of the nobles. Under the "Law of Unification," the nobles are obliged to support the defence of the planet with their private forces. The Regus family, however, cannot wrest away control of these private armies from the nobles as they' would never support the Royal family in this.

Therefore, whenever they're expected to help support the kingdoms army, they are unified in a fourth corps. They've also become very active during wartime in assaulting the Keppler alliance. The quickest way to promote as a noble is to gain stellar military exploits. These greedy fools, therefore, throw their troops in the fray even if they're far inferior to the real deal." Kruys said with great familiarity to the subject. He knew the military inside out and it showed.

"Though I make the nobles army out to be a bunch of morons, there are some private armies that kan actually compete with the Royal Army and Keppler's forces. Most notably are the forces of several dukes. There are two large groups of nobles that are always opposing each other, so it's no secret they also compete with each other in military prowess."

"The first group is helmed by duke Archibald Walter. He's a shrewd and competent duke. He's also an asshole but that's a personal matter. As for his forces, they're very competent! He has two full space divisions and a single landbound division. Each division has roughly ten to sixteen thousand active military personnel to it, including logistical personnel. This in itself makes him the duke with the largest force."

"The second group is helmed by Dwight Hightower senior. He's fairly aged and his experience is definitely showing. He is great with keeping relations and has shown that he has a brilliant strategic mind. Due to his frequent contributions to the army, he also holds a close relationship with the king.

Like duke Walter, he also fields three divisions. However, he has chosen quality over quantity as each division fields only 7 to 8 thousand personnel."

"Then there are the Royal Corps. The Royal Space Fleet has roughly sixty thousand men in it. They are divided into four divisions. The Royal Defence army has roughly thirty thousand personnel divided into two divisions. Lastly, there's the Royal Intelligence Agency. They're rumoured to have only several thousand capable hands. They're effectively working alongside the other two corps."

"Then there's the Keppler army. They have one centralized command. They only have two divisions; Keppler Space Army and the Keppler Planterary guard. They're estimated to have roughly two hundred thousand personnel. Though they have more men serving the army, they're weaker overall.

"Regus has firmly invested in top tier quality. Any spaceship they field is a class or even two better than what Keppler can field. However, the powers have been balanced as a victory would leave either of the states crippled and easy prey for other parties that intend to benefit. It's a classic battle of quality and quantity."

"Keppler has a bigger populace and can, therefore, recruit more people into their armed forces. However, the amount of potentates stays limited. Next to that, fielding a large force also exhausts resources and definitely strains the economy. Regus has significant less populace and therefore also less potentates. However, with power firmly in the hand of the Regus family, they have been able to invest in quality equipment. It also helps they have more natural resources than the Keppler alliance."

"Funnily both have adopted universal ranks for their corps. This is possibly due to the influence of KMU. KMU also ranks its students in the universal military ranks. If you graduate a sergeant First class, for example, you will drop a single rank when entering Regus army."

"The ranks are simple; you start off as Officer Cadet and promote to second-lieutenant. You will then rank up the ladder as First-lieutenant and then captain. The command chain after this is ranked as followed; Major or commandant, Lieutenant colonel, Brigadier General, major sergeant, lieutenant general, general and lastly general of the army.

"For the space fleet, this would be Ensign, lieutenant junior, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, captain, commodore admiral, rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral and then lastly the Fleet Admiral."

"Now go get yourself breakfast, cadet. You are never to be late for an appointment. Dismissed." The drill sergeant said with an almost sore throat. All the screaming followed by this lengthy explanation had made his throat sore.