Interlude - Training Camp

Wing Commander Lourdan surveyed the group in front of him. Freshly arrived from a dozen different countries as well as orbital stations and in a couple of cases the private freight hauling companies dragging goods between stations outside of Earth orbit, they were a varied bunch. Drawing himself up to his full height he gave them a firm glare until the noise of chatter died down and then began to speak. “Ladies, Gentlemen and others. As of oh-eight-hundred this morning, you have officially become privates as part of Star Command Squadron One, or as the more humorous members of EarthGov have chosen to refer to us ‘Axworth’s Angels’. You are here because the General believes you are the best pilots humanity has produced, hand selected for his unit.”

As the recruits started to puff themselves up he put his hands down firmly on the podium he was stood behind. “But that will only be the case if you are able to complete the training course the General and I have assembled for you. For those of you with civilian backgrounds, this will test your determination and stamina. For those of you from a military or peacekeeping background, it will **** you to think on your feet and become adaptable. From this point onward be aware that there are no stupid questions - Axworth has insisted that his pilots be able to fully understand the reasons for everything. Yes, private?” That last remark directed to a tawny haired young man in the second row. Others turned to look as he drew himself to attention and asked “Is there a reason for this now sir? As far as anyone’s aware space is peaceful and now we’re training up combat wings?”

The wing commander smiled and nodded. “Good question private. The answer is officially no. However, Axworth’s family were in the Royal Airforce back virtually to it’s founding and then in the navy prior to that. And he tells me his family’s developed a sixth sense for when things might go awry. And right now, his sense is worrying him, so he’s pulled in virtually every favour he has to get you here - and to get you these.” And with that Lourdan turned and gestured to the sleek craft sitting on the tarmac behind him. “This is the Revenant mark two multi-medium star-fighter. Over the next six months you will learn to operate this machine to it’s limits, as well as gain an understanding of flight operations to the point that you will be capable of assisting in the training of your own squadrons should the need arise.”

There was a sharing of worried glances and the murmur of chatter from the recruits, before a woman at the front raised her hand somewhat nervously. “Yes, private?” he asked again, indicating who he was talking to with a nod in her direction as he did so. “I have two questions sir - aren’t we supposed to be the only squadron? And why is it the mark two if we’re the first wing to be formed?” The wing commander paused for a moment to think through his answer before replying - these were fresh recruits after all. “You will be prepared to train up other squadrons in the event that the ambassador discovers that our alien allies are being less than honest about how safe the galaxy is; humanity has been capable of defending our friends in conflict for thousands of years and I see no reason we should stop just because said friends are now green and eight feet tall. And to your second question - that is due to a number of highly classified pieces of information which you do not need to know, however the end result is the changes that have occurred in this space here.”

With that he stepped up to the craft and pulled the release on one of it’s panels, revealing an empty chamber inside. “After the briefing, anyone may view this chamber. If you believe you have a guess as to what it is now intended for…” and here a blustering voice cut in. “If you can guess, you come to my office right away recruit and discuss it with me. I’ll be issuing a number of merit points - and demerit points - during your training, as will Lourdan here.” Axworth stepped out from behind the craft and the wing commander saluted briskly; the recruits following a moment later in varying levels of formality. “At ease.” The general said, winking at his wing commander. “I’m not going to make you ask me what the points are for - it’s simple. Whichever recruit has the most points at the end of your training will be kept back for additional studies with me. Should they pass those studies, then I have a specific mission in mind for them, one which will directly involve Earth’s ambassador to the stars.”

The chatter rose again, and Axworth nodded to Lourdan to carry on the briefing before turning and walking briskly away. Stepping back to the podium, the wing commander cleared his throat. “Right. Now you know what is at stake, let’s begin your training with a rundown of the capabilities of this bird. Able to operate in aquatic, atmospheric or void with equal efficiency, the mark two is powered by a Micovs-Wilkinson micro-fusion reactor which provides power to run four impelling anti-grav engines as well as one hybrid turbo-engine developed by Van Buro in association with Clements Industrial purely for the Revenant class fighters. Firepower is varied, the craft having several hardpoints for guided or unguided projectiles as well as two Browning light rail cannon and a single nose-mounted Westfield plasma thrower by default. The Titan shipyards have already offered us a range of alternatives which recruits will be able to peruse after graduation to build a load-out that plays to your individual and your wing’s fighting strengths. Further…” The recruits listened in varying levels of attention as he continued - but in all their minds one thing ran. If they did well on this course, there was a chance they’d be allowed to get to work with the ambassador - the cutting edge of humanity’s explorations in space.