018 Rookie Training 4: Exercise Summary 2

The stock ran out during the funeral rites.

I plan to keep posting daily, though I might make mistakes.

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"Next up, Tanpopo."

Tanpopo’s avatar appears in front-view mode.

Commander Shiina switches the mode to avatar gaze mode.

As soon as the exercise starts, the gaze shifts—scanning the surroundings, on alert.

"Look closely here. What she did was map the rock cluster’s position and set up surveillance protocols."

A warning marker flickers over the rock cluster in the avatar’s field of view.

The communication icon blinks—my face appears.

Then Ayame’s face shows up—internal fleet stealth comms activate.

"Forest, at least use this."

Ooi and Kirii nod in agreement to Commander Shiina’s muttered complaint.

Back to the feed.

After the briefing, Tanpopo’s ship (avatar) takes up position behind my ship (avatar), forming a single-file line.

The Anti-Ship Radar’s priority shifts to rearward surveillance.

“Forming a fleet as a single unit changes roles.

Tanpopo’s new role is rearward surveillance, acting as the rearguard.

A textbook example of remembering the fundamentals—well done.”

A brief period of exploration. Then, Forest’s full-spectrum comms, accompanied by an Anti-Ship Radar alert.

Missiles launch from the Akira (me) ship right in front.

On the comms screen, I issue a turn order. (Lips move, but no audio.)

The three ships (avatars) turn—simultaneously, Tanpopo’s ship (avatar) activates the Railgun, locking aim on Forest’s ship (avatar).

Locks on Forest’s ship (avatar) in the left rear quadrant.

Long-range mode—Forest’s ship (avatar) zooms into view.

The targeting reticle (target sight) converges on Forest’s ship’s starboard side.

Missile closes in—simultaneously, Akira’s ship (avatar) fires a beam attack.

Match missile speed to beam speed—perfect simultaneous impact.

Forest’s ship panics—beam defense concentrates the left arm shield to starboard, leaving the port side exposed.

Tanpopo’s ship (avatar) doesn’t hesitate—Railgun fires. Fires. Fires! Ten-round burst!

Forest’s ship’s Stasis Field resists—then collapses.

Multiple direct hits peel away armor—avatar is… pancaked. One.

Self-regulation kicks in—blackout.

“Did you see that!?”

Forest says.

Tanpopo lowers her head, face red.

What she saw? Let’s not say.

Commander Shiina waves it off and starts talking.

"Remarkable. Perfect textbook coordination.

You mapped each other's specialties during briefing and leveraged them—well done."

The playback skips ahead and resumes.

The sinking of the Ooi avatar.

I ordered full missile launch. The Tanpopo avatar also fired all three remaining missiles from its launch tubes.

Missiles swarm the Ooi avatar—down it goes.

Meanwhile, from the Tanpopo avatar's perspective, rearward vigilance remains unchanged.

Confirmed via my comms: synchronized evasion maneuver, nothing incoming. Back to alert patrol.

Time runs out. Mission complete.

"Full marks. Flawless."

Tanpopo blushes under Commander Shiina’s praise.

"Damn, Tanpopo."

I give my temporary wingman a nod.

"Next up—Ayame."

We’re cutting this short—same footage, same drill. Sorry, but time’s tight.”

Commander Shiina advances the playback, switching Ayame’s ship (avatar) display to forward-view mode, right in front of the vessel.

Then, adjusting the perspective, she repositions the view to face Ayame’s ship head-on.

“Watch how she handles that shield!

Perfect posture—shielding the hull, keeping the forward arc clear for weapons. A flawless balance of offense and defense.

Exactly the stance you’d want if you’re leading the charge.”

Commander Shiina switches back to avatar perspective, fast-forwards the clip.

My comms alter Ayame’s ship’s course—now heading straight for a rock formation.

Ayame’s ship focuses its attention on the surrounding terrain.

When the Ooi ship (avatar) suddenly emerges from the left flank of the rock mass, Ayame’s ship charges forward, unleashing a barrage of beam fire in wild, scattered volleys.

Then, full fleet missile launch. The Ooi ship (Avatar) fails to intercept all nine missiles and is destroyed.

The rest is omitted.

“Excellent charge, playing to your strengths.

All thanks to your clever use of the shield. Perfect score.”

Ayame was praised too.

Cool as ever, but her lips twitched into a smirk.

“Now, Akira.

You’ve seen enough footage—skip the replay.

Who are you, really? Command, situational awareness, peripheral surveillance, attack—all flawless.

Especially after sinking the Ooi ship, ordering the entire fleet into evasive maneuvers.

Was that anticipating the Kiru ship’s attack?”

“Yeah. I figured that was the most dangerous spot.”

“Terrifying.

But let me say one thing.

Your command this time was godlike.”

“Godlike?”

“That’s right. Godlike.”

You knew the enemy’s numbers. Their capabilities. In advance.

That’s why you pulled off a command like this.

Only an exercise let you gather that intel. That’s what the divine perspective is.

If it had been real combat, the enemy’s ambushes could’ve been far worse.

Even ships of the same class might’ve had different attack power or weaknesses after modifications.

Still, could you have handled it? That’s the challenge for the future.

Well, for now, your score was above full marks. So bragging’s fine.

Was that praise? Or sarcasm? Didn’t really matter.

But it’s something to keep in mind.

(“The one who gathers information and prepares wins!” — still valid?)

“Alright, that’s enough for today.

Tomorrow’s exercise in a special field.

Be here at the same time!”

““““““Thank you very much!”””””””

(Seems like everyone’s started treating Commander Shiina as a respected instructor.)

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