Chapter 7277: The New Naval Academies of the Red Fleet
Chapter 7277: The New Naval Academies of the Red Fleet
The meeting finally came to an end.
Saint Isobel Kotin left the lab with a container floating behind her back.
It was best that she started to acclimate herself to the Artificial Fire Heart as soon as possible. Doing so would hopefully reduce any potential accidents once the implantation occurred.
Ves meanwhile made his own preparations. He notified Vector Loban of his plans and requested their assistance in modifying Saint Isobel's cybernetic body in order to accommodate the powerful new device.
The Transhumanist liaison had a mixed reaction to the plan.
"As a mech designer, I have many concerns about the safety and reliability of your plan.” The mecher said. "As a Transhumanist, I applaud your audacity and eagerly look forward to your success."
“Will you guys help us out or not?" Ves pressed the man.
"We shall." He said. "As a tier 2 galactic citizen, you have greater permissions than most. As long as Saint Isobel Kotin has made an informed decision without duress, we shall facilitate the operation in exchange for gaining access to her data when she recovers and returns to the fight. However, our aid is limited. You are responsible for your own successes and failures.”
In other words, the Transhumanist Faction wanted to take a hands-off approach. They would help the Larkinsons out with the easy stuff such as technical support, but they would leave them to their own devices when it came to other problems.
That sounded fine by Ves. He did not want people to take ownership of this experiment and meddle with affairs they did not fully understand.
“You have a deal." Ves said as she shook Vectors head. "We welcome your input."
He did not expect the Transhumanists to put up too much of a fight. Their faction had always been more enthusiastic to pursue more extreme transformations since the Evolution Witch took over.
Ves knew the value of his plan. If it could be proven that implanting a powerful artifact inside the body of an saint could subsequently raise her qualifications to survive the dreaded Mech Body Merger Process, then the Red Association would earn an insane amount of profit!
The only potential loss was the death of an ace pilot. While the price was not light, it was nothing on the galactic scale. Other ace pilots would emerge and continue to fight for red humanity.
When Ves went back to Gloriana and informed her of the changes, she did not look too surprised, though she did not bother to hide her irritation.
“I can see how this may be useful in the far future.” She conceded. "However, the price that Saint Isobel must pay is particularly serious. She will never be able to enjoy a day of rest. That Artificial Fire Heart may be her salvation, but it can also serve as her doom. Its maximum output is too great. If she loses control a single time, then she will burn herself out from the inside. I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up repeating her own history."
“It won't happen so easily, Gloriana. Her cybernetic body is already made to resist heat and fire energy. Once she has improved her control over fire energy and once we have developed safer and more stable high-grade superdimensional alloys, we can implement a massive upgrade that will massively boost her tolerance towards higher concentrations of fire energy."
His wife slowly nodded. “I hope that she will last long enough to receive this upgrade.”
A day went by as Ves took care of a lot of work. He had very little time to spare for his children, but the three knew that their parents were busy with important stuff.
Andraste and Marvaine spent more time on virtual schooling. Though they were no longer able to interact with kids their age in person anymore, the Tarrasque's Hyper Chamber offered enough of a realistic experience that they had no complaints.
Aurelia on the other hand had begun to make preparations to attend a naval academy. Enough time had passed for her to consider her own future and confirm whether she wanted to go forward with her decision.
Her parents and her siblings asked her multiple times whether she wanted to study to become a naval officer and commander, and each time she replied with the same answer.
Ves and Gloriana's oldest daughter had made up her mind.
She did not regret her decision, nor had any intentions of going back on it. She already accepted that she would spend time among the fleeters in the next decade and maybe longer.
Due to her imminent departure, her parents organized a small party in order to celebrate her new chapter in life.
"Waaah! I don't want you to go, big sis!" Marvaine cried as he latched onto Aurelia's legs. "Why can't you stay?"
Aurelia bent down and embraced her little brother.
“I love you. I would love to stay with you, but everyone has to grow up eventually. I can do much for our clan and our civilization as long as I gain the right qualifications. The Larkinson Clan has never admitted a proper fleeter who understands naval affairs. I have chosen to become the first."
“Will... will I ever see you again?" Marvaine mewled.
"Of course. I will contact the family as often as I am allowed. The fleeters are not heartless. Aside from that, I will make sure to return whenever there is a long vacation and receive permission to return to the clan for a time. If I cannot visit you, then you can come to me. Let us try to meet in person at least once a year, alright?"
Marvaine eagerly nodded. "Okay!"
The big sister kissed her little brother in the forehead and cheeks.
“Stay out of trouble when I am gone, alright? Do not follow Andraste's example all of the time. She is too energetic for your own good. Try your best to keep up with your studies.”
While the oldest and youngest child cuddled with each other, Ves and Gloriana spoke to Commodore Zonrad Reze about the academy that Aurelia would soon attend.
“While I have not attended any of these academies in person, I think that none of them are particularly good or bad." The well-dressed senior officer told the parents while holding a glass of wine. "The Red Fleet is not interested in setting its officers and spacers up for failure at the start. At the start of the Age of Dawn, we made a number of reforms in our educational sector that should bring it more in line with modern standards."
That sounded interesting.
“What needed to be changed?" Ves curiously asked.
The commodore's expression grew more severe. "You heard about how the Common Fleet Alliance originally formed, correct? It was never founded as a single cohesive organization. It formed when many different fleets from many different star nations became tired of the madness unfolding around them and chose to set aside their hostility in order to fight for the greater good of our civilization. While they have made a sincere effort into uniting under a single banner, that does not necessarily erase all of their differences. The CFA and to a lesser degree the RF are stil plagued by the consequences of those historical differences.”
"How does that relate to how you approach education?"
"As you can imagine, politics, infighting and nepotism has become particularly rife among our educators." Zonrad explained. "Academies back in the old galaxy are ranked. Certain academies are supported by admirals and receive a much greater tilt in funding and support. These top academies attract a much higher proportion of descendants of senior naval personnel. These cadets not only enjoy high-grade education, but are able to network with other cadets whose parents and grandparents ensure that they enjoy a better career. This in turn will perpetuate the networks of factions, alliances and families.”
“That sounds similar to the dramas that I watched when I was younger." Ves said. *I take it that students who do not have a strong background are disadvantaged.”
“That is correct. You cannot even begin to understand how much the system is working against them. Even if most cadets are descendants of spaceborn clans, there are so numerous of them that this is not a distinction in itself. Even if they possess superior talent and intellect, a descendant of an admiral may still be able to graduate with better grades and distinctions due to the favoritism that he received from the academy administration. That is how badly our education has rotted."
Both Ves and Gloriana frowned. They never heard about any of this when they conducted their own examinations of the Red Fleet's naval academies!
"Do not be concerned." The hidden hybrid Al reassured the two. "The Red Fleet has removed much of the rot in its own institutions. Unlike the old academies of the Milky Way Galaxy, the new academies in the Red Ocean lack the weight of history. It is much easier to reform them due to the absence of heritage and a long line of naval officers who graduated from them. Ever since ARCHIE has come to dominate our human resource management, we have made significant strides to uplift the academies that previously received less funding and resources. We have also rectified their personnel and implemented stronger controls."
He sounded serious enough about it that Ves and Gloriana were willing to take his word. Besides, neither of them were concerned that the fleeters would mistreat their daughter. There were definite perks to being the offspring of a tier 2 galactic citizen.
If anything, the system of an unfair academy would definitely benefit her over others! "So how does the Erwin Klobucar Naval Academy fare in comparison to the others?" Ves asked as he references the school that Aurelia was supposed to attend.
Commodore Zonrad Reze smiled. "Erwin Klobucar is one of the first academies to be founded in the Red Ocean. It offers a relatively balanced curriculum but expands it with additional courses based on social studies and human anthropology. The naval academy is positioned to help its future officers interact with civilians and establish closer cooperation with the states within the borders of the Red Ocean Union. A young woman who has demonstrated an excellent affinity for social activities is a good fit for this academy.”
Both Ves and Gloriana agreed. They knew what their eldest daughter was like. Attending the Erwin Klobucar Naval Academy would not only allow Aurelia to leverage her superior genes, but also increase the probability of maintaining contact with the Larkinson Clan. "Of course, Erwin Klobucar is by no means the only viable choice.” The commodore continued. "The Miranda Terz Naval Academy is a better destination if she is more interested in following her parents by following a more technical educational track. The Jocasta De Witt Naval Academy on the other hand puts greater emphasis on personal combat and honor, which is excellent for would-be duelists. The Alexander Huo Naval Academy takes a more unusual direction by focusing more heavily on alien studies and understanding inhuman cultures. I am sure that your daughter can fare well in each of those institutions."
He was not wrong in this regard. Ves could easily imagine Aurelia becoming a model student in each of those academies, including the Jocasta De Witt Naval Academy! However, Erwin Kiobucar was clearly the most optimal choice in terms of compatibility and interest.
it also fell neatly in line with Ves' future interest in his daughter. He did not want Aurelia to become a fully-fledged fleeter and become isolated within the Red Fleet.
Once she graduated, it would be ideal if she received a posting that would continue to keep her in contact with her parents and the rest of the Larkinsons.
Her studies also set her up for success in higher positions in civilian or mixed organizations.
Allin all, Ves and Gloriana grew more reassured that the fleeters would not mistreat their oldest daughter once she began her studies. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)