Read Online The Ninth by Benjamin Schramm - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Benjamin Schramm
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thought of all the lost bets.
Next was group A. They actually made it safely to the guards and the elevator. When the last recruit inserted his ident card, the alarm buzzed. At once the recruits panicked and charged the armed guards, pushing one guard off the edge and stealing the weapon of the other. They forced their way into the elevator, guns blazing. When the elevator reached the ground floor, two armed squads awaited them. Needless to say, they failed, but they managed to do better than group E. Being captured was still better than plummeting to your death moments after landing.
Next was Group D. Again, the last recruit set off the alarm. Those in the elevator snuck up on the armed guards and managed to get their weapons away before they could react. Forcing the three guards on the platform into the drop ship, they managed to enter the city. However, it would only be a matter of time before someone noticed the missing guards, and their cover was blown. They managed to take third place.
Next was group B. Like the rest, the last recruit set off the alarm. They stood silent in the elevator as the guards searched the poor boy. What followed chilled Nathan to the bone. From the safety of the elevator the group took the pretense that they had been betrayed and started shouting at the last recruit. However, the guard operating the ident scanner did not buy the act. He handed his side arm to the leader of the group and demanded the spy be dealt with. Without hesitation the leader then turned and fired on the recruit. Thankfully, it was only an exam, so the recruit was only stunned rather than killed. Group B passed the exam, but at a heavy cost.
The reactions of the division leaders reminded Nathan that more was at stake than a few credits. The exams not only tested a recruit’s abilities, they showed them off. Whether a recruit was invited to a division or not was based more on their performance than the skills they possessed. After all, even the most talented trooper was useless if they couldn’t function with the rest of a squad or follow orders. Despite their unconventional methods, group B’s score was impressive, securing them second place. Finally, the replay featured group C. The replay met with thunderous cheering and applause.
“Good picks,” Nathan said with a grin. “I can almost taste the creds we are going to make.”
“Are you implying I put them all together for your financial gain?” Jack said irritably.
“I’m not implying anything. What’s got you, Jack? I thought you’d be happy Brent did so well.”
“I am, Nathan. I just expected more from the group.”
“More?”
“You said it yourself. I hand picked each recruit in the group. I took recruits that have been training for this all their lives and ones completely unprepared, recruits from rim worlds and core worlds. I wanted an approximation of the population of the Commonwealth, complete with the friction.”
“So what’s wrong? Some got along, others fought. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Yes, but they all gave into Brent too easily. It hasn’t been an hour and Brent is already the unquestioned commander of his group. I don’t like the greater implications for the whole of the Commonwealth.”
“That’s a bit extreme. His group was the only one to have problems before landing. I’m sure the only reason they followed his lead was because he read the briefing. Basically, he took the place of an authority figure when they needed one the most.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“All right, Jack, I know that tone of voice. What is really bothering you.”
“The other recruits I understand, but not the guard. Zimmer is a master of Sims. Some of his work responds so naturally I can almost forget it isn’t a real person. So why create a guard that was so accommodating to Brent?”
“Accommodating? You mean Brent didn’t use any
Next was group A. They actually made it safely to the guards and the elevator. When the last recruit inserted his ident card, the alarm buzzed. At once the recruits panicked and charged the armed guards, pushing one guard off the edge and stealing the weapon of the other. They forced their way into the elevator, guns blazing. When the elevator reached the ground floor, two armed squads awaited them. Needless to say, they failed, but they managed to do better than group E. Being captured was still better than plummeting to your death moments after landing.
Next was Group D. Again, the last recruit set off the alarm. Those in the elevator snuck up on the armed guards and managed to get their weapons away before they could react. Forcing the three guards on the platform into the drop ship, they managed to enter the city. However, it would only be a matter of time before someone noticed the missing guards, and their cover was blown. They managed to take third place.
Next was group B. Like the rest, the last recruit set off the alarm. They stood silent in the elevator as the guards searched the poor boy. What followed chilled Nathan to the bone. From the safety of the elevator the group took the pretense that they had been betrayed and started shouting at the last recruit. However, the guard operating the ident scanner did not buy the act. He handed his side arm to the leader of the group and demanded the spy be dealt with. Without hesitation the leader then turned and fired on the recruit. Thankfully, it was only an exam, so the recruit was only stunned rather than killed. Group B passed the exam, but at a heavy cost.
The reactions of the division leaders reminded Nathan that more was at stake than a few credits. The exams not only tested a recruit’s abilities, they showed them off. Whether a recruit was invited to a division or not was based more on their performance than the skills they possessed. After all, even the most talented trooper was useless if they couldn’t function with the rest of a squad or follow orders. Despite their unconventional methods, group B’s score was impressive, securing them second place. Finally, the replay featured group C. The replay met with thunderous cheering and applause.
“Good picks,” Nathan said with a grin. “I can almost taste the creds we are going to make.”
“Are you implying I put them all together for your financial gain?” Jack said irritably.
“I’m not implying anything. What’s got you, Jack? I thought you’d be happy Brent did so well.”
“I am, Nathan. I just expected more from the group.”
“More?”
“You said it yourself. I hand picked each recruit in the group. I took recruits that have been training for this all their lives and ones completely unprepared, recruits from rim worlds and core worlds. I wanted an approximation of the population of the Commonwealth, complete with the friction.”
“So what’s wrong? Some got along, others fought. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Yes, but they all gave into Brent too easily. It hasn’t been an hour and Brent is already the unquestioned commander of his group. I don’t like the greater implications for the whole of the Commonwealth.”
“That’s a bit extreme. His group was the only one to have problems before landing. I’m sure the only reason they followed his lead was because he read the briefing. Basically, he took the place of an authority figure when they needed one the most.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“All right, Jack, I know that tone of voice. What is really bothering you.”
“The other recruits I understand, but not the guard. Zimmer is a master of Sims. Some of his work responds so naturally I can almost forget it isn’t a real person. So why create a guard that was so accommodating to Brent?”
“Accommodating? You mean Brent didn’t use any
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