Second year at the academy have been great so far for Cadet Enyx. He is now the new king of battle simulation, further proving that some of his theory are correct so now instructor Kim have no excuse whatsoever to dismiss what he said during lecture. It can't use the excuse of ''it is just a simulation'' otherwise the students will question the utility of said simulation, bringing more dissidents. Of course spamming Carrier become the simulation new Meta until the Academy board decide, in order to keep everything balanced and faire to add more restrictions. Ship will cost deployment point and there will be ammo and fuel restriction in every single simulation now. Also carrier authorized deployment even during exam will be limited to only 4 with a fighter cap of 20 per carrier. Yeah they basically Nerf their own simulation (still not a game) just to prove the kid wrong, but in the meantime the naval warfare college (Totally a different institute) start advancing proposal for a global shift in galactic warfare doctrine.
Anyways that's not the focus of today, today is the release of a new movie called «Gladiolus Rising». Basically a movie about North Star empire first emperor, a former Gladiator that rise against the tyranny of his former master by killing him just before becoming the new emperor and establishing his own tyranny. Kalis goes to see it with his roomate Lagrone and their girlfriends, each of them wear their civilians clothes since it is the weekend and the movie is released in the nearby town. Ah yeah Nash Uriah Lagrone, he is Kalis roomate since year one, the dude is the ''enfant terrible'' of the pilot department. He is a good pilot, he is reckless, good reflexes, good instinct, the instructor hate him because he is not really a team guy (totally not Maverick). He wears his uniform the way he wants, jacket widely open, up-sleeve. He also got blonde spike hair like he is the protagonist, definitely doesn't look like someone who will get senior command after all the officer are dead.
As for the girls the one with Kalis is actually not his girlfriend but rather his ex. A girl named Yulia ''yuri'' Sanada, short black hair cause military regulation, black eyes and somehow a tattoo on her forearm. They already broke up 3 times and they are actually trying their best to not make it 4. Why did they come together ? Nobody knows, but she didn't cringe when he start yapping about the admiral stuff. She is actually a student in the engineer department, not really a top student but not average either. Anyways they meet in front of the cinema, all dress up.
''Hey Yuri, thanks for coming''. said Lagrone
''I am here too'' insist Kalis
''Yeah but you are like, the default character''.
''Oh, so You think I am some kind of DLC?'' she asked.
''Nooo, you are the guest character everybody want to be an actual character.''
''Haha nice Catch. I should have date you one instead.'' She said while smirking toward Kalis.
The boy was irritated and try to act like everything is fine but Lagrone answered
''Sorry I'm already taken and it is my policy to not date two babe at the same time.''
''Oh I can wait''
Right before entering the cinema Kalis Grab his friend shoulder and gaze at him with that dark soul boss aura.
''Don't forget the Bro-code''
My friend ex are also my ex, and considering that Kalis seems to still be into her it was a litteral threat. Lagrone grab him back and said:
''I swear on the holy mother of Aurelia.''
''You are not even religious''.
They both stare each other then burst into laugh. After that they go and watch the movie. If you ask why I didn't present Lagrone girlfriend, thats because she will be another one next week, she ain't that important anyway.
Gladolius Rising turn out to be a better movie than expected, it got great characters, the action was on point, the fight were brutal but not too edgy, the main actor playing Gladiolus was pretty charismatic and the evil dude, who could have guess it was Gladiolus father all along. He then proceed to kill all the gladiators across the galaxy when he execute declaration 766. At the end of the movie everybody was outside theater still discussing the scenes and the plot. Everybody seems enjoy it except, you know who, Kalis Enyx.
''That Movie sucks.'' he declared
''Oh my God, What going on again ?'' Asked yulia
''I mean the main character literally side with the guy who try to kill him to get revenge on his father.''
''Yeaaah ?'' Lagrone said
''Then he betray him, team up with his dad to kill the dude''.
''also correct.''
''He then betray his father, murder him and proclaim himself the new emperor''
''Yeah that was hell of a twist''. Said Lagrone gf.
''Am i the only one who think this guy was actually the main villain all along?''
For just a moment everybody look at him, to think real quick, then they start laughing.
''Naaaah, you over interpreted things''.
Kalis decide to move on since every time they disagree on stuff like that they will argue forever. Movie interpretation is nnot his domain anyway and he think posting critic on Auranet is for losers.
''It seems like the propaganda actually works''. said a voice from behind
Everybody fell silent. A girl just appear out of nowhere, she was a walking definition of elegance and grace. Yeah she is the typical white hair baddie queen like character. She look cold but she is actually nice inside and she is the emperor daugther (because of course she is). To be precise she is the emperor clone. You see in the Aurelian Federation it become kind of a trend for rich and powerful people to just clone themselves and chose them as heir. Why ? Because there is that strange belief that «a clone of me is actually me» so he cannot fail. Is it true ? Well the results are mitigate, but it is a strong belief even today. In this particular case the emperor gave his daugther total freedom of decision which unheard of when it come to clone education. Of course since she is the daughter of emperor Aurelius her name is.... Auré...''Aura''. If you wanna know why the emperor Kid (clone) is actually a girl, well there is an actual lore reason for that but i'll give it later i promise, if i get past chapter 10.
Anyway that girl just appear out of nowhere and start talking to them. She is actually a 3rd year cadet in the academy and by default their senior. Her cursus is more about geopolitic and management rather than Galactic warfare and ship navigation, yet she ace those two too. As soon as she appear the cadet eyes where lock on her, but Kalis as if he didn't notice keep ranting about the movie.
''You are correct this movie is kind of a propaganda. I mean they didn't show what happen right after he became emperor''.
''Indeed''. the girl support. ''It let the audience assuming everything will be good and fine, while the reality of is that things get actually worse in the empire.''
''Purge, mass murder, deportation you name.... Oh, you know the empire history ?''
''It come as an evidence, our ancestors came from this place you know''.
''Correction, our ancestors fled from this place''.
Everybody was looking at him with a death stare, tryin to tell him how rude he is yet he notice nothing. The girl wide her eyes then smile a little.
''You are a cadet at the academy aren't you ? What is your name ?'' She asked really politely.
''Cadet Kalis Enyx, 2nd year, Galactic warfare departement.''
''Oh I see, you are that junior i heard about who is very good at simulation''.
''I guess my reputation precede me.''
''Would you be interested to run a different kind of simulation ? I am a 3rd year in the Geo-Politic department but we are running a sort of grand strategy simulation.''
''Like a wargame ?''
''You are sharp, exactly what I needed. It would be interesting to get the perspective of someone like you''.
''Works for me, I always wondered what you guys have been up to''
''Nice then. See you tomorrow.''
The girl smile turn to be a cold stare and she walk on. Kalis didn't really get what going on, he thought this girl is either bad at hitting on people or try to place the weirdest date proposal he has never see. Of course it was not a date and he understood that when he saw Yuri astonished face.
''Do you have any idea who do you just talk to ?''
''She said she is a 3rd year senior. She look like a chill girl.''
''Dude i know you kinda live in your world but a little awareness doesn't kill'' Said Lagrone. ''She is the daugther of the emperor, you know Aurelia Supreme leader''.
He blink twice then answer.
''Ah yeah that's cool for her. Do you want to stop by a restaurant before going back oooor ?''
''Man your brain is completely off reality. Yulia translate for him.''
The girl get next to him and explain in term only he can understand.
''The emperor is the actual fleet admiral meaning he is also the head of the navy''.
If you read chapter 2 by this point you'll understand what is about to come next. Kalis got another life crisis. Since kalis is what he is of course he won't be surprise by the fact that Aura is the daugther of the emperor, what his brain stay focus on was....
''What do you mean by, the emperor is the fleet admiral. I thought he was already emperor.''
''Since the navy is the most powerful branch in the military and considering the fact that the emperor is head of the armies, it is kinda logical that he is also fleet admiral''. explained Yuri.
His heart shattered, he was about to lose his breath, how in hell didn't he hear about that before? Well the thing Kalis is the type of guy who think he already know everything once he read a little about something. He learn many things about naval history, ship navigation and doctrine, yet he know little about the command structure, how the rank actually work and what they actually mean. He just know the big one like Admiral, Vice Admiral, captain and so on. He actually paid little attention to lecture during classes assuming he already know everything, and despite the fact that he barely graduate his first year.
''Wait, you mean that, only the emperor can be fleet admiral ?''
Yuri and Lagrone shake their head to agree. At this point Kalis start is breathing heavily, maybe it was time for him to really rethink about this whole admiral stuff. His hearbeat was on city marathon level, his brain turn into a quantum computer while he process every options he have left. Two times he have been wrong about his lifelong goal, there will be no third time. That time he will decide to make the only rational choice.
''Okay I renounce. I no longer want to be a fleet admiral''
Lagrone and Yulia were shocked. Really shocked. Kalis have been dead serious with his fleet admiral thing since day one, there is no way in hell he can abandon his just like that. On the other hand they could see how sad he was right now. Lagrone come at him with a worry face, put his hand on his shoulder.
''Listen bro, i don't know what to tell, if you want to leave the academy... i won't judge you, but you must really think about that.''
''He is right, you are among the top 8 in your promotion. You can't just walk away like that''
Kalis then lift his head and breath heavily
''What the hell are you talking about quitting, I am no crybaby''
Lagrone was surprise by his sudden reaction.
''This time it is clear, I should have think about that since the beginning. Great Admiral, Fleet Admiral, in the end what I always wanted was to be is Admiral.''
''Huh''?
''I need no fancy title attached to it, no supreme leader, no god emperor, no nothing, starting from today i will do everything to become admiral and nothing more.''
Yuri and Lagrone expression goes from worry to surprise to shocked, to dead furious
''ARE YOU KIDDING ME'' they shouted in perfect synchro
Yeah in the end all roads lead to rome, at the end of the day Kalis Enyx is...
Still the same