Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 399: Facets of Evolution

"Now it looks like all of your training is up to me. Unfortunately our entire unit will not be together until a month from now. Even then we will not be at full force." Jace began explaining. "So we will be doing what we can. I have been given permission to construct this force however I want." Jace turned to the High Priestess, "As well with the new experimental ship design it seems like we will be spending a large amount of our downtime on this colony."

The High Priestess nodded her head. "Just make the request and I will start setting aside the resources and space to accommodate your new unit."

"For now they can stay at the temporary base where they will be doing daily training. In addition, we will be requisitioning several virtual reality pods for training." Jace declared as he was already coming up with a list of things he was needing. "The first training starts tomorrow, so they need to be installed and tested before then, send one to my garage as well. I will install it so I can just plug in from there."

"Virtual Reality? I mean I don’t-" Gorund was clearly about to complain as he rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

"This is an order, not a request. Gorund." Jace informed him causing the dwarf to go stiff at the lifeless gaze that Jace was sending his way.

He sat straighter and adjusted himself. "Yes sir."

"I... can get that started. So you won’t be training them in person?" The High Priestess asked as she grabbed a data pad that was clearly wiped of information and began making notes on it.

"No, not yet at least. They will have daily basics that the captains will be in charge of. Failure to meet the minimum physical requirements in one month time will mean they will be shuffled out of Cerberus. Then they will spend five real hours in the simulations which will equate to five days inside the simulations. I will train them on procedures and situations they should adjust their mindset for." Jace began explaining as the High Priestess handed him the blank data pad and he started making a list for the training equipment.

"Is that all?"

"Nope, but I will make a list and send it to you later. If you are going to put me in charge of my own unit with virtually no oversight then I will not hold back." Jace explained as he handed back the complete data pad back. "In addition, if I am getting the rest of my squad back they will need positions. Are they going to be promoted to Captains?" Jace asked.

"Yes they are, they are also going to be getting their own units. But they are going to be just as mixed as the rest of them." She nodded at the four others in the room. "I assume you are going to be able to organize it. Keep in mind that your ship has a maximum capacity of four hundred people."

"Understood." Jace nodded his head. He started making calculations in his head. He at the moment had roughly thirteen potential captains. Each with a proposed wing of twenty people. But then two of these individuals in the room are lieutenants. So it is actually eleven. Eleven times twenty, means roughly two hundred and twenty. Then there are the assistants and additional units he would need to specifically man the ship. Although he could have one of his wings in charge of that.

"Good, in that case." The High Priestess looked at the others. "Captain Tyler, Lieutenant Vaz, Lieutenant Salunise, and Gorund Velwrench. All of you are dismissed. Gorund, Jace will determine what rank to put you at. Jace, stay a bit longer, I have something else for you."

Jace watched as the others shuffled out of the room. Gorund walking out stiffly as he left. Once they were out and the door closed the room went dark for a moment before red lights lit up the edge of the room.

"Room secure. No recording devices located. Disabled all signals going in and out of the room." An automated voice spoke up. He could tell they did as well because the faint buzzing that he came to know as messages and signals passing through the air ceased all at the same time.

It was such a big change that he blinked in surprise as he realized he could relax his hearing a bit. "Well that is a bit odd." He pointed out as he moved around the room and did his own inspection so that there was not anything the automated system missed. When it looked like there was not, he turned back to the High Priestess who was waiting for him. "If there is something that both myself and the automated system missed then they deserve to listen in."

"Why did you say it was odd?" The High Priestess asked as she tapped her desk and it lit up. The information from before popping up.

"Because I can hear the ’signals’ passing through the air. Because the short range ones are all electricity based. It is a bit... disorienting when it first hits you. I had to spend some time training my hearing at first. Now it feels like I am missing out on hearing all that extra noise, but when it comes back I will miss this." Jace explained with a sigh as he moved over and stood on the opposite side of the desk that the High Priestess was standing at.

"Interesting. Do you think that is a facet of the Spectre species as a whole or just yourself specifically?" The High Priestess asked, Jace rolled his eyes as she was clearly fishing for weaknesses.

"Probably just me. You have to remember that electricity was where the majority of my abilities relied on when I was still a Nanohuman. More than likely each Spectre when evolved will be a bit different." Jace explained as he watched her quickly sift through classified data.

"Do you think the other Spectres are close to evolving as well?" The High Priestess asked.

"Unlikely." Jace answered, "the closest behind me was Salem. But even then she is hopefully a ways off. Even I have to admit I am an anomaly. Not to mention I had less to convert compared to the others. I was only seventy percent human."

"Do we still not know what the other thirty percent is?" The High Priestess asked as she glanced at him.

"Nope, my stage three system interface has booted up. But it is clearly intent on keeping that a secret, even from me. So we just have to wait." Jace answered with a shrug.