Kalis recommendation letter was actually written by captain Dana Auburn, a female officer under rear admiral Norton command and a good friend of his father. As a garant for the kid she act as ''parent'' for him sometime giving advise, sometime spanking (definitely more spanking) and she have to explain to the higher ups every time the kid did something dumb, but this time they were more curious than anything since he was kinda ''undefeat'' in simulation. He didn't battle every students on his class for sure but he is actually the only one who succeed every assignment in galactic warfare. He even secure a draw against instructor Kim. Unfortunately if Kalis ace this specific module, his marks are going down in the other especially history (yeah thats ironic) & Geo-politics. So as a good the parent she think she his, she call him to make things clear.
''Hellooo my dear pupil, how are things going on today ?''
She suddenly appear on screen while he was playing Call of Starship, Lagrone was sitting there scrolling on the Auranet when she shows up.They both scream in fear as Lagrone try to hide anything compromising. They then stand at attention and salute.
''Good morning Sir''.
She smile as if nothing happen, Kalis try to hide his frustration for being interrupted near the end of the campaign, yet the woman in front kinda terrify him. Why ? First she is a captain and captain is one the few rank he found cool aside admiral, but also this woman is just scary. Her pretty face have been fooling people left and right, but those who already served under her are soulless zombies looking like some unpaid animator working 24/7. Both kids were tense as they now the storm is approaching.
''Kalis...'' she start with a nice tone. ''I received your marks''
He swallowed
''They have been pretty good, your score in the simulator is actually unprecedent since the first use of the GS-343'' she then smile. ''Oh, what am I seeing ? you fall below average in Geo-politics. Interesting, and your mark in military history have been going down since last semester''.
She pause then give a stare that scare the admiral out of his soul. Even Lagrone feel the pressure despite being totally unconcerned.
''Care to explain to me what going on ?''.
He look away, he couldn't possibly tells her that all he care about is his galactic warfare performance, the rest is just some appetizer.
''You will never be ship commander with grades like that, let alone fleet commander. Keep going on like that and your dream of being fleet Admiral will vanish''.
Lagrone raise his hand
''Hm, actually, he said yesterday he no longer want to be fleet admiral''.
Her face turn into some demonic shape of form while Kalis try to look more away than he can humanly do. Some of his organ are actually underperforming and cells in his body already stop working. His brain keep sending the same message ''just don't look at her''.
''LOOK. AT. ME.'' she orders.
He froze automatically, slowly turning around to see her face. She was unrecognizable? At this point she might as well scare the devil himself.
''Well, I decided I will just be admiral, not fleet admiral.''
Her face became less scary and more surprised at this declaration.
''Huh... what are you talking about, you are repeating yourself.'' She said. ''An admiral is actually in charge of a fleet so of course you will be in command of a fleet''.
Because it is common knowledge among officer that Fleet admiral (commander in chief) is only the rank set for the emperor she never even thought that Kalis will be trying to attain this rank in first place. For her this is just adding more confusion as the Kid may just be experiencing an existential crisis or something. (spoiler he was).
''Unless you want to be a desk admiral or something''.
''Of course not''. He shouted. ''I want to be a full flesh admiral and a great one. Not some armchair general who keep reading numbers behind his desk.''
Captain Auburn then cross her finger adopting the evil commander pose.
''Then you better level up your game because the federation will never give ship command to someone who can trigger a diplomatic incident''.
''Sir Yes Sir''.
''I am the one who write this recommendation letter for you so better live up to my name or die trying''
Kalis was not sure if the dying part was serious of not but he definitely don't want to find out.
''I want to see you getting decent mark in space politics by the end of the semester, as for Military history you better get the highest score you hear me. Captain Auburn over.''
The transmission end, Kalis suddenly regain control of his body and sit on the ground. Lagrone sit down while wiping the sweat on his forehead.
''So this is how it is to have a mother'' said Kalis completely tired.
''Oh you don't have any... I am sorry dude i thought. Unless you are.... Are you a clone ?''.
''Stop speaking nonsense do you know expensive it is for a civilian to make one ? And no my mother is pretty much alive but never been so severe''.
''Oh I see, a baby mama. Anyway this woman and her creepy face. She give me that weird chill.''
''What, are you scared ? you wanted to date her or something?''
''What, you crazy ? NO... and i hate blonde anyway''.
Kalis make a jaded face
''You kidding right ? Your ex is blonde, you are....''
''Oh shut up. Didn't you have some date with the soon to be empress?''
That when things tick in his mind and Cadet Kalis remember that he have to move on with the plot. Which he does, after all he got invited by a senior 3rd year, he is already good at simulation and this is the Geo-politic department, right what he needed to level up and get more admiral credits (Personal stats in his mind).
Okay quick explanation. Some department have module in common. Geo-politic department is focus on the various aspect of military geopolitic, they got entire module dedicate to that. While Geopolitics module in the galactic warfare department is more general in its term. This department is where the fleet grow their future diplomat, statistician, administrator, inspector, supevisor and anything desk related. To summarize, they are the armchair department (not the chair force).
Kalis transport himself to the upper class for the simulation. After some ridiculous shenanigans that would have usually taken a whole chapter to elaborate, he finally meet up with the upper classes.
''Hiii. I hope I am not too late''.
Of course he was late, what did you expect ? He barge into a room full of upper student and the Queen (lets just call her that okay) is watching him with a cold stare. He start thinking that he may attract this type of woman. Then he notice a familiar face among the students, another girl but this one is from the same promotion. Remember that girl he was almost paired with during the simulation back in chapter 4, yeah thats the same girl.
''You ?'' He let escape out of surprise ''What are you doing here ?''
She smile to him and just wave her hand before looking at Queen. The senior proceed to explain.
''Cadet Rhea is actually the top of her class, it is normal she get invited to the wargame. In fact she have been part of it since two months now.''
''Nice to see you Enyx''. she said kindly. ''I'll go easy on you''.
He was a bit surprised considering that most of the girl he know keep yelling at him or just give him a cold stare. This one seems like a breath of fresh air. Rhea Regina Reginlaze or Triple R is the top student of his promotion. She came second in the war simulation, She get the second place in both geo-politic and military history but she is number one when it come to ship navigation. This versatility is actually what makes her stand out, for his part Kalis is jealous of her because she is slightly taller than he is. She is also the only student he doesn't want to face in the simulator.
''Since you are new let me summarize the rules for you''. The queen interrupts his thoughts.
Agrippa academy wargame is a grand strategy simulation in which students get in charge of fictional planets inside of a fictional representation of the galaxy. This version is more grounded than the usual simulator since the students all use the same map in a giant gymnasium size room. The game is turn based, each turn count as a week. Everybody can take its time to make its own decision, but there is a limit to what you can do in one turn. Students can form alliances, make trade agreements or just attack each other. Players can manage everything by themselves or ask for another student to govern a specific planet. Leaders can give direct order to their subordinate and allocate ressources.
The game usually start with only 3rd year involved with a limit of 20 students. They are randomly scattered through the galaxy each with a planet to manage in different location and various type of resources allocated to the area. As the year progress various students can be added as players, each student have a limit of 2 and only upper classmen can invite new one so the game can peak at 40 players.
Okay to make things clearer it is a grand strategy game in which each factions are managed by a Cadet.
''Victory is achieved by the first faction to reach 30 planets under their controls, cadets under the said faction are also considered victorious'' explained Queen. ''Now that you have a general understanding of the situation let me explain to you what your role is''.
Kalis look at the map on the ground, factions are designated by colors and as far as he knows it is pretty clear.
''With you as an addition there number of students raise to 30, all scattered around four factions. The Tri Star Alliance under my command (Blue faction), The Sokolov Empire under my fellow 3rd year cadet Mikoyan (Red faction). The commonwealth of Azura Co-lead by two 3rd year cadets Hari & Madara (Yellow faction)''.
''I see, this game is entirely run by 3Rd year cadet. Well i guess the other students are just Faire Valoir to you. But i heard about a 4th faction, what about them''.
Queen raise her hand and point a finger at him. His face show surprise as a planet of green color light up right where he was standing.
''You have been designated to lead the 4th faction.''
''wait a minute, what thell are you talking about...''
''You have the right to refuse but take note that your performance in this game will be count in your school final evaluation''.
Kalis Widen his eyes as he understand he have been led to a trap in which he can no longer back down. He didn't even have time to process half of everything he just heard.
''Don't worry too much''. said queen with a smile. ''After all this is...''
Just a game