Beep.
With a mechanical chime, the Federal team's survivor count hit zero.
"The exercise has concluded." Both competitors and spectators heard the sound of fireworks and salutes bursting in sync with a cold announcement: "The victor is—the Ares Empire team!"
The surviving Imperial cadets erupted in cheers. They clapped their comrades' shoulders, while a few engineers hurriedly repaired downed teammates' mechs, helping them stand to join the celebration.
The chaotic mop-up battle had involved too many, leaving some injured cadets without immediate medical aid. Only when the dust settled did the medical team dare enter, carrying stretchers to evacuate the wounded.
This created a stark contrast on the field.
[…Federals and Imperials are two different species, confirmed.]
[How do you compete with that freakish stamina?]
[I'm done. Was gonna apply to military academy, but after this exercise, I'm going back home to farm greenhouse veggies. Way better prospects.]
Minutes later, both Imperial and Federal streams shut down.
Bai Sha piloted her mech to Dai Sheng's side, nudging him with a foot.
"Hey, you," Bai Sha said, squinting as she leaned closer. "You were controlling those Federal cadets, weren't you?"
Dai Sheng's mech, its arm blasted off by cannon fire, lay twisted on the ground, parts scattered. Theoretically, he could still open the cockpit and climb out, but he remained sprawled inside, silent.
Bai Sha: "…It's just one lost exercise. Don't play dead."
Dai Sheng's furious voice crackled out: "What do you know? My life's over!"
"Your command skills are that bad," Bai Sha said. "Honestly, any random commander from your team might've done better. Why'd they pick you for commander? …Is it tied to that mysterious system of yours?"
Dai Sheng stayed mute.
Bai Sha mused aloud: "Hmm, a system syncing everyone's mental frequencies. It wasn't designed just to let you boss the team around. There's gotta be another purpose—like handing control to an AI to run the show, right?"
The plan was likely AI assisting—or even overriding—Dai Sheng, who'd then relay orders.
"Why didn't you activate the system's 'intelligence'?" Bai Sha pressed sharply. "Did you think you could outsmart its calculations?"
"…If we let an AI control everyone, what's the point of us?" Dai Sheng finally snapped, his voice a harsh growl. "Might as well send robots to fight you. Why call it an exercise?"
But your command was awful.
Bai Sha bit back the jab, not wanting to belabor the point, and shifted tack. "But by doing that, didn't you defy the system's creators? Won't they come for you?"
Dai Sheng: "…"
His reaction suggested he'd long anticipated this outcome.
After a pause, with a hiss, his cockpit popped open.
He shed his protective gear, exposing himself to the barren star's air, staring at Bai Sha with eyes like burning embers.
"You don't need to tell me. I know plenty of commanders outshine me," Dai Sheng said, coughing up blood-tinged spit. "But you know what? The best command cadets refused to link their minds to the system, calling it an insult. The rest either played dumb or dodged the puppet-leader stigma…"
"Only me—only me. Hero or clown, at least I stepped up. They've got no right to judge me."
He coughed again, a faint smile forming, his voice so low only Bai Sha could hear.
"Without me, you think… those students, chained to an AI's will, would have any 'freedom' left?"