When Ariin verbally countered against Lorenzo, the old scientist was not pleased by the youngster's spunk. He went right up to him, and grabbed him by his cheeks. "You still had the duty of providing a line of defense with Legion, but instead of redeploying it you went on a failed duckhunt that could have resulted in your entire team wiped out. That's zero people saved, bucko." He then threw his arm off Ariin's face. "If you ever talk back to me like that again, you'll get another ocular replacement." He said, and glanced at Sigma. The girl then felt strange, as if she has experienced something like that as a projection of Irina, or even maybe in an entirely different reality.

Elora tried to hold back her tears as they dropped from her cheeks, but was unable to in the face of the verbal abuse. It brought back painful memories from her normal life, and she felt like she was crushed by an immeasurable weight. She hated herself for not being able to stand tall and proud as the other pilots, and for making a mess of herself. However, when Lorenzo's attention was elsewhere, Sigma gave her a hug of compassion, and she flinched. Somehow, the irony in the reversed situation caused her trembling lips to turn into a smile, somehow managing to stop shaking. She really appreciated Sigma for showing kindness where nobody else did, and it made hr realize that as much as she blamed herself, deep inside she has grown strong over her hardships. Elora tensed up as Sigma's mouth went awfully close to her ear, but when she whispered the young girl was left confused. She didn't understand the meaning of the words, but she assumed that she tried to encourage her after her gesture of affection. She silently nodded, and then took a rigid stance like the others when the questions began. She gulped, and swiped her face of tears with her sleeve. She decided that after the pathetic number she showed, she had nowhere to go but up from now, to a stronger, more brave Elora.

Lorenzo began answering the questions that began heading his way with a profound lack of enthusiasm, yet one could recognize that some of the topics were more important to him than he openly let on. Ritsu continued standing in the sidelines; she shifted her posture a bit when Elora was targeted, but kept her position regardless. Stil, one could see her looking at Lorenzo with disapproving eyes for his hostile briefing.

[quote=@AtomicNut]
"Um...sir? I...wish...to ask, what is the status of the rival pilots?"
[/quote]
"Hmm, yes, you would be interested in their condition, Cadet Sigma. Irina reported to have only incurred minor injuries, while Cadet Iota has been reported to be alive. As for the rest...confirmed to have been terminated by squad Sigma. Next question," he then added nonchalantly, as if his words only contained a trivial matter such as today's weather.

[quote=@Mr Rage]
"Sir, if I may?" He waited to be acknowledged. Once he was, he continued, "During this training mission I discovered that Black Stars greatest weakness, beyond it's pilot, sir, is a general lack of versatility, and more problematic, has no range to speak of. I wonder if I might be able to requisition some equipment that might assist in granting greater versatility, or at least help me close the gap between myself and my target?"
[/quote]
"Yes yes, I'm aware of those traits. Black Star was designed for flanking maneuvers and finishing off units suppressed by crossfire, and while in theory it sounds perfect, a real situation is far too hectic for a proper tactical move like that. Based on your earlier VR testing and today's results, you have been authorized for the installation of a new weapon system Wave Surger, and new Armor Wings to replace the damaged ones. Details will be provided by the head of Black Star R&D. You may be as attuned to that machine as a boot, but at least you know how to operate it, kid. Plain natural gift ain't gonna cut it in this world," Lorenzo said, eyeing Elora in particular, who meeped.

[quote=@Gate Keeper]
"Sir, will we have access to the enemy audio and video files of the previous exercise for review and self evaluation?"
[/quote]
Lorenzo put his hand to his beard, and stroked it. "Those are usually classified for security reasons...but for you I will make an exception. Ask for them later at my office, and I'll load them to your personal device. But I'll warn you: you may not like what is in them...hee hee!" Lorenzo then laughed as he shifted his attention to a new question.

[quote=@SillyGoy]
"Sir! My Rostosov was way too quickly firepower-killed due to having insufficient armor on its main guns. The Cadet asks whether it would be possible to up-armor the gatling guns to make sure it doesn't happen again."
[/quote]
"They were supposed to also have the same kind of plating as the rest of the front, but the blundering grease monkeys seemed to have failed. Goddamn idiots think the rotational motors would need an external cooling agent...even a child would have installed a ZX-98 module inside C15, link it to AR-32-X, bypassing the need for-" He then realized he went on an absentminded rant, and coughed. "We will be reviewing your suggestion, Cadet."

[quote=@Penultimate_Pi]
"Sir, what you said about that sword- am I even authorized for that?" After a moment, the pilot elaborated, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understood that a certain amount of experience is mandatory before a Framewerk would be allowed an additional weapon outfit. Sir."
[/quote]
"Yes, that is correct. While you are not authorized for an additional weapon system with the amount of skill you have shown so far, I still want to test the weapon's effectiveness in VR. What happened today was a fascinating phenomenon I have yet to see, and to leave the discovery untested would be an affront to science. If I had my way, I would replace one of the Blaster Cannons with the blade, but it has to be approved by a higher power first. Those goddamn bureaucrats sucking their thumbs..." He mumbled to himself as he then answered the final question.

[quote=@Evil Snowman][color=Fuchsia]"Sir I have a question. I understand killing is the very nature of our job. But why make us kill those other Cadets? If you had the capacity to disable our Frames why not do it with the others?"[/color]
[/quote]
Lorenzo turned silent, and slowly walked right to Katya's face. "Never question the orders you've been given, Cadet! It is your duty to fulfill them to the best of your abilities, but nothing more. And here's a new order: notify squad officer Buell to discipline you once promoted. Yes, that reminds me...Cadet Buell, you are hereby promoted to squad officer." 

He then walked back to his podium, as if he was supposed to announce the promotion there. "So, we'll need to organize you into a proper unit. And a proper unit requires positions of absolute authority who take charge and march you to victory. For this I have chosen Cadet Buell; you showed the kind of skills required for officers; initiative, leadership, intelligence, tactics, adaptability, all that crap. Besides, you are the only one with the proper training, so we'll save some time on that as well. Cadet Shinkai, you have also earned a promotion to junior squad officer. You will answer to Buell like the rest, but you can also take initiative if the situation calls for it."

Ritsu brought a suitcase to the podium, and opened it up before Harold. Inside were four items: two badges that are to be worn on the right shoulder and illustrated a human inside a cog, and two advanced pistol-like weapons.
"Tazer pistols," Ritsu began explaining. "They deliver a non-lethal electric shock that reliably incapacitates targets at about twenty meters. You are now authorized to carry them at all times, but their use is only authorized for self-defense and maintaining discipline, nothing else."

Lorenzo then spoke: "Now remember, with great power comes great responsibility. While you have commanding authority over the rest of the Cadets, that doesn't mean you can abuse it, as you are responsible for the well-being of your unit. If such behavior comes apparent, you'll be demoted. Now, unless you have any more questions for me specifically, I'll let the Lieutenant take over for now."

"Now then, you will have the rest of the day off, but starting at 5.45 AM tomorrow we will begin on the daily training regime. From morning till noon will be physical training. You are to report to Sergeant Ken in the gym area of the Solaire facility after breakfast. The training will include sports, Star Fist-style martial arts and meditation, if I remember correctly," Ritsu said as she looked over the details on her device.

"After lunch you are to report to me for virtual training. I will first hold a recapitulation test of the skills you've developed as part of basic training, followed by advanced simulations including leapfrogging, orbital deployment and strike maneuvers. Once a week, presumably on Wednesdays though there may be changes, you will report to Executive Officer Lorenzo in the briefing hall for lectures on more technical subjects, such as Framewerk systems and Cruxi." 

"Free time will be from 6 PM to 10 PM, during which you are authorized to use the gym and recreational areas. The recreational area includes a virtual reality console fitted with various shooting games, a library section and a silent room. Your accommodations will be in the pilot barracks, separate from the rest of the soldiers. There you can find manuals detailing the training program and the available facilities. Dismissed."

Ritsu then left the briefing hall, signalling that her presence was no longer needed. Lorenzo brought a pile of papers on the podium and started reading through them. Elora wobbled out of the briefing hall and in the direction of the mess hall, holding her arms in sorrow. She looked like one without any destination, simply letting the winds of fate carry her to a new tragedy. Finally having time of their own, the pilots were free to either converse with each other and improve their social relations, or head off to train in virtual reality simulations with one or several partners and improve their piloting experience.