The obstacle course that they are facing is a more extreme challenge than Max had seen on many of the television shows his father watched. It started with a rope climb to a set of monkey bars across a mud pit. Then came the rope net crossing to a rappelling wall, followed by a run across the field through swinging hammers with padded heads. Last up was the log run over a pool and then the finish line.

The fact they think a child could manage this is insane. Sure, it’s scaled to their size, but the strength and Agility required would have to match a well built adult’s to complete these tasks.

Max chalks his hands on the bag at the start and begins climbing the rope. It’s easier than expected with the rope fastened top and bottom and well-placed knots, but Nico was just as fast up her side. Determined to win, Max takes the monkey bars two at a time, gaining some distance from the smaller cadet, and begins to cross the net.

It’s set up like a hammock and turns easily underneath him, almost dumping him off. Nico knows some trick, though, and smoothly runs down the center, making the rappelling wall just in front of Max.

Neither bothers with the harness, simply grabbing the rope and running down the wall. Max swings away and lands on his feet running, while Nico tucks and rolls, getting dirt and grass in her short black hair.

Timing the hammers is hard, and Max takes a hit from the third one he passes, hurling him to the ground.

[System Active]

[Welcome User Max]_.

[Compatibility Determined] Rank A

[Primary Attribute] STR 2.5x modifier

[STR] +0%

[DEX] +0%

[SPD]+0%

[Innate Talent] Mind Reading

[Additional Functions Locked]

When Max wakes up, he’s on a mat by the finish line, next to a partially dry Nico. She must have made it to the pool before her system activated.

A fresh pair of Cadets is challenging the course now, one falling from the first rope, one from the monkey bars. The staff quickly recovers them and brings them to the finish line while their system activates, and two more Cadets are called.

None even make it as far as the Rappelling Wall before their system activates, but now that he knows the purpose, Max understands that the distance you cover isn’t the point; the course is only designed to activate the system that is dormant in the new Cadets.

Beside him, Nico opens her eyes and looks around in confusion before nodding her head and closing her eyes again. Seconds later, the soft rhythm of her breathing changes, and Max realizes she’s fast asleep.

That’s a talent Max is a bit envious of; he’s always had trouble sleeping, so he watches the last of the contests instead.

Once they’re all finished and awake, Major Payne gets the lesson started with a shout. “Class Attention.”

Nico leaps to her feet and into a foreign ready stance with one hand on her hip and the other on top of it. Before her eyes even open, she shifts to the Academy Attention position under the curious gaze of the Drill Sergeants.

Maybe it’s a martial arts stance, Max thinks, then scans her thoughts and realizes she was going for a gun. Keeping her memories meant keeping her habits, and immediate combat readiness had been trained in to her during her previous life.

Max makes a mental note not to wake her up suddenly.

“Now that you’ve all had your systems activated, we can begin your lesson. The core stats of the System improve through practice. How much they improve entirely depends on your compatibility and effort.

Deltas, you will get one-tenth of a percent per upgrade. Gamma Rank gets one-half percent. Betas get One Percent, while Alpha Rank Compatibility gets two percent. Your primary stat will get a little more.

Cadet Max, what is your Primary Stat and the modifier?”

“Strength Ma’am, with a two-point-five times modifier.”

“Outstanding Cadet. That’s the largest I’ve seen in all my years. Cadet Gomez, what is your Primary Stat and the modifier?”

“Dexterity, Ma’am, with a 1.2 times modifier.”

“That is typical for Delta Rank. The rest of you should fall somewhere in between those Modifiers.”

A Drill Sargeant steps forward to continue the lesson. “If you want to improve your System Status, you must work hard. Training that is appropriate to a stat will have a chance to level up that stat bonus. Every stat is important, and you cannot start unlocking additional abilities of the system until you get to fifty percent total improvement.”

Major Payne smiles at the students again, and many begin to suspect her friendly smile is not really friendly.

“As you increase an ability, it gets harder and harder to get gains. So, you will all take a holistic approach to training. Every ability is necessary, either in hand-to-hand combat or inside a Mecha. Who can tell us the most important stat for melee combat Mecha?”

“You, in the second row. Answer.” The Drill Sargeant Zamm orders.

“Is it dexterity?” The student answers, and Max prepares himself for the verbal lashing the cadet is about to receive.

“You will address Drill Instructors as Sir. Every time you speak to them, you will start and end with Sir, do you understand me, Cadets.” Zamm yells. That was much more gentle than Max expected. Even his parents were more intense than that.

“Sir, Yes, Sir.”

“Outstanding Cadets. But the answer is not Dexterity. Cadet Nico, what is the answer?”

“Sir, a melee pilot needs Strength, Sir.”

“Excellent. Now, who can tell me why they need Strength? Cadet Max.”

“Sir, Melee Mecha Pilots take huge amounts of impact and gravitational forces. Without sufficient strength, a pilot cannot properly control the Mecha during rapid maneuvers, Sir.”

“Very good. Inside the Mecha, Dexterity is needed to move between controls. Speed is needed to enter commands fast enough to survive. But Strength is needed to keep control when a fifty-ton, angry Cygnus Mecha tries to use you like a rag doll.”

That thought makes many of the students pale, while a few share eager looks. They’re all here hoping to become Mecha pilots, but not all will succeed. Some will be chosen for their skills in repair or tactics as support and logistics personnel. Some will be moved to an infantry program for their complete lack of talent.

That’s what happened to Dave, and Max knows from reading his mind the Horrors that wait down the path of infantry in a modern battle.