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Less than an hour later, there were enough learning devices made for an entire classroom full of pilots, and Max was standing next to Commander Yuri, explaining the sort of experience that the students could expect to experience in the next few minutes and how it would feel like a year, but it would only be an hour here in the real world.
The concept was not an easy one for the Koleska mind to interpret, but they were slowly beginning to accept that it was a human thing and that they weren't really losing an entire year during an emergency, so they could focus completely on getting the best results possible.
"Now, if everyone is ready, we will be waiting here for you to finish your initial training. Once that is finished, there are six more modules on piloting and tactics. They will be conducted in an old pattern human Mecha since we weren't willing to provide our new allies with such intimate details of our own equipment, but the controls are similar. I have verified myself that the modifications made at my direction will emulate our own controls closely enough to be directly applied to combat starting tomorrow."
Nico had actually cheated and only pretended to be listening while she applied the actual cockpit of a Koleska Mecha to the program. The capabilities and equipment of the unit were different, but the piloting system should be exactly the same.
The students in the holographic classroom put their headsets on and quickly slumped as they entered the simulation. All that was left for Max and Yuri to do was to wait and monitor their vital signs for possible negative interactions.
Like Yuri, they were all showing signs of extreme stress, but that was part of the training program. If they weren't stressed, they wouldn't be learning anything at an acceptable level. So, they just waited in their chairs, watching the monitors until the first round of training ended.
"It looks like we've got a full pass rate, as expected of Pilots who already have some combat experience to go with their basic training." Max congratulated the other Commander.
"Honestly, I had been afraid that some of them might not measure up to human standards after seeing you two in combat. Is this standard for your entry-level troops?" Yuri asked.
"No, you have to pass the third exam to be qualified, but I think that most of them shouldn't have an issue. It's the last three that are the truly difficult ones." Max explained.
"Does anyone have any questions now that you have experienced the training process for the first time?" Max asked the class.
"Is it really possible for the brain to hold that much information? I feel like my head is going to explode. It's like I crammed for an exam every day for months, and now there's too much information for me to handle." One of the students complained.
"That's because you're an idiot, though. Studying always made your head hurt." One of the other Koleska students laughed.
"That's not true. I passed the exams, the same that you did." The student complained.
"With fifty-two percent to my ninety-three. Admit it, you're a moron, but if you can pilot the War Machines, then it doesn't matter how dumb you are. You can still fight." His counterpart laughed.
Commander Yuri interrupted them at that point. "Everyone needs to eat the provided energy bar and hydrate. The next training session is about to begin. By the end of the day, I intend to have you all trained for the third test, and then you will be monitored during the next mission to record your progress and survival rate."
The mention of the survival rate reminded them all of why they needed this training, to begin with. They were taking too many casualties, losing too many friends and comrades. So, the humans had provided them with training that their own people used in order to help them progress.
They couldn't be the ones to let the Commander down. This was their chance to show off the skills of the Koleska, and the humans were monsters in combat. They had taken an entire flank in every battle, with barely a chance for the reinforcements to engage before they drove the Arisen Fleet back again. They couldn't keep allowing the humans to show them up like that. They were Koleska, and they could defend their own home.
Max listened to their resolve stiffening at the Commander's words, then waited for them to finish their food and started the simulation again.
That was enough to drive most of them through the training. They might not know it during the training, but the lingering endorphins in their brain from the pep talk remained with them and affected their mood throughout the entire session, keeping them upbeat and pushing forward through the second module of the training.
This part wasn't as easy as the first, but it was far from the standard of the final three modules, but still, there were some that couldn't pass it even after what amounted to most of a year in the training simulation.
Commander Yuri cast a disappointed glance around the room, looking over the students who had all struggled with the second stage of the training that Max had provided.
"We can run this over again for those who need it, but not today. Your minds need time to recover from the process, and you need to put the skills that you have learned into practical use so that your body knows it as well as your brain does.
Since more than half of you failed the second module, we will stop here for the day, and you can prepare to use your new skills in the next battle."
"Yes Commander. We won't let you down. We have learned a lot today, and we will prove that we are worthy of your attention." The class leader spoke on behalf of the students.
"It looks like you have a lot of respect here in the Station." Max commented as the students filed out, mostly disoriented after the perceived time dilation.
"I've been the Commander throughout a lot of battles. Everyone who comes back alive from a battle with the Arisen Army gets some respect, and the more times that you do it, the more that you get." He chuckled grimly.
"How about we get a meal while we wait for the alarm? Call your Nico over and I will arrange something for you."
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