The new training regime came Monday. Each clone was supposed to find a team of three. I looked around to view my options. I was in the Fleet Branch and would take those classes individually. I wanted a diverse team of people with their own traits. A new strategist needed some new pawns. Instead of choosing who would work with me, I waited. Occasionally, a clone who saw my ranking during the trial would ask me to join the their team. I refused. Everyone had grouped up, but the stragglers. The ones who would end up becoming the janitors and like. I smiled knowingly. I needed the challenge, so I chose a muscular boy spacing out and a girl with a nervous twitch.

“Hello, I’m Tom. Glad we can be teammates.” I gave them a handshake. They looked as if they won the lottery. I guess they did in a way. They were all smiles. No one wanted to pick the boy because of his low intelligence. Muscle without the brains couldn't enact strategy. The girl was considered a coward by the other clones. The only reason she passed the trial was because of her intelligence.

“My name is Tara” the girl said quietly.

“I’m Nud. I am happy to be with friends. We gonna win.”

I asked how they spent their starting credits. Since Nud hadn’t completed many lessons with his a AI, he didn’t have any enhancements. Did he need any? Without my enhanced strength, he could ground me to a pulp. Tara fared better completing many earning twenty thousand credits. She spent the money on a shield gadget to defend against others. They also had another advantage I lacked.

AI had a function to assist in combat. Critical points were tracked by the advanced computers and displayed for the clones. The AI also had wisdom and intelligence unmatched by humans. Maybe unmatched by all organic life.

We sat in the corner discussing strengths and weaknesses. Nud would take the front of our squad while Tara would take a long ranged strategy while fighting. I would transition based on what was needed. I suspected I'd stay with Nud during tough fights.

We registered our group and waited. All the teams were given communication chips placed in the cavity of our ears. Only team members could communicate in this way. The teachers, marital and strategic, wouldn't be able to invade our privacy.

I climbed into the escape pod with Nud and Tara. A few minutes later every clone was in place and we were fired into the atmosphere below.

The metal screamed after hitting the atmosphere. I wondered what the failure rate of these pods where? The burning gases created from the friction were seen out of the crystal windows. A red hue turned the expanse of plains grass from green to brown. We were on an underpopulated area of the planet. From a bureaucratic perspective this seemed costly. Why weren't we just teleported?

Tara was battling the tremendous g force, and Nud was passed out. We continued for a few minutes until the pod suddenly jerked upward and descended in a gentle manner. Those must have been the parachutes.

Nud woke up and we unbuckled from the harness keeping us in the metal box. A hatch was open and we were greeted by wilderness. The planet’s tall grass rose above our line of site. I climbed the pod, surveying the land. I couldn't make out any other dropped pods. Was this a test or did the pods trajectory put us off course?

We set off realizing we need to head somewhere. The walk was slow pushing aside the tall unwieldy grass. Armed in only our clothing, food, shelter, and water was a must. The pod helped by pointing out our first destination. A stream ran North of us from East to West. There we would make a shelter.

I had Nud gather grass for a few beds once we arrived at the bank. Tara and I discussed future problems we might have. We could only survive and hope someone was watching us. The pod might have a tracking device, but there were no guarantees.

The grass made our huts and mats. It was surprisingly comfy. The sun was setting. I had imagined taking in nature and I relished the chance to hike before we were back on a ship or on a military base. Life was good. Both Nud and Tara were sound asleep. I layed back and closed my eyes...