Dayton smiled at the fond memories he’d shared with his Grandfather, his fingers fiddling with the pendant around his neck as he stared at the mourning plaque in the Hall of the Dead. It was right next to his mother’s. He softly kissed the tips of his fingers and pressed his hand to her plaque.

“I’m graduating next week,” said Dayton softly.

Imperial guidelines stated that children only needed to attend school until fifteen, after which they would either be enrolled in specialised elite academies, or move directly into the workforce.

“Professor Martin says that if I can get higher than a 90% I have a chance at a Military Academy”.

Dayton gave a self-deprecating smile, “But, considering I have no access to Gene Enhancement Injections…I know you said that I should stay positive, but the odds are stacked against me. When every graduating student is required to take the exams and only the top 1% get into an Academy of their choice, the top 5% offered places at Military Academies…Then there is the fact that as an F-Class planet, we’ll be so far behind those that hail from other planets that it’ll be downright sad”.

Dayton caught his breath, looking at the two plaques, “I really miss you both…even Grandpa’s Fish stew”.

Dayton turned at familiar voices down the hall, noticing one of his more elite classmates walking with his family. Dayton turned back to the plaques before him quickly, hoping he wasn’t noticed.

“I’ll do my best,” he gave one last promise before he turned and headed the opposite way to where he’d seen that familiar face. The last thing he wanted was to spend a second of his free time hearing all about how he was not nearly as deserving as anyone else given that he was living in Government funded Student-Housing and had a father in prison.

One of the many policies that were implemented following the Induction, was the change in the education system. Not only did it become a singular international system that learned the curriculum given by the Empire, but school was only attended from 4 until 15. At 15 years of age, everyone took on the Exams. The Exams spanned across every taught subject, including specialised electives that had been taken up by individuals that showed promise in particular areas at around 12. Given a population of around 8 billion, this meant that about 88 million individuals took the Exams every year. Of that, only the top 1%, were allowed to attend one of the Specialised Academies that were usually situated off-world. The top 5% were also offered positions at the Imperial Military Academies.

It had become clear, as Earth received more and more information about their new overlords, that every member of the O.S.L.A Alliance was a Military Superpower. There was no possible way to police and defend three dimensional borders without astronomical numbers of military personnel. There was even evidence that suggested that the Four Military Leaders, the Grand Admirals, were more in control of the Empire than the Imperial Family. Military families were certainly held in very high regard.

There was no shortage of competition to become a part of such a powerful entity. But it was also the only chance that Dayton had of learning the ways of the monstrous warships, spacecraft and the like. He had learned all he wanted to about Earth’s technology, then he had spent the last three years proving that he had the capabilities to become an exceptional pilot and mechanic of any spacecraft.

Of course, all of this was on the exception that he got access to the Gene Enhancement Injections.

Despite how humans still stumbled with common illnesses, other planets had long mastered the essence of the Genome, and had developed ways to enhance those Genomes they came across to varying degrees. Those on S Class Planets were given S Class Genome Enhancing Injections when they were as young as a few days old, and these sometimes continued for many months afterwards. But those on an F-Class planet like Earth were lucky to get F Class Genome Enhancers. Only the richest had access to them, and even then, there were stories of esteemed families going bankrupt for a single vial.

The only chance that Dayton had of getting access to the Genome Fluid that would not only properly prepare and reinforce his body and biological functions for life in space, but also extend his human lifespan, was if a Military Academy enrolled him.

But some of his richer peers had already had gene enhancers. They were already biologically more capable than him going into the Exams. He was at a high disadvantage when he really couldn’t afford to be.

There was nothing Dayton could do but his best. So, his best was what he would do.

There were multiple written exams to cover all of the subjects he had taken in his schooling. Of course, they were taken in individualised augmented reality booths rather than on paper. The exams included: A minimum of 3 languages, including your language of birth, Lusvel – the Imperial Language – and one other language of choice. There was also Mathematics, Galactic History and Earth History. Geography, Social Studies, Physics, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology and the one or sometimes two elective classes that had been taken. There were also physical exams. The Empire had introduced their most basic Martial Arts Techniques as part of the curriculum, so that was included in the exam, but physical fitness limits were also tested.

On the first day of the six days of exams, Dayton took his three languages, English, Lusvel and Sign-Language. It was an odd choice for many, but Lusvel did not have any current alternative given that their medical technology could restore such loss of senses. Most viewed it as useless because of that, but Dayton was convinced that it would be useful.

On the second day, it was Geography, Social Studies and Environmental Science. On the third day, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. On the Fourth day, Mathematics, and the two History courses. The fifth day was the day for Elective Exams. Dayton had taken an Engineering Course and a Piloting Course. The Piloting Course was a particularly niche course that very few could enter. Dayton had qualified for it just a few weeks before his Grandfather’s passing. They’d celebrated together with ice cream for dinner, his Grandfather insisting that he wouldn’t tell his mother.

The course was split into 2 exams, a theory, and a simulated practical.

Dayton had logged thousands of Simulation hours over the course of the last three years, and was confident in his abilities. The simulation, they were assured by their teacher, was 95% accurate, and hence, Dayton had learned to deal with G-Forces early on.

Even with the taunting of his richer and genetically enhanced peers, Dayton was positive that he aced the Simulation Exam.

Finally, the last day arrived where they would undergo their Physical Exams.

Out of those that had not taken the genetic enhancer, Dayton was at the top of the ranks in terms of fitness and combat. He had never slacked in his own training, knowing from early on what he wanted to do, as well as not wanting to let down his grandfather nor mother.

At the end of the day, they were all dismissed, the following day would be their graduation ceremony, where their rankings would be revealed. He only hoped that he had proven himself worthy of his goals.

Above Earth, in the Military Flagship of the 73rd Corps of the 2nd Lusvellan Army. General Nathen Wilcomb sat across the meeting table from his long trusted Major Commander, Danin Uther. Between them, on the holoscreen that hovered above the table, were several individuals of interest that were in the process of taking their Exams. Some whom they had heard word of before, and others who were surprising in the way they had performed.

“I know I have asked before, but are you absolutely sure that you do not wish to sponsor a Cadet from a more advanced system? Or at the very least a Cadet that has been exposed to the Genetic Enhancers?” asked Danin.

The General waved a dismissive hand, “A Military Sponsorship is not common, I know. And I’m well aware I take a risk by coming all the way out here to search, but perhaps it is out here that we can find an uncut diamond. The Central systems, or those planets that are more known for their physiques, have been overrun with the attention of the Generals for a decade. The Military needs new blood”.

“This planet has only been a part of the empire for less than two decades, there is such a thing as too new,” Danin argued.

“Come, Danin, I only get one of these Sponsorship opportunities a decade, they were created initially to source promising military candidates from unlikely sources. I can’t think of a more unlikely source than this, can you?”

“The operative word there is ‘unlikely’,” Danin replied, “But, you are my General. I’ve filtered the top 5%, taking away those who have already had the Genetic Enhancers as you requested. I further reviewed their combat ability, and pushed higher on the list any who had taken military-based electives. These are the top 10 candidates that meet the parameters that you set”.

Nathen scanned through each file, liking the idea of some more than others. They all had extraordinary potential, or Danin would not have handed the files over. Opening the last file after not giving a single thing away – a trait Danin had grown accustomed to over their years of working together – Nathen paused at the line that described his father. ‘Terriorist/Incarcerated’ read clearly on the page, and made Nathan weary as to why Danin had passed along the file.

The boy’s mother was deceased, as was his grandfather. He’d lived in government funded student housing for the past three years. Regular Psychological evaluations that were required for every student aged 10 and up, indicated that he was a generally kind soul, but he was also clever, and while nothing had been proven nor reported, it was suspected that he had silently and quietly dealt with recurring bullies through deception and/or gorilla tactics.

He was a piloting prodigy, and was incredibly apt as a Mechanic as well, stating on multiple occasions that it was his greatest wish to use those skills.

He had also, according to his combat scores, performed better than 60% of those who were genetically enhanced.

That last point sealed the deal for Nathen. He flipped the file closed.

“I’ll sponsor Dayton Wayfinder,” he said.

Danin sighed, “There will be backlash when it’s revealed that his father was a leader of the Induction Riots and was arrested and imprisoned on terrorist charges”.

“He’s not had any contact with his father in over a decade,” said Nathen, “And the Psychologist reports show that he has no desire nor inclination to follow that path”.

“And the Unconfirmed Reports?”

“You see a troublemaker,” said Nathen, “But I see someone who can become a Master Tactician if guided properly”.

Danin frowned, “You’re talking about grooming the Earthling for a Leadership Role?”

“He certainly has the potential,” said Nathen, “Keep this quiet, we’ll attend the ceremony tomorrow and present the opportunity to him afterwards”.

“I’ll have a room arranged for him, I’m assuming you’ll want him to attend the First Military Academy? It’ll be a two-month trip to the Hedelian System at least, so he won’t have much time to make a decision,” Danin warned.

Nathen nodded his confirmation, “Keep this in a small circle for now. We’ll have to stay on the planet while he adjusts to the Genetic Enhancer”.

“I’ll get an F-Grade Injection prepared”.

“No,” said Nathen, “I’ll get it”.

Danin nodded, “I’ll meet you tomorrow at 0-700 if there is nothing else, General?”

“Thank you for your help, Danin, that will be all”.

After Danin left, Nathen returned to his quarters and slowly stepped over to the medical fridge. He looked at the one Genetic Enhancement Fluid he had brought and purposely mislabelled, recalling the conversation he’d had with his own mentor before departing the Hedelian System.

“The First Grand General grows more powerful by the year, and with military numbers reaching high capacities and tensions rising against the other Allied Empires, the Emperor will look to further divide the power of his Grand Generals in order to keep control”.

“A Fifth Army?”

“None of us are privy to the plans, but we know enough to be aware that it will happen, the Emperor is just looking for both an appropriate individual to promote, and someone who won’t be in the pocket of one of the other Grand Generals so that the divide in power can be more effective”.

“A Neutral Party?” Nathen has asked, “But then it would have to be someone not yet amongst the high ranks. Everyone chooses their allegiance early so that they can advance on a more linear path”.

“Exactly, eyes are on the next Sponsorship…Don’t let it be wasted”.

Whether or not this choice would be wasted…only the future could tell.