Unity

Chapter 1

This was new, and honestly quite terrifying. An unseen door slid open on the other side of the room and a petite, chocolate brown haired women stepped into the room. "Please take a seat," she said with a no-nonsense attitude. I did as she requested and discovered the chair was much more comfortable than I would have guessed. She pulled a syringe from a pocket and uncapped it. "This is a very mild sedative to help you relax. Its effects wear off quickly and there will be no side effects." Before I even had a chance to give my consent, I felt a small prick as the needle penetrated my arm. The drugs metabolized quickly, and I began feeling quite relaxed.

The nurse must have left without me noticing. The next thing I knew, someone new was placing a bulky, very expensive looking virtual reality unit on my head. It was attached to built-in points on the chair. He fussed over it for several minutes, adjusting it so the room disappeared. Sensors were then placed on key points all over my body and synchronized with the VR unit. The unit came online, and I ran through the initial calibration.

The test started out as many of the others had, simple. Logic and reasoning questions contributed to an overall IQ score that they had been compiling from the beginning and were used as a baseline for the current evaluation. Soon the questions became more technical. Basic electrical theory evolved into advanced electronics. This was the area I had specialized in school. It came as no surprise when the test moved into the area. I had always thought of myself as advanced in this area and was hoping it would be my ticket into Battle Fleet.

Several more subject changes later, and the test transformed from simple question and answer to real world scenarios. This is where the VR gear was truly needed. Everything from emergency electronic repair to combat to routine maintenance was tested. The testing had been very thorough, and I was beginning to feel exhausted when everything went black. Assuming that the test was over, I patiently waited to have the restraints removed. Instead, the VR unit powered back up and I found myself in a strange, primordial jungle. No instructions were given regarding this particular scenario. I was dressed in the Council Ambassador's robes and surrounded by a dozen or so heavily armed guards. To my right was a plainly dressed man.

Our group was approached by several large, aviary looking aliens. Claws on the ends of their wings looked similar to human hands. They wore rough leather garments, indicating the primitiveness of their society. They began speaking in a very strange language that included a lot of clicking of their beaks. The man next to me stepped forward and began speaking into a small microphone. An attached speaker translated to the native dialect.

Soon we were led through the thick jungle into a clearing. There was a large fire and several of the natives were dancing and singing around the flames. The interpreter nudged my elbow and spoke in a low voice, "As our leader and representative, you have been invited to join in the celebration."

Suddenly, I remembered what the strange recruit had said about eating the food. Anxious to pass the test, I began taking stock of the situation. It was clear what was going to happen. I searched through my pack and found a container housing three small pills. Without hesitation, I dry swallowed the pills and made my way to the celebration. I was guided to a small woven mat and given a slab of bark full of exotic looking foods. Resting on the corner was a small bowel containing a greenish liquid. I saw several of the natives greedily drinking its contents, so I picked up the bowel and began drinking. The second the liquid hit my tongue; everything went black.

I was so worried that I had failed that I failed to notice my hands were no longer restrained. It wasn't until the VR unit was detached that I realized I was free. Without saying a word, the moderator motioned for me to follow and exited the room. I was led through a maze of small offices until we arrived at an empty one. There was just enough room for two chairs and a computer terminal. I sat and waited anxiously for the results.

The moderator palmed the screen and pulled up the results. "In the last scenario, you took three pills without even questioning what they were. Why did you do it?"

"The subject of one of the classes I attended in school was advancements made during the Great War. Most of the content was military, as you would expect, but my instructor focused as much as possible on non-military advancements. One of those was what he referred to as the big four pills: radiation, neurotoxin, infection, and poison. It was obvious that prior study had been made based on the presence of a translator and working translations. If that much study had been done, then botanists would have collected samples and determined if the local fauna posed any serious risks. The presence of the pills themselves were evidence that some kind of protection was necessary."

He finished typing in my response and looked focused his attention on me. "Did you have any prior knowledge of what was going to be in today's examination?" I briefly explained the incident in the lobby. He looked at me with a serious frown and said, "You do realize that by admitting to this is grounds for disqualification. You cheated. You went into their knowing part of the examination. Why would you use that information if it meant the possibility of being thrown out?"

I was suddenly very nervous. I took a calming breath before answering. "As I explained before, in real life, there would have been mountains of data compiled before anyone would have ever even thought of approaching the natives. Valuable intel and testing would have been done to ensure everyone's safety. It occurred to me during the testing that the recruit who had given that valuable nugget of information had exited through the entrance without being stopped or questioned. In all the testing I have witnessed and been a part of, applicants are not allowed to return to the lobby after they are tested. It was obvious he was planted there as part of the testing. Knowing that, I decided to use what he had stated."

The moderator stared at me for what seemed an inappropriate length of time. He finally smiled and said, "Thank you for your honesty." He pulled a crystal screen from seemingly nowhere and handed it to me. "Please take this to the quartermaster and he will see that you have everything necessary. Welcome to the Battle Fleet."

I floated down the hall, a sense of euphoria filling my mind. I came to an open area, filled with crates. There was a single worker waiting with a tablet, and a line of waiting applicants. I took my place in the back of the line and noticed the same stunned expression in those who were waiting. Time ceased to exist as my mind struggled to come to grips with its new reality. I was brought to my senses when a gruff voice shouted at me and grabbed the crystal screen from my hands.

"Another recruit eh?" He said as he shoved a device into my hands. "Read these forms and imprint your palm when you are done." I placed my hand on the scanner without even bothering to read a single word. The quartermaster mumbled something under his voice as he gave me a packaged brown jumpsuit. "Follow the signs to the exit."

Soon, I was breathing freshair. I retrieved my effects from the front of the building and immediately hitthe net, informing family and friends of my success. Before I could stop it, agoing away party was being thrown together. I was going into space.