Trials 1

"Alright kid, move from point to point in sequence. Get a handle for the mobility in low detectability mode, that is how you are gonna be using her for the most part."

In the vicinity of the asteroid ring, the fleet Don was assigned to was cruising through space. The only ship deployed from the carrier, it moved without sound. The only way that it could be detected was by frequency it's active radar was emitting.

Inside the craft, Don was seated in the cockpit. Projected in front of him was a spitting image of what was outside, with the exception of the bright colored markings with numbers underneath that indicated their ranges. Only one of these was the waypoint he was making his way to, it was colored bright blue. The other markers ranged from red to green. These were not virtual markers like his waypoints were, they were indicators of actual danger.

Asteroids, rocks, clouds of dust. A vast number of obstacles could ruin a smaller craft like his. Granted, the armor on his ship in particular meant that none of them were a threat should he run into them, but the disturbance in their motion would absolutely be detected by enemy sensors in battle.

"Gah, hit another one." The ship rocked as he clipped another asteroid with the corner of his ship.

"Would you like to turn on depth mode to practice?"

"No. I need to get used to flying in the dark."

"But you aren't even used to the mobility in the light yet."

This was an argument that had been going on between the two for some time now. Currently he was flying in the dark. This meant that all obstacles were displayed by a point on the screen with a color, an arrow, and a number. The color represented how close an object was. This was not a level of close represented by a distance, but by a time to impact. Due to how objects interacted in the vacuum of space, an object that was further away from you could hit you first if its velocity was higher.

Red, naturally, represented danger, close, with green being safe, far away. The arrow pointed to the position in space where said object would connect with the ship if it continued in a straight line at its current speed. A triangle at the end of the line represented it was coming closer, a cross represented that it was moving away. In the case that it was moving away, collision would be considered impossible, so those were green regardless, only showing the position of the object attached to it in three seconds.

These were called predictive markers, a system that had been refined over centuries of space travel. In the darker reaches of the solar system, it was impossible to navigate completely by visual light, so this system was widely used.

The number attached to the bottom was actually something relatively new. It had been introduced around 50 years prior, and it was a system of indicating risk to the ship if contact was made. Smaller objects or clouds of dust were labeled "1" as they posed little threat to a ships hull but could interfere with sensors. "5" represented sizable space rocks. If these happened to be more metallic in nature, it could spell disaster for less armored ships. "10" was actually something of a joke classification. It was assigned to planets, moons, or any large celestial entities which even large ships would not survive contact with.

It was through these that Don was navigating towards his objective.

"If you are struggling to handle the new mobility system you can turn on assisted mode." Doctor Helmsguard's voice once more came through the intercom. Donovan was flying unassisted by ARC. This was actually not recommended. Don was trained using a ship that's control system was vastly different from the one he was piloting.

Because it turned electrical energy directly into kinetic energy, there was practically no delay between an input on the joystick and that command being done. To most pilots, this would be a boon rather than a bane, but for Don it was more of an annoyance.

Although he had only gone through training, the level of mobility he had achieved even with that old training craft was on the level of a seasoned fighter pilot. He was used to what felt like an infinitely longer delay on a much smaller craft. His problem was that he was reacting too early. He was getting better, but he still had a bit to go.

A few hours of rigorous maneuvering later, Don deemed himself proficient enough to move on with the program. He instructed ARC to send him through to the Doctor.

"Hey Doc! I think I got the controls down now."

"Full manual in 13 hours 23 minutes? I know you're something of a natural when it comes to flying but that's a bit fast to get used to a new class of ship even if it was using the same class of propulsion isn't it?"

"I mean it's really just a bigger fighter. Not that hard as long as you follow the general rules of flight, I just had to get used to how quick she responds. She's damn near instant on the bank and she really goes when I press the throttle."

"The way you talk makes me think you've never been with a woman."

"You and I both know I haven't"

"Really? I suppose you never got the chance to leave the dorm. I'll see if I can set you up with my granddaughter when we get back." Doctor Helmsguard chuckled a bit.

"Who? Diana? You would really subject her to me?"

"It's been five years since last you saw her, but I bet she's just your type. She's really developed well that girl. Large breasts, hourglass figure, gorgeous blond hair and a cute face to boot. You would be aaaaaallll over her."

"Are you sure you should be talking about your blood like that pops? Sounds more than just a little creepy coming from someone as, er, distinguished, as yourself." Don had some bad memories of referring to the Doctor as 'old'.

".....I'm worried about her. Even I can't see her as a cute little girl anymore. That just makes me wonder all the more about what those brats at the capitol who think with their groins are thinking. I swear, if any one of them has deflowered my little baby girl without my permission I will rip their spine from their body."

Don knew that he meant it. His granddaughter was something of an obsession of his. Not surprising though, his wife died while he was under his tutelage and his son was killed in a skirmish with the Dominion of Jupiter's forces not too long after his only daughter was born. He had good relations with Diana's mother, but Diana was the only blood relative he had left.

"That's enough banter for the moment. The admiral is gonna get mad at us if we keep her from running combat drills. Run through the gauntlet to get a final measurement of the ship's mobility then dock in the bow hanger. We'll get something to eat afterwards."