Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 2039: A Special Chance

Lorna ordered everyone back toward the academic buildings, and the excitement surrounding Ning gradually died down as the class moved on with the rest of its schedule.

Their next lesson lasted another hour and covered science and astronomy, with most of the material focused on information considered essential for anyone expecting to operate beyond Truimal.

The students reviewed stellar classifications, orbital environments, radiation hazards, navigation references, and the differences between operating near planets and traveling through open interplanetary space.

Ning knew nearly all of it already, and in considerably greater detail than the course required, but he remained attentive enough to avoid looking bored.

Once the lesson ended, the students were released for lunch.

Ning had barely started toward the cafeteria when Lorna called after him.

"Ning, come with me before you eat. I need to speak with you."

He turned and followed her without complaint.

Lorna led him into one of the administrative sections attached to the training building and entered a small office that seemed to be used by instructors between sessions. Once the door closed behind them, she turned toward him with a much more direct expression than she had used in class.

"Where did you learn to navigate like that?"

Ning had expected the question.

"I’ve had some training."

Lorna stared at him for a moment. "It must have been extremely good. You scored four hundred and sixty-nine on your first attempt, and most of the mistakes you made happened only after you had already run out of ammunition."

She brought up the simulation results on a nearby display and scrolled through the data.

"You were only thirty points away from a perfect score, and at such a young age as well."

Ning shrugged a little. "30 is a big number. I doubt I could do better if I tried again."

Lorna didn’t say anything in response to that. Instead, she continued with her own thoughts. "You’re also assuming four hundred and sixty-nine accurately reflects how far you would have gone."

Ning raised an eyebrow. "Doesn’t it?"

"No. The simulation failed you in one respect."

That caught his attention more than anything else she had said.

"Where?"

"When you took the weapon from the Mekharan."

Ning remembered the moment immediately. "It wouldn’t connect to the Mecha."

"Because this particular simulator does not model cross-platform weapon integration properly. The software treats the Mekharan weapon as incompatible once it is removed from the hostile unit because that was easier and cheaper than simulating every possible connection."

Ning frowned slightly.

"I assumed their control mechanism was fundamentally different."

"It isn’t different enough to stop you from using most standard weapons."

Lorna enlarged an image of the Rank 1 Mecha.

"Humans did not invent Mechas from nothing. The earliest designs were developed by studying captured and destroyed Mekharan bodies, and much of our mechanical architecture still comes directly from what we learned from them. Modern human systems have diverged over time, but enough compatibility remains that taking an enemy weapon in a real battle is entirely possible."

Ning considered that.

"So if this had been real, I could have used the gun."

"Most likely, yes. You might have needed a few seconds to establish control, depending on the weapon and Mekharan model, but it would have been much more practical than what the simulation showed."

"Then I would’ve gone farther."

"That is my point."

Lorna closed the display and looked at him again.

"Your score was already exceptional, but the simulator effectively removed an option that your instincts correctly identified. If the system had modeled that situation properly, there is a reasonable chance you would have passed 480 points, maybe even 490 points."

Ning had not thought about that.

He had simply assumed the failed weapon connection was part of the technological difference between humans and Mekharans and moved on.

"Good to know."

Lorna studied him for a moment before asking, "Would you like to try the real thing?"

Ning looked at her. "A real Mecha?"

"Not yet."

She seemed almost amused by how quickly he had interpreted the question.

"I’m talking about the True Simulation."

Ning had heard her talk about it, but he didn’t understand what she really meant by a ’True Simulation.’

"What’s different about it?"

"The basic simulator you used today is designed for repeated training. It simplifies physics, enemy behavior, damage modeling, signal interference, weapon compatibility, and several other things so we can run it frequently without consuming too many resources."

Lorna gestured toward the room they had just left.

"The True Simulation is different. It models space combat much more closely, including realistic inertia, communication delays, sensor interference, Mecha damage, environmental hazards, enemy behavior, and equipment interaction. It is expensive enough that we do not let students use it casually."

Ning became more interested.

"And if I do well there?"

"If your score is high enough, you can become eligible for supervised training with an actual Mecha. That does not mean you immediately receive permission to take one wherever you want, but you would be allowed into the proper training program."

That was much more useful.

Ning considered it for a short while before nodding.

"I’ll try it."

Lorna seemed satisfied. "Good. I’ll submit the request and see when we can schedule you."

With that settled, Ning left the office and finally headed toward the cafeteria.

By the time he arrived, Jason had apparently already finished eating. Ning spotted the empty place where he normally sat and briefly wondered whether Jason had deliberately left early to avoid the sudden attention Ning was receiving.

It would not have surprised him.

Ning collected his meal and sat at the same table anyway. He had barely started eating when several students approached. Unlike Liam’s group, they did not look hostile. One of them gestured toward the empty seats.

"Do you mind if we sit here?"

Ning shrugged and gestured to the empty seats next to him. "Go ahead."

The students sat down, and it did not take long before the real reason they had come became obvious.