"I won't distort the facts to be asoldier." Xiao realized that all of this was going into the report to a superior officer and the Colonel and his adjunct were worried he would discredit them as a the 'follower of the Special Task force'. Well let them say whatever they want, the worst that could happen is he would be expelled from the Central Academy of Sciences, making him a regular citizen. The largest punishment is the removal of hisstudent allowance.
But he would still be alive comfortablyin the Shire, "Distort the facts?" Will clenched his fish and Xiao lowered his head anticipating a beating. "Will!" Col. Raven held the man back. "right now you are too close to the matter to appropriately assess it. Do not forget this young back was brought back with a shattered shoulder after narrowly avoiding death."
"So what? White's dead" Will had already decided that Captain White's death was due to Heine Burton.
Xiao looked down at his feet. Although Burton had scraped his face with his blade and fractured his shoulder, even though he was ruthless when calculating the lives of others, Xiao couldn't ignore one thing. Xiao's pain had become aburden in that jungle and Heine had not left him, instead he went to the trouble to carry him back.
"Do you have anything more to say on the matter?" Col. Raven looked at Xiao. He felt somehow there was something decidedly different about this student. He had the sharpness of a class A student but lacked the enthusiasm andambition. He appeared as though cared nothing for promotions. Fame and fortune.... He acted as if he had no use for any of it.
"I just don't understand Colonel."
"What don't you understand?"
"Captain White died under the fire ofthe Surge. I believe that the Special Task forces' report was far more detailed than my oral statement, regarding the situation. However Captain Will does not seem to hold any anger toward the Surgeor even the Zombies. Instead it is all concentrated on the Special Task Force. I was simply wondering what would Captain Will's choice have been in that aircraft. Would he remain or follow the special forces with the uranium?"
Will is furious, he starts to throw a fist but freezes in mid-air.
"Stay in the aircraft and be killed by the Surge. That was the ending. But you said that you had already avoided their tracking missile. I don't believe that. Even if Heine piloted the craft, he can't avoid a tracking missile. That makes the reason for the landing false, therefore everything after doesn't hold up."
Colonel Raven's smile is enigmatic, Xiao cannot discern his intentions.
" How about we perform a test? A simulated flight. We can recreate the terrain, so fly the aircraft and avoid the tracking missile. Then your 'story' will be more convincing."
Xiao stared at the Colonel. This guy is dead serious.
"The system will be ready in a half hour. I will await you performance. Show me that such a miracle can occur."
Xiao is escorted from the Col.'s office by his secretary.
Will, completely oblivious to the Colonel's intentions, looked at his grinning face with suspicion.
"Col. If the test is to determine if avoiding the tracking missile was possible, shouldn't the test subject be Heine Burton?"
"I'm just a lieutenant Colonel, doyou think that I am qualified to ask Colonel Burton to take the test? Also, I find Xiao Yan quite interesting. People who tell the truth are admirable, but people who tell the truth only on occasion need to be taught a lesson."
Xiao Yan walked behind the secretaryofficer. Simulated piloting was a compulsory course at the Academy. However he has never simulated dealing with a tracking missile.
As he headed toward the simulator, Xiao's mood was complexly disturbed. What would happen if he failed? Would Colonel Raven really accuse Heine of dereliction of duty?
As he was deep in thought, a special task force member stood in front of him. It was Liv. She winked at him, "We are cheering for you."
"Rookie, it was a pain saving you back there, so don't let us down. If you do I'll put you down."Mark revealed a rather ferocious expression. As Xiao looked at him terrified, he laughed jovially.
The tall slender figure of Heine passed by, he didn't even stop to look. It seems nothing worries him.
Xiao seated himself inside the simulator, above him was an observation deck on the second floor. There stood researchers, military officers and many members of thespecial forces under Heine's command.
Live stood against the upper deckrailing and waved at Xiao, Mark held is fist in the air pantomiming a"beat you if you fail" gesture.
Xiao smiled weakly swallowing hisnervousness.
Looking around the observers he didn't see Heine, clearly showing his disdain for the occasion. Xiao placed the helmet on his head and connected to the pilot terminal. Xiao'seyes widened, the reflection in his eyes showing his absorption of every detail, even visualizing the wind brushing the wings of the aircraft.
Beneath him was a vast forest stretching to the end of his sight. The supply platform came intoview, Xiao's heart tightened, he thought to himself, do not moverashly. A wrong move here would ensure he would fail before the test even began.
Before the test, he had gone thought the situation over and over in his head. Exactly what circumstances was Heine battling when he lifted the aircraft? How did he avoid the missile, where was the mountain peak...if he missed even one detail or was slack in his reaction time all of this was for nothing.
The craft headed towards the platform, preparing to land. Everyone held their breath.
The aircraft headed toward the platform, descending at a typical speed, Xiao closely watched the platform. He was lined up, the platform beckoning him to land. Just then the nose shook slightly as Xiao climbed rabidly away from thelanding platform and into the sky.
A missile shot towards him, followingthe craft.
Xiao headed in the direction of themountains.
He rapidly and frequently altered thecraft's trajectory, delaying the ability of the missile to lock ontoto his movements. Each time the missile nearly collided with theaircraft, everyone looking on broke into a cold sweat. The originally relaxed atmosphere instantly tensed.
Xiao Yan's flight angle is precarious; his arc and speed astounding.
"The rookie is pretty good." Mark blinked in surprise.. Live looked over the crowd at Col. Raven.
"This guy has questionable intentions."
Col. Raven narrowed his eyes, intently staring at the holographic projection screen.
The mountains are already in sight, but the missile is closing in on Xiao Yan.
"Alas.." Mark regretfully rubs his head.
He may not be able to hold on now that he has reached the mountains.
Xiao's spine is coated in sweat and his eyes are constantly calculating the distance between him and the mountain, the terminal responds to his brains commands and calculates the top speed at which he can collide with the mountain peak as well as continually tracking the speed of the missile.
The data was rapidly reaching a tipping point, the calculations were dangerously close, Xiao amped up to top speed.
"What the hell is this guy doing? That maneuver is nothing but suicide."
Raven's hands clenched the armrest ofthe chair and his lip tilted into a smirk, "All for this moment."
An alarm sounded in Xiao's ears, the display speed has exceeded what the engine can handle.
Still Xiao did not slow down.
"Oh...God.."
Several students covered their eyes as the holographic simulation began to feel all too real. Xiao grinds his teeth and he recalls that Heine had taken a vertical course along the mountains, the trees below them scorching from the heat.
The aircraft soured into the mountains only to swiftly change direction and head into the sky. The rapid maneuver didn't allow for the tracking missile to adjust and it slammed into the mountains, the deafening explosion reverberating through the observatory.
Xiao took a heaving gasp, the wholeroom was silent. The quiet saturated the room for a long while, then Col. Raven clapped his hands even Captain Will applauded, although his face held a tight resentment.
Mark was so excited he whistled and shouted, "Well done, rookie. Well done."
In his hear the system emits another alert, "The aircraft is overheating, engines compromised. Please begin descending."
Xiao has replicated the situation exactly.
After landing, Xiao closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He had no idea how Heine Burton had done everything in stride. Xiao felt his nerves were about to collapse from the high speed calculations and time constraints.
Xiao removes his helmet, detaching from the terminal and shakily exits the cockpit.
Everyone was staring at him but he was too preoccupied to discern their attitude towards it, Col. Raven walked toward him.
"Xiao Yan, you have shown the feasibility of the craft avoiding the tracking missile."
"No, I have shown that the technical soldiers can also do these maneuvers."
XiaoYan's face was pale as he spoke
Col. Raven grinned and laughed loudly, "After seeing what you have done, this is a most beautiful truth."
"I'm so jealous! Be careful I'll break your neck!"
XiaoYan smiled.
"Xiao Yan, tell me, do you think Captain White is a worthy predecessor?" Colonel Raven asked suddenly.
"of course!"
"Although he was a Class A researcher, I am certain he couldn't have pulled off what you just did. Outstanding talent can be a heavy burden, you are destined to now take more responsibility. The pursuit of every field requires persistance even obsession. You can't stay aloof and outside of it all. Do you understand?
Xiao Yan paused and then nodded. "I understand."
Although he understood he had no intention of spending his energy on such perseverance or taking up any such responsibility. Xiao Yan lived for himself not for any other reason. He intends to stay at the top of the B student class and muddle through until graduation. Then he will be assigned to some meaningless work, mid range salary, get with a beautiful but simple-minded woman and live a leisurely life.
"Good. Excellence is not defined by a B grade or A grade, it is defined here." Raven raised his fist tohis chest. "Now you are a good student and a reserve soldier, I hope one day you will be a man to contend with."
Colonel Raven turned toward the observation deck, "Well, now the test is over. Everyone back to your posts!"
At his command all the fellows and officers quietly left the platform, leaving Mark and Liv and several special forces.
Xiao dazedly walked through the hallway, his limp relieved body gave out and he started to slide to the floor. He didn't fight it, just contemplated falling on the ground and going to sleep.
But he didn't make it to the floor, an arm shot out and firmly held him up.
Xiao's eyes met with those deep cold eyes, and his whole body startled awake, "Colonel Burton!"
Heine loosened his hand, "You're lucky rookie."
Heine's brow, as though always looking down on others seemed to exude an impossible might.
Xiao opened his mouth then closed it.
"The aircraft didn't only encounter a tracking missile but also a blocker."
"Blocker?"
Heine turned around and Xiao watched the strong line of his back retreat down the hallway.
When he finally came to his senses he understood what Heine meant.
Rookie, don't be so complacent, your level is far from enough.