Free Tactics of Conquest (Stellar Conquest) by David VanDyke Page B

was still a child in some ways. He felt ashamed of himself for his harshness.
    Michelle took a breath as if to calm herself. “I have a mechanical brain instead of an organic one, but my father designed my mind to be as human as possible, including my emotions. I can’t help the body I was born with, or the fact that I can never really be like the rest of you.” An edge of bitterness seemed to lurk beneath her words.
    Absen struggled to remind himself that this was all programming, software made to emulate human attitudes. But then again, what else is a human mind? Where is the true line? These themes have all been explored in science fiction, and intellectually I know them all, but it’s a bit different actually coming nose to nose with a sentient computer that looks like a human being.
    And that’s where I’ve started to go wrong. She has on the uniform, but she’s really never even been to basic training. We’ll have to fix that, starting now, even if it does sting a bit.
    “Ms. Conquest, if you really want to be an officer in EarthFleet, you will have to grow a thicker skin. I am your commanding officer, not your friend, and I am not at all sure you have earned that rank. Have you been through some kind of training, an academy, a warrant officer’s course?”
    “I’ve downloaded every bit of information available about –”
    “That’s not what I asked. Have you experienced military training?” Absen glanced over at the team of scientists. Egolu gave her head a little shake.
    “No, sir,” Michelle said miserably.
    Absen’s voice firmed to iron. “Then you will delete those warrant bars from your collar and replace them with candidate’s pips, right now. Bull!”
    The major bolted to Absen’s side, his armored boots clattering on the deck. “Sir!”
    “Get a scratch team together from anyone available that has had experience as a military trainer, and put together a course. As of now, you are in charge of turning Cadet Conquest here into the warrant officer she aspires to be. You are also in charge of this team of experts, but don’t take any guff from them, and don’t be easy on your trainee. If she’s to control ship systems, she has to be as tough and reliable as any other officer. More so. Got it?”
    “Aye aye, sir.” Bull turned to the hologram. “Adjust your uniform, Cadet, like the admiral said. From now on you will keep your eyes caged and you will speak when you are spoken to, is that clear?”
    “Yes, sir!” Michelle barked, snapping to attention.
    “Now turn her off, or freeze her,” Bull said.
    “What?” Doctor Egolu stepped toward the major with a hand out, as if to interfere.
    The huge Marine snapped, “Doctor, I am now your supervisor. Put the cadet in stasis, or whatever it is you do.”
    The scientist turned to the technician at the board and nodded, her face set in shock. The tech tapped the console and Michelle froze in place, like a statue or a still life.
    Bull went on to the Marine NCO at his elbow, “First Sergeant Gunderson, set up a rotation of reliable Marines to stand watch with the deadman EMP, then get us the nearest conference room and make sure it’s got access to standard audiovisual and computer systems. After that, get Personnel to cough up a list of military trainers and drill instructors aboard. Make sure Sergeant Major Repeth is on it. Go to it.”
    Gunderson acknowledged and hurried from the area.
    “Doctor,” Bull turned to the lab chief again, “I need you to install holoprojectors in a room at least, oh, twenty meters on a side, preferably larger, somewhere near the conference room. That will be our training area. Create a complete virtual reality overlay with wireless links, so that the human trainers and the…and Cadet Conquest can share. I want it as complete as possible, Doctor – all five senses, pain and pleasure, everything. And make sure she has no special advantages, no tricks. She has to feel like a human being, no more, no