Private William Spacer sat on a bunk in the Medical bay at Ariel Youth Military Academy. His leg lay in a cast suspended in front of him as a General stood at the edge of his bed.

“You knew the safety limits for this exercise Spacer and you know more than most about light-flyer capabilities what the hell did you think you were playing at!”

“Sir with all due respect on a six vs. six exercise when my squadron suddenly disappear and all six opposing fighters appear on MY ass it smells like they sold me out. This was a graded exercise and they’re Bloody jealous that I was going to be Valedictorian so they set me up to lose! You know Viper’s had it in for my ass for years and he just happened to be the enemy squad leader? Bullshi- “

“That’s quite enough Spacer! You’ve already submitted your request for special dispensation and it’s already been approved. Also you know how the ramped grading works. You were attached by six fighters and you took out two so you get points for twelve, so don’t say you did it for the grades you bloody well knew as soon as they appeared what was happening and that you’d get more than full marks for the exercise you just wanted to teach that son of a bitch a lesson. You’ve got this unfortunate streak of always trying to do the right thing. But this service isn’t about doing the right thing it’s doing what you’re told! And If you can’t do what your told in an exercise how are you gonna do what you’re told in the field? Now I let the last one slide but this has to go in your file. You’ll still get that Valedictorian your after but you’re gonna have to sit down and shut up for a while. Understand?”

“Yes sir”

The general moved to the next bed behind the screen.

“And you Miss Goddard, I’ve lost count of the notes in your file. What the hell happened this time?”

“Well Marcus Stables must have been confused because as we were getting geared up he grabbed my ass instead of his own. I politely told him this and he got upset and pushed me into a bench where I hit my head.”