The Mech Touch novel Chapter 7120

Chapter 7120: Leadership Tracks

Aurelia had reached the most important junction of her life.

Deciding which career she wanted to pursue.

The stakes were high.

Technically speaking, if she chose one option but wanted to switch to another a few years in, she could do so, but she would have to start over and suffer many different penalties as a result.

There was very little overlap in the education of a future mech commander as opposed to a naval commander.

If Aurelia decided to abandon her decision to command mechs in battle and switch to piloting rifleman mechs or swordsman mechs, then that was relatively easy as the early years at a mech academy were mostly spent on strengthening the shared foundation of every mech archetype.

The problem was that if she wanted to pursue a career outside piloting mechs, she pretty much had to start over no matter whether she wanted to work in civil society or at the helm of a large warship.

Ves and Gloriana would do everything to support their daughter, but other people might not be so forgiving.

The best and most prestigious schools refused to enroll such latecomers for many reasons, so Aurelia could only choose to attend worse schools.

Of course, the quality of education of a less renowned school was not necessarily inferior. This depended on many factors. The graduates also weren’t necessarily the best.

After all, people like Ves and Ketis had managed to become the leaders of their generation of mech designers despite their poor education!

Schooling only represented one of multiple different variables that determined the career trajectory of any individual.

For example, Aurelia could avoid going to school at all and simply proceed to learn what she needed from the veteran Larkinsons at the expeditionary fleet. She could combine self-study and apprenticeships to become the quintessential Larkinson soldier.

This was not the most efficient approach, though. Schools existed for good reasons and Aurelia could obtain many benefits there that she could not acquire elsewhere.

From joining a powerful alumni network to forging deep and unforgettable friendships with promising peers, Ves wanted his daughter to enjoy the opportunities that he could only dream of when he was young.

For this reason and more, Ves deeply hoped that Aurelia would make a decision and commit to it without any regrets.

In order to do that, she needed to weigh all of the factors before making her final choice.

"I do not recommend you to become a naval commander." Gloriana eventually said.

"Why not, mama?"

"As you have already mentioned earlier, our clan has no naval tradition. Our relations with the Red Fleet are ambiguous at best. Do you truly think the fleeters will treat you well if you attend one of their naval academies? The vast majority of naval cadets or midshipmen or whatever they are called come from long and distinguished spaceborn clan lineages. These thousand-year old family organizations are proud of their heritage and consider it to be their birthright to crew and command the most dangerous warships in human hands. I fear that your future classmates will bully you. Even if the academy instructors try their best to break that up, they can still exclude you and ostracize you from their social circles."

Aurelia briefly frowned, but not too long.

"I do not believe that will happen. The Red Fleet needs papa. So long as he helps them create another living dreadnought or two, the fleeters will worship him. This should be enough for my classmates to show their goodwill to me. I am confident in my ability to turn any stranger into a friend."

That remained to be seen, but at least she had a good attitude.

Gloriana had more to say, however.

"Neither your father nor I can help you in a way a member of a spaceborn clan is able to do. We have not been able to teach you or instill the values of a spacer into you. If you choose to become a mech commander, the opposite will be the case. You have access to many mech pilots who would love to give you extra tutoring. From Saint Commander Casella Ingvar to one of your many aunts and uncles in the Wodin Dynasty, each of them are willing to share their wisdom with you. I may not be able to teach you about piloting, but my understanding of mechs is profound. The same applies to your father. Besides, do not forget about our ability to design the perfect Carmine mech for you. Nobody else has access to such luxurious treatment."

"Your mother is correct." Ves agreed with his wife for once. "These advantages are not always tangible, but they exist nonetheless. It is much easier for our clan and your mother’s dynasty to support you. Even if others disparage our treatment and accuse you of nepotism, this is simply the way our society works. That said, I do not think that the disadvantages of choosing a naval officer track is that bad. The rules are changing every day. Old customs and traditions are falling apart while new ones take their place. The demands and expectations of naval officers have already changed a lot with the introduction of systematic cultivation. With your excellent qualifications on this front, you can distinguish yourself within the ranks of the fleeters in no time."

"That is also what I wanted to talk about." Gloriana said. "Are you truly fine with leaving our daughter to the fleeters of all people? What if they indoctrinate her into becoming a warship supremacist? What if she completely denounces mechs? What if she refuses to return to our clan and instead commits her entire life to serving the Red Fleet?"

"I do not think the fleeters will succeed in brainwashing our daughter into developing a bias against mechs." Ves calmly responded. "She has grown up with our clan. She has personally witnessed how awesome mechs can be. At most, she will gain a newfound respect towards warships after witnessing their use by professional spacers. As for whether she will prefer to stay with the fleeters instead of her own clansmen... that is her decision."

"How can you say that, Ves?!"

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