The Mech Touch novel Chapter 894

Captain Orfan and Lieutenant Dise regaled them with their attempts to pass the test. All of the challenges took two hours to complete, though everyone usually got kicked out within five minutes after failing the very first hurdle.

Even if the recruitment tests adhered to outdated standards and customs, it still took an immense amount of talent and skill to pass them all.

"When we attempted to pass the test for mech pilots, we got dumped into a simulation where we piloted a random three-hundred year old mech on a random battlefield. Did you know what the first challenge asks us to do? We needed to defeat forty mechs of the same quality by ourselves within ten minutes! There’s no way that we could pass such a ridiculous test!"

That did sound like an enormous hurdle to Ves. Perhaps only expert pilots would have been able to pass the challenge, but so what? Numerous other tests awaited them right afterwards.

All the other tests for other positions imposed equally ridiculous standards right at the start, causing none of the survivors to be able to pass the first test.

Ves started to think. "Maybe I have a chance. Mech design is a very new profession. It doesn’t have much history and only existed for about a hundred years since the Starlight Megalodon went missing."

Both Captain Orfan and Lieutenant Dise shook their heads. They chuckled at his confidence and believed he would fall flat as soon as he attempted the test on his own. The AIs administering the tests may be adopting outdated standards when composing their tests, but the galaxy didn’t change all that much in the last three-hundred years. It was impossible to rely on a generation advantage to get the upper hand in the test.

"You can try, but you’ll fail. The recruitment tests of the CFA are no joke! The Starlight Megalodon might be using an abridged two-hour test to determine whether you’re qualified, but that doesn’t make it easier."

"Is there any consequences for failure?"

"Nah. You’ll only get locked out by the AIs for the remainder of the two hours. There’s no way you can make an attempt one after another."

Therefore, each time someone failed, they needed to wait around two hours to try again. Such a cycle of instant failure and constant waiting would have worn down anyone’s spirits. Few people possessed the willpower to undergo continuous failure and lengthy boredom for long.

"Do you know why the executive officer implemented this recruitment process in the first place?" Ves asked.

Captain Orfan shrugged. "The AIs don’t tell us much. They’re all obstinate and constantly reply that we’re not authorized to ask them any questions. However, from what we guess, the AIs administering the test is supposed to distinguish between CFA and non-CFA people. The AIs don’t recognize us as CFA spacers, family members or true spaceborn humans, so we all got served with the more difficult test for non-CFA people."

None of the Vandals or Swordmaidens possessed any connection to the Common Fleet Alliance. Demanding to take the easier test for CFA personnel wouldn’t work. Even if it was easier, the CFA still maintained ridiculously high standards. Perhaps they might pass the first or second challenge, but they would never be able to last two hours.

Ves wanted to try anyway. He turned to Ketis. "You go try as well. Even if you don’t stand a chance, it doesn’t hurt to open your eyes."

"Can I skip please?" She whined. "I don’t want to get beat up by a test. I know my limits. There’s no way I can satisfy the standards of the CFA."

"You’re going and that’s it." He insisted. "Don’t try to finagle your way out of it. At the very least, the ways in which the Starlight Megalodon simulates the testing environment should be a unique experience."

Before they left, Ves and Ketis discussed a few more matters with Captain Orfan and Lieutenant Dise. The latter two had both been cut off from the ground forces, and as the highest ranking officers of the survivors, they needed to understand the threat of the Vesians to lead the remnants.

He didn’t tell them about the high-capacity data chip he carried that contained most of the logs and essential research data. He mostly told them about the Vesian forces and their combat strength. He described the Belisarius in vivid detail and mentioned that its regenerating properties allowed it to operate in the red zone with impunity.

Captain Orfan erupted at that last detail. "That’s cheating! If we have to face off against this Belisarius with our Enduring Protectors and Asterias, it’ll be like a fox in a henhouse, and we’re the hens!"

Even Lieutenant Dise of the Swordmaidens looked hopeless. For a Swordmaiden, her complete lack of faith in winning a battle against an opponent was extremely characteristic.

Yet the description provided by Ves was simply too overwhelming. Twelve Silver Valencias attacking the Belisarius at the same time to the point of self-destructing didn’t leave a permanent mark on the Belisarius! How could she possibly think their outdated, simplistic breakdown-proof mechs stood a chance against a genuine expert mech?

The Swordmaidens may be courageous, but they weren’t delusional!

The topic then turned towards how Ves and Ketis managed to escape the Vesians and make it all the way through the red zone without looking like a mess. From the appearances of their combat armor, they hardly looked as if they stepped outside!

To this, Ketis looked at Ves with an uncertain expression.

He knew that he needed to provide a satisfactory answer. If Ves said anything wrong, the survivors might suspect they turned their coats!

Furthermore, he also needed to explain what might happen when Miss Calabast took him away. If he ended up missing without a word, they might think he encountered a mishap or abandoned the survivors.

He decided that even if Miss Calabast warned him not to tell the survivors anything, he couldn’t leave them with nothing. He decided to throw them a few bones, enough for them to chew on without completely displeasing his temporary partner.

"To be honest, we made it here after being rescued by a third party."

Both mech officers instantly shot up straight. "Is it one of our pirate rivals?!"

"No."

"The natives?"

"No."

"Who then?"

"I’m not allowed to tell." Ves replied simply. "I don’t think there’s a conflict of interest, though. However, there’s a price for my rescue, one which I’m about to pay soon. Don’t be surprised if you can’t find me anywhere. That’s all I can say about this issue. Just tell you this much is already crossing the line."

Both Orfan and Dise pressed him a bit, but Ves remained unphased. Unless they beat the answer out of him, he was determined to keep his mouth shut. This frustrated the mech officers but they didn’t push the issue any further.

From the hints that Ves already told them, they knew this third party shouldn’t be simple. They also extended some trust to Ves, but only up to a point.