Jackson wakes up feeling anxious. Today is the day for graduating from the space academy and for meeting his life partner, who he will pilot an organic spaceship with. "Everybody up". Said sergeant stacks. "Everybody needs to be ready within 20 minutes. It's graduation day" said sergeant stacks. Jackson gets out of bed and goes take a shower and gets dressed in his uniform. He makes sure that his uniform is nice and neat for the graduation. He heads down the mess hall for his daily breakfast. He grabs some eggs and bacon to eat and sit down to eat with his close comrades.
"Who do you guys think you'll be partnered with" asked Jeremy. "I don't know" said rick. " I hope it's someone that I'm actually compatible with. Because you need two people to pilot the organic spaceships" explained Jackson. "Yeah, we know" replied Rick. "But I just want this war to end. We're light years away from home, fighting a difficult war against humanoid crabs and in all honesty I just want the war to end so we can go home" explained Jackson. "I want to go home too, but we have to win this war" said Jeremy. " I know, I just miss home a lot. I miss my mom and my sister" said Jackson. "I know. We all do" said Rick. They finish their breakfast and head to the graduation ceremony.
They arrive at the ceremony and are greeted by Colonel striker, who gives them a graduation speech. " I'm proud today to be in front of many brave warriors, who will no doubt help us win this war. The war has been long but we're winning and we need everyone to do their part. Now, today is the day that you're assigned a partner. As you all know, you need two people to pilot the organic spaceships. We have chosen the most comfortable to team up with each other. Now, each of you have a badge in the middle of your chest. Whatever color your badge flashes, you have to find your partner who has the same color " explained the Colonel. " Your badges should start flashing now " he continued. Jackson looks down at his chest and noticed that it flashed purple. He then looks around for his partner. He eventually meets his partner. A female partner. He walks up to her and introduces himself to her. " Hello, I guess we're going to be partners" said Jackson. "I guess so" replied Maria. "I'm Maria" she said. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jackson " said Jackson.
After everyone meets with their partners, the Colonel instructs them to go to the hanger to find their ships. "Now that you all are partnered up, we can proceed to the hanger so we can assign you a spaceship.
They head down to the hanger and await to be assigned a spaceship. "You all have had virtual training with these ships but let me tell you that there is nothing like real combat" explained the Colonel. " Soon you'll be using these ships to win the war" the Colonel further explains. "Now the base of your ship should flash the same color as your badges. Go to your assigned ship now"said the Colonel. Jackson and Maria go to their assigned ship. "Now,once inside the ship, the ship's tentacles will attach to the the back of your neck, allowing you to pilot the ship" explained the Colonel. Just as the Colonel was finishing his speech, Colonel crane arrives and talks with Colonel stacks. Colonel stakes then turns towards the graduating cadets. "The enemy has been spotted near our airspace. This is not a drill! We need everyone to prepare to pilot their ships into combat. Let's move it!"demanded the Colonel.
Jackson and Maria aboard their ship as they were told. "This all seems so sudden. We're already going in to combat" said Maria. "Yeah, I know " replied Jackson. They sit down in their ship and the ships tentacles automatically attaches itself to them. They then disengage from the hanger and prepare to fly out into space to fight the enemy. "Here goes nothing " said Maria. They fly out and get into formation with the others. "Alright, everyone stay in tight formation" said captain Curtis. They remain in tight formation as the enemy approaches..
The enemy ships fire first, hitting captain Curtis ship. "I've been hit"said captain Curtis. "We'll avenge you" said ducky. "Go ahead ducky, we'll cover you " said Jackson. Jackson covers ducky and sara as they attack the ship that hit their captain but ducky and sara are hit from behind and Jackson and his companion are almost hit as well. "We need to regroup" said Jackson. Several other ships in their fleet are hit. Several ships lost. Jackson and Maria try their best to maneuver their ship and attack the enemy the best they can. The battle rages on. Jackson and Maria's ship is hit. "We're hit".said Maria. Jackson, desperate to win the battle, decides to crash his ship into one of the enemy ships, sacrificing himself and Maria to win the war. Hie steers the ship closer and closer to the enemy ship until everything goes black.
Jackson awakens in some type of pod with wires hooked into him. Confused, he tries to sit up in the pod but couldn't. The pod opens and he is able to finally sit up. He looks up and notices other pods containing his teammates opening. Everyone looks around confused.
" How did you all enjoy the simulation"said Colonel striker. Confused, Jackson decides to ask the Colonel a question. "What simulation"asked Jackson. "We put you all into these pods while you were sleeping to give you a final test before your actual graduation. But you all failed" explained the Colonel. " Had this been an actual combat, we would have lost EVERYTHING and we would have lost the resources the enemy has that we desperately need".he continues to explain. "But sir, we already graduated" said Sara. "That was all part of the simulation" said the Colonel. "What now?"asked Jackson. "You all will have to take the simulation again tomorrow" said the Colonel. "In the meantime, you're entitled to some free time" explained the Colonel. "Dismissed" said the Colonel. The cadets go their separate. Jackson decides to go to the library to learn more about the enemy and to learn more about how to fly an organic spaceship. Maria follows closely behind him. " Yo Jackson, where are you going?"asked sara. "To the library " replied Jackson. "Okay. We'll come to" said Sara.
At the library, they begin their research. They learn more about their enemy and their resources that they need for earth. Then they start researching about strategies. They then discuss about how to beat the simulation so that they can really graduate. "What if we did a surprise attack on the mother ship?"asked Ducky. "Too risky" said Jackson. "We need to attack their weakest point first. Sun tzu said that you should attack the opponent where they are weak" said Jackson. "But what are their weak points" asked Maria. "Their ships can't maneuver as fast as ours. They have great fire power but they can't maneuver as fast. We just have to outmaneuver them" said Jackson. "Another strategy is to make them think we're attacking one target when we're actually attacking another"explained Jackson. "You think that could work. Do you think that we could when the actual war?"inquired Sara. "I just want the war to end so that we can go home " said Jackson. "We have been at the library for hours . We should probably head back "said Ducky. "You're right. We should head back" said Jackson.
The next morning, they are in the simulation room, ready to get into their pods. "Listen up"said Colonel Striker. "Today will be your second attempt to beat the simulation. Beating the simulation is required for you to officially graduate. Good luck. You may now get into your assigned pods" the general continued. They get into their pods and the pods slowly shut . They plug themselves in and the simulation immediately begins. "They're shooting at us"said Jeremy. "No shit, Sherlock "said Sara. "Remember, we have better maneuverability than they do . That's our strength " said Jackson. They outmaneuver their enemies and counterattack. They were able to take out several ships in a row. "Good job everyone. Keep up the good work". Said Jackson. "You're doing good " said captain Curtis.
They take out many more ships in the enemy's fleet. But when they thought they had victory, the enemy started launching bigger and faster ships. Unable to outmaneuver these new ships, they start to take heavy loses. "We have lost several ships ". Said Maria. "We should try to take out the ship that's been taking everyone out". Said Jackson. "Ducky and Sara, I need you to distract that ship . While it's distracted, I'll maneuver behind him and blast them " said Jackson. Sara and Ducky start shooting at the ship to draw it's attention. Meanwhile, Jackson maneuver's behind it. Before they could do anything else, another ship appears and takes Sara and Ducky's ship out. "We've been hit! "said Ducky. Jackson and Maria tried to retaliate but their ship is hit too. And hit a second time.
The simulation ends and their pods open up. " Congratulations. You all did better than last time " said the Colonel. "But you still failed" he continued. "Is it possible to win at the simulation or is the simulation designed to be unwinnable " asked Jeremy. "Do you feel like it's unwinnable " asked the Colonel. "It seems so" said Jeremy. "My job is to prepare you for real combat and that's what I'm doing " explain the Colonel. " Now get out of your pods and go get something to eat " demanded the Colonel. So they all get out of their pods and go get something to eat.
At mealtime, they have a conversation about how to win the simulation. "We need a new strategy" said Jackson. "Any ideas" asked Jeremy. "We can't repeat the same strategy". Said Sara. "We need strategy and tactics that will work in real combat" explained Jackson. " I just want the war to end. I'm only here because my older brother died and my Dad put the pressure on me to join" said Jackson. "I joined because I want to know who I am. I want to know what's my destiny" said Maria. " I joined to do my duty and to have a place to belong" said ducky. "Well, I joined because piloting organic spaceships seemed exciting". said Sara. "So we all have our motives for joining. But don't y'all miss home?" asked Jackson. "A little" said Ducky. "But we're here to do our duty" Ducky continued. "You're right ducky" said Jackson.
The next morning they were sleeping in their designated sleeping areas when Captain Curtis suddenly woke them up. "Get up and get dressed and get to your ships. This is not a drill. The enemy has been spotted near our territory!"shouted Captain Curtis. "What's going on " asked Jeremy. "Another simulation. They must have hooked us up while we were sleeping again "said Jackson.
They head down to the hanger and get into their ships. Once in their ships, the ships tentacles automatically attaches itself to the back of their necks. They then fly out into space from the space station. They then get into formation and head towards the enemy. " Alright. Everyone remain in formation. We're close to the enemy"said captain Curtis. They head towards the alien space fleet and the battle begins. Several of their ships are hit immediately. They try there best too outmaneuver and counterattack. "Sara and Ducky managed to shoot down 2 ships at once. "Good shooting" said captain Curtis. " Thanks" said Sara. "It's exciting, isn't it" said Sara. "It is, but don't get too cocky" warned Captain Curtis. Right after their verbal exchange, Sara and Ducky's ship is hit and hit a second time. Their ship then explodes. "We just lost Sara and Ducky!"shouted Jackson. Captain Curtis ship is hit next. "I've been hit".said Captain Curtis. "We're coming up to assist you " said Jackson. As they did so , they noticed something shimmering in the background of the enemy ships. Some flash of light. "Did you notice that?"asked Jackson. "Noticed what" replied Maria. "There's something going on behind the enemy ships."said Jackson. "Everyone cover me" instructed Jackson as he maneuvered behind enemy lines. They fly past something that's shimmering. It's a ship that's barely visible. It's the mother ship! "Guys, I found the mother ship"explained Jackson. "Are you sure" asked Captain Curtis. " Yes, I'm sure" replied Jackson. " Okay. We need to split into two teams. Team bravo will keep firing at their fleet of ships to keep them occupied. Team alpha will follow me and Jackson and Maria to attack the mother ship" commanded Captain Curtis. The alpha team heads towards the mother ship and start firing missiles at it . "Give it all you got" said Curtis. They fire several more missiles. The mother ship becomes completely visible. They fire several more shots and the mother ship explodes. After the mother ship explodes, the other ships in the alien fleet explodes. "We did it. We won!" shouted Jackson. "Good job, everyone. Let's return to the space station to celebrate"said Captain Curtis. They head back to the space station and dock their ships. Jackson and Maria get out of their ship and are greeted by Colonel Striker and several other top military personnel. "Thank you for finding the mother ship and helping us win the war"said the Colonel. " How come the simulation hasn't ended" asked Jackson. "This wasn't a simulation. You really did help blow up the mother ship. Our troops were busy fighting the enemy on their home planet ,so we had no choice but to use you and your team, with the guidance of Captain Curtis. Our troops have basically taken over their planet and you helped destroy one their mother ships. We basically won this war" explained the Colonel. "What" replied Jackson. "We won this war". Still in shock, Jackson doesn't know what to say. "We really won? It wasn't a simulation?" asked Maria. "Yes, we really won" replied the Colonel. "You should go celebrate with your team. Also, sorry you lost your friends" said the Colonel. "Thank you " said Jackson. "We won " said Maria. " Yes we did" replied Jackson. "So, are you going back home after we graduate?"asked Maria. "No, I think I want to become part of the military full time " said Jackson. "That's good to know " said Maria. Maria leans forward and gives him a kiss. "Come on, let's go celebrate with the rest of our team " said Maria. They go celebrate with the rest of their team while holding hands.
The next morning at graduation, they proudly match in their uniforms. Jackson receives a medal for his role in winning the war. He decides to stay in the military full time. Maria decided to stay in the military full time with him, finding out that who she really is. Jeremy and his partner decided to become engineers and are only in the military part time. Colonel Striker died of a heart attack in his sleep. Captain Curtis got promoted and later remarried his ex-wife. They have three sons.
Several months later, a new team of recruits have entered the space station to start their training. "Listen up, it's time to start your training. When I'm done with you, you'll be perfect because I demand perfection. Is that clear ?" said first lieutenant Jackson. "Yes sir" said the new recruits. They fall in line and wait further instructions.
