The bunks were rife with muttering, stuttering and clattering before the alarm went off. Today was firmware day, with platoon placements to come soon after. I swung off my bunk and got myself ready for the banal morning ahead.The alarm sounded, and we all quickly moved outside, setting up in drill formation. Vance stood outside waiting for us.“Good morning, recruits, it’s your big day!” Vance proclaimed.The barracks didn’t move an inch, not wanting to give Vance the satisfaction of breaking dress.“That means firmware installations this evening, where your cultivation practice slot usually is. The rest of the day is business as usual. Off to chow with you. Osei, I need a word.”We moved to the mess hall for breakfast, and I kept my eyes glued on Osei and Vance as we walked. I couldn’t catch their conversation, but it didn’t seem positive.Is that about the platoon placements?“What do you think that was about?” Sato asked as we walked.“Not too sure, Osei said he’d be putting in the platoon requests today. Could be something to do with that?” I said.“Hmmm, Vance didn’t look too happy. Maybe the idea is a bust?” Tomás added.“Could be… If it is a bust, well, I might have an ace in the hole.”“You gonna leverage your Tiernan name to get one done?” Jin said.“Sure am. You guys said milk them for everything they're worth, may as well live up to that.”“Our goody two-shoes prep kid is going off to break the rules? Goodness gracious me.” Hsu teased.“Careful, Hsu, I might just leave you out of it.”Hsu pouted as we entered the mess hall. Breakfast was short and quiet. We ate eagerly, ready to move on with our training in the simulation pods.The simulation centre hummed to life around us as we climbed into our pods. The familiar gel, the familiar contacts, the familiar wave of disorientation before the link settled.Today, the training ground (...)