The moment training ends for the day, William slipped away to the base's technical workshop. He'd scoped it out days ago, knowing they keep surplus electronics and outdated communication gear stored there.
'Microprocessors first,' he thinks, ducking behind a stack of crates labeled "PROPERTY OF U.S. ARMY – OBSOLETE."
He pulled out a small handheld computer used for field data analysis, an old model, but its processor is compact and powerful enough for his current needs. Holding it in his palm, he focuses hard, letting the assimilation process begin. This one feels different from the radio or battery. It felt more complex, like weaving thousands of tiny threads into his mind instead of just one.
A sharp but manageable headache pulses through his skull as his brain adapts to the new connections. When it fades, he closes his eyes and can see. Not with his eyes, but with the processor's logic: pathways forming, data organizing itself, calculations running faster than he ever thought possible.
He did not dwel on the upgrade just yet, there's time for him to see what he can do later. 'Next up is a satellite modem,' he picked one up from a pile tucked in a corner.
"Time to get connected," he mutters, touching its casing. The familiar tingle spreads, and suddenly he can sense the invisible web of microwave signals crisscrossing the sky. He didn't access anything just yet, he knows that'd be a possibility of security risk but his improved processing and logic mapped out the networks, learning how to tap into them without leaving a trace.
He picked up the M22 binoculars and his eyes itched as he assimilated it. Not finished with his eyes, he also grabbed an AN/PVS 7 bi-ocular night vision goggles and an AN/PAS-13 thermal vision scope. A new world appeared before William, testing through the different modes of vision made him excited.
Finally, he finds a terrain mapping sensor used for old drone systems. As he assimilates it, his perception shifts—when he opens his eyes, he can mentally overlay topographical data onto the world around him, noting every dip in the ground, every hidden stream, every possible route through even the thickest terrain.
'This is going to make land nav a joke,' he chuckles quietly, packing up the empty casings and slipping them back where he found them.
TWO DAYS LATER – SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DAY
The assessment takes place in a massive training complex that simulates urban, desert, and forest environments all in one area. The selected trainees are split into squads of four, with William leading his team—Gordon, Brian, and Troy.
"Your mission: secure the high-value target in sector 4, navigate through three hostile zones, and transmit intel back to command—all while evading 'enemy forces'," the evaluator announced. "You have four hours. Begin!" He shouted in continuation.
William pulled out the map just for show because he doesn't really need it. One scan and the perfect copy already existed in his head like a mini map in games. He can even make it a 3D model with sufficient data and time. Closing his eyes for a second, he connects to nearby cell towers and unused military satellites, mapping every inch of the complex in real time to do just that.
"Alright team. Listen up. Here's the plan," he says, pointing confidently. "We take the northern route through the forest first through here—there's a dry creek bed hidden under the brush that'll keep us covered. Enemy patrols should be moving through the western path every fifteen minutes, so we'll time our move to slip past them."
Gordon raises an eyebrow. "How do you know that? The brief said their routes are random."
"I'm psychic. Save your questions and just follow me," William grinned, already moving forward.
As they moved through the forest, Brian stops dead in his tracks. "Wait—there's a minefield marked on the map here, but I don't see any markers…"
"Not here, we'll head northeast." William cuts in, steering them left. 'The sensors show the mines were moved to the eastern ridge not long ago—probably to throw us off.'
William pointed down at some of the obvious tracks he found and the clumsy cover up solidified his claim. "You see these tracks? There's been movement in this area within the last 12 hours, judging from the pattern and direction, the likelihood of them having moved the mines to the Eastern ridge range from 80-90%."
Tony nodded in support of his analysis after coming up with the same conclusion. "He's most likely right. The cover up was a bit rushed and anyone with the eye for details can see traces left behind..."
"Like I said—good navigation system," William winks, tapping his head again.
When they reached the urban sector, enemy forces ambushed them—but William was already ten steps ahead. He tapped their communication signals, figured out their formation, and directed his team to flank them perfectly.
"Left side—three men behind the blue building! Troy, take point. Gordon, cover the rear. Brian, get ready to hack their comms once we're in position," he orders, his enhanced processor letting him process information and issue commands in seconds.
'It honestly feels like I'm bullying them. *smirk* I like it.'
The "enemy" team who was taken by surprise did not manage to put up an effective resistance thus William managed to secure their area in minutes.
When William, Tony and Brian stepped up to the transmission equipment, the device seems to have been disabled by the "enemy."
"No problem," Brian says, pulling out his tools. "Give me ten minutes to rewire it—"
"Three minutes," William interrupts, stepping forward. He touched the equipment, sending a small pulse of electricity through it and using his processor to reconfigure the circuits on the fly. He fixed most of the difficult parts then let his team contribute.
"Intel transmitted," he announces, as the evaluator's voice crackles over the radio.
"Lennox team—you're done in two hours and eighteen minutes. That's a new record."
As they walk back to the rally point, Gordon clapped William on the shoulder. "Alright man—you've got to tell me your secret. There's no way you could've known all that stuff just from a map."
William just smiles, but he can see the curiosity in his teammates' eyes. Before he can respond, Sergeant Major Hayes approached them with a rare smile on his face. They saluted in attention as the officer came close.
"Lennox—your squad just earned every one of you a shot at advanced training. And I've got word from Fort Benning—they want you to report early. Something about a special project that needs people with… unique skills."
"Thank you for your recommendation Sir we will treasure the experience." Hayes nodded in acknowledgement while scanning their group with satisfaction. This just earned them a 'high potential' in their papers. The fast track to getting priority trainings and promotion.