[L-1 Colony Cluster, 2337 A.D.]
As Elias stood in front of the mirror of his hotel room, he couldn't help but make sure that his appearance was as neat and proper as possible before stepping out the door. And although he hated the fact that he had to cut his signature curly black hair, he knew that such sacrifices were necessary in order to achieve his goal. But on the bright side, he did look pretty good in his new uniform. And he had to admit that the blue and gold color scheme went pretty well with his emerald green eyes. Not that such details really mattered in the grand scheme of things.
However, despite how good the young man may have felt, the weight of the impending exam pressed down on him like an elephant sitting on his chest.
While his fingers lingered on the brass buttons of his new jacket, Elias let out a steadying breath in hopes of quelling the nerves that had slowly crept in over the last few days. He had been preparing for this moment for years. All that time he spent training as a midshipman had led up to this one moment. And yet, standing here now, on the cusp of finally becoming a naval officer, Elias couldn't quite shake the fluttering within his chest.
"Focus, Elias...." The young man muttered to himself. "You got this."
It was a small ritual he picked up during his time as an apprentice. Whenever doubt began to cloud his mind, the young man would ground himself with those words. Captain Nelson had drilled the importance of confidence into him, and Elias had made it his mantra. Still, even the most disciplined of men got nervous every now and then. And Elias knew that nerves could be both a blessing and a curse. Confidence might be what drags him through the door today, but his knowledge and training were what he needed to rely on now.
Today, Elias was about to take the Colonial Naval Officer's Exam. A daunting, multi-phase assessment of everything he had learned throughout his apprenticeship. The first part, the written portion, would test his knowledge of naval tactics, regulations, and history. The second, the practical application exam, would assess his ability to handle a ship's duties under pressure while testing his leadership skills, judgment, and decision-making. And the worst of all, at least in his opinion, was the final interview with the review panel.
Elias had already heard more than a few horror stories about the review panel while doing his research for the exam. It consisted of five of the most esteemed officers in the Colonial Navy. Each one a master of their craft who possessed an eye for detail that could make even the most seasoned officer sweat. They were the kind of people who knew exactly what they were looking for and wouldn't tolerate anything less than an exceptional showing. And, as if the whole thing wasn't already stressful enough, one of those five officers who would be evaluating Elias today was none other than his dear aunt, Kara Howell.
The redheaded woman was known for being one of the toughest, no-nonsense commanders in the entire fleet. And Elias couldn't help but feel a sense of unease because of this. Not because he doubted her judgment, far from it actually. But mainly because it felt oddly...personal.
His aunt had always been a formidable figure in his life, but none of that mattered right now. Because here, in the unforgiving halls of Naval Headquarters, there would be no room for nepotism. And certainly no room for favoritism. Her reputation was way too important to let something like that trip her up. If she found him lacking in any way, she wouldn't hesitate to let it be known. Hell, it might even be appropriate to say that she was going to be the hardest evaluator in the building.
"Just breathe." Elias whispered to himself again to calm his nerves. The man then gave his uniform one last look before straightening his posture and leaving his room. It was now or never.
-(o)-
A nervous energy radiated from nearly every corner of the exam hall. Within it, a group of young men and women, mostly in their early twenties, were quietly waiting for the testing to begin. As far as he was aware, Elias was the youngest person taking the exam this time around. Which made sense considering he was the only examinee who did an apprenticeship as opposed to going to the service academy in the Nimitz Colony. Something like this wasn't particularly surprising to him considering how uncommon his chosen path was. However, Elias did have a feeling that such a small detail made him stand out unnecessarily.
Elias quickly took a moment to take in his surroundings while they all waited for the testing to begin. All around him were people who appeared to be just as nervous as he was, while others seemed to be more than confident that they were going to pass the exam. The guy standing next to him, Cadet Herrera, if Elias read his nametag right, was the embodiment of calm and poise. Almost as if he already knew what the outcome of the day's events was going to be. On the other hand, the woman who was standing directly in front of the green-eyed man seemed like she was about to have a nervous breakdown at any moment if the exam didn't begin soon.
'I really am the youngest one here, huh?' Elias then thought to himself as he watched one of the proctors place their exam packets on their desks. 'All these guys are going to be graduating from the academy in a few months if they pass today. I guess I'm the odd man out.'
This was fine, though. Or at least it was in Elias's opinion. All this really meant was that he had a lot more hands-on experience than his peers. While they spent their time in classrooms absorbing theoretical knowledge and playing in simulations, Elias had learned the right and practical way to do things. The way that they didn't teach you at the academy. His time spent working under Captain Nelson had taught him far more than any classroom ever could. The vastness of space, the rhythm of a ship in motion, and the camaraderie of the crewmates. Those were the lessons that he carried with him.
However, as Elias sat down at the desk to begin the written portion of the exam, his confidence began to waver. With each question he answered, he had to remind himself of the years he had spent working alongside seasoned sailors. He wasn't some academy graduate with years of book knowledge under his belt, he was someone who had been tested in the fire of real-world experience. And that experience was what he was going to have to lean on for the remainder of the day.
Fortunately, the written exam passed by without incident. Albeit with no short amount of stress coming as a result of it. That being said, Elias knew that he performed well on the first part of the exam. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but more than well enough to keep himself calm. And soon enough, it was on to the practical applications portion of the exam.
-(o)-
An hour later, Elias stepped out onto the manicured bridge of a simulation ship with his fellow examinees. This was where he would be required to navigate a series of crisis scenarios. Scenarios that ranged from sudden solar storms to pirate attacks. All of which were designed to test an applicant's ability to think quickly, lead decisively, and keep his crew safe.
To Elias's relief, the scenarios felt almost like second nature to him. During his turn in the captain's seat, his hands moved with practiced ease, and his mind was sharp from years of watching his former crew navigate through these exact situations. The green-eyed man barked orders with authority while coordinating the crew's movements. Thanks to this, he successfully managed to steer the ship through each simulated crisis with barely even a scratch.
The rest of the applicants seemed stiff in comparison. Or at least, that how they look to Elias anyway. Their textbook responses fell short of the quick and adaptive leadership that Elias had learned during his apprenticeship. The young man was doing his best not to appear overconfident. However, it was hard not to when he learned that he obtained the highest score out of all the other applicants in his group when everyone was finished with their turn.
When the final applicant's test was complete, Elias exhaled, feeling the tension of the day beginning to loosen. He had passed the trickiest part of the exam. Now, all that remained was the dreaded interview with the review panel.
-(o)-
The sterile appearance of the interview room was quite unnerving, to say the least. The bright white walls, polished wooden floors, and the cold glint of the metallic fixtures upon the walls did little to help one relax in such an environment.
And at the center of the room sat the five officers of the review panel.
The first four were instantly recognizable to Elias thanks to his many months of research and preparation. Fleet Admiral Morrin, Captain Veller, Captain Kade, and Vice Admiral Breece. Each one possessed an air of authority that seemed to fill every corner of the room. Their mere presence alone was enough to force a bit of sweat down the young man's neck. And then, sitting at the far right end of the table was Kara Howell, Elias's aunt. Her sharp green eyes watched him with an unreadable expression as he entered the room.
After taking a quick breath, the young man squared his shoulders as he stepped forward while trying to hide the slight tremor in his hands. Elias already knew that this was where the real challenge would take place. He had been preparing for this moment his whole life. But now that he was actually here, facing the five officers of this panel was much more nerve-wracking than dealing with a solar storm or a rogue vessel. This was the make-or-break moment. The culmination of everything he had worked for.
"Midshipman Thorton." Fleet Admiral Morrin began, his voice deep and steady. "We've reviewed your records, as well as your scores from today's testing. You've done well up to this point, but tests only tell us part of the story. We'd like to know more about you as a person. So tell us, why do you want to serve as an officer in the Colonial Navy?"
Elias took a deep breath. It was a softball question used to break the ice and see where his head was at. One that he already knew the answer to.
"I've dedicated my life to this path, sir." The young man said confidently, his voice unwavering. "The Navy isn't just a career option for me...it's a calling. I've learned the importance of duty, honor, and responsibility during my time as a midshipman. And I wish to prove myself. Not because of the title, but because I firmly believe I can make a difference and help the people of the Federation and beyond."
The panel listened intently, nodding as he spoke. And sure enough, the questions began to flow. Everything from tactics to leadership and decision-making was touched upon as the minutes flew by. Eventually, Elias was able to find his rhythm. The young man did well to answer each question with clarity and conviction. And once the questioning was over, four out of the five panel members nodded their heads in approval. Aunt Kara, however, remained silent. Her expression was unreadable from where Elias was sitting.
Finally, after a long pause, the redheaded Vice Admiral leaned forward in her seat and began to speak.
"Before we move forward, I have something that I need to confess." She said, her voice cutting through the tension. The woman then locked eyes with Elias before continuing. "Midshipman Thorton here is actually my nephew."
"Is that right?" Fleet Admiral Morrin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, that certainly explains why he was able to perform so well on all of the tests."
"I knew that you were the one who wrote his midshipman recommendation. But I thought that was just because you two were from the same colony. I had no idea that you were related." Vice Admiral Breece commented. "Although...I do see the resemblance now that I think about it."
Captain Kade began to laugh while pointing her finger at the redheaded woman. "Honestly, we could've just passed the kid with that knowledge alone! It would've saved us some time."
Vice Admiral Howell leaned back in her seat. "I just didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I wanted you all to judge the brat with your own eyes. It was obvious to me that he was going to do well, so there was no point in bringing it up until now."
Elias blinked in surprise. His aunt had been careful to keep their familial connection private. Mainly to avoid any hint of favoritism from the examination staff. He honestly didn't even expect the woman to mention their relationship at all. The other officers exchanged glances, some surprised, others intrigued, but it was clear they respected the woman's judgment.
All Fleet Admiral Morrin did was nod before speaking. "In that case, I don't see any reason to discuss the matter any further. After all, the boy did manage to outdo all of our academy students this year. And honestly, he did more than enough to get the green light thanks to the first two portions of the exam. In any case...welcome to the Colonial Navy, Ensign Thorton. We're happy to have you aboard."
Elias felt his chest swell with pride as he stood to salute. He did it! He really did it! He was officially a naval officer!
Before leaving the room, his aunt took the liberty of personally pinning Elias his new rank insignia on his shoulders. Proof that he was officially a part of the team.
And now, with this chapter of his life officially closed, a new one was ready to begin.