Chapter 437:First class.

Chapter 437: 437:First class.

Peter Kanister’s first proper lesson did not take place in a training hall which disappointed several people, Ravenna included.

She sat beside Silver inside Room 4A, academy tablet open in front of her while Peter stood before the massive display.

Helena Seer sat two rows ahead. Shirley sat toward the opposite side. Caleb Orson occupied the front. Mina Cole and Elias Thorn were nearby.

Peter looked around.

"Good. I see most of you managed to arrive before seven."

At that moment, a student entered through the rear door.

Peter checked the clock.

07:00:14.

The student froze under Peter’s gazs.

"Fourteen seconds late."

"Sir, I..."

"Sit down."

The student hurried to his seat while making sure to keep his gaze on the floor.

Peter entered something on his tablet. The boy looked horrified when he noticed and tried to talk but peter completely ignored him.

He continued the lesson.

"Today we’re discussing tactical decision-making."

The display changed and a map of a partially ruined settlement appeared. It had a road, buildings, forest, collapsed bridge and several marked positions.

Peter looked toward the class.

"This scenario occurred eight years ago."

Knowing that it was real and not hypothetical changed the atmosphere.

Peter continued without a care.

"A six-person Contractor patrol was assigned to escort emergency medicine from a supply depot to an outer settlement following a localized outbreak."

The map highlighted a vehicle.

"Vehicle carrying medical supplies."

Six blue markers appeared.

"Six Contractors."

Then seventeen green markers.

"Seventeen civilians encountered during transit."

A student frowned.

"Encountered?"

Peter nodded.

"They were evacuating from another settlement."

The map changed and red markers appeared.

"Beasts."

Both Ravenna and Silver leaned forward.

Peter continued.

"The patrol came under attack approximately fourteen kilometers from its destination. Initial engagement damaged the vehicle."

A warning appeared.

VEHICLE MOBILITY: LIMITED

"One Contractor suffered a severe leg injury." One blue marker turned yellow. "Ammunition reserves at approximately sixty-two percent."

Another display.

REINFORCEMENTS: 40 MINUTES

Peter turned.

"You are in command."

Silence filled the room for almost a minute before several hands rose all at once.

Peter pointed at Caleb who was seated in the middle area.

"Establish a defensive position around the vehicle and hold until reinforcements arrive."

Peter nodded.

"Why?"

"The vehicle has supplies we can’t abandon, we have an injured Contractor, seventeen civilians and reinforcements coming. Moving increases exposure."

"Reasonable."

Caleb looked pleased.

Peter touched the display and the red markers multiplied.

ESTIMATED HOSTILES: 34 → 71

Caleb’s expression changed.

Peter looked at him.

"Still holding?"

Caleb thought for a second before responding.

"No."

"Why?"

"Seventy-one is too many."

"What if they’re Tier One?"

Caleb paused.

"Then maybe."

"Maybe?"

He frowned clearly now completely confused.

Peter nodded.

"Good. You don’t know." He looked around. "Next."

Helena raised her hand.

Peter nodded.

"I wouldn’t immediately abandon the position. First I’d establish layered protection around the civilians and injured Contractor while determining whether the vehicle can still move."

Peter looked at her.

"Using your ability?"

"Partially. I’d use physical cover first."

"Why?"

"Because my barrier consumes energy, and forty minutes is too long to maintain it continuously."

Silver nodded slightly.

Peter asked, "Then?"

"If the vehicle can move, even slowly, I’d rather keep the group mobile than wait for increasing numbers."

Peter changed the display.

VEHICLE SPEED: 18 KM/H MAXIMUM

"Road ahead partially obstructed."

Helena thought.

"I’d still move."

"Why?"

"Because eighteen kilometers per hour is faster than civilians walking while carrying an injured person and medical supplies."

Peter nodded.

"Reasonable." He looked around. "Someone disagree?"

Ravenna raised her hand.

Peter pointed.

"I wouldn’t move immediately."

Helena turned slightly, intrigued.

Peter asked, "Why?"

"We don’t know where the beasts are coming from."

Peter nodded.

Ravenna continued.

"If we start driving down a partially blocked road without scouting, we could move directly into the larger group."

"What would you do?"

"Find the weakest concentration first."

"How?"

"Scout."

"Who?"

Ravenna looked at the information.

"You haven’t given us their abilities."

Peter smiled faintly.

"Correct."

Ravenna paused.

Several students laughed quietly.

She frowned cleanly confused.

Peter waited for her to continue without giving her anything in addition.

Ravenna adjusted almost immediately.

"Then I can’t decide who."

"Better."

She continued.

"I’d still want information before moving."

Peter nodded.

"Good."

Shirley’s hand rose.

Ravenna glanced toward her.

Peter selected her.

Shirley spoke calmly.

"I’d avoid the main road."

Peter looked interested.

"Remember you have seventeen civilians," peter said.

"I know," Shirley responded.

"One injured Contractor."

"I know."

"Medical cargo."

"Also know." She pointed toward the map. "The forest here runs parallel to the road for almost four kilometers."

Peter enlarged it for them.

Shirley continued.

"If we can move the civilians through the tree line while a smaller group takes the vehicle down the road, the beasts may follow the louder target."

Peter stared his eyes narrowing.

"You’re proposing splitting the patrol."

"Yes."

"Communications?"

Shirley paused also caught off guard.

Peter changed the scenario.

COMMUNICATION RELIABILITY: INTERMITTENT

Shirley’s expression tightened.

Peter asked, "Still splitting?"

She thought longer.

"No."

"Why?"

"If communication fails and either group encounters something unexpected, neither knows the other’s condition."

"Good."

She sat.

Ravenna looked forward again.

Silver noticed she hadn’t reacted negatively simply because Shirley had offered a decent idea.

That was good too.

Peter continued through several students.

Every plan sounded reasonable. Every plan failed when he introduced something else.

Hold position?

More beasts.

Move?

Road blocked.

Forest?

Possible ambush.

Split?

Communications unreliable.

Fight through?

Unknown stronger beast nearby.

Wait for reinforcements?

Reinforcement arrival delayed.

Eventually frustration spread among the students.

Mina raised her hand.

"Sir, you’re changing the scenario every time we answer."

Peter looked at her.

"Yes."

"Then how are we supposed to give you the correct answer?" She asked her voice now clearly filled with frustration.

Peter smiled.

"Excellent question."

He looked around.

"Ruddington."

Silver looked up.

"Sir?"

"You’ve been quiet."

"I’ve been listening."

"Now stop and answer."

Several students looked toward him, the hope in there gaze could be tasted.

Silver leaned back slightly.

Peter gestured toward the map.

"You’re in command."

He looked at the information.

Maybe.

He didn’t answer; instead he asked, "How badly injured is the Contractor?"

Peter’s expression changed slightly.

"Severe leg injury."

"Can they remain conscious?"

"Yes."

"Can they use their ability?"

"Limited."

"What ability?"

Peter smiled.

"Unknown to you."

Silver nodded.

"How much medicine?"

Peter looked at him.

"Enough that carrying everything manually would require at least four people."

"Does the vehicle still have full steering?" He asked.

"Mostly," peter replied.

"Mostly?"

"Pulls right."

"Fuel?"

"Half tank."

"Terrain off-road?" Silver asked.

"Uneven."

"Can the vehicle handle it?"

"Unknown," Peter responded.

Silver looked at the map.

"Do we know what attracted the beasts?"

"No."

"Do we know whether they’re hunting us or simply moving through the area?"

"No."

"Strongest confirmed beast?"

"Tier Two."

"Possible?"

"Tier Three reported in the region three days earlier."

Silver nodded.

Peter waited for his answer.

"Anything else?" Peter asked.

"Yes."

Several students laughed.

Peter gestured.

"Continue."

"Do the civilians have weapons?"

"Two have civilian firearms. Limited ammunition."

"Any children?"

"Six."

"Anyone else injured?"

"Three minor."

"Weather?"

"Clear."

"Time of day?"

"Sixteen thirty."

"Sunset?"

"Approximately two hours."

Silver stopped.

Peter looked at him.

"Finished?"

"For now." He said.

"Plan."

Silver looked at the map.

"I don’t have one."

The room went quiet as anticipation visibly collapsed. Ravenna looked at him her eyes narrowing into a glare.

Peter’s eyebrow rose.

"You’re ranked first on the preliminary leadership board and your answer is that you don’t have a plan?"

"Not yet."

"Explain."

Silver pointed toward the vehicle.

"Everyone keeps deciding whether to hold, move or split before establishing what information can actually be obtained safely."

Peter said nothing.

Silver continued.

"First priority is immediate security. Not a permanent defensive position. Just enough to prevent another casualty while we assess."

Helena nodded slightly.

"Second, someone checks the vehicle properly. If eighteen kilometers per hour is its current safe speed, that’s useful. If the steering fails after five hundred meters, it isn’t."

Peter listened.

"Third, scout the immediate route without separating beyond reliable recovery distance."

Ravenna looked toward him.

Silver continued.

"Not necessarily physically. If anyone has perception abilities, drones, enhanced senses, anything useful, use those first. If we don’t have them, then we adapt."

"And the beasts?" Peter asked.

"Avoid unnecessary engagement."

Ravenna smiled faintly.

Silver continued.

"We have civilians and medicine. Killing beasts isn’t the mission."

Peter nodded once.

"If we can identify a route that keeps the vehicle moving, I’d move. If we can’t, then we decide whether holding is safer. If neither works, then we start deciding what supplies can be abandoned."

A student frowned.

"Abandon the medicine?"

Silver looked toward him.

"If keeping all of it kills seventeen civilians, yes."

The student hesitated.

"But the settlement needs it."

"I know." Silver looked back toward Peter. "That’s why I wouldn’t make that decision first."

Peter asked, "What about the injured Contractor?"

"Move them with us if possible."

"And if they slow everyone down?"

Silver paused.

Ravenna watched him clearly waiting in anticipation.