Chapter 341: In the Lens of the Commander - II

"Oh?" Hans opened the man’s profile.

The photograph showed a middle-aged man with short, thinning brown hair and a pair of rectangular glasses. His face was rather ordinary, although the dark circles beneath his eyes made him look as though he hadn’t enjoyed a proper night’s sleep in years.

His name was Edmund Voss.

According to the dossier, he had worked on industrial structural systems and high-load engineering for several years before being assigned to a DAEDALUS-affiliated research program.

His work concerned the behavior of structural assemblies under repeated mechanical stress, including industrial foundations, reinforced supports, vibration isolation, and the effects of unusual operating loads on large facilities.

Hans read through the description with increasing interest.

It wasn’t quite the sort of advanced machinery Kordula had been working with, but it was still engineering knowledge from DAEDALUS.

And given how many buildings, factories, and installations his army was restoring, someone with that background could prove particularly useful.

"How did you get this information?"

Hans pointed at the applicant.

Dianne looked at the profile.

"Oh, him?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"He’s... how should I put it? An idiot?"

Hans looked at her with interest.

"An idiot?"

"He included his DAEDALUS affiliation in his application. He even supplied a portion of his old employment records to support it."

"Really?"

"He was quite impressed by our Engineers and construction capabilities. He said our equipment surpassed anything he had encountered during his previous employment."

Hans smiled.

"Well, he’s not entirely wrong."

"That’s what he seemed to think."

Dianne opened another section of the dossier.

"During his interview, he asked whether we had an advanced engineering division, and whether he could work there instead of spending his time maintaining ordinary civilian infrastructure."

"Quite an ambitious fellow."

"He spent much of his interview asking how our Engineers could restore damaged structures so quickly."

Hans laughed.

"We haven’t verified all his employment records yet, but some of the technical documents match the work he described. Our specialists are checking the rest."

Hans nodded.

Project DAEDALUS was enormous and compartmentalized. Even someone who had worked there for years might know very little beyond the specific program or facility to which he had been assigned.

And claiming to have worked for DAEDALUS was one thing. Actually knowing how its technology functioned was another.

Still, if the man’s records turned out to be genuine, Hans could hardly complain about having another experienced engineer join his organization.

"Then perhaps he won’t be very disappointed."

He returned to the applicant’s profile.

A thought occurred to him.

His third Tech Center was still without a Research Director.

Tyrus was handling the first Tech Center, while Kordula had already taken charge of the second.

And now another engineer had appeared.

Hans smiled.

"It seems we might have found someone for the third Tech Center sooner than I expected."

"Provided he qualifies, Commander."

"Do I look like someone who forgets about things?"

Working for DAEDALUS didn’t make him a Research Director. He still needed to pass the System’s assessment, and Hans didn’t even know whether Edmund would agree to Personnel Integration.

But there was no harm in being interested.

"Have him evaluated properly. And if everything checks out, arrange for him to meet me."

"Understood."

Hans closed the folder and handed it back to Dianne.

"What about the soldiers we’re recruiting?"

"The former military and security personnel have generally performed better during the initial screening. Several already possess the experience and physical conditioning required for military service."

"That’s good."

"However, a number of them still need additional psychological evaluation and preparation."

Hans looked at her.

"You’re brainwashing them?"

Dianne didn’t immediately answer.

"No, Commander. We’re assessing whether they’re suitable for military service. Some are still dealing with trauma from the Event, while others struggle with discipline or working under a new command structure."

"Ah."

"Personnel Integration is a separate matter. They’ll still have to agree to its conditions voluntarily."

Dianne read through another set of documents before continuing.

"As for the remaining applicants, most are younger civilians or people without prior military experience. Some are genuinely interested in serving, but others appear to have applied simply because they don’t know what else to do."

"Well, that’s understandable."

"Their physical conditioning varies. Several have shown potential, but they’ll need more preparation before we can recommend them for military induction."

"I thought the Barracks would handle that?"

"It can, Commander. But we still have to decide whether they should be admitted in the first place."

Dianne glanced at the application records.

"If we accepted everyone just because the Barracks could train them, we’d probably have half the surviving population lining up to become soldiers."

Hans chuckled.

"And there’d be nobody left to grow our food. I get it."

"Among other things."

He waved a hand.

"So, when will these newbies finish their training?"

"Which group, Commander?"

"The first batch. The people you said were almost ready."

"Their screening should be finalized within a few days. The remaining interviews and assessments are already scheduled."

"And the Barracks?"

"That will take longer."

Hans raised an eyebrow.

"How long?"

"Several weeks for ordinary military induction, although experienced soldiers and security personnel may qualify faster."

"Hmm."

Hans had forgotten the difference. His ordinary System soldiers could be produced in minutes, already possessing the basic knowledge and physical capabilities associated with their class.

These people were different.

They had their own experiences, habits, and physical limitations. Even with the Barracks assisting their training, the process couldn’t simply turn every civilian into an experienced combatant overnight.

No, something isn’t adding up, Hans muttered, but let the thought go for now.

"It’s... quite slow compared to our regular soldiers."

Dianne remained silent, while Hans looked over the recruitment categories again.

"Well, it’s not like we’re in a hurry."

After all, his army was still producing new soldiers through the normal Barracks system. The recruitment program was intended to bring surviving humans into the organization, not replace System production altogether.

And with his territories continuing to expand, there would be plenty of work for the new personnel once they finished their training.

He considered the different theaters on the map.

Silverpeak was still fighting its Hive. Marianne was consolidating her position around Pylow, while Conrad’s naval forces were working toward Anchorage.

Then there were the territories already secured, which would eventually require more people to maintain and develop them.

"Say, Dianne. Can we coordinate their training schedules with the ongoing operations?"

"Which operations, Commander?"

"Silverpeak, Pylow, Anchorage. The others too, if necessary."

He enlarged the map.

"Brandon might finish Silverpeak before the first batch is ready, or the Hive might keep him occupied for a while longer. Either way, I want the new soldiers to gain field experience once they’re ready. We can attach them to experienced formations wherever they’re needed."

Dianne considered his request.

"We can coordinate with the theater commands and prepare projected availability dates. Their assignments would depend on the results of Integration and induction."

"That’s fine. I’m not asking you to assign everyone right now."

He looked toward Silverpeak again.

"If Brandon still needs reinforcements when they’re ready, we can send some of them there. If not, Marianne or Conrad might have use for them."

"And the civilian specialists?"

"Offer them positions at the Tech Centers, or let them train as Engineers if they qualify. Leave the choice to them after Integration."

Hans returned the map to its national overview.

There was still Sandtrup to consider.

His parents, Alexa, and John were there when the Event began. He still had no information about what happened to them.

Mom, Dad, Alexa, John. Just wait a little longer. I’m coming for you.

Hans remained on Sandtrup for a while before returning to the surrounding regions.

The city was also important for its agriculture and industries. Its farms, processing plants, and transport networks would become useful once the Golden Eagle Army began expanding farther south.

His army could produce its own soldiers, but it couldn’t replace every experienced farmer, technician, researcher, or industrial worker who survived the Event.

At least, not without spending more resources and manpower than necessary.

"Have the recruitment staff prepare a schedule," Hans said. "I want to know how many people are expected to finish each stage and when they’ll be available."

"Understood, Commander."

"And include the specialists. Especially that DAEDALUS fellow."

"I’ll make sure his evaluation receives the appropriate attention."

"Good."

Hans looked over the territories again.

His army had come a long way from the small force he once commanded at the southern outskirts of Grefort.

Now there were cities to recover, research facilities to operate, and entire regions that needed people to keep them functioning.

And not everyone needed to carry a rifle.