The comms console blinked faintly in the dim light of Major Ashley Kuba’s office, casting a cold glow over the stacks of datapads and schematics littering her desk. She rubbed her temples, trying to push away the dull throb that had taken root since the project’s abrupt shutdown.


    A few months ago, a logic bomb had wormed its way into DOLI’s core systems, causing chaos the academy’s brightest couldn’t unravel. The cascading glitches had been the final straw for her superiors. None of them—not even Kuba herself—had been able to repair the damage, and the funding cuts that followed sealed DOLI’s fate. Or so they thought.


    What the hell happened today? She replayed the moment in her mind: Piotr Argassa, an unconventional civilian recruit, stabilizing DOLI’s systems in less than a day. The sheer improbability of it still made her head spin.


    A sharp knock at the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts.


    “Enter,” she called, sitting up straighter.


    The door hissed open, and Sergeant Major Cotah stepped inside, his presence as solid and commanding as ever. He carried a datapad under one arm and offered a curt nod of respect before sitting across from her.


    “Major,” Cotah began, his voice low and even, “I’ve reviewed the reports you sent over. This civilian… Argassa… he’s a risk.”


    “Every recruit here is a risk, Sergeant Major,” Kuba countered. “What makes him different is his potential.”


    Cotah frowned, leaning back in his chair. “Breaking into Hangar 31 and tampering with classified tech isn’t exactly the kind of initiative we encourage. He’s reckless.”


    “Reckless, yes,” Kuba admitted. “But resourceful. And talented. When DOLI spiraled after that logic bomb, no one—not even me—could fix her. Argassa walked in, took one look, and stabilized her in a single night. That’s not luck—that’s brilliance.”


    Cotah’s expression softened slightly, though his skepticism remained. “And you think he’ll fit in here? At the academy? You’ve seen how these recruits can be. They’ll eat him alive.”


    “That’s why I need your help,” Kuba said. “You know the cadets better than anyone. If you can get them to see his worth… to respect him… it might give him a fighting chance.”


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    Cotah nodded slowly, considering her words. “What about our superiors? They’re already questioning why we’re bringing in a civilian mid-term. If this goes sideways, they’ll come down hard on both of us.”


    Kuba’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Let me handle them. I’ve framed this as an experiment—an opportunity to test unconventional talent. But I need you to keep him grounded. He’s got the brains, but discipline? That’s where he’ll fall short.”


    “Discipline,” Cotah repeated with a faint smirk. “That’s putting it lightly.”


    A faint chime interrupted their conversation, and the wall-mounted screen behind Kuba flickered to life. An older man in a crisp uniform appeared on the display, his stern face betraying no emotion.


    “Major Kuba,” the man said, his voice clipped. “I’ve reviewed your request regarding this Argassa individual. This is highly irregular.”


    “I’m aware, General,” Kuba replied, rising to her feet. “But DOLI’s funding was cut after the logic bomb crippled her systems. That program—what I built—is critical, and Argassa has already proven his value. I’m requesting authorization to integrate him into the academy as a fast-tracked recruit. He’ll be under my direct supervision.”


    The general’s gaze shifted to Cotah. “Sergeant Major, do you believe this civilian can adapt to the academy’s standards?”


    Cotah met the general’s eyes without flinching. “It won’t be easy, sir. But with the right guidance, I believe he has a shot.”


    “Major, the funding wasn’t cut—they took DOLI’s control from you. Benched the original program.” The general’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the tension in the room thickened tenfold. Finally, he added, “They’ve given the project to another source.”


    “Wait, what?” Major Kuba said.


    “I understand Argassa fixed some of your issues and integrated DOLI into his system, correct?”


    Major Kuba swallowed. “Yes, sir.”


    “Very well, I’ll agree to you seeing out whatever this is till the end of the semester. But understand this, Major—if he fails, it’s on you.”


    “Understood, sir,” Kuba replied, her voice steady.


    The screen went dark, and Cotah let out a low whistle. “You sure about this, Major?”


    Kuba exhaled slowly, sinking back into her chair. “No. But if we don’t take risks, we’ll never move forward. Piotr Argassa might be the key to saving DOLI. And if he’s not... well, I’ll face whatever disciplinary action comes. My career can take the hit, but I won’t let them scrap DOLI without trying everything first.”


    Cotah rose, his posture as rigid as ever. “I’ll start working with his class. Make sure they know he’s not here to make up numbers.”


    “Thank you, Sergeant Major,” Kuba said, a hint of gratitude in her voice.


    As the door closed behind him, she turned back to the datapad on her desk, her thoughts already racing ahead. This was a gamble, no doubt about it. But sometimes, the biggest risks yielded the greatest rewards. DOLI wasn’t a program to her—it was a vision. A chance to prove she was right.


    I sure hope you’re as smart as you portray, Argassa.