Snow: K-SAF. KSV "Rainy Evening". PS (Pilot Specialist) Snow.

Snow: Let's go.

Snow: We can divide all pilot tasks into two categories: easy-cheesy and tremendously hard.

Snow: The first one is automated.

Snow: The second one is not.

Snow: Because… let me show you my favorite clip!

On the screen, MID-type is approaching the station's docking slot.

Voice-over: The first unmanned military vessel is making its first docking maneuver. The vessel is equipped with the most powerful quantum computer to date. Artificial intelligence has undergone 101024 cycles of training on simulators. The AI showed itself perfectly on synthetic tests and in three-dimensional space. Now we can watch its final test, a triumph of engineers and programmers...

At the word “programmers” the vessel, without reducing speed, began a longitudinal rotation, crashed into the docking slots, and continued moving, gradually increasing the power of the engines, and turning a piece of the station into a mess.

Cadets: Laughs.

Snow: Yeah. Well, it is just a funny clip from old age and right now there is a script for the docking procedure. I never used it, but still. It is there, and it is working. Probably.

Snow: I can go on a long and boring rant about the AI industry.

Snow: Like, the AI is exceptionally good at iterative evolution, gradually increasing quality. On how it is good with precision.

Snow: And how it is bad with extraordinary situations or breaking rules and inventing... things. Yeah.

Snow: But I digress.

Snow: As for the fundamentals, you already knew everything you should know. Well, if you played at least one semi-realistic flight game with Newtonian physics. Maneuvering is very straightforward and simple. All you need is practice, practice, practice, practice, reflexes, and a little bit of intuition. It is great if you have some extra experience, with civilian vessels or semi-realistic games, it will help a little. Yes, cadet... er... yes, red-haired cadet?

Sanya: What about eye augmentations?

Snow: You need it to be able to get into the Academy.

Sanya: I am already here!

Snow: Then, you will not pass the tests.

Sanya: I will!

Snow: Yes, yes. After an alien attack, you definitely will. Without the effort or presence.

Eye augmentations are so common, that we don't really notice them or think about them. Small screens over our eyes are so embedded in our lives and, well, they are with us from the start to the finish. Like an internal coprocessor, micro-machines, asto-genetic modifications, and other things.

But sometimes one or other thing just does not work on a person. For example, eye augmentations are rejected by Sanya's body.

And this kind of augmentation is extremely important for the pilot. All other specialists, more or less, can work without enchanted (normal, in our day and age) eyes. But the pilot, must constantly process and control a huge amount of visual information. He needs to see everything around, to see what is affecting the vessel, and what systems can be used. He must compensate or use the impulse from the recoil, keep track of angular accelerations, know the output of the power units, and keep track of the center of mass, rotation, hull condition, gravitational forces, and orbits of all sorts of crap. And that's just a small portion of things that is important.

The pilots have the biggest post with four huge, curved displays. And it's still not enough. What didn't fit on the displays is sent directly to the eyes. Lots of information must be right now, right here. The pilot doesn't have time to switch between windows or tabs.

I don’t really know how Sanya manages to cope with all of this using just ordinary eyes.

[Quick and independent eyes, a sharp mind, a rich imagination, and a negative reaction speed are all my secrets! - Sanya]

[Negative reaction speed? You can't start acting before you know you need to act! - Rise]

[Always do, and no one's died yet :d - Sanya]

[I want a normal crew. One reassign, please. - Vor]

[Also, I have big breasts. Envy me, - Sanya]

[Not again, - Desi]