Welcome to Day 4 of 28 stories, podcasted, in 28 days. The 3rd Annual Flash Fiction February.
The political class in 15 minutes or less.
Leopard 5 is referred to as The Watchtower by the Project Team. It sits in its solar system in such a way that it’s not only in view of most of the other planets, most of the time, but it’s in the best position to see into deep space.
It was the first location chosen to have a permanent, stationary, Objective Vantage Astronomical Laboratory System. This not only provides some interesting data for this section of the universe, it also serves as a training apparatus for clone-hopping initiates. The early stages of hopper training can be disorienting and confusing. Having a fixed point, at first, helps the initiates acclimate to the process. This is the sixth phase in their training.
The first phase is strictly academic. They learn about the development of consciousness cloning, who the technological developers were, and their scientific method. They absorb the papers and essays and watch all the key points where advancements were made. They witness all the testing. They have a full understanding of all the risks and benefits.
The second phase is Duplication and Storage. Their minds are duplicated and stored. Then they learn the storage protocol. This is a device that will be held apart from them, in their assigned station. They are 100% responsible for it. It is in the state, and remains in the state of initial duplication until first use.
The third phase is what are called Test Instants. This is first use. They engage their devices and experience new information with their devices for the first time. This happens several times, from varying locations around their station. They become accustomed to this remote, real-time experiencing.
The fourth phase is what is known as Disengagement and Re-Acclimation Testing. This will be the first time that the Hoppers allow their cloned minds to disengage from them and have experiences they are unaware of. Then, they will re-engage and absorb those experiences as memories, for the first time. This re-engaging and absorption is disorienting. This testing phase can take some time.
The fifth phase is OVAL Pairing. The trainees learn how to pair their device with an OVAL. They practice inserting their devices and programming it to the OVAL. Then they have test instances and disengagement testing with the OVAL. They use Station sponsored OVALS for these protocols. They are ending their testing phase, and entering Mission Training phase.
The sixth phase of their training is Watch Guard. This is real Mission Experience Training. They will engage their devices to update their clone to their current state. They will then disengage their clone and pair it to a Station sponsored OVAL. They will remain in Station as their close takes full control of the OVAL and completes a Watch Mission at a location such as Leopard 5.
OK: 2minutarians DO NOT share easytopian releases. ONLY easytopians share. Which are you? A lame 2minutarian, or an easytopian cool breeze? Which one?
They complete several of these missions, disengaging and re-acclimating each time. They must have as many of these experiences as is necessary for the behavior to become wrote, and for their minds to be conditioned to the process.
The seventh phase is called Mission Awareness. They will use Station sponsored OVALS and accompany Veteran operators on Routine, at first, and then critical missions. They will remain in this phase for at least 75 missions.
Upon completion of phase 7 these new operators will, at some point, receive a personal OVAL. This OVAL contract will be presented by any number of Sponsors. These are very lucrative awards and the bidding for an OVAL operator is… astronomical.
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The political class in 15 minutes or less.
