The Allbright System - A Sci-Fi Progression LitRPG Story

Hart: “Major Varrin, there’s a lot of confusion among new Recruits about how the economy aboard a UHF Recruitment Ship actually works. Could you break it down for us in simple terms?”

Major Varrin, nodding: “Of course. The short version is this: The Digital Mission System is designed to pay for your day-to-day life.

“One standard Digital Mission a week—our mandated minimum—nets roughly a hundred Credits, even at the lowest successful completion payout. And with the cheapest meals going for about two Credits each, you can live a full week on less than forty to fifty Credits if you’re frugal. Naturally, that includes the one free daily meal every Marine gets from the Faction as well.”

Hart, noting down information on her datapad: “So the DMs cover basic living. What about the big-ticket items—licenses, Skill Classes or private DDS alterations by the ship’s AI?”

Major Varrin smiles: “Now, that’s where Assessments, Special Digital Missions, and your own initiative come in, of course.

“Standard DMs aren’t designed to make you rich.

“They give you steady trickle-income—Credits, some Merit, and, most importantly, a ton of first-hand experience in combat, which you will be very thankful for once real deployments start after your Recruit year.

“But the heavier payouts come from the bigger-ticket events.

“Partial and full equipment licenses can run from a few dozen to a few thousand Credits. A Skill Class can cost even more, depending on what you’re applying for. Anything that alters your living space inside the DDS—new furniture, expanded space, even specialized training environments—can run from a few dozen Credits and quickly climb into the tens of thousands, depending on what you’re asking for."

Hart, puzzled: “Where does all that money go? Recruits ask this constantly, especially when they see just how expensive some of these purchases truly are.”

Major Varrin breaks into a lop-sided smile: “That’s by design, actually. The Allbright System itself is the one that requires a certain baseline of resource expenditure to allow the DDS connection with itself, and in-turn, to issue Credits, Merit, and Contribution Points based on activity inside it.

“So every Credit spent feeds back into the miniature economy that keeps the DDS running.

“Part of it goes back to the Faction, of course. Another chunk goes to the corporations that provided the infrastructure and built the equipment you’re licensing. And a small piece—usually overlooked—also goes to the very designers of those pieces themselves.

“If they’re not Integrated, which is more often the case than not, the UHF converts their System Credits into Imperial Credits at the going exchange rate. Usually around one-to-five, give or take, depending on the current course.”

Hart, circling information on her pad: “So the economy essentially revolves entirely around the Marines here?”

Major Varrin, nodding vigorously with a broad smile: ”Exactly! Every bit of it.

“A Recruitment Ship isn’t just a military installation—it’s an economic ecosystem built around the people training inside it.

“Nothing is wasted. Nothing exists as busy-work.

“Every DM, every Credit, every purchase feeds into a cycle that sustains the ship, the Faction, and the Allbright System’s requirements.

“Recruits don’t always see it, but the whole structure is built to keep them fed, housed, trained, challenged, and—most importantly—improving.”

Hart, leaning slightly closer: “There’s also a rumor that Marines who keep failing DMs get flagged. Is that true?”

Major Varrin, now serious: “Yes. The ships track performance trends.

“A Marine who fails occasionally? Normal. Downright expected, really.

“But a Marine who fails DMs every time? That’s a red flag, no two ways about it.

“We’d have to investigate how a single person could possibly crash that many simulations. Either they’re doing something incredibly wrong, or something deeper is at play. In either case, it wouldn’t be ignored.”

Hart, nodding to herself and leaning back: “Last question, then. What would you say to a nervous new Recruit worried about money, licenses, and getting the things they need?”

Major Varrin putting on a gentle, warm smile: “Simple: Don’t panic.

“Run your weekly DMs. Learn from them. Earn your Credits, use them wisely, but don’t fret about running out. As long as you consistently take part in the DMs, as you’re mandated to, you won’t ever run out.

“And always remember that the ship’s economy isn’t built to crush you—it’s built to support you while you grow.

“Now… If you want more than the basics? Work for it.

“The UHF is a meritocracy, so show us your merit and we will reward this initiative in kind.

“Always have, always will.”

End of transcript.

[Excerpt from Frontline Economics: Life Inside a Recruitment Ship, PFC896]