Ace found Darec with a rifle on the balcony overlooking the shooting range. Darec let the gun rest on his arm as he looked out upon the shooting range and its visitors.
The range itself was a full ten miles. Although few had ever made that shot, it still served as a challenge for any sniper in the Tiberian army. Ace approached, tapping Darec on the shoulder.
"I'm told you've been out here every day for a week, making impossible shots. The last I'm told was five and a half miles. I've got something to ask—"
Ace was cut off by Darec shushing him and holding up his finger. He then lifted his rifle and began aiming. Once he had it apparently adjusted to his liking, Darec did something that terrified Ace: he closed his eyes. Ace then noticed something even more terrifying. Darec could somehow see! He was still adjusting his aim with his eyes closed.
Ace started to ask what he was doing, but stopped short when Darec smiled and pulled the trigger. The whole range was silenced as everyone stopped firing and turned to look at Darec.
The range director grabbed his binoculars and zoomed in on the ten-mile target. He then turned toward Darec and held up a green flag.
"We have a new range record set by Private Darec at ten point one miles!" the director shouted excitedly.
Darec disassembled his weapon and put it in its case.
"You wanted to talk about a mission?" he inquired.
"Yes, I did, if you're not too busy shooting leaves off of trees."
Darec smiled at Ace's joke.
"Where are we going?"
Darec was quick to skip to the heart of the matter.
"You and I are going to the outer rim, to one of the unnamed planets," Ace answered.
"Why don't we know the name of the planet?" Darec asked in a confused tone.
"Because the original inhabitants of the planet were killed in one of the many wars that happen in the outer rim galaxies," Ace responded in a strangely cheery tone.
Ace and Darec passed the courtyard, where Malreki, Rip, and Asander had met up with their assigned instructor, who went by the name Crucipher.