5-Evaluation and Observations - Team Assignments

As the final timed assessments concluded, the candidates were directed to a shaded rest area while the DPW instructors deliberated. The Costa Rican heat bore down on them, but the thick canopy of trees provided some respite. A few personnel moved between stations, collecting data from the individual tests, while a handful of others reviewed the recorded footage.

The DPW joint exercise wasn’t just about skill—it was about compatibility. The instructors weren’t looking for the strongest or the smartest alone, but for the individuals who could work as a cohesive unit. An elite team wasn’t made up of identical specialists, but of complementary strengths.

The six candidates sat in near silence, each digesting their own performance.

Adán, still catching his breath, leaned back against the bench, absently rubbing the back of his neck. He felt good about his results. Physically, he had dominated the course. The thought-process scenario? Maybe not his strongest showing—he knew his responses had been instinct-driven, his ADHD making it difficult to slow down and structure his plans properly. He had thrown himself into solutions with brute force and quick thinking rather than careful strategy. It was his natural approach—he thrived in the chaos, but he wasn’t sure if that was what they were looking for.

Ren sat with her elbows on her knees, her fingers tapping restlessly against her thighs. The obstacle course had been grueling, but she had pushed herself through sheer willpower. She wasn’t the strongest, nor the fastest, but she had refused to back down. The problem-solving tests had gone well, she thought—her mind worked fast, maybe even too fast sometimes. She knew she had a bold approach, one that could sometimes seem reckless, but she had confidence in her ability to handle a crisis.

Franz sat with his hands clasped, his expression unreadable. He was used to evaluations like these. A veteran in his field, he had long since learned that raw strength and speed weren’t everything. He had taken a methodical, steady approach to each test, favoring efficiency over flash. He wasn’t sure how he compared to the younger agents, but he hadn’t come here to compete—he had come to observe, to assess, to understand.

Sophia was quiet, her gaze focused on a point in the distance. She knew she wasn’t the most physically dominant in the group, but she had done well in the cognitive assessments. She had approached each scenario like a puzzle, thinking several moves ahead instead of rushing to the first available solution. She had no idea if that approach would set her apart, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it.

Helena, seated a bit apart from the others, crossed her legs and exhaled slowly. She knew she had lagged behind in the physical assessment—she had never trained for the kind of endurance these field agents had. But she had played to her strengths in the mental challenges, and she knew the instructors would have noticed. She wasn’t here to fight dinosaurs; she was here to understand them.

After a few minutes, a DPW officer approached. He was middle-aged, his uniform crisp and his stance formal. He had the bearing of someone who had been through this process countless times before.

“Congratulations on completing the first phase of the assessment,” he said, his voice even and authoritative. “Your results are currently under review. You will receive your team assignments later today, and the second phase of the exercise will begin tomorrow morning. Get some rest—you’ll need it.”

With that, he turned and left.

Adán exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "That’s it, huh? No immediate results, no feedback?"

Ren snorted. "What, you expected a gold star?"

Sophia smirked slightly. "They want to see how we handle waiting. The evaluation isn't just about what we did during the tests—it’s also about how we act now, after the fact."

Franz nodded approvingly. "Patience is part of the process. No sense in overanalyzing it now."

Helena simply took a sip from her water bottle, her expression unreadable.

Adán stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Well, if we’re waiting, I’m gonna find something to eat. Anyone else?"

A few of them rose to follow, the tension of the morning finally starting to ease. They had made it through the first round. But they all knew—this was only the beginning.

—

Team Assignments

Later that afternoon, the candidates were called back into the main briefing hall. The room was stark and practical—rows of chairs, a large projector screen, and a handful of DPW officials seated at the front, reviewing their notes. The air carried the lingering scent of sweat, sun, and the distant aroma of the cafeteria.

This was it.

Everyone knew that the next words spoken would decide their fate in this program. The joint exercise had begun with a massive pool of talent, but only a fraction would be selected for actual field operations. Now, teams were about to be formed.

At the front of the room, the same DPW officer from earlier, Commander Reyes, stepped forward. His uniform was immaculate, his presence commanding. He glanced around the room, taking in the expressions of each candidate before finally speaking.

“You have all passed the first stage,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly. “That alone is an achievement. But we are not looking for individual excellence. We are looking for something more. Cohesion. Adaptability. Problem-solving under stress.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. “This exercise is not about proving yourself alone—it is about proving that you can work within a unit.”

He turned to a large screen as names appeared in bold letters.

TEAM FOUR

• Field Agent: Adán Alvarez (Mexico)
• Field Agent: Renata "Ren" Expósito (Spain)
• Scientist: Helena Silva (Brazil)
• Scientist: Emma Guillard (France)
• Tech Specialist: Sophia Bianchi (Italy)
• Administrative Officer: Franz Pietsch (Germany)

There it was. Their team.

The six of them exchanged glances, taking in the reality of their situation. Some pairs had interacted before, others were complete strangers. But now, they were bound together.

Reyes turned back to them. “Your individual strengths have been noted, but they will only take you so far. From this moment on, your successes and failures will be shared. Each of you has been selected because we believe you complement one another—whether you realize it yet or not. The next phase begins tomorrow morning. Dismissed.”

With that, the meeting was over.

Some teams murmured among themselves, already forming early bonds. Others sat stiffly, still sizing up their newfound teammates.

Adán exhaled, rocking back on his heels. “Well, guess we’re stuck with each other.”

Ren crossed her arms, eyes flicking over the list again. "Could be worse."

Helena, standing just beside them, raised a brow. “You don’t even know me.”

Ren shrugged. “Exactly.”

Franz didn’t react much—he simply adjusted his posture and nodded slightly, as if he had expected this outcome all along.

Emma observed them quietly before offering a small, polite smile. “It seems we all bring something different to the table.”

Sophia sighed, rubbing her temple. "I just hope no one gets us killed."

Adán grinned, already sensing the dynamic forming between them. “No promises.”

They had their team. Now, they just had to make it work.

—