56 Book 4 - Chapter 114 (1/2)
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
Inter-Academy Round 2 Fortescue Points: 193, Rank: 6, PR: 0.4825
Tier 3 Daedo M-Rank: 140
Term: 3, Round: 3
Daedalus Operating Capital: +1,600,000 bitcreds
”If I get one more message asking what's going on with Daedo I'll scream,” Vannier said. She was immensely frustrated and anxious at the same time.
Is Daedo dead?
Is Daedo arrested?
Is Daedo a criminal?
When is Daedo coming back?
I knew this would happen.
Daedo was a cheat!
Ping. Vannier screamed.
Barran laughed, ”If you can't handle it make me leader.”
”Over my dead body,” Picard said sharply.
”How are you handling it?” Axel-Zero asked Barran who seemed immune.
”Oh. I put all incoming on mute,” Barran grinned.
Picard grimaced, ”That's probably sending more traffic Vannier's way. You should share the load.”
”I'm not the leader,” Barran said as he leaned back, put his hands behind his head and smiled widely.
”What are we going to do?” Axel-Zero asked.
”Stop whining like a baby,” Kang growled. ”It's not like you need Daedo to do your coursework and Daedalus stuff. Just do what you normally do.”
Vannier looked concerned but relented. She said, ”Kang is right - even though that was a little harsh. We just do what we normally do. He'll be in contact sooner or later.”
”How long until we have issues with the Inter-Academy and Fortescue?” Axel-Zero asked with a worried look on her face.
”No point in worrying,” Vannier stated.
”That's my motto for life,” Barran beamed.
Picard sighed wondering how could Barran's motto be the right strategy before she burst out laughing.
”What's so funny?” both Vannier and Barran asked.
”I just concluded that Barran was right and found it funny,” Picard said, and everyone laughed, even Barran.
Although in Barran's case his bravado was not always representative of what was occurring beneath his exuberant exterior. Which became apparent when his face changed as soon as his sister appeared in the doorway to their common room.
”Err,” Barran began, ”You don't have permission to enter.”
”Okay,” She said chirpily while standing in the threshold, ”I will wait here until you to speak to me.”
”Speak to her,” Vannier requested and messaged Barran: **so we can get rid of her.
He stood as if in protest and marched over to her, ”Corridor ok with you?” He asked petulantly.
”No,” She said, ”We will go for a walk topside. We need to catch up on what has been happening, and as you have everything switched off, I was forced to come here.”
Barran was about to refuse when Morganne stared him down. ”Remember what you agreed with Mother.”
His mouth snapped shut, and he nodded glumly.
Picard, Vannier and Axel-Zero exchanged glances.
”Who's she?” Kang asked.
”Barran's older sister,” Picard stated.
”Bad news,” Vannier added.
”Can't be any worse can it?” Kang asked jokingly.
The remaining cadets from Thoth squad zero were questioned by authorities with their new temporary Master present. Master Haddad was managing both House Shu and House Thoth until a replacement could be found for Master Nader.
Apparently, she was never coming back. No one knew what happened except she was on the run from the police, however, the rumours were legion.
The rumours circulating about Daedo were driven by the speculation surrounding Master Nader. All the mongers agreed they were in cahoots in something illegal and dangerous. Not many blamed Mace for anything, although she was rank two, she usually flew under the radar. She was said to be anything from a minor accomplice to being kidnapped and held hostage.
Vannier knew some of the facts, in regards to Daedo and Mace, while she was totally in the dark with what happened to Master Nader. The rest of the team knew less, she had to be careful until the investigators were well and truly gone and until she heard from Daedo and Mace again.
Vannier stood in front of Daedo's apartment staring at the door, ”Come back soon,” she whispered.
”So, brother,” Morganne began when the reached relative safety from his squad eavesdroppings, ”It is time to make a move. You should use this opportunity to gain control of Daedalus. You're the major shareholder, who is not hunted by the authorities, not Vannier.”
”Why? What would the family gain if Daedo is not around?” Barran asked.
”The current Daedalus research and patents are valuable, but that is not the reason. If Daedo is diminished or barred from being a director, you will have control. It puts you in the box seat,” Morganne stated.
Barran scratched his head. ”Really Morganne. Why don't you, father and mother go and run Barran Corp. Build it up. Why care about Daedalus at all? It's not yours. It never will be.”
”How do you think we build up Barran corp dummy? We acquire assets well below their value, and either realise them, or capitalise on them.”
”But you don't actually make anything,” Barran observed.
”We,” she replied.
”I thought you were smart? You're always number one in Thoth in your year,” Barran said. ”Why don't you invent things then patent or manufacture?”
Morganne shrugged, ”It's not as easy as you think.”
Barran looked at her like she was an idiot. He had witnessed first hand how easy it was. ”You're joking, right?” He paced a few steps forward. ”Sis, I have seen not only Daedo, but Kang and even Mace come up with innovations, designs and inventions. We made four million bitcreds on preorders for our Mechs. And that will be nothing in comparison if we sell our exos to the EUDF.”
”I know this,” she replied slightly annoyed at being patronised. ”These are the reasons we want a stake. A larger stake. Twenty percent isn't enough. Make it forty and Mother will be satisfied.”
”You're all idiots. What is forty percent of a broken team compared to twenty percent of the next Svarski?” He paused and glared at her, ”Would you be happy with a twenty percent share in Svarski?”
”Of course. But that is never going to happen,” she replied.
”How… the fuck… would you know?” Barran stated. ”Listen, sis; Fuckoff. I ain't playing your games. I will do what is in the best interest of the family by keeping my share at twenty percent and keeping the team together. I don't need your advice. I don't need your help. You and our parents have no clue.” He tapped the side of her head with his index finger. ”No fucking clue.”
”You promised Mother,” she said upset by his words.
”Read my lips. I … don't …..care..” he articulated and then proceeded to walk off in a huff. When he was fifty metres away, he stopped and called back to her. ”And when we are as big as Svarski … you can tell 'em that I was right, and all you - were wrong.”
”Let's get in the exos and go visit our neighbours. I'm starving,” Mace stated.
”One sec,” Daedo replied, ”The second railgun is almost done.” He was lost in screens managing several tasks at once and updating build and mining queues on mass.
They needed hydrocarbons primarily for the constructofoam, but storage was limited, so Daedo had to compile a juggling act of refining constructofoam, building and digging out areas.
The best miners were also the best excavators, and they couldn't be in two places at once.