14 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 1 (1/2)
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
House Thoth, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: ?/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null
Term: 1, Round: 1
Master Nader: Daedo, Vannier, Axelzero, Mace and Picard report to my office immediately.
The cadets looked at each other and thought that Master Nader clearly watched their every move and conversation. And acted whenever she saw something she didn't like.
The group in question made their way to Master Nader's office, it was adjoined, for good or ill, to where they slept and lived. There were other communal areas they could use, and they could eat in the middle academy cafeteria if they didn't want to eat in their quarters. But this area was the was their own space. It had become home in the short time they had been attending the Military Academy.
It was not long before five were standing in front of Master Nader.
”Master, I apologise,” Picard began before Master Nader spoke.
She held up a hand and summoned them to stand before her desk.
Daedo wondered about the strategy Nader was employing, she sat behind a large desk, and they stood on the other side facing her.
The Master could arrange the room in any way she wished, she could have a roundtable with stools. A bench seat. Or she could have nothing and they all stand, but she chose this setup. He did not doubt that she wanted it to convey something. A separation between her and the cadets perhaps or her dominance. As he pondered this, she began to speak after silencing Picard.
”Presumption or a forecast in a situation like this is unnecessary and unwise Picard. You should wait and see what I have to say and only prepare responses to what you think the words could be. There was no need to commit yourself,” Master Nader began lecturing Picard.
”Now, I summoned you all here to offer my assistance,” she brought up a map of Paris and zoomed in on the industrial estate outside of Paris. ”There is a company based here,” she pointed at a specific location in Nanterre which then highlighted and the image zoomed in closer.
”Which used to repair mechs for the Academy and others. It had gotten into financial trouble and stopped operating some time ago. The building where it is operates from it no longer owns.” The owner of the building and other details were displayed on the interactive holomap.
”There will be an auction this week for the liquidation of its assets, but, as I understand it, you make an offer to the liquidators. You could purchase the company outright. This is important because this company is a registered supplier of the academy which means mechs and exos can be taken offsite to this company and its premises. But I would suggest if you have enough funds to purchase the dying company, and its tooling, for potentially a rock bottom price. You could also purchase the building or just continue to rent it.”
”Why did it go out of business?” Axelzero asked.
”Does it matter?” asked Master Nader.
”Yes, there could be a reason that affects us if we purchase it,” Axelzero.
”Have your experts from your families investigate it. It is not my area of expertise. If you want an off-campus base this would be ideal, it is close, and it is approved. That is enough assistance for you today. Dismissed,” Nader ordered.
”Why didn't you just send a message?” Daedo asked.
”I said dismissed,” Master Nader roared with her robotic voice on full. The room went dark, and arrows pointing to the exit lit up the floor.
Daedo shrugged. Another test. He was twelve, and the answer was unimportant, he had his guesses anyway. He left the office, he really didn't want to find out what would happen if he disobeyed a dismissal for a second time.
”I will get our lawyers to investigate immediately,” Axelzero said.
”We should all buy in and become shareholders based on the buy-in,” Mace said.
”Let's find out how much it is first,” Vannier cautioned, ”it may be in liquidation, but, it could still be more than our parents are willing to give. Or what we have in savings.”
Myrmidon: there is an equipment list posted for the upcoming auction.
And he proceeded to show it to Daedo who in turn showed the list to everyone on the wall of their communal area.
”Most of this is junk,” Mace informed them, ”but the lifters, UAN table, machining, electrolyte bath and lasers are useful. The fabricators are so old, we would need to replace the heads at least.”
Daedo sent the list off to his Father with an explanation. He asked his father to assess the workshop tools and equipment, as part of a project to outfit a mech and exo workshop.
In a few hours, his Father came back with a list of outdated equipment that needed upgrading or replacement and a few of his favourite tools, some old school, which he would recommend to add. He also mentioned the ventilation and compressed air supply of the building would need to be checked as well as it's primary and secondary power supplies.
Daedo: Dad, could you come to this address on Saturday 0830 for an inspection of the workshop project. We would appreciate your help.
Ikaros: Of course. You only need to ask, and I will be there for you son.
His Father was probably surprised and delighted his son had asked for assistance and in their very first week.
”My Father will inspect the premises this Saturday 0830,” Daedo informed the group after they were all feverishly asking parents for creds and explaining the situation.
”We need to invite Barran and Gaumont,” Vannier said.
”Then invite them,” Mace answered.
”Where is Gaumont?” Axelzero asked and pinged him.
His door opened, and he came out of his room, he had been working on his Maths and Physics tutes the entire evening.
Vannier sent off a missive to Barran who was still topside exploring the fields and forests which covered the campus. She proceeded to explain it to Gaumont. He nodded.
”I will send a request to my parents, but don't hold your breath, they aren't as wealthy as some and won't invest huge amounts of creds if it is high risk,” he informed them and went back to his room.
”Vannier,” Mace interrupted her perusing of the schedule, they had done all they can do regarding the workshop and were working out their weekly schedule, ”we do not have a slot partner for tomorrow.”
”And we need the contract for Horus signed,” Axelzero said.
”Can I see it?” Daedo asked. He was no expert, but Myrmidon could scan and perhaps pick something up. Plus he was beginning to think of a tactic.
”Sure,” Axelzero said, ”anyone else?”
”I think we should ask Master Nader to look it over,” Vannier suggested.
”Good idea, I will send to her as well,” Axelzero said.
Myrmidon analysed the document.
Myrmidon: it is a very simple agreement. No room for loopholes that I can predict.
Daedo: I want to create one.
Myrmidon: oh exciting. Tell me.
Daedo: I don't know the wording if you can extrapolate what is there if I just tell you. Ok?
Myrmidon: go ahead. Meathead lawyers can check when we are done.
Daedo: The total number of matches after the first should be left open. Horus said they had several extra slots. They will not expect to lose. If the contract was worded using open-ended terms and only had an end date relating to the first term and we continued to win, we could win all their slots.
Myrmidon: what happens if they win all yours?
Daedo: we have two secondary slots and one primary. If they beat us three times in a row, then we would have nothing. That's perfect. If they see this loophole, they will assume they can take all our slots until we have nothing. A better outcome than our bet.
Myrmidon: it is a simple agreement, I only had to change a couple of sentences.