25 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 1 (2/2)
”It could be a city,” Daedo said looking at the dimensions.
”I think that is the point. Manufacturing, personnel, robots, storage, mech bays and spaceship docks. Even then,” Mace said.
”There is something they are not telling us,” Daedo said, ”I am sure of it. The cost, the size and the stated purpose. They don't add up to me.”
”If they don't add up to you, then I do not doubt they are hiding something,” Mace said, ”but what?”
”My guess would be something to do with Aliens, whether friendly or defence against not so friendly,” Daedo said.
”Or a way for the rich and powerful to leave Earth quickly,” Mace said ominously.
She sent a shiver up Daedo's spine. Surely not. Surely The Spirals intended purpose was not the escape, for the elite of humankind, from Earth.
”I need to get my mind off this Spiral, it is too distracting,” Daedo announced. It did not matter what purpose it had, it did not affect him directly and worrying about it would achieve nothing.
Mace turned off the projection.
”What are you up to before bed?” she asked.
”I think I will work on one of those math problems. That will take my mind away from The Spiral,” he said.
Mace laughed. ”I find them more depressing than contemplating conspiracy theories about Earth's impending doom. I will just get stuck into the launcher design,” she said.
After a few minutes, she added, ”you know I had an idea I wanted to run past you.”
Daedo did not break from reading the four remaining math problems. He merely nodded with his helmet on so she knew he was listening.
”What if, instead of launching grenades, we launched small drones. If they could fly themselves, they could be launched from our back or shoulder even. This would leave our arms free for two grapplers,” she said.
Daedo stopped what he was doing and opened his helmet.
”That is brilliant. I can see already that four hooks are not enough and we are only scratching the surface with the grapplers, Imagine using one and then another in tandem?” He proposed.
”Wow, I did not think of that, but I saw how effectively you were using the grappler in the Gauntlet, it was one of the reasons you beat my score,” Mace replied.
”What sort of drones would we use? What ordnance, what function, how are they powered, how do they fly, how much do they weigh and how are they controlled?” Daedo asked.
Mace placed her head on the table and laid her arms out flat, ”I surrender!”
Daedo laughed. ”Ok, too much, I know. Why don't we start with a basic design of one function and see where that leads.”
Mace smiled, ”alright. But this will take time, we won't have anything ready for next week, nothing tried and tested at least.”
”That's ok, we can use our current launcher or just use handheld grenades and place mines manually for now. Do you know what weapon you will use next week?” he asked.
”If I can have two grapplers, carry a bunch of grenades and mines. I would just use a vibro sword,” Mace said.
”That could work, you would be like a combat engineer who distracts and confuses the enemy. It would be the other's role to take them down. Unless of course, you got the drop on them and then you could use your vibro sword. I like it,” Daedo said.
Mace nodded. ”I will get to work on the first prototype drone.”
”Make it manually controlled from our cybernetics, for now, I can code something later,” Daedo said. He could code something, or he and Myrmidon could. But what he was actually planning was Myrmidon controlling the drones using all his predictive and spatial awareness capability.
”My spatial awareness is not off the charts like yours,” she said, ”but I will do it. There is so much to work out already. What about power systems? Can your aunty help?”
”I am sure she will. Send her a message. Oh, she will ask questions regarding size, weight, required output and subsystems immediately,” Daedo warned Mace.
”I never thought I would enjoy the Academy this much,” Mace said quietly. It was one of the few times she shared and she usually only talked to Daedo. The other cadets were relegated to silence and one word or sentence answers from her.
Daedo contemplated her for a moment. Mace had pure white long hair when she allowed it to flow it went well past her shoulders. Her eyes were piercing blue, and she was short, only barely taller than him. Of all his squad members she was by far the most capable across all subjects. Whether it was physical, maths or piloting. She only ranked second to him or Barran most of the time.
He looked at her seriously and shared, ”neither did I.” Before a tiny smile broke on his face.
She reached out to touch his hand.
”Ok you two lovebirds,” Barran announced as he barged into the common area. Mace pulled her hand back reflexively.
Barran looked at Mace's hand and then at Daedo blushing and laughed. ”I was kidding kiddo,” he said thumping Daedo on the back. ”Although it is good to see I will have competition for the ladies. It is usually a chore when they all chase me and makes my friends jealous.”
”Oh please,” Vannier interrupted, ”you wouldn't even know what to do with a lady.” She paused and added seriously, ”Daedo there is someone here that wants to speak to us, and it really has to be you who has the final say.”
Daedo looked at the door, and there was a member from Shu standing at the entrance to their quarters. He was tall, and his uniform possessed more blue patches than an M1 or regular Shu.
”Permission to enter?” asked the Cadet formally.
”Granted,” Vannier replied.
”Daedo is it?” the Cadet asked and received a nod, ”I am Cadet Squad Leader of Shu Squad zero in M3, and my name is Sidarus.”
”Daedo,” Daedo said standing. The Shu M3 cadet was so formal it formed the tone of their conversation.
”I know you are busy, Vannier said as much, but I wanted to ask you something. We had been working with a Thoth squad from M3 purchasing upgrades for our exosuits, but after what I witnessed today, I am strongly considering giving you the contract. That is of course if you are interested?” Sidarus asked.
Daedo did not want to give their hard work and innovation away. But on the other hand, they needed creds. Vannier's family connections were already filing patents for a few of their innovations, but some would most likely not pass. And it would be ages before these patents turned into creds.
”Sure, but the devil is in the detail. We just expanded our manufacturing capability so we can produce more exos in a short period, and we will want to maintain control and ownership over our innovations. There will be many restrictions on use narrowing it down to your arena combat and gauntlet exercises,” Daedo said.
”I get it, you want to protect your IP,” Sidarus said, ”knowing you are open to discussions I just wanted a meeting face to face to make our intentions clear. So you know who I am and I am serious. We can discuss all the details in correspondence, we really need the exo before the end of term tournament. So there is time, but not much.”
”Do you mean eight weeks isn't much time?” Vannier asked confused.
”Yes,” Sidarus said.
”We did this in a weekend,” she said indicating her exo.
”No...” Sidarus said in utter disbelief. ”Surely you have been working on this before entering the Academy?”
He received deadpan stares from Thoth squad zero.
”Fark,” Sidarus exclaimed. ”ok, then eight weeks is tonnes of time.”
”You know the reactors alone are a thousand bitcreds,” Barran said.
”You are not using standard reactors?” Sidarus asked.
”Nothing is standard,” Barran bluffed. He actually did not know all the details, he usually made a point not to know them.
”Increased power efficacy is the foundation of a good exo,” Daedo added. ”More power means more strength, larger and higher powered weapons and most importantly increased jumpjet runtime.”
”Sold,” Sidarus replied. Nothing was more important to the Shu squad leader as jump jets. ”I will offer a price when I see the specs, and we can have the contract detail worked out by then.”
”Exclusive or non-exclusive?” Barran asked.
”Ah…exclusive to M3?” Sidarus replied.
”Ooo, exclusive is so much more expensive,” Barran informed the Shu squad leader. ”I hope your parents are rich.”