44 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 5 (1/2)
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null
Term: 1, Round: 5
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Vannier rushed into squad zero's common room. She was out of breath, she placed a hand on Daedo's shoulder who was seated. ”Next week's schedule is out, and it doesn't look pretty,” Vannier informed Daedo.
She could have contacted him through numerous different types of comms. But it was more in line with her nature to be face to face to discuss.
Daedo was still working on the last touches to the exo design before beginning the final manufacture run. The tweaks were incredibly minor at this stage, down to slight differences for each user based on their telemetry data.
Bolder changes chasing larger gains using either an experimental design or improved materials would have to wait for next term where time and reliability were not critical.
”What are you working on?” Vannier asked. Daedo seemed distracted upon receiving the news. Which indicated he was working on something complex, however, next week's schedule trumped all in Vannier's mind, so she continued to interrupt him with taps on the shoulder.
”Last changes to the exo before we start the production run. We will be on two-point-six,” Daedo answered, ”one more moment, I am almost done.”
The topic brought something that was bugging Vannier to the fore. ”The tubing that contains the hydraulic fluid and acts as under armour,” she waited for Daedo to nod, ”is that unique or did you get inspiration off a similar design?” Vannier asked.
”It's unique. My research showed that a mesh weave is the most efficient armour for most damage types, but I also wanted more power delivery through hydraulics. Somehow I got the idea to combine the two,” Daedo answered.
'Somehow?' Vannier thought out loud, knitting her brow. Daedo was an inspired idea machine.
”I know you aren't finished with the exo by a long shot, but we should patent that concept at least,” Vannier added. It was her parents who ran the patent business, and she had a good grasp of the workings.
”Oh,” Daedo replied, ”I thought you just invented and designed a piece of equipment and you patent that as a blueprint ready for a manufacturer to adopt? Like the foundation AI code, its ready to sell just the way it is.” Daedo assumed the system worked similar to his Spacebuild shop. In fact, the Spacebuild and Tower Defender economy was a massive oversimplification of reality.
”It can work that way, but usually it doesn't,” Vannier began patiently. ”It can be really complicated, and that's why there is an entire organisation called the IPO, the international patent office, who registers, tracks and regulates the intellectual property industry.”
Daedo nodded slowly but made a sound which indicated she should explain further.
”Okay,” Vannier continued, ”so take a product like Barran's bike. The reactor has one patent owner, and even a component of the reactor could have another. Although Cold Fusion has long since lost royalty rights for the inventor, there may be an innovation which still accrues royalty. Then you have the wheels, engine, aerodynamics and exotic materials. Its possible the bike has over a hundred different patents all with royalties of each sale going to each respective owner.”
”How does the manufacturer of the bike make creds?” Daedo asked. It seemed like a lot of outlay.
”Well the IPO decides, based on the manufacturer's registration, which would be independently audited, a portion for each patent. It will never add up to more than a hundred percent of the royalty component. And that varies based on a complex set of rules.”
”It seems complex. It must keep the IPO busy,” Daedo surmised.
”Yes, especially since the annulment of IP exclusivity in 2105. Now anyone can use any patented technology. But they still have to pay the patent owner royalty,” Vannier explained.
”That explains how Fortescue get away with doing very little RnD. They just manufacture and simply use available patents,” Daedo said.
”Yes. And they probably evaluate the viability of a product before even starting based on royalty costs, material costs, manufacturing costs, market value and demand,” Vannier said.
”Geez you know a lot about this,” Daedo observed.
”I grew up with it. One side of it is the family business,” she replied.
Daedo nodded, ”So. To cut a long story short. We should lodge a patent for any component we make that is innovative or entirely new?” Daedo stated.
”Yes. And this reminds me of something important we missed,” Vannier said anxiously. ”When we sold those exos to Shu we needed to register and run the components through the IPO and work out any royalties owed for the technologies we used.”
”Holy crap!” Daedo exclaimed. ”We research stuff all the time and implement it. What about the railguns and grapplers?”
”If we didn't sell them we could argue we are creating prototypes and testing them. Also being in a Military Academy comes with perks as well. But,” and it was a big but, ”we really need expert advice before we get ourselves into too much trouble,” Vannier concluded.
Daedo sighed. ”Ok, for something easier to manage. Let's look at the schedule.”
The end of week ten was the end of round five and also the end of the Term. During week ten all normal activities involving exo arenas were suspended. Cadets could and would run the Gauntlet and Obstacle course, those venues were open.
Cadets were also expected to have all their coursework completed for all subjects for the Term before leaving on Friday night. Disciplined and organised cadets had already completed most if not all coursework and only had to concern themselves with the Tournament and the last round Gauntlet and Obstacle Course.
Thoth Squad Zero would submit their tech projects on Friday. Otherwise, Daedo had completed all normal coursework by the end of round four. Especially since he was not going to subject a second Math solution. For his Physics project, Daedo used the calculations, programming and the testing regime he set up for the exos. It contained enough work related to mechanics that it qualified easily.
Monday they had M1 group battles. All four on one day.
Tuesday was the four M3 group battles. It must have been programmed this way due to Master Nader's application during the Middle Academy Masters general meeting.
Wednesday was semifinals for M1.
Thursday morning was semifinals for M3 - if they made it that far. And in the afternoon the final for M1.
Lastly, if they made it to the M3 final, it was on the last day. Friday. With only the U3 tournament taking pride of place as the last event in the afternoon. This aligned with inter-Academy tournaments, where it would be Mechs and Exos. The Upper cadets were not allowed to compete in Exos. It was the sole domain of Middle Academy cadets.
Daedo perused the group lists. In M1 they had mainly squad ones in their group. It could have been because of seeding or by chance. He had never researched the rules, and he didn't really care anyway. They just needed to win no matter who they faced.
M1 – Tier 1 - Group 1: Thoth Squad zero, Horus Squad two, Shu Squad zero, Osiris Squad one, Amun-Ra Squad one.
The second group consisted mainly of zero squads with the exception of Thoth and Shu. The other anomaly was that Horus Squad one was in the second tier.
”Why is Horus squad one in Tier two do you think?” Daedo asked Vannier.
”It's no surprise, the placement of cadets in that House was heavily manipulated. Don't you remember that squad leader coming to our table on one occasion wishing us luck before the battle with Fortescue's squad?” Vannier replied.