63 M1 - Term: 1 to 2 - Break (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: 2, Round: (holiday)
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”Why ETH Zurich?” Daedo asked Barran as the auto arrived in the financial capital of Europe.
”ETH Zurich is GlenCore's Military Academy,” Barran answered as if that explained everything.
Daedo did a quick search on both organisations. GlenCore was one of the worlds largest conglomerates covering resources from agriculture to space mining. They took over ETH Zurich thirty years ago but because the institution was established in 1855 changing the name was not considered. But everyone, except Daedo apparently, knew that ETH Zurich represented GlenCore.
GlenCore was not like DaVinci, Huawei and Svarski. It supplied a healthy percentage of the world's food, energy and minerals. Its manufacturing base was relatively small when compared to the big three. ETH Zurich was a tier three Academy, in the same league as Fortescue.
”Ok, I am still not seeing the opportunity,” Daedo said after reading the background.
”It's a massive company, they might see an opportunity and run with it. And they agreed to meet with us,” Barran replied.
”That makes sense now,” Daedo said finally understanding, Barran was on a scouting mission. Surveying the terrain, there may be an opportunity, but it may just be information gathering. GlenCore was not a likely fit for what Daedalus had to offer, but they had to have military assets and investments.
After a series of foyers and gatekeepers, Barran and Daedo were ushered into a meeting room in ETH Zurich's topside GlenCore innovation hub. The hub sat within the Academy's grounds, and like Fortescue, they were on break, there were no cadets to be seen.
”Afternoon gentlemen and ladies,” Barran said confidently as they strode in and took a couple of seats the GlenCore representatives indicated.
”I am Barran, Business Manager for Daedalus and I have with me Daedo our founder and resident genius,” Barran embellished.
The GlenCore representative replied, ”I am Matteo executive assistant to Mia who is the Director of Major Innovation Projects at GlenCore.” Matteo had light brown hair was in his thirties and wore retro glasses. Mia was in her late thirties or early forties, she was slim with auburn hair tied up in a bun on the back of her head. They both wore GlenCore bodysuits.
”Thank you for seeing us Matteo and Mia, it is an honour to meet with the leaders of innovation at GlenCore,” Barran supplied some smooth talk to get things started.
Matteo's eyes narrowed slightly at Barran's words, ”We were impressed with your dossier and agreed to meet to see how we can work together.”
Barran began to try and sell them on one patented innovation after another. The foundation AI, the railgun, and the exo. And it wasn't the products that were an issue it was his over the top style which was floundering with the current audience.
Mia began to look uncomfortable in her chair, and Matteo reacted to her body language by stating, ”We have an important meeting let's conclude our discussions.”
Barran looked at Daedo and mouthed 'help.'
”One moment,” Daedo said calmly. ”Why don't you tell us about you. We know almost nothing, other than what we read on the net about your operations, goals and direction.”
Mia suddenly became less agitated and began to speak openly, ”We are primarily a resource supply organisation. Whether it is energy, agriculture or minerals. Our expertise lies in extracting or generating the resource efficiently using the worlds best methods. Most of which we invent ourselves through our R and D and innovation teams.”
”With energy are you supplying resources like lithium and thorium or do you manufacture reactors as well?” Daedo asked.
”We provide forty-two percent of the worlds lithium and thirty-six percent of the thorium. We extract, smelt, purify, sinter, extrude or otherwise prepare minerals ready for manufacture or energy consumption.” Mia answered attentively. She was warming to Daedo where Barran had turned her off.
”Are you able to provide compacted Deuterium, into a liquid metallic form in mass quantities?” Daedo enquired. ”Specifically we are looking for a density above one tonne per cubic metre.”
Mia looked surprised by the question and shocked by request. ”We have worked with heavy water in the past, but it hasn't been used in the most recent processes. However, we produce tritium in large quantities when preparing lithium plasma. At the moment we have no use for this tritium since tritium reactors were made obsolete last century. We sell some to labs and for medical purposes, but the stockpile grows every year.”
Mia leaned forward interested, ”Why do you want condensed deuterium?”
”Annihilation,” Daedo said simply. Barran and Matteo looked confused. Mia laughed genuinely.
”You chase one of the holy grails of energy young Daedo,” Mia stated.
Daedo shrugged, ”I just have an idea. We are a long way from it working.”
Mia smiled, ”We have grants available to researchers. You should apply and send directly to me.”
”No strings attached?” Barran asked.
”A grant is a grant, GlenCore does it to further knowledge that benefits everyone. The only string, as you put it, is we are kept informed of the progress. Any discoveries are yours,” Mia stated.
”Are you late for your meeting?” Daedo asked Mia.
She shook her head, ”That meeting is now cancelled. Tell me about your other research topics.”
After another thirty minutes of questions and answers, Barran and Axelzero had the task of submitting grant applications for research into antimatter annihilation, fluids for micro-hydraulic purposes and polymer composites for military use.
The pair left the building and campus walking back to their rented auto.
Barran sighed, ”She liked you and not me. I guess certain people gravitate to specific personalities.”
”And certain people hate over the top sales,” Daedo savagely observed.
”Ok from now on, you have to pitch to the engineering types,” Barran responded with something he knew Daedo would hate.
”Or Vannier,” Daedo replied, ”she does all my shit jobs.”
”How much are the grants?” Barran asked.
”I don't know, you look them up. We are back in your job territory. But Axelzero can help you with the application. She is good at that sort of thing,” Daedo said.
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Daedalus financial status at the beginning of Term 2 M1:
Investor Capital injections: 34,000
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Expenditure
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Capital purchases: 24,000
(Workshop building, old company, new machines)
YTD OPEX Material purchase: 7,000
YTD Other OPEX costs: 1,000
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Income
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Direct Sales: 20,000
(exos to M3 Shu)
AI Foundation Royalty: 100,000
(advance, sales will have to accrue this amount before more royalties)
Other Patent Royalty: 0
Grants: 20,000
(GlenCore research grants authorised by Mia)
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Operating Capital: 130,000 bitcreds
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Stanley Martin strode down the corridor, his petition to speak with the Lieutenant General (LG) from strategic command on matters concerning exo procurement had been actioned.
After performing the customary salute and permissions for entry, Stanley stood in front of the LG and his aide.