66 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1 (2/2)
Barran sent off the missive agreeing to meet Col. Martin and Cillian Marais at 1800 on Thursday night.
”Who is going?” Axelzero asked.
”We need Barran and yourself, as Business Manager and Finance. We need Daedo as the leader and inventor,” Vannier said.
”Vannier, Mace and Picard,” Daedo stated. Jensen was not a part of Daedalus.
”I will stay here and work on my project, you don't need me for this,” Mace said.
Vannier nodded slowly, and Daedo replied, ”Okay, it's your call.”
Daedo opened up his workshop control panel and ordered six of the latest exos to be produced for testing upping the sizes of one of the exos for Stanley Martin.
”Colonel Martin is 2000mm do you think?” Daedo asked.
Barran nodded, ”yeah that will be enough.” There was wiggle room in the exo, and if it was too big, the inside clamps could be adjusted. It was only a massive issue if it was too small or oversized to such a degree the clamps could not grip firmly. Other than Jensen, squad zero exos were the perfect size for each cadet, which enabled peak performance of the powered armour.
.
.
”Jensen,” Daedo called. Five squad members were about to leave for the Workshop to meet Cillian Marais, a Marais Business Development Executive and Colonel Martin.
”Can you give me an update on the project?” Daedo asked Jensen. Vannier was standing next to her squad leader. Otherwise, they were alone.
Jensen nodded. He had been working hard to try and fit in. After an initial astonishment at the physical activities, he had not complained. ”I've made progress, enough to submit tomorrow. But to be honest Daedo, I will only hand it over if the decision is that I am staying.” Jensen replied.
Daedo rubbed his chin unconsciously before putting his hand back by his side. ”I was going to use the results of your project to inform my decision,” Daedo stated.
”Your decision?” Jensen asked. ”I thought Master Nader and the academy decided they wanted me and placed me in this squad?”
”Jensen, just as you are evaluating us, we are evaluating you. There is much more at stake here than a position in our squad,” Vannier chimed in.
”What else is at stake?” Jensen asked.
Vannier looked at Daedo who nodded. ”All the members of this squad are shareholders in Daedalus. A company we have built which is supported by our research and development. The meeting you heard about tonight is with Marais Industries and the EUDF concerning our exo,” Vannier stated.
”And it doesn't stop there,” Daedo said, ”We reinvest all the profits back into Daedalus. To purchase manufacturing machinery and materials. I won't say much more, but we have big plans.”
Jensen was shocked at first before his eyes narrowed slightly, ”And you want me to help your company with propulsion and power delivery.” Jensen referred to the hydraulic fluid as power delivery, because the exo or a mech would utilise pumps, pistons, motors and hydraulic fluids to deliver power from the reactor to all the mechanical moving parts.
”Master Nader searched for a specialist to fill a need. Is that so surprising?” Vannier asked.
Jensen shrugged, ”I'll make a decision tomorrow, I want to sleep on it. If I decide I am staying I will send you my findings, I am sure that will convince you.”
Daedo nodded, ”Okay. That's fair.” He then turned to Vannier, ”Let's get going.”
Daedo, Vannier, Barran, Picard and Axelzero headed to the workshop. It was unusual for cadets to leave campus during the week. But it was allowed with permission which was sort and given by Master Nader. They arrived moments before their guests.
”Thoth squad zero,” Cillian greeted them with a nod and a smile, ”or should I say Daedalus?”
”When we are outside of the Academy Daedalus is fine,” Vannier replied. ”Welcome to our workshop.” She introduced the cadets although it was probable that Cillian and certainly Col. Martin knew everyone by name.
”This is our BDE, everyone just calls him Tom,” Cillian introduced the Marais Business Development Executive. He was the expert who Col. Martin asked Cillian to bring.
”Now. I have to ask,” Cillian said, ”Do you have all your patents in place now? Can I take a close look at everything?”
Axelzero nodded, ”Yes sir everything is in place. You can look at everything except lower level two.”
”What's on lower level two!” Cillian exclaimed before adding with a wave of his hands, ”I'm kidding. You need to protect your ideas. Even from someone like me.” Cillian then held his hand across his mouth and acted as if he didn't want his colleague to hear, ”Don't trust Tom with any secrets. He's in sales.”
Picard nodded knowingly and placed a hand on Barran's shoulder, ”We have one of those.”
”Let's give you the tour,” Vannier stated before leading the group through the workshop. She talked the guests through each room, the machinery and setup before arriving at lower one which was the testing bay. Where Daedo took over and walked the guests through the exos. Including putting Col. Martin in one for a hands-on demo. Picard showed them the railgun they had been working on before the five cadets played a game of tag with Col. Martin. All six of them in the medium version of the exos.
They had dropped the heavy version before the tournament last term. Barran enjoyed the extra speed of the medium while Daedo preferred to have the entire squad in the same exo.
While the cadets were demolishing Col. Martins pride Cillian spoke to Tom.
”We need to get this exo on the EUDF procurement list. Stanley is certain its better than what they are currently using,” Cillian said.
”Of course. What is the arrangement with the kids?” Tom asked.
”From my point of view its just helping the next generation and I can ask them if they will pay your usual commission. Is that fine with you?” Cillian asked.
”You're the boss. And yes, that's fair,” Tom answered. ”What about the railgun?”
”It's not there yet,” Cillian stated. Tom was an excellent BDE, but he couldn't tell the difference between a military grade railgun and Daedalus' current model.
After the demonstration was finished Stanley asked, ”how was that?”
”You got pwned Colonel,” Cillian laughed at his friend.
”Bah, I haven't used one of these in years. But I'm certain its an improvement in speed over our current model,” Stanley said.
”It's not ready,” Daedo informed the adults, much to their surprise. ”We need to improve the power delivery and the mesh compound. We need another term.”
”We can demo this as a prototype and get the ball rolling,” Tom advised before asking. ”Will it feature in the Tier three league?”
”It better!” Cillian exclaimed before adding more softly, ”I am sure it will Tom.”
”Good that will help.” Tom said before addressing the squad, ”Cadets if you can give me six units the same size as Col. Martin's I can start the process. Mr Marais will forward you the contract for your approval.”
”A contract for you to sell these to the EUDF?” Barran asked.
”Yes. Is there a problem?” Tom asked.
”Hell no!” Barran exclaimed.
”Assuming the contract is acceptable,” Axelzero added.
”I am sure it will be very favourable for Daedalus,” Cillian said smiling.
The contract which Cillian Marais sent the following day gave Tom Synkov the right to represent Daedalus to approved clients. In each case, Daedalus would have to approve whether Tom could represent them to avoid any conflicts with their internal sales. There were no payments to Marais Industry, only a ten percent profit share to Tom Synkov. Which meant Daedalus would keep ninety percent of profits on any business deals Tom brokered.
Manufacture and supply contracts were problems for another day. Daedalus was given the expert help they needed to reach the most profitable contracts by someone they trusted. If Tom failed, it cost them nothing other than the materials provided. The innovative mesh weave was protected by the patent with the IPO. It was possible for another company to manufacture an exo with it and sell it, but they would have to pay Daedalus royalties as determined by the IPO.
Stanley had told the cadets on his last visit that if they ever wanted his advice, all they had to do was ask.
”Before you go,” Daedo asked Cillian and Stanley, ”I have a problem I wanted your advice on.”