77 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 2 (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: 2
Daedalus Operating Capital: 140,000 bitcreds
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*Daedo: we're coming.*
*Paget-A: we?*
*Daedo: It would be remiss of me not to come with a witness and bodyguard. They won't attend the meeting, but they will keep an eye on me.*
*Paget-A: Ok. We are in the old library. It's not used for anything except as a museum, but its good for having private meetings away from the cafeteria.*
*Daedo: Isn't it restricted access?*
*Paget-A: You need a temporary pass from a Chief or a Master. We already got you one. You canjust enter when you get here.*
*Daedo changed channels. He didn't want Picard locked outside.*
*Daedo: Master Nader are you able to issue a temporary pass for Picard for the topside Library?*
*Master Nader: done. Twenty four hours.*
Daedo looked at Picard, ”That was easy. You have a twenty-four-hour pass for the Library.” Daedo went on to explain the situation for the meeting. The door sensors would register the cadet from their bodysuit, the pass was a digital tag added to their CID which allowed them entry without setting off an alarm.
Picard just nodded and looked serious.
”Wish I had one of those spider-bots or scout drones now,” she said as they stood in the travelator zooming up to topside.
”Or even something smaller if you just want reconnaissance,” Daedo replied.
Picard nodded, ”I'll send a message to Barran and Axelzero. We should look into tiny scout bots. They would really help in situations like this.” She was concerned that while she was alone, it is hard to be aware of everything that was happening in the surrounds. And while the chances of something bad happening were low. Incidents had occurred in the past, and squad zero now erred on the side of paranoid.
The pair entered the library, it was similar to the Chief's building with carpeting and ancient wood panelling on the walls. There was no constructofoam to be seen as there was wood everywhere including shelving, doors and desks. Other than the carpets it seemed everything was made out of the organic material.
The lighting was modern but was hidden underneath ancient light fittings. The smell was different from their quarters and main academy structures, the air may have been filtered, but the scent from the wooden furnishings and fixtures was apparent because of its difference.
”Good,” Paget-A said concisely as a greeting. ”Picard will need to stay with me after I show you to the meeting room.” Paget-A began to walk down the hallway she turned back and said, ”Thanks for not bringing Barran, that was considerate.”
Picard grinned widely. They both knew exactly what she meant, but she was under the false impression that it was them being thoughtful instead of the reality that Barran was busy.
Paget-A smiled at Daedo and pointed to the large oak double doors which were open. He had to hand it to Fortescue she made the most of the facilities where his squad just camped out in their quarters most of the time.
”I'll wait out here,” Paget-A confirmed as Daedo entered.
The inside of the meeting room looked like an ancient study with several cushioned wooden chairs arrayed in front of desks. He could see separators between the desks to give occupants a little privacy. Fortescue sat alone in the corner at a roundtable and was removing her helmet as Daedo entered. She stood as he approached.
”Thanks for coming so quickly,” she said politely.
Daedo wondered who the person who had taken over Fortescue's body was. She was polite and soflty spoken.
”Good timing,” Daedo replied. ”We were just finishing a squad activity, and I don't have another until 2230.” Which was in an hour.
”Very well,” Fortescue said. ”Let's get straight into it. Can't have you late for your Gauntlet.” It was not surprising that she knew exactly when he completed the Gauntlet each day.
Daedo nodded and sat opposite Fortescue. The room was dimly lit, by either design or she had lowered the levels. If she was using her helmet, it wouldn't matter how well lit it was, but he could see her perfectly in the low light. Her brown hair was long, it when past her shoulders and down her back. She had a light frame compared to Picard and even Vannier and although she spoke like she was thirty the freckles on her face made her look the thirteen she was.
Her eyes were brown as well, and they were always bright, sharp or threatening. Never dull. Even with the pressure she was feeling, according to Paget-A, it did not show on her face. She seemed calm and well rested.
”I want us to begin again if you would grant me that courtesy. I have always tried to be professional and fair, but upon reflection not always polite or humble.” Fortescue began.
Daedo nodded, ”You haven't done anything that upset me.” He left out that she had upset most of his squad with her lack of humility and derogatory statements.
Fortescue smiled, she did not do that often, and Daedo tried to recall her smiling other than when she was laughing at him. Daedo turned on his squad feed, Myrmidon would now send the AV back to them. The beginning of this meeting while pleasant was a textbook example from the Human Studies course on how to influence people. Vannier would pick up on the feed immediately because her AI would alert her.
”I want us to come to an understanding,” she said. ”And rather than just put forward a proposal I have something for you. A gift or offering, whatever you want to call it. No strings attached.” Fortescue would not be happy that Daedo was sending an AV feed back to his squad and unless she had Nader level security, she would not know. He was satisfied that he had not agreed to not do it.
Fortescue pulled up a screen. ”We have collected data on all exos that have any merit. And only a couple are available on the market, where most are being used by top Tier Academies and associated Private Military that are not available otherwise.”
”Their primary technologies are not patented?” Daedo asked. He had not trawled the IPO for exo designs or parts. Only micro-pumps, servos, and actuators. Lithium plasma was standard energy storage which was purchased in its inert form.
”No. They are forever changing their designs, and they never bother patenting them. It's just a design. Other than the composites and compounds most of the parts they utilise are top of the range and patented by someone, not necessarily the organisation with the exo. For example, half of them use the same actuator as you.” Fortescue explained.
”Wait,” Daedo interrupted. ”You know which actuator I use?”
”Daedo. It's not that hard to work out. I don't think I need to apologise for researching the competition.” Fortescue said.
”Its expected, please proceed,” Daedo replied.
”One part of the study shows that most of the Tier one exos are superior to yours, and some of tier two as well, but in tier three yours is only equalled. The most expensive exos available on the market are inferior to yours in mobility and strength.” She continued bringing up tables showing the rating levels of a hundred different exos on strength, mobility, speed and armour value.
”Another part of the study,” Fortescue continued, bringing up another document which was a design element and major component list for each of the exos. Some fields were unknown, which was not surprising, these organisations would try and keep this information secret.
”Is the main design elements. And something that really stands out is your mesh underarmour which doubles as hydraulic delivery. No one else uses this method. Now that you have it patented they can incorporate into their designs, but they will only have to pay a royalty if it's used outside of the Academy leagues.”
Fortescue did not pass judgment on Daedalus patenting the technology, therefore, making it available to everyone. It was a damned if you did and damned if you didn't like scenario.
”It's really interesting that this is uniquely yours. DaVinci, Svarski and Huawei all have unique elements, but their strength lies in chassis design and the materials used in that chassis and the exo overall. They all have top of the range reactors, their power availability is well above yours. The compounds, polymers, ceramics and composites they use are improving each year incrementally. These are some of the main factors that separate the leading exos.”
”And they don't patent these materials do they?” Daedo asked.
”I don't think anyone does. Not unless it's groundbreakingly different like constructofoam. A minuscule change in an alloy is not something you can patent. Titanium alloy is Titanium alloy.”
Fortescue flicked the documents across to Daedo. The action was figurative of the electronic file share. Myrmidon accepted the file and stored it locally. Daedo could study it later.
”Thanks,” Daedo said. ”This is really is helpful.”