69 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1 (2/2)
”Thanks, Dad. As soon as that is in can you begin the initialisation sequence please?” Daedo asked.
Ikaros nodded, ”I'll have Axelzero walk him as soon as the lithium has charge as well.”
Axelzero nodded excitedly, ”Can't wait.” The meeting with the Kangs had Vannier, Daedo and Barran. Mace was busy with her projects, that left Axelzero and Picard who could assist Ikaros with getting Old Dawg ready.
”They're here,” Barran announced entering the workshop. Vannier led the Kangs into the workshop area to begin the tour and the cadet's plan. She proceeded to introduce everyone again, they had not met Ikaros, but they had met all the cadets at the dinner.
”This is a nice workshop,” Mr Kang said politely.
”Do you have something like this for Dead Beat?” Vannier asked.
Mr Kang shook his head, ”Only my garage in Korea. We rent space or pay for mechanics here in the EU.”
”Do you participate in the Asian Pro League as well?” Barran asked.
”Yes we did, we thought it would be better creds over here though. So we came,” Mr Kang replied. So far So-Ra had been silent with a neutral look on her face. She neither smiled nor scowled, which was a positive.
”Let's finish the tour,” Vannier said. Before leading the Kangs through all the workshop rooms, lower one and the testing facilities and lastly the upstairs part which were accommodation and living facilities.
There was plenty of room in the elevator for the group of five, it was a goods lift. Capable of transporting the exos, robots and equipment from the ground floor down to lower one or lower two.
”What's on lower two?” Mr Kang asked looking at the controls. He noticed the cadets did not include it in the tour.
”Our power engineer is manufacturing tailored reactors. She also has some prototypes set up down there, it's a restricted area. Only Daedo, robots and Cissee are permitted,” Vannier mentioned.
”And I wouldn't be either, but I am working with her on some of the technical designs,” Daedo mentioned.
”I must admit I am impressed with your setup,” Mr Kang said.
”Thanks, Mr Kang. What do you think So-Ra?” Daedo asked.
”It's ok I guess,” So-Ra answered softly. She was amazed at the foundry, weaving and plating machines. To her it wasn't a workshop, Daedalus could build a Mech with only raw materials. It far surpassed the fabricators made available to them when they rented a workshop. Even Daedalus fabricators had the heads changed by their mechanic to be more precise and flexible in the types of work they did.
”Let's take a look at Old Dawg,” Barran announced and the group moved to the old Mech they had been retrofitting for the past month.
Old Dawg had been stripped back to his frame, everything was removed, and then Daedo had the robots work off any corrosion. The frame was in good shape, after an electrolytic bath it was good as new.
Old Dawg now stood with the exo mesh underarmour and power delivery technology attached to his frame.
”This is our technology added to an old frame,” Barran stated and then let Old Dawg do the talking with Axelzero in control.
She walked the mech around while Barran tapped his foot, he sent her a message. Axelzero bent the knees and then jumped with Old Dawg. The six-metre mech took off into the air, his feet getting up to three metres off the ground in the yard outside of the workshop.
”Holy,” Mr Kang said. Although Old Dawg didn't have plate armour covering the mesh, it was still impressive.
Old Dawg walked over to the foam construct wall the cadets had prepared for this demo, Axelzero twisted to the left and then quickly to the right while throwing a jab at the wall. Old Dawgs mesh covered frame hand left a large indentation but it also pushed the construct foam back by a metre.
”Okay, we didn't secure the constructofoam properly, but you can see the power delivery from the mark and the fact Old Dawg pushed back what was a hundred tonne opposing mass,” Barran commented on the demonstration and nodded to Axelzero for feeding him the numbers and terminology.
Old Dawg concluded with a bow before walking back into the workshop.
”We have everything we need to work on mechs, exos, weapons and even manufacture our own composites,” Barran concluded the tour. The group walked back to the upstairs area and sat at the dining table which doubled as a meeting table.
”Mr Kang,” Barran said brightly, ”We really want So-Ra to join us at the Academy and as part of Daedalus. I would like to point out that Daedalus has been doing well since our last meeting, but… look. Why don't you tell us what you want out of life, for both you and So-Ra. I am sure we can work together to create a win-win scenario.”
Mr Kang was surprised that Barran was able to talk like an expert negotiator. These cadets kept surprising him. He looked at So-Ra and wondered if she would like it, would she thrive or would they make her life a misery with pressure and work.
He had been thinking about it since their first meeting in Munich. The implications of following him around working on Dead Beat could lead to better things for her. But is that what she wanted. Attending an Academy and completing all six years she could do anything. From working for Svarski to starting her own company. There were many considerations by joining this group. Mr Kang needed to assist but also protect So-Ra.
”I would like my daughter to attend the Academy very much,” Mr Kang said finally. ”I also want So-Ra to be happy. I don't want her to be taken advantage of, and I am concerned about giving all her breakthroughs away. We have had offers from others in the pro league. Good offers to armour their mechs like Dead Beat.”
”But then you wouldn't have an advantage, Mr Kang,” Barran pointed out.
Mr Kang nodded, it was the very reason he hadn't agreed to any deals yet.
”Mr Kang we have an offer of a partnership for you and So-Ra,” Vannier began her tone milder than Barran's, kinder and gentler.
Vannier continued with her gentle presentation bringing up a screen showing the key aspects, ”Daedalus want to sponsor Dead Beat for five seasons, for the full 50k bitcreds in advance. In addition, we would like to repair and improve Dead Beat here in our workshop at no cost. Because we are partners. And we want Dead Beat to do well with our name as the manufacturer.”
Mr Kang watched the presentation keenly and didn't interrupt even if he had misgivings about stating Daedalus as the manufacturer.
”Second item. We will sponsor So-Ra into Fortescue Academy, not only financially, we will ensure she succeeds. This will last the full six years. This is worth over 20k bitcreds for tuition, and that is before costs like bodysuits, exos, etc.”
”Third item. So-Ra will become a shareholder in Daedalus and work as part of our R and D team in her specialised areas. The offer is for fifty shares, with a bonus of ten shares each year. This will equate to a total of no less than two percent contracted equity protecting her from dilution.”
”All we ask in return is that So-Ra does her best and that all her discoveries belong to Daedalus,” Daedo concluded.
Mr Kang was thinking hard during the entire presentation. He was impressed the cadets had found the sponsorship credits in such a short time.
”I have questions,” Mr Kang said, ”Did you borrow the bitcreds or did the company earn them?”
Barran pulled up a revenue sheet showing the recent royalty and grants they recently received. ”We are not relying on So-Ra's IP to make creds Mr Kang. She will benefit from all the discoveries coming from Daedo, Mace, Cisse and the rest of the team. We are working on technologies which will blow your mind. The exo you saw, we will get that listed as standard equipment with the EUDF. And that is just for starters.”
Mr Kang nodded. Daedalus was much more than he had imagined in Munich. He looked at So-Ra.
”What do you think my love?” Mr Kang asked.
So-Ra did not want to answer this question in front of the three cadets, but her father left her with little choice. She had been thinking about going to the Academy since the meeting in Munich but had said nothing to her Father. She did not want to squash his dreams of winning the pro league. Attending a military Academy, especially a tier three was not something she thought would ever be possible for her. But it was now.
”I am not some weak rich kid,” So-Ra said firmly and gave Daedo, Barran and Vannier a steely stare. ”If I come to the Academy I won't stand for being pushed around.”
Daedo smiled at So-Ra, ”We don't get pushed around. And if you are worried about our squad, don't, my AI rightly classified everyone in Daedalus and the squad as family. We are inviting you to become part of our family.”