85 M1: Term: 2, Round: 3 (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: 3
Daedalus Operating Capital: 160,000 bitcreds
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Each weeknight, at 20:15, M1 Thoth squad zero had their arena booking. Other then their weekend testing and training they did not bother with swapping or paying for extra arena time with other squads, they were simply too busy with research, academic and training activities.
Last term it may have been a priority, but this term they simply didn't have the time. There was a long list of squads who wanted to train with them. But Daedo kept his word and had one session with Thoth squad one every week.
”Gaumont, your squad, is coming along nicely,” Vannier said after their session with Thoth squad one. He nodded and smiled, he seemed quite happy.
”How do you think you'll go in the tournament?” Barran asked.
Gaumont looked thoughtful, ”If we win half our matches I'll be happy, and we need to perform well in all of them.”
”Only half?” Axelzero asked. The entire squad zero stood around chatting with Gaumont while his own squad looked on from a distance. Squad zero intimidated them, especially after a training session when they were smashed from pillar to post.
”I want expectations low, and then we can over deliver,” Gaumont said softly. There were only four squads in M1 with the two-point-six exos, and by the end of the term, the three-point-one version would be ready. It was likely Daedo would share it with Gaumont if he came through with his shield tech.
”How is your research progressing?” Daedo asked.
Gaumont looked a little nervous before taking a deep breath and replying, ”At first we were investigating particle shields, similar to what space ships use. But the power and equipment needs were too great. When the particle shield was hitting a brick wall, Fafner came up with an inspired idea. She thought that we could create layers of nano-springs on your shield, between sheets of the composite. Her idea was using mechanical means rather than a particle option to capture the kinetic energy and turn it into elastic potential energy.”
”That's a brilliant idea. Can you get it to work?” Daedo replied.
”We have heaps of issues, we will just have to work through them one at a time,” Gaumont said.
”What are the main issues?” Kang asked.
Gaumont looked at his replacement, he didn't know her at all, and he couldn't help harbouring a few ill feelings towards her, although her replacing him was not her decision. ”Oh just, the material composition of the spring; large energy losses due to elasticity, material breakdown, shape and structure of the spring and developing a release on command capability. That's all. Other than that we have it nailed.”
”It's a great concept that's worth pursuing. It could have widespread uses,” Mace chimed in.
”Like in armour?” Gaumont said, ”There is a problem directing the released energy, at the moment it's unidirectional.”
Vannier: Gaumont, Kang can probably assist with the material composition.
Gaumont: No thanks. We will work it out.
Vannier: Don't be like that. I will send you a few suggestions later for testing. And if you don't try them, I won't talk to you for the rest of the term.
Gaumont: ok. You don't have to be so harsh.
Vannier had been mentoring and advising Gaumont ever since he took over squad one. Whenever he had an issue, he came to her for advice rather than Master Nader unsurprisingly.
”We gotta get moving,” Vannier said out loud. ”Our tactics and performance review wait for no cadet.”
The seven squad zero cadets left the arena foyer walking in three groups of two with Barran alone at the rear. Five of the cadets were now ranked in the top five of M1, and with the ranking showing on their bodysuit in bright white lettering, it was a sight to see. Most squads had ranges of numbers with two and usually three digits. Single digits were rare, and all in one squad, unheard of.
Only Kang and Axelzero did not possess single digits. Axelzero was ranked thirteen while Kang languished with three digits at one hundred and twenty. But she was gaining ranks rapidly.
Gaumont was ranked fifteen, and his squad looked up to him as one of the elite from squad zero, the fact that Kang was ranked so much lower showed it was the truth that he was brought in to lead them. Not that any would doubt Master Nader's word.
”Do we have to practice against them every week?” Fafner asked.
Gaumont smiled wryly, ”Yes. How do you expect to improve if we only practice with easy beats?”
Fanfer grumbled, ”I find it disheartening. Even their new squaddie is better than me.”
”Daedo was impressed with your nano-spring idea,” Gaumont said changing the subject.
Fafner looked at Gaumont to check if he was teasing, ”You serious?”
”I never joke about squad zero. You should know that by now,” Gaumont replied. ”Let's move, we need to review our data before 2200.”
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”What's been bugging you lately?” Mace asked Daedo.
Daedo thought carefully before answering, ”Nothing to do with the Academy has me worried. It's all this pressure from Master Nader and the probable exodus.”
”She makes it sound like its all up to you. It isn't. That's why you have us,” she said pointing back to the other squad members. The squad had gone topside to study in the ancient library for a change of scenery. ”And people like Colonel Martin,” Mace stated trying to reassure him.
”You sound like Vannier,” Daedo said. He could not reveal the real reason he was stressed, but this was close enough and would have been his main source of stress if it wasn't for the mystery box and revelations from Master Nader. Master Nader was an alien. Sort of.
”It's logical. Everyone in Daedalus is behind you, and you are not alone,” Mace said emphasising the word not.
Daedo sighed. ”You're right.” He would have to hide or deal with his worries, showing stress just brought unwanted questioning.
”Other than saving the planet? What are you working on?” Mace asked jokingly.
”Propulsion. We are still using off the shelf jets,” Daedo said.
”So you are taking over propulsion as well?” Mace asked.
”It goes hand in hand with Physics,” Daedo stated. He did not mention the alien mystery box full of physics answers, which cut down his workload significantly.
”I guess its all about firing particles off at high speed once you move away from burning chemicals,” Mace replied.
Daedo was reading up on spaceship propulsion methods and concepts.
”We might need to add a thermal fusion reactor, and use the heat to burn something off,” Daedo said.
”That's a major design change. Does it bring in overheating issues?” Mace asked.
Daedo nodded and said, ”It does. We probably don't have the room in an exo for this type of system.” He said after closing his screen and standing up. He titled his head side to side as if working off a stiff neck.
”I'm going to go for a walk,” he announced suddenly.
”Do you want company?” Mace asked she was still worried about him.
Daedo looked over at Picard, Axelzero and Barran; they were engrossed with their work. Vannier and Kang were discussing a subject in a virtual room, which made the ancient library venue superfluous. He finally nodded.
”Ok, I'll send a message to everyone to wait here, we'll be back in thirty,” Daedo stated.
Daedo and Mace walked into the hall of the usually deserted ancient library. They had never used it until the Fortescue meeting, and since then it was a simple matter of getting a pass from Master Nader, which may be hard for some, but in Daedo's case, it usually took a few minutes.
They heard voices, it was Fortescue and a couple of other cadets. Mace pulled Daedo back into their study room.
”What are you doing? We are allowed to be here,” Daedo said.
*Mace: Shh. I want to see what they are up to. They'll be expecting this place to be empty, won't they?*
*Daedo: Yes. Ok. I will tell everyone to be quiet and stay put.*
Mace closed the ancient wooden door to their study room very slowly, leaving it open only a crack.
*Daedo: Fortescue just arrived. Don't make any noise Mace wants to see what they are doing. They don't know we are here.*
*Barran: Oh nice. Mace you are such a spy.*
*Mace: shh I am trying to listen.*