“And based on that, a power station will be built?”
“As long as there are no problems then yes. The amount of energy produced, so far, depends on the grid's size. The research unit's job is to resolve the size issue. There is a possibility that this new energy source will be in such a form that could be installed anywhere.”
“This will put the energy industry out of their misery,” said Trenerry philosophically.
“Let's not be too hasty. There are still many questions that need to be answered.”
“Until then we'll have to be ready for attacks if this becomes public.”
“Yes, and I expect to be informed of every detail that, as you have mentioned, will be necessary to continue our work effectively. The ASEC is not a company, it's an organization. The units of an organization can go only in one direction and this can only be achieved if everyone works together. Each unit performs a different function in its own field, but while working and experiencing, each gathers information that is useful to other units from a completely different angle. This information cannot be lost. None of it!” he emphasized. “If it gets lost then, at that moment, we ourselves become our own worst enemies.”
“That's certainly clear. A collective mind,” agreed Trenerry.
“As you say. This is why the CCI system is working to keep a diary, as it were, of what happens from many different aspects. Other units have access to it, so that they can make use of it, even if it means just being aware of the information.”
“I see.”
“As your job is a specific one that others do not have to necessarily know about, your notes will be received only by me. Next time though, don't wait with your thoughts.”
“Agreed.”
The exception
After Trenerry had left, Steersman opened the only display that did not broadcast information, but received it. More identification was needed to get into it; the screen would only appear from its secret hiding place after the middle area of the console was completely reorganized. It was concave and the curved structure of the monitor embraced the display; it was ivory in color, just like an old sheet of paper.
Colors appeared on its side, subdued, raw colors. Images and signs floated across to the middle to form symbols, then and morphed into an unrecognizable script. The perspective depth of the symbols seemed to hint at the deeper meaning they contained.
Steersman was using the symbols as a code language that he had developed, with a syntax that resembled a living language, though more rapidly evolving, with meta-commutation like tone and inflexion being conveyed by color and depth. The faster he wrote, the further the symbols seemed to sink back into the screen.
With the help of this tool he had managed to build a system for controlling robots and hardware that left no room for misunderstanding caused by inaccurate interpretation.
He had not given them artificial intelligence. He had only made it possible to give them instructions in the most precise manner possible, telling them exactly what he required of them, and he could now do that far better that anyone else on the planet.
Because of this ability, he could achieve anything he wanted. The sophistication of his code language meant that – with only a very few symbols – he could have sent his bodyguard to a grocery store to buy apple, as they had the ability to move and communicate; they knew where to find it, what apple looks like and they knew what to do in order to get it. However, they would not want to keep the apple because they had no need for it; they would not want to stroll down to the lake as they would not feel the desire for freedom. Their mission would end when Steersmen had the apple on his table, that's it. Of course, life itself was never that simple. What would happen if a discriminating shop assistant said to the guard that he or she would not serve it? Then it would certainly not bring apple back from that shop as it would know that it had not found apple. It would mean that – mission being uncompleted – the guard robot would go as far as it could find the requested object.
Steersman always stated that his instructions had to be achieved by peaceful means. So far he had not needed to make exceptions or use alternative methods that would have put the implementation of his instructions morally in question.
That was the case till now.
Further developments
As soon as GlideCraft production commenced, further developments of the DCG sphere immediately followed. Alec Samuelson, the terrestrial vehicle development manager, and the head of the energy research unit, Neil Gibbs, together with the chief test engineer, Danny Hofferstein had been working on the new possibilities of the drive for nearly two months. They had discovered early on that size matters; the bigger the sphere, the more powerful its lift. The anti-gravity property of the DCG units was created by a new obscure compound that rotated in opposing directions with a constant angular velocity and had a constant force that was determined by its size. The drive was assembled from several DCG spheres, with three supplementary units placed around a bigger central unit, in order to achieving a stronger anti-gravity effect.
“Maybe we should try this outside?” Hofferstein remarked. The others looked up at the ceiling.
“We will close the lamellas if it moves too fast,” said Samuelson, pushing aside his apprehension.
“The position of the secondary spheres is also variable. We could subtract them from the drive, if we turn angle of the shaft. This would practically mean achieving a braking force,” Gibbs said.
Hofferstein still showed signs of doubt regarding the test, but there was nothing he could have said that would have convinced the scientists to stop it. Samuelson was operating the console that controlled the lamellas and Gibbs was controlling the auxiliary units. The first part of the test was focused on the first unit and the shorter scientist Samuelson began to gently pull one of the levers, which regulated the speed with which the lamellas opened in analog mode.
Slowly he opened them out.
Although he was pulling steadily, the force did not disperse equally and the device begun to rise astonishingly fast.
“Careful!” shouted Gibbs.
Samuelson, alarmed, quickly closed the lamellas. The anti-gravitational force stopped immediately and the device fell back onto its stand like a lump of rock. It broke the stand with a huge crash leaving the scientists looking at each other in embarrassment, afraid that the drive itself might be damaged by the fall.
“That was good,” said Hofferstein, shaken “Let's try it again … with a little less vim, perhaps with some more weight, let's say one tonne.”
The two scientist were still shaken by the incident, and they quickly agreed. They fixed another device above the drive and loaded it with one thousand kilograms.
The result was an even louder crash.
Robotic security personnel were already surveying the testing ground as Steersman arrived.
“So, how are you getting on?” he asked the worried scientists, who turned in embarrassment to face him.
“Well, we are just about to try another method for controlling the drive unit. It keeps escaping,” Hofferstein quickly answered for them.
“What happened?”
“Well, as it turns out, the anti-gravitational effect is exponentially stronger in relation to opening speed of the lamellas,” said Gibbs. “Perhaps it can be slowed by the secondary spheres, but then it won't be enough to just incline the axis. We'll need to reverse it in relation to to the direction of rotation.”
“Can you do that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right, let's see it!”
“Personally, I would increase the load,” said Hofferstein, gesturing towards the weights. “Perhaps fifteen tons for now.”
The two scientists looked at each other but dared not contradict him, and ordered the crane to add further weights.
Samuelson's hands began to sweat and he brushed them against his trousers. Concentrating hard, he moved the lamellas even more carefully, which resulted in the whole device
lifting off nice and slowly.
Once in the air, he stabilized its position and it begun to float some distance from the group.
“All right. I've saved the data,” muttered Samuelson. “Let's have a look at the guidance system.”
Gibbs took the guidance control.
“First, let's try a rotation around the axis,” he said, and opened one side of the row of lamellas.
The device started to rotate in the opposite direction but not for long. Gibbs didn't want to go far, and he quickly closed them. The structure rotated further because of its inertia so this time he opened the lamellas opposite the direction of rotation and the sphere slowed.
“What sort of additional power assistance do the secondary spheres give?” asked Steersman.
“We haven't tested them, yet,” said Gibbs. “The main driver has already proved to be too strong.”
“Can you operate them now?”
”Theoretically, yes, but we always seem to come up against surprises.”
”Let's see!” said Steersman.
”Okay,” said Gibbs, and he put his hand onto the console. Involuntarily he braced his legs further apart, and even Hofferstein stepped back a little. The energy research engineer activated the lamellas on the secondary spheres from the ground side and started to open them.
It shot up like a helium filled balloon, dragging the fifteen ton weight up with it and pressed itself against the ceiling with an ear-shredding grind. It moved back and forth, as if trying to push away whatever was blocking it. The watching scientists and engineers gasped collectively and one of the laboratory assistants gave an involuntary shout. Gibbs and Samuelson tried to cover their nervousness, without much success.
Working together, they finally managed to bring the monster machinery back to earth. They both looked exhausted.
“It'll be fine,” noted Hoffestein, and smiled.
“Yes. I want this monstrosity to float as freely and lightly as a feather,” said Steersman. “If needed, work around the clock. I don't care if you destroy the laboratory, but make it fly! I want reports every two hours and let me know if you need anything, ASAP!”
Hofferstein stayed behind giving advice to the stunned team. He managed to talk some life back into them, and it all started again.
University City
Just like theater scenery, the building was magnificent from the outside, the enormous facade a blinding white leviathan with statues of flexing giants on the battlements, while the interior remained bare and unfinished. Karen and Professor Hashimoto visited the PrEUST building, where there were still hundreds of workers working twenty four seven to make sure that the one and a half kilometer long, eight hundred meter wide, U shaped building would be ready for the grand opening. As opposed to buildings in the city, this citadel of the sciences was designed in a classical style, with heavy stone elements, pediments, antique ornamentation, and carved columns all laid out in a strictly symmetrical arrangement.
It was not ostentatious, but with its brutal size it was not subdued either. During all of this, the background organization was done at an unprecedented pace so that, apart from the outside construction work, the institution itself was also already to be up and running.
The underground parking area was filled by construction worker vehicles, and a number of elevators were available to take people up into the campus, where forests of native trees had been planted and a pond shimmered amongst the trees. One of the elevators took the guests into the middle of the forest. Stepping from the elevator they found themselves standing in a fairy tale.
“I called Mr Steersman from London yesterday,” said Mr Hashimoto, while looking around the forest. “I told him that I was being watched, and that implicit threats have been coming in since I left.”
Karen looked at him.
“What sort of threats? Who are they from?” she asked.
“I don't know. They were not threats in the usual sense. There have only been minor obstructions, and sometimes seemingly random accidents,” explained the professor.
“You mean, you were in danger?”
“Not really. Things have been happening. For instance, my laptop shorted out and my phone stopped responding. The GPS system showed incorrect coordinates, and while driving in the country I was stopped by a fallen tree lying across the road, the traffic was redirected and then on the motorway a goods truck fell over. It was as if someone had been deliberately obstructing me from reaching my destination.”
“These are just annoying inconveniences,” Karen explained calmly.
“Yes, yes. That's exactly what I told myself. Well … I did, up until the moment that I noticed someone following me. Wherever I went, if I deliberately looked for him, I usually managed to spot a specific man after a few moments.”
“What did Steersman say?”
“He confirmed that everything is exactly as I feel it to be. These are not coincidences and we must take them seriously. I had to come back straight away. He wanted to give me a bodyguard, but with a bodyguard I would not be able to pass through any airport security which is why he wishes to secure an airplane for my use,” said Hashimoto.
“I see,” said Karen, “and what kind of reception has PrEUST had so far?”
“Very promising. Very promising indeed. ASEC agents are present in every significant higher educational institution. Students are now giving a great deal of credibility to our promises which are effective, to say the least. To study in the city that launched the GlideCraft is, for any young student interested in a scientific or technology career, a highly important step,” said the professor.
“That's not an unfounded sentiment. ASEC would only break their promises as an absolute last resort. That is something I believe unflinchingly,” said Karen frowned slightly.
“Many of my colleagues think the same. Those whom I have visited will all take this opportunity. It is an amazing career, a new life in a developing and prosperous city, safety for the whole family. These days these things are not commonly found in the rest of the world.”
“But there is something bothering you though, right?” Karen asked, feeling that something had been left unsaid.
“To manage Tokyo university and teach there carries a tremendous respect, not only in Japan but in the rest of the world. This was the peak of my own career. I was working in a very honored position.”
“And now?”
“PrEUST means more than that because of how others in the world relate to it. Because of this one has power and with that power comes much responsibility and, of course, pressure. The whole world is following what happens here.”
“I don't wish to suggest that your fears are groundless,” said Karen, after a slow breathe in. “But isn't it you who is in the habit of saying that, if you could, you would change the balance of power? Isn't the current state of affairs unequal and unhealthy?”
“Yes, of course.”
“This is an opportunity for you to be part of the process. It is true that perhaps another centralization of power is emerging, but the ASEC will not abuse it, turning it into self gain, or even worse, ruining other people.”
“How can you be so sure of that, Karen?”
“I know the person who leads it all. A company is as good or bad as its leader. If I remember correctly, it is also one of your maxims.”
“I don't have enough information to question ASEC's motives, but what is sure now is that the events taking place are undoubtedly reassuring signs of that. I admit that I didn't think that change would make me more careful.”
“I know, me neither,” Karen joked quietly.
“What I'm certain of is that, by working together, we will get through this more easily.” Hashimoto took Karen's arm and squeezed it reassuringly.
“I am sure of it, Professor.”
“I must say that this building is amazing. I don't know how they expect me to look over everything at once. It is impossible!”
“That's why a suitable system will be
at your disposal. Furthermore, an army of staff will be here to assist you with administration. The rest of it will be the same as the University of Tokyo.”
“I've read about the equipment. Each student will receive an individual learning plan, their own InCar for transport within the building and grounds and an internal communication biocom, a private study room, and most importantly to developing young minds, unlimited meals.” The professor winked. “In addition to that, there are unlimited numbers of sports fields, the use of laboratories, ASEC units for practice and access to databases for scientific work,” he finished listing.
“And those are just the highlights,” added Karen smiling. “When students enter here everything, right down to the last tiny details, will be taken care of.”
“It is indeed very impressive.”
“Of course, the entrance standards here are not a piece of cake though. Students receive everything from us so that they can invest all of their energy into personal development, but in return they must prove their competence to us every day. Those who are not capable of doing so, no matter who they are or what their excuse is, will be expelled. There will be hundreds, or even thousands, lined up to take their place.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Professor,” said Karen seriously. “I can assure you that Mr Steersman would never allow any negative influence to get to you or to your family just because you accepted the position of director at PrEUST.”
“I know that.” The professor smiled.
“That reminds me, when is your family coming?” asked Karen.
“Well, this is not that easy for them. My wife has to stay with her family and my parents do not wish to leave Japan.”
“Oh, I see. I am sorry to hear that. Of course, as far as their safety is concerned, the distance should not be a problem …”
“Karen, there is no need for them to be here as nothing will go wrong for them. They will live their lives as they have until now, and all Sakime needs is time to come to terms with the changes.”
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