by Skully
Dead Beat tried to step back but was too slow, while the weight of the blow pushed him down, but his superb armouring held firm. After stabilising balance the two mechs were very close, torso to torso and Old Dawg reacted first, bringing up his knee while Dead Beat threw a hook towards Old Dawg’s right side.
Both blows landed with one mech rocking back on his heels and Old Dawg being knocked to its side. Old Dawg used the momentum and twisted while Dead Beat took two quick steps back this time, learning from the last encounter.
Old Dawg finished his turn and lifted his foot to use the momentum to kick Dead Beat.
“Oh no!” Daedo winced.
It was quickly apparent the mech was not capable of this range of movement, and it lost balance with a leg joint screeching in protest. Even with the soundproofing, the spectators covered their ears to try and block out the high pitched shriek.
Old Dawg went down to his hands and knees. Dead Beat had regained his balance and waited patiently, returning the favour from minutes earlier.
Old Dawg slowly got up and stood, his leg joint looked bent out of shape, but he was able to stand and move.
“He has to fight like an Old Dawg,” Barran chuckled.
“Is he okay?” Vannier asked concerned.
Daedo checked the telemetry data and nodded. The hydraulics were still almost full capacity, and the leg actuator was still reading green on all its elements.
“I think the structure is bent out of shape,” Ikaros stated.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Barran said.
Ikaros shrugged. He didn’t seem worried.
Old Dawg waited for Dead Beat to attack and as soon as he jabbed, Old Dawg knocked his fist away and returned with a blow of his own. He then stepped back and waited for Dead Beat to repeat the action. Axel-Zero was now fighting conservatively.
Barran yawned.
“Yeah, this is boring but it's smart fighting,” Picard stated what everyone was thinking after Old Dawg blocked and punched Dead Beat half a dozen times.
Dead Beat slowly got frustrated and began to push harder with riskier attacks. He feinted with a jab and followed up with a powerful hook trying to catch Old Dawg off guard.
Axel-Zero must have seen through the move because Old Dawg ignored the feint and instead of blocking the hook he grabbed it and pulled in the same direction from which the blow was coming.
This time, Dead Beat rocked forward and down as Old Dawg moved to the side allowing his opponent to land unceremoniously on the ground.
Old Dawg then put his foot on Dead Beat’s back, got his balance before bringing his full fifteen tonnes of weight onto Dead Beat. Dead Beat was strong, but he couldn’t get up.
“What would happen if this was a tournament?” Picard asked Kang.
“You’d be booed out of the arena,” Kang replied with a grin.
Daedo called the bout. It had run to a standstill, and he wanted to inspect Old Dawg properly before starting a new match.
Daedo: Mister Kang, Old Dawg is damaged would you like to run some tests while we have a look at him?
Mister Kang: Yes, young son. I am very impressed with the power and speed improvement. Do you have a way to test punch power?
Daedo: We have robots and a program for this, but it will take ten minutes to set up.
Pro League mechs did not give away their data on punching power, however, there was some information on retired models. A human’s unassisted strike power had a wide range, anywhere from 100 N to 1 kN. In an exo, the squad was striking up to 15 kN and Daedo suspected a mech could reach ten times this number due to the amount of power delivered to the actuator and its rating.
Once the massive constructofoam block and test sensors were in place, they were ready for the strike test. The block would move, and its speed over the first three metres of movement was all they needed to measure. The friction and opposing force were known, the acceleration was a factor of the speed because it was stationary and the weight of the constructofoam block was known. Daedo had the mass, and opposing force increased twenty-fold from the exo test to stop it from flying too far.
Picard: Ready, Mister Kang.
Picard was running the tests with Kang and her father as Daedo was inspecting Old Dawg with Axel-Zero.
Dead Beat stood in front of the block and jabbed. The reading came through 88 kN. It was six times Barran’s best strike in an exo. Dead Beat then swung a hook at the block, it read a much better number; 114 kN.
Picard: Mister Kang, you are not using the full range of motion and weight of the mech. Do you know how to strike using Sanda style?
Mister Kang: No, but I know some Taekwondo though.
Picard: Use that style, please. You’ll get a much better result.
Dead Beat bent his knees slightly and held inverted fists by his sides. As he struck he rotated his arm and twisted his torso slightly. The result was a much-improved 131kN with each strike.
Picard: Much better now, you are hitting with 130 kN consistently.
Mister Kang finished off the test practicing manoeuvres around the old warehouse, such as jumps, charges and dodging.
Mister Kang: This is very good, much improved, Thank you, Daedalus!
Picard: Don’t thank me, thank Daedo. Okay, bring it in. We’ll get it ready for shipping to your tournament next weekend.
Mister Kang: I am coming to believe I need to work on my melee combat skills. You have mentioned this before, and the spar with Axel-Zero confirms that these are important skills for a pro league pilot.
Picard wanted to tell him that it took long enough to come to this realisation, but she was disciplined and did not disrespect her elders out of habit.
Picard: Very good, Mister Kang. We can set you up with some VR tutes to follow if you want. I would suggest doing these daily.
Mister Kang: Good I would like that. Thank you, Cadet Picard.
Picard looked at Kang who shrugged and smiled. The unarmed specialist cadet then mumbled something about old people being stubborn.
◆◆◆
Daedo waited patiently for Master Nader to respond to his request for a meeting. It was the second week of round three and Daedo had just finished his meeting with the House Captains.
Another weekend had flown by, and he had delivered another parcel of information to Cisse. This time it was a detailed theory and engineering on magnetic field control. The information was so impactful that for the first time it made Cisse curious as to how Daedo came up with it. He was able to alleviate her fears, as he had studied it backwards and had planted the seed that he had been working on it for months.
Even then it simply wasn’t believable. If Cisse wasn’t biased, she would not have taken him at his word. Daedo needed to know more about the origins of the tech. Cisse was the catalyst, but ultimately it came down to trust.
He didn’t trust Master Nader anywhere near as much as Cisse trusted him. While she had always protected the cadets in her house and his squad, he had only known Master Nader for sixteen weeks. In those sixteen weeks she had murdered another house master, although it was not proven there was little doubt in his mind, she basically admitted it. That was disturbing, to say the least, but now this mystery box put Master Nader into a whole new category of dangerous.
How did she get it? Where was she from? What were the implications of Daedo releasing this technology on society and what was the eventual cost? These were the questions which he could not bear any longer. He needed answers and was willing to risk his life to get them.
Master Nader: Cadet, the VR room is ready and so am I. You may enter.
Daedo entered the secure VR room while Master Nader ran some checks including verifying Myrmidon's status as inactive.
After completing the tests, Master Nader began, “Are you ready for the next parcel? You should space out the introduction, too much too quickly will raise suspicion.”
“No. I need to stop. Unless you can answer my questions satisfactorily, I cannot take advanced
tech from the box again,” Daedo replied.
“Your concerns are understandable, but if you do not, it could mean the end of your species,” Master Nader argued.
“That statement is highly manipulative, it is basically a threat in order to get me to do what you want. And the slip with the words, “your species,” is that intentional?” Daedo said angrily.
“Did you come here with the intention to fight with me?” Master Nader asked ominously.
“No,” Daedo said firmly. “I came to get answers. I meant every word that I cannot continue to do this without knowing the repercussions.”
“Cadet,” Master Nader said sternly. “You were informed of the repercussions, and you interpreted it as a manipulative threat.”
“Answer this,” Daedo asked, “Where do you come from?”
“It is complicated, but this body comes from Earth,” Master Nader replied.
Daedo was not often frustrated, but Master Nader managed to produce a yell from him. “Seriously! Stop qualifying your answers with partial information. Is that your body?”
“In the interest of saving your species, this planet and you. I will answer these questions. But cadet, I do not think you have earned these answers,” Master Nader stated. “It is complicated, this is both my body and not my body.”
Daedo shook his head. “You’re incapable of a straightforward answer, aren’t you?”
“I have a compromise. I will tell you everything I am able and that I think you will understand,” Master Nader said.
“Please,” Daedo answered exasperatedly.
“This information is from an alien species, who, over a hundred millennia ago, they were not unlike humans, but they have since evolved and this species wants to help you,” Master Nader began.
“What do they want in return?” Daedo asked.
“I would assume gratitude, but I do not know,” Master Nader said.
“Are you one of them?” Daedo inquired.
“I am, and I am not,” Master Nader answered bringing forth another frustrated yell from Daedo.
“What part of you is from the alien species?” Daedo pleaded.
Master Nader thought on her answer. “I am not one whole person. I am two,” she finally said.
“Are you part human and part alien? Did you possess a human? Did you hurt them?” Daedo asked.
“Yes, yes and no. I saved them,” Master Nader replied.
“Why should I trust you?” Daedo asked genuinely lost. He needed time to think on what she had said.
“You should be able to deduce the answer to that question cadet, it is logical, “ Master Nader said seriously. “You cannot afford not to trust me.”
“Tell me more about the invasion,” Daedo asked, desperate to find a way to trust her or to exclude her and walk out of the Academy never to return.
“I have told you almost everything I know,” Master Nader answered.
“What form are the aliens? What type of ships? Is there any proof other than your word and the fact that one percent of the planet is readying to flee?” Daedo asked rapid fire.
Master Nader thought again on his questions. “I do not know the form, I know they have been genetically engineered to rid this planet of the human species. They are not coming by ship, otherwise, we could have stopped them. And there is no proof other than the boxes handed to your governments forty-one years ago.”
“If they are not coming by ship then how are they getting here? Is someone here manufacturing them?” Daedo asked in a panic.
“They are travelling through the multiverse. You would consider it a wormhole, but not as you know it,” Master Nader responded.
“Why does it take so long?” Daedo asked thinking that if it was a wormhole then why was it taking them fifty years.
“It will only take them a day,” Master Nader replied.
“That makes no sense!” Daedo exclaimed.
“It is to do with spacetime and the multiverse. You have much to learn,” Master Nader said. “This is enough for today. Go! Think on what I have said, but do not tell anyone. You will be putting their lives in danger.”
Daedo did not doubt Master Nader when she said a life was in danger. She was basically telling him, that if he told anyone, she would kill them.
Chapter 13
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 Financial Position 160,000 bitcreds
◆◆◆
Each weeknight, at 20:15, M1 Thoth Squad Zero had their arena booking. Other than 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?” Axel-Zero 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 kept 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. “There is 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. 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: Okay, 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 wa
it 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 Axel-Zero did not possess single digits. Axel-Zero 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 true 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?”
Fafner grumbled, “I find it disheartening that 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.”
◆◆◆
“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 it's 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.