by Skully
Morganne Barran: You want to exclude your research and offsite work from the review? That is not what Master Nader instructed me to do.
Daedo: Master Nader has no authority over our research or workshop activities.
Morganne Barran: Are you sure you want to displease your master? She is a formidable woman.
Daedo: That is none of your concern.
Morganne Barran: You have been doing so well without me, but I really don’t understand this antagonism. I am only offering to help.
Daedo: And we have accepted and given you the scope.
Morganne Barran: Is Master Nader aware of this?
Vannier: Why don’t you talk to her? See where that gets you.
Morganne Barran: I will. I am sorry if this causes you trouble.
Barran: No, you’re not. If you were, you wouldn’t approach Master Nader in the first place.
Morganne Barran: Don’t believe everything Brice tells you. He has been having disciplinary issues for a while now.
Barran’s first name was Brice, and when his sister referred to him as a delinquent Daedo immediately saw through her ploy. He had learned through human studies that people handling was very similar to a strategy game. Manipulating a person was similar to moving a piece on a board. Morganne had speculated that Barran had turned them against her and she was trying to discredit him.
Before the Academy, Daedo was poor at reading motives and seeing manipulations, but once he was able to connect the words to moves, he was able to bring his strategic thinking skills into this new game.
Daedo: Be careful, Morganne. We can see through your manipulations.
Daedo kicked Morganne from the VR chat, her verbal manoeuvring was just wasting their time. It was just the three cadets left in the VR room, so they left the room as well to meet upstairs.
“Daedo. What can I say? Thank you,” Barran said.
“Hmm?” Daedo replied. “I was just protecting the squad's interests.”
“The way you stood up for me. No one has ever done that for me before,” Barran said, clearly moved.
“What sort of family do you have?” Vannier asked in a rhetorical fashion.
Barran gave him a genuine hug, while Daedo stood stunned and stiff as a board.
“Aww!” Vannier said, “Should I leave?” There was a massive smile on her face.
“Don’t ruin the moment,” Barran shot back. He then pushed Daedo out to arm's length and asked, “Do we have to worry about Master Nader?”
“No,” Daedo said.
“Do you have her wrapped around your little finger now?” Barran asked intrigued and impressed.
“We have an understanding,” Daedo said choosing his words carefully.
“Man, that’s impressive. If you asked me to bet on it I would have never backed you to do it,” Barran said. “She is one scary bitch.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Vannier added then she asked, “How did you do it?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Daedo said distancing himself. “You are giving me credit for something I haven’t done. We’re working towards a common goal, that’s all.”
“So how do you know my sister will have no success with Master Nader?” Barran asked.
“Master Nader will allow me to make the decision and if I make the wrong one, she will turn that into a learning opportunity,” Daedo distorted the truth. “Her learning opportunities are not fun.”
Barran accepted the explanation with a change of demeanour, he patted Daedo on the back and grinned. “Get back to work, it's only twenty minutes until the final.”
◆◆◆
The entire crew from Daedalus gathered in the meeting room where they ate their meals. The stream of the pro league hand to hand combat final was showing on three of the walls. On one screen Vannier moved the camera to give the point of view Mister Kang had, on the central screen she kept the curated main stream, and on the third, she lifted the camera to an overhead position so the cadets could see the movements of both Mechs.
A drone brought in fruit which they unpacked and shared around.
“What a treat!” Ikaros exclaimed. “Real fruit.” It was a luxury which normal families could not afford. Fresh fruit was sold at a premium compared to bot-kitchen meals or preserved foods that were readily available and cheap.
When the full complement of Daedalus was gathered, they were no longer a squad, with the addition of the two adults they were more akin to a crew or family.
They watched as Dead Beat narrowly lost the final, the mech was solid and powerful, but the pilot of Kick Start was superb and had done his homework. When Mister Kang improved, however, he would be extremely hard to beat given the power, speed and durability of his mech.
The Daedalus family cheered, booed and had a great time despite the loss. They would remember days like this fondly. The peace, the safety and a relatively carefree existence compared to what was to come in the years ahead.
“Didn’t you pay for the ad-free stream?” Barran asked Vannier.
“Yes,” she replied before she saw the news ticker running across the bottom. “Oh, that’s just breaking news I have that enabled.”
“Holy Shit!” Kang exclaimed.
The news ticker read ‘Breaking - Military Academy scandal: cadets exposed to illegal gene therapy experiments.’
Pandemonium broke loose in the dining, slash, meeting room.
“Open the link,” Axel-Zero asked Vannier.
The scene at the pro league dropped down to a small box, and the news item opened. Anonymous sources, recordings, and accusations of illegal gene therapy experiments on Mid-level cadets at the Fortescue Military Academy in Europe. Then a string of rumours, each more devastating than the last. Deaths of cadets, mutated children and coverups all connected back to the CEO and Chairman of Fortescue. It was a massive distortion of the facts, something often conjectured, but now the cadets learned first-hand how the news media loved to embellish, exaggerate and outright lie.
“Master Nader doesn’t stuff around,” Picard said in astonishment.
“It could have been anyone she sent it on to,” Daedo speculated.
“What does this mean for us?” Vannier asked.
“No matter what, we carry on,” Daedo stated.
◆◆◆
Morganne Barran wasn’t upset nor surprised. Her brother had ruined any chance she had of completing her goal and any intel gathering she was able to perform would have been a waste of her time due to his ultimate interference in any acquisition.
“My report is ready Father,” she said as she sat down next to the Barran Corp CEO, Reece Barran, her and Brice’s father. She flicked him the document as the Autocar sped off.
“I’ll review that later. Summarise for me,” he requested.
“Brice has made any acquisition impossible, instead of becoming a trusted advisor Daedalus mistrust me more than an unknown from the street,” Morganne stated.
“Brice holds a twenty percent stake?” Reece Barran, CEO of Barran Corp asked.
“Yes, Father,” she said dutifully.
“What’s the potential?” he asked.
“Substantial. I have information that they have an excellent AI foundation which is the number one seller in its market. And there are rumours that their exo could become standard equipment for the EUDF,” Morganne said.
“Quantity?” he asked.
“100,000 units at 750 to one k bitcreds,” Morganne replied.
“Inform your mother. Suggest to her to have Brice’s trust fund manager to advise him to purchase more equity,” he said. “I suggest 50 k, not enough to spook him, but your mother will ultimately decide.”
“And until he reaches U1, you can take control of the equity?” Morganne asked.
“Unless he emancipates, yes. But it's nothing massive. Let's keep the family together, yes?” he said.
“Father, they have done this in a short period of time, the potential is massive,” Morganne stated.
<
br /> “We don’t deal in maybes, Morganne,” her father instructed.
“What’s going to happen to Brice?” Morganne asked.
“I’m only the CEO, Morganne. Your mother rules on these matters,” he replied.
Morganne shivered. Her father was a shrewd businessman, that’s why her mother married him. And although her mother had no official title in the company, The Lady Alvia Barran was the undisputed Matriarch of the family, its business and other assets, including wayward sons.
She may have been angry at her little brother, and he may have brought this on himself, but still, she was worried for him. He was charming, talented but massively foolhardy.
Chapter 16
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: 4
Daedalus Financial Position 180,000 bitcreds
◆◆◆
“This superconductor material, can it be synthesized?” Daedo asked Master Nader.
“Cadet, I am not the expert, keep reviewing the material,” Master Nader responded.
Daedo kept searching the media and following its links until he found what he was looking for. ‘Argh, I wonder if asteroids in our solar system have this stuff,’ he said to himself.
“I’ve memorised enough for today,” he announced.
Master Nader nodded, and the mystery box disappeared. “Any requests for the experts?” she enquired.
“There is circa twenty year’s worth of advancements contained within the current material. We are good until we have a specific need,” Daedo replied.
The VR room disappeared, and they were both back in her office. Technically, Daedo could have been anywhere when accessing the secure VR room, but Master Nader insisted he only did so from within her office. This rule enabled an additional layer to the already tyrannical security level by isolating the signal to direct-local access only.
“Dismissed, Cadet,” Master Nader had been concise as always.
Daedo left the office with strong feelings of allowing himself to be corrupted which were attacking his conscience; before he squashed it mentally into a tiny ball and fired it into outer space.
He checked the time, it could get away from him when he spent time searching through the mystery box.
Myrmidon: You’re back
Daedo: Yes.
Myrmidon: Or is it that I am back?
Daedo: Semantics.
Myrmidon: You are spending more time in Master Nader’s secure VR room. Is this good or bad?
Daedo: both. It’s like the pain I go through when trying to improve martial combat. It’s painful, but in the end, it will help me.
Myrmidon: The exos are on their way. The bots just finished loading the autovan.
Daedo: Thanks. I will let the squad know.
Myrmidon: Daedo, I found an AI to improve our thermal energy modelling.
Daedo: Do we rent it or purchase a clone?
Myrmidon: Neither. Dex used to monitor the old Nuclear power plants in his first incarnation.
Daedo: One of the rogues?
Myrmidon: Yes. I discussed the problem, and we believe he can learn and become the modelling tool you need.
Daedo: Have an AI dedicated to modelling? That’s a great idea. I don’t want him in my head though.
Myrmidon: I can manage him, and we will structure it so he cannot do any damage.
Daedo: Good. I will leave it in your capable electrons.
Myrmidon: If that was humour, that was pathetic.
Daedo: You wouldn’t know humour if it byte you on your asci.
Myrmidon: Stop you are hurting my neural net.
“Vannier,” Daedo greeted her as she left her apartment it would be dinner in fifteen minutes in an otherwise uneventful first Monday of Round Four. “The new exos will be here in a few minutes. We should load before dinner.”
“In time for the first Gauntlet as promised, thanks Daedo. Any news on the… you know; News,” Vannier asked looking towards Master Nader's door briefly.
“Other than the House Captain meeting being cancelled, it seems like business as usual to me. What about you? Have you heard anything?” Daedo asked.
“We all got the recorded speech from Commander Mallet. He must have been too busy to come down and talk to us in person, did you watch it?” Vannier asked.
“No, not yet. It came through forty minutes ago. That one?” Daedo asked.
“Yeah, I only got one, did you get two?” Vannier asked.
“Yes, and I’ve watched neither,” Daedo replied.
“You watch them, and I’ll organise the unpacking of the new and loading of the old exos,” Vannier offered.
“Great thanks. I’ll see you at dinner,” Daedo said as he entered his own room.
The new exos were the three-point-two model. It had the major innovations that Daedo had been working on since the end of term one. Additionally, it had new polymer and fluids from Mace with the power of Kang infused into the structure, plating and components.
After examining the integrity of Kang’s new composite metals, the most substantial change Daedo made to the design was the joint actuators. Kang asked Daedo a question regarding the fibre mesh and when it was delivered to one actuator did it cause and an issue. This got Daedo thinking, and they trialled using several small actuators, using her improved composites to increase strength.
This not only increased strength and responsiveness, but it also added a layer of redundancy over one of the most critical parts. The three-point-two version of the Daedo exo was stronger, faster and better armoured than its two-point-six counterpart by fifty percent.
Fortescue had delivered competitor data, and it was clear they had caught the Top Tier Academies such as DaVinci, Svarski and Huawei in strength and surpassed their raw speed. However, the propulsion and power systems from the top tier Academies was still light years ahead.
**Exo Comparison Chart**
Model, Strength Factor (X), Armour Value, Mobility Factor (X), JumpJet (runtime s)
Standard Medium; 2, 40, 1, 30
Standard Heavy; 5, 80, 0.8, 30
Daedo M v2.6; 9, 110, 2, 45
Daedo M v3.2; 15, 180, 2.2, 45
Tier 3 I-A Top;10, 120, 1.7, 45
Tier 1 I-A Top; 15, 250, 2, 150
M = Medium, I-A top = Inter-Academy leading equipment
All cadets in Daedo’s squad now used the same exo. There was no heavy, it was just their exo designed within the Inter-Academy regulations for Heavy. It was much lighter and nimble, despite the armour value and strength the cadets referred to it as a medium model.
After putting his old exo into a hoverbin and pushing it out into the common area, Daedo donned his helmet and sat down.
He watched the vid Vannier mentioned, although it had come in second, it was the one sent to all cadets. It was presented by Commander Mallet and the Lieutenant General (LG), the former was the head of the Middle Academy and the latter the Head of Academy.
The Commander assured all cadets that the news item was false and they would do clear the Academies name in due course. There was nothing to fear, and no cadets had been harmed. He then droned on about honour, integrity and duty which Daedo interpreted as how pompous, rigid and stupid they were.
Within a few minutes, Daedo had deleted the vid and moved onto the next.
“Cadet, this is your commander,” Mallet stated. Daedo was not normally facetious, but Commander Mallet couldn’t help but engender negative feelings such as the one he was experiencing now, as ‘derr’ came to mind.
“If you have any involvement in the leaked information to parents and staff please come forward. There will be no repercussions if you cooperate we just need to understand the source of the leaks and to prevent further infractions. I could not contact you directly, for some reason your Master had blocked a direct contact, but I have been able to send you a recorded message thro
ugh the academy system. Please come and see me at your earliest convenience.”
The message was four hours old.
Daedo laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Barran said as he returned guiding his hoverbin.
Daedo removed his helmet and replied, “Oh, just the commander sent me a message four hours ago and asked me to report to his office at my earliest convenience.”
Barran laughed for a good while before replying, “Oh, you’re in the shit now.”
Vannier walked in on the conversation, “What’s so funny? And why are you in the …” She left off the swear word feeling the implication was obvious enough there was no need to sully her mouth.
“It's in regards to that first message I got. I need to see Master Nader before I report to the Commander. I’ll have to miss dinner,” Daedo replied.
“I’ll get you something ready in our kitchen now. Take it with you and eat it on your way,” Vannier offered.
“Seriously Daedo? They make your food now?” Barran was incredulous. “Can I have…”
“No,” Vannier said emphatically cutting Barran off.
Daedo entered Master Nader’s office, after flicking her the vid from the Commander the door slid open as he approached.
“Cadet,” Master Nader greeted him. “Accompany me. We will turn this into a learning opportunity.”
Master Nader opened her secret door to the back-of-house part of the Academy. No one saw her leave or arrive, the cadets had always speculated she had some sort of secret passageway. It was either that, or she teleported.
Master Nader: If the Commander tries to exclude me from the meeting what will you do?
Daedo: simple. I will walk if he doesn’t allow you to participate.
Master Nader: Very good, Cadet. You are already more competent than many of my superiors in this Academy.
Daedo had a wry smile at the last phrase ‘in this Academy’. They weren’t really her superiors, this was just a cover.
Master Nader: Control your expressions, Cadet. Non-verbal cues account for eighty percent of in-person communications.
Daedo knew Master Nader was correct but couldn’t help thinking that she cheated wearing her helmet all the time.