Daedalus 63 M1 - Term: 1 To 2 - Break

House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero

M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null

Term: 2, Round: (holiday)

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"Why ETH Zurich?" Daedo asked Barran as the auto arrived in the financial capital of Europe.

"ETH Zurich is GlenCore's Military Academy," Barran answered as if that explained everything.

Daedo did a quick search on both organisations. GlenCore was one of the worlds largest conglomerates covering resources from agriculture to s.p.a.ce mining. They took over ETH Zurich thirty years ago but because the inst.i.tution was established in 1855 changing the name was not considered. But everyone, except Daedo apparently, knew that ETH Zurich represented GlenCore.

GlenCore was not like DaVinci, Huawei and Svarski. It supplied a healthy percentage of the world's food, energy and minerals. Its manufacturing base was relatively small when compared to the big three. ETH Zurich was a tier three Academy, in the same league as Fortescue.

"Ok, I am still not seeing the opportunity," Daedo said after reading the background.

"It's a ma.s.sive company, they might see an opportunity and run with it. And they agreed to meet with us," Barran replied.

"That makes sense now," Daedo said finally understanding, Barran was on a scouting mission. Surveying the terrain, there may be an opportunity, but it may just be information gathering. GlenCore was not a likely fit for what Daedalus had to offer, but they had to have military a.s.sets and investments.

After a series of foyers and gatekeepers, Barran and Daedo were ushered into a meeting room in ETH Zurich's topside GlenCore innovation hub. The hub sat within the Academy's grounds, and like Fortescue, they were on break, there were no cadets to be seen.

"Afternoon gentlemen and ladies," Barran said confidently as they strode in and took a couple of seats the GlenCore representatives indicated.

"I am Barran, Business Manager for Daedalus and I have with me Daedo our founder and resident genius," Barran embellished.

The GlenCore representative replied, "I am Matteo executive a.s.sistant to Mia who is the Director of Major Innovation Projects at GlenCore." Matteo had light brown hair was in his thirties and wore retro gla.s.ses. Mia was in her late thirties or early forties, she was slim with auburn hair tied up in a bun on the back of her head. They both wore GlenCore bodysuits.

"Thank you for seeing us Matteo and Mia, it is an honour to meet with the leaders of innovation at GlenCore," Barran supplied some smooth talk to get things started.

Matteo's eyes narrowed slightly at Barran's words, "We were impressed with your dossier and agreed to meet to see how we can work together."

Barran began to try and sell them on one patented innovation after another. The foundation AI, the railgun, and the exo. And it wasn't the products that were an issue it was his over the top style which was floundering with the current audience.

Mia began to look uncomfortable in her chair, and Matteo reacted to her body language by stating, "We have an important meeting let's conclude our discussions."

Barran looked at Daedo and mouthed 'help.'

"One moment," Daedo said calmly. "Why don't you tell us about you. We know almost nothing, other than what we read on the net about your operations, goals and direction."

Mia suddenly became less agitated and began to speak openly, "We are primarily a resource supply organisation. Whether it is energy, agriculture or minerals. Our expertise lies in extracting or generating the resource efficiently using the worlds best methods. Most of which we invent ourselves through our R and D and innovation teams."

"With energy are you supplying resources like lithium and thorium or do you manufacture reactors as well?" Daedo asked.

"We provide forty-two percent of the worlds lithium and thirty-six percent of the thorium. We extract, smelt, purify, sinter, extrude or otherwise prepare minerals ready for manufacture or energy consumption." Mia answered attentively. She was warming to Daedo where Barran had turned her off.

"Are you able to provide compacted Deuterium, into a liquid metallic form in ma.s.s quant.i.ties?" Daedo enquired. "Specifically we are looking for a density above one tonne per cubic metre."

Mia looked surprised by the question and shocked by request. "We have worked with heavy water in the past, but it hasn't been used in the most recent processes. However, we produce tritium in large quant.i.ties when preparing lithium plasma. At the moment we have no use for this tritium since tritium reactors were made obsolete last century. We sell some to labs and for medical purposes, but the stockpile grows every year."

Mia leaned forward interested, "Why do you want condensed deuterium?"

"Annihilation," Daedo said simply. Barran and Matteo looked confused. Mia laughed genuinely.

"You chase one of the holy grails of energy young Daedo," Mia stated.

Daedo shrugged, "I just have an idea. We are a long way from it working."

Mia smiled, "We have grants available to researchers. You should apply and send directly to me."

"No strings attached?" Barran asked.

"A grant is a grant, GlenCore does it to further knowledge that benefits everyone. The only string, as you put it, is we are kept informed of the progress. Any discoveries are yours," Mia stated.

"Are you late for your meeting?" Daedo asked Mia.

She shook her head, "That meeting is now cancelled. Tell me about your other research topics."

After another thirty minutes of questions and answers, Barran and Axelzero had the task of submitting grant applications for research into antimatter annihilation, fluids for micro-hydraulic purposes and polymer composites for military use.

The pair left the building and campus walking back to their rented auto.

Barran sighed, "She liked you and not me. I guess certain people gravitate to specific personalities."

"And certain people hate over the top sales," Daedo savagely observed.

"Ok from now on, you have to pitch to the engineering types," Barran responded with something he knew Daedo would hate.

"Or Vannier," Daedo replied, "she does all my s.h.i.t jobs."

"How much are the grants?" Barran asked.

"I don't know, you look them up. We are back in your job territory. But Axelzero can help you with the application. She is good at that sort of thing," Daedo said.

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Daedalus financial status at the beginning of Term 2 M1:

Investor Capital injections: 34,000

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Expenditure

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Capital purchases: 24,000

(Workshop building, old company, new machines)

YTD OPEX Material purchase: 7,000

YTD Other OPEX costs: 1,000

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Income

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Direct Sales: 20,000

(exos to M3 Shu)

AI Foundation Royalty: 100,000

(advance, sales will have to accrue this amount before more royalties)

Other Patent Royalty: 0

Grants: 20,000

(GlenCore research grants authorised by Mia)

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Operating Capital: 130,000 bitcreds

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Stanley Martin strode down the corridor, his pet.i.tion to speak with the Lieutenant General (LG) from strategic command on matters concerning exo procurement had been actioned.

After performing the customary salute and permissions for entry, Stanley stood in front of the LG and his aide.

"Martin," the LG greeted him with an informal tone.

"Sir," Martin replied rigidly.

"I read that you are stepping out of your area of expertise Colonel," the LG stated. "Can you explain this pet.i.tion?"

"Sir, I attend Academy tournaments regularly as part of my recruitment and training duties, and I have witnessed and innovative design we should look into," Martin replied.

"Very well, send it off to procurement. We will follow the normal procedures Martin, I do not want headaches with admin," the LG responded.

"Sir, with all due respect sir," Martin pushed.

"Colonel, whenever an officer says with all due respect what they actually mean is; listen LG you are wrong listen to me," the LG replied, "but Colonel. I am not wrong. Admin won't be a pain in your a.s.s, but mine. So..procurement."

Stanley Martin saluted, "Very well sir. Any advice?"

The LG leaned forward, "Yes Martin," and after a brief pause he added in a very serious tone, "be good to your Mother."

Stanley sighed inwardly and left the LG. He proceeded to write up a recommendation for procurement to test and investigate the Daedalus exo. Or to be more precise as the requisition form cla.s.sified the equipment: Human Form Powered Exoskeletal Armour.

He was stationed southwest of Paris, the large EU Military installation in the Loire Valley. It was the second largest base in Europe, with the main administration located in Brussels and the largest base in Krakow. The fast response teams out of the Loire Valley could be in Berlin in thirty minutes and London in twenty. Paris was mere minutes away.

As a tactician what worried Stanley was not the speed of response, but the scope. In his mind, the EUDF needed to upscale in sheer numbers. And exos were key to this. But Stanley was a mere Colonel, in the scheme of things he had five layers of leadership and bureaucracy above him before the Governmental level.

What Stanley's role did accommodate was discretion on how he spent the majority of his time. He was a.s.sessed on his trainee units meeting key performance criteria before becoming part of the EUDF main structure. His team were experienced and after many years underneath him needed little guidance with regular reviews to maintain quality.

Part of the problem were the EUDF systems weren't keeping pace with technology. This was the one aspect of the private military that was a source of envy. They could be much more flexible and adaptable by nature. There were exceptions, some of them were rigid, but that was because of their leadership. The good ones were not rigid in the least.

Stanley stopped stewing about his frustrations. He would go and visit the cause of his unease. He had learned from the cadets they had a company called Daedalus and a workshop in Nanterre. A place he could visit them outside of the Academy with its restrictions on recruitment and access.

*Martin: I'd like to take you up on your invitation.*

Daedo had left an open invitation to Stanley to see their workshop. Because of his career, he was less restricted than Cillian in this matter. The cadets were polite, they did not expect he would have time to visit.

Within minutes a reply came.

*Daedo: sure. When?*

*Martin: today? I have some forms to complete but can be there in two hours.*

It was only thirty minutes from the base to Nanterre, but Stanley wanted to allow enough time to complete the procurement request and for the cadets.

*Daedo: make it three. We have a run at 1600 which will take an hour.*

*Martin: I can come on the run, I haven't done mine today.*

*Daedo: can you keep up?*

*Martin: you've got to be joking.*

*Daedo: yes. Wasn't it obvious?*

Stanley laughed to himself, the cadet was treating him like an equal. Which was good, however unusual. The last thing he was expecting was a barb from a cadet one third his age and his junior by eight ranks.

*Stanley: I guess so, I will have to adapt.*

Four cadets were waiting for Stanley when he arrived they were wearing matching black bodysuits with red lines and their company name emblazoned across their chest. If they weren't 1500mm tall, he would have thought they looked like a private military outfit.

As soon as he presented the taller girl, Picard said sternly, "Let's go," and began running at a four-minute kilometre pace. Stanley began to wonder were they trying to impress him or kill him.

Given his years of training, it was not a pace that worried him, they would have to get down to and chain three-minute kilometres to hurt him. Granted it was impressive Daedo and Mace's legs were half the size of his.

Halfway through they turned, it was seven and a half kilometres, which meant they were aiming for fifteen kays in the hour.

Picard asked Daedo, "Are you still on ten?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I've told you a hundred times I only weigh thirty-two kilos any more is not healthy."

"I only weigh thirty-nine," she replied. Picard ran with either fifteen or twenty-kilo weights spread from her ankles to her neck.

"You don't look like you're under forty," Barran told Picard.

"If one of these three-kilo weights on my wrist were to connect with your nose what do you think the requirements from the first aid cabinet would be?" Picard asked Barran innocently as they ran. And the two went back and forth like this for ten minutes.

Stanley ran with the cadets observing their banter while remaining quiet himself. He was more impressed with their pace upon discovering they carried weights.

"Ok, I'm going to push the last two kays," Barran announced and took off. Due to her weights, Picard was happy to stay with Daedo. Mace, who was usually faster than Picard on the obstacle course just jogged along happily.

"Are you ok Colonel Martin?" Daedo asked when they hit the last kilometre.

"I am fine cadet, thanks for the workout," Stanley replied. "Do you do this daily?"

"On the break we do, and but during term only on weekends. Normally we have a crack at the obstacle course each day. Otherwise, we get exercise with hand to hand, a tailored circuit and the occasional topside run," Daedo answered.

"You do a lot of physical training for Thoth cadets," Stanley observed.

"It doesn't apply to everyone, but I work hardest in my weakest area. I think for some of the others it is for stress relief, relaxation and enjoyment. The academic subjects can become tiring," Daedo stated.

The cadets. .h.i.t the sonic showers to remove all their sweat and dirt from the road and river run. They had built a small barracks into their workshop large enough to cater for the squad in terms of sleeping, eating and living quarters.

Daedo addressed Stanley directly, "Did you enjoy the run?"

Stanley nodded, Thanks. It is a surprisingly nice place for a run once you get to the river."

"Did you come for a reason today?" Daedo asked.

"I wanted to see your operation first hand, are if you able to give me a tour without worrying about me stealing IP?" Stanley asked.

"Sure Colonel Martin, we have most things covered with patents and pending patents now," Daedo replied. "And what isn't covered doesn't have any value yet."

Daedo showed Stanley through the main workshop which they had set up to run automatically from their designs. "I update the weave here," Daedo showed Stanley a screen of his UI and the workshop can manufacture the exo, take it down to lower one and run the gamut of tests which then feed into data here."

"What's this machine?" Stanley asked.

"Foundry, we make custom alloys and composites with it and the injection mould," Daedo answered showing Stanley the polymer mixing and weaving machinery.

"These are fabricators?" Stanley asked.

"We replaced the heads so we can manufacture pretty much any part we need. If you follow me to the dock I will walk you through," Daedo said.

Daedo led Stanley from the dock back to the foundry room, "We order metals and polymers in, they come into this room, and we create the required composites, which then go to the weaver, fabricator, forge or the machine bench. We have six specialised robots for grinding, bending, compressing and construction. The norms just load, unload following the program."

Daedo then led Stanley down to the test bay which also functioned as gym and gunnery range. It encompa.s.sed the entire lower one floor. "For exos and even just for testing composites we hang them down here, and the robots run through sixteen tests, record the data which feeds back into the development platform," Daedo said.

"This is an impressive setup cadet," Stanley said genuinely. "Are you working on any weapons other than railguns?"

"We just reset our specialties and will be working on improving compounds which will feed into swordlances and shields. The railgun still needs improvement, and we'll be pushing ahead with drones," Daedo answered.

"Ah the Shu match," Stanley remembered how they were at a severe disadvantage from lack of drones.

Daedo didn't take Stanley down to lower two, it was one thing mentioning research to GlenCore it was another showing someone through the experiments Cisse was conducting.

Daedo a.s.sembled all the cadets to the main workshop at Stanley's request.

"Cadets. Thank you for your hospitality, I am extremely impressed with your operation. That being said I am not an expert in business and R and D like our mutual friend Cillian, but from my limited experience, your operation, albeit small, is world cla.s.s."

Stanley began by lavishing praise which he did not do very often, "I am not sure how I can be of a.s.sistance to you. But I want you to contact me if you ever have a need or just want my opinion on something. I see great things coming from you, and I want to do all I can to a.s.sist." Stanley didn't mention putting them forward to procurement, it was a long shot, therefore not worth acknowledging.

"We do have something we need advice on," Barran asked. "How do we get the EUDF to purchase our exos?"

Stanley grimaced, "This is not an easy thing. The only way I know is to get them on the procurement panel and even then as the have them elected as standard equipment. But that's easier said than done and it's not my area of expertise. I would advise you find someone who has done this before for other products and have them get yours accepted."

"Someone like Marais," Daedo said.

"Yes," Stanley agreed, "They have many vehicles as standard issue."

"I have a question," Daedo wanted to ask about the invasion and proof but would let it wait until he was in front of Master Nader. He would attempt it in a different way. "When we graduate, would you advise we join the EUDF, or get taken over by DaVinci or something else?" The question was for information but also a test from Daedo.

"I would advise neither of those two options. I would suggest you continue as Daedalus and create your own Private Military. A continuation of what you are doing now with the difference of government funding in the form of tax breaks and the freedom to change and grow as you see fit." Stanley stated his belief that Governmental defence forces are too rigid and a well run private outfit was superior.

Daedo nodded, Colonel Stanley Martin pa.s.sed his test with flying colours.