Daedalus 66 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1

House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero

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

Term: 2, Round: 1

Daedalus Operating Capital: 130,000 bitcreds

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Amelia Mace was thinking about the viscosity of molecules while practising yoga.

She woke up in the middle of the night, on more than one occasion, with an idea and quickly told her AI before going to back sleep.

Her mind wandered when running the obstacle course to synthetic compounds. How to make them smaller. What could be done to decrease friction?

When she had free time, she put her ideas into models to simulate the outcomes. Squad zero had a potential recruit who was both talented and experienced with chemical engineering. Yet Mace was consumed with the challenge Daedo had given her. He had asked Jensen for an improvement with the hydraulic fluid they were using in the exos with the deadline being the end of the trial.

This task was also a.s.signed to her with the same Deadline. She took it as a challenge. It was a compet.i.tion.

When Daedo beat her on the Gauntlet, it didn't invoke the same emotional response. It was because she viewed Daedo as an ally, they were on the same team. If he was number one and she was number two it didn't really make a difference to her. They held the top two spots. Certainly, if the number one spot was held by another squad, her att.i.tude would have been dramatically different.

Mace viewed Jensen as an outsider. Until he committed to Daedalus, and the squad, he would remain as a compet.i.tor.

She was lost in deep thought when Vannier tapped her, "Sorry. Dinner is in three minutes." Vanner was always mindful of disturbing her fellow cadets when they were studying, but she also ensured they didn't miss group activities. Like meals. Meals were good.

It was 1715 on the first Wednesday of the term, merely three days in and it seemed like a month to Mace. She worked and played hard on the break, and although she put in long hours at the workshop, she still felt invigorated when she returned for a new round of the Gauntlet and Obstacle course. Her time spent with Daedo, Cisse, and Ikaros felt like a vacation, and the Munich trip was a blast.

The only stressful part of the break was when her parents, not only spent time with her but with the squad as well. Her mother especially was a worry. She asked questions, which Mace found not only embarra.s.sing, but surprising. She had never had a crush in her life, and while she liked and respected Daedo, he was a year younger, but just a good friend and ally.

In her mind, it definitely wasn't a crush. When her mother hinted at it, she just wanted to scream at them to leave immediately before her mother could spread her insane theories, embarra.s.s her and doom her reputation beyond repair.

"You working on chem?" Vannier asked.

Mace nodded.

Vannier smiled, Mace was a woman of few words. When a nod would suffice, that's all she gave. Vannier continued to query her as they walked to the cafeteria, "Are you enjoying it?"

Mace thought about the question. She had never considered if she enjoyed chem eng or not. After a full minute of contemplation, she replied, "You know what; I actually do like it."

Vannier wasn't surprised, "You like anything that's math heavy and logical. It's no surprise that you liked it once you got into it."

"Don't tell Daedo," Mace said urgently.

Vannier considered Mace for a moment, "You don't want your like of the subject to influence the decision over Jensen? He has to want to stay as well."

"He'd be an idiot not too," Mace replied without giving reasons. Vannier would know the reasons.

"What we have, may not be obvious, in just five days," Vannier played devil's advocate.

"Just don't say anything, okay," Mace pleaded.

Vannier stopped Mace for a moment, they were about to enter earshot of the table. "Mace, I love you, but," she paused and put her hand on both of Mace's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "I am not going to make a promise to do something that is not in the best interest of the squad." Vannier let go and began to walk towards the table she looked back at Mace smiled and said, "And I never make a promise I intend to break."

Mace stewed, suddenly angry. Then she was confused about why she was angry. She schooled her expression. Vannier would do what she thought was right, and she was never malicious. Mace decided to just do her own thing and what would happen would happen. There was no point worrying about it. Both Daedo and Vannier were responsible and smart, they wouldn't put personal feelings ahead of what was the right choice.

She considered dropping the chem eng project. The one Daedo asked her to do. She could begin reading up on metallurgy now as it was still related to chem eng. Her expression may have been schooled, but her mind was running a million miles an hour. She shook her head to free it of doubt. Mace was not a wishy-washy person to change direction on a whim. She would see this project through. A decision would be made on Friday, and she would go in one direction or another based on that decision.

Vannier leaned over and whispered softly, "I am getting the hang of reading you."

Mace looked at her with her cool, emotionless expression. But her eyes told the truth, 'You may be able to read a tiger, but that doesn't stop it from ripping you to shreds.' Or some similar a.n.a.logy that had the same outcome.

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As the squad enjoyed their communal meal, thankfully free of intrusions from outsiders, a message came in from Cillian Marais. It wasn't an event that was considered an intrusion because it wasn't some imbecile from Osiris squad twenty with some baseless accusation about cheating or some invented wrongdoing that squad zero had committed.

[Cillian Marais, Marais Industries CTO]

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*To: Daedalus; Barran, Daedo, Vannier, Mace, Picard, and Axelzero.*

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It was a vid recording sent to all the current squad members that Barran had included in his correspondence last week. Cillian Marais was working on a vehicle, walking around the workshop while a drone, presumably, followed him and recorded what he had to say.

"Daedalus, or should I say squad zero?" Cillian asked a question as an introduction. He shook his head, "Doesn't matter. Anyway, I got your message Barran. Thanks. I am sorry I didn't get back to you last week, we've been busy," and then a drone followed Cillian's arm as he pointed, "Our model four is due for final EUDF testing tomorrow morning and its all rush-rush around here."

The model four was a ma.s.sive VTOL carrier. The cadets could see four external mech bays on the side, which probably meant there were another four on the other side. The carrier had enough jets on the underside and rear to carry two hundred tonnes of mechs and gear. It was enormous and looked built solidly enough to withstand a few missile blasts.

"It was brought forward, so I couldn't afford the time to come and see you last week. But after tomorrow morning the crunch will be over. I am sending this message now because Stanley also contacted me about you," suddenly Cillian looked across at a technician with a handheld torch and yelled, "Don't p.u.s.s.yfoot around and weld it on properly Pierre, it's a flying tank for G.o.dsakes."

"Sorry," Cillian said back to the drone sheepishly, "We treat these machines with kid gloves so much the team tends to forget they can take a wallop when required."

"Okay, back to business. I can come out tomorrow night at 1800, Stanley said he could make that time as well. I am sorry if this interferes with your squad activities, but I have to head to North America and then China with the demo model fours. I will be away for at least a week. After you get this just let me know whether to come to Nanterre this week or after I get back and we will make other arrangements."

"Oh," Cillian said and made a circle with his finger pointing up and then pointed to the model four carrier. The drone then slowly panned around the carrier showing its size, and much of the workshop surrounds. It made their workshop look tiny in comparison. There were a dozen of the demonstration model fours all looking finished and another dozen in the middle stages of a.s.sembly. Each one was twelve meters tall and approximately fifty meters long. They were built that solidly the six undercarriage jets doubled as landing gear. There were another two jets on the rear and another on each of the wings.

The cadets could not tell what the propulsion method was, but it had to be fusion drives. Nothing else would be that size and have enough power to lift a two hundred tonne carrier.

Cillian smiled and waved. The vid winked out.

"Now that was amazing," Barran said in awe.

Daedo had to agree, "Did you see the size of the plant? The bridge cranes alone were beyond anything I have seen. They must be rated over five hundred tonnes."

"Only you would get excited over a bridge crane," Barran replied, "I was looking at the carriers."

"No that's not correct," Vannier interjected, "I think Ikaros would get excited over the bridge cranes as well."

Everyone laughed at the thought of Ikaros getting excited over the Marais machinery.

"What are we going to do?" Picard asked.

Daedo thought about the offer, 1800 was not a good time, they could possibly miss arena practice which was at 2015. The Gauntlet was at 2230, so it was safe and the most important session.

"Let's agree. We can make this work, we just have to be back by 2230 for the Gauntlet," Daedo said.

Barran sent off the missive agreeing to meet Col. Martin and Cillian Marais at 1800 on Thursday night.

"Who is going?" Axelzero asked.

"We need Barran and yourself, as Business Manager and Finance. We need Daedo as the leader and inventor," Vannier said.

"Vannier, Mace and Picard," Daedo stated. Jensen was not a part of Daedalus.

"I will stay here and work on my project, you don't need me for this," Mace said.

Vannier nodded slowly, and Daedo replied, "Okay, it's your call."

Daedo opened up his workshop control panel and ordered six of the latest exos to be produced for testing upping the sizes of one of the exos for Stanley Martin.

"Colonel Martin is 2000mm do you think?" Daedo asked.

Barran nodded, "yeah that will be enough." There was wiggle room in the exo, and if it was too big, the inside clamps could be adjusted. It was only a ma.s.sive issue if it was too small or oversized to such a degree the clamps could not grip firmly. Other than Jensen, squad zero exos were the perfect size for each cadet, which enabled peak performance of the powered armour.

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"Jensen," Daedo called. Five squad members were about to leave for the Workshop to meet Cillian Marais, a Marais Business Development Executive and Colonel Martin.

"Can you give me an update on the project?" Daedo asked Jensen. Vannier was standing next to her squad leader. Otherwise, they were alone.

Jensen nodded. He had been working hard to try and fit in. After an initial astonishment at the physical activities, he had not complained. "I've made progress, enough to submit tomorrow. But to be honest Daedo, I will only hand it over if the decision is that I am staying." Jensen replied.

Daedo rubbed his chin unconsciously before putting his hand back by his side. "I was going to use the results of your project to inform my decision," Daedo stated.

"Your decision?" Jensen asked. "I thought Master Nader and the academy decided they wanted me and placed me in this squad?"

"Jensen, just as you are evaluating us, we are evaluating you. There is much more at stake here than a position in our squad," Vannier chimed in.

"What else is at stake?" Jensen asked.

Vannier looked at Daedo who nodded. "All the members of this squad are shareholders in Daedalus. A company we have built which is supported by our research and development. The meeting you heard about tonight is with Marais Industries and the EUDF concerning our exo," Vannier stated.

"And it doesn't stop there," Daedo said, "We reinvest all the profits back into Daedalus. To purchase manufacturing machinery and materials. I won't say much more, but we have big plans."

Jensen was shocked at first before his eyes narrowed slightly, "And you want me to help your company with propulsion and power delivery." Jensen referred to the hydraulic fluid as power delivery, because the exo or a mech would utilise pumps, pistons, motors and hydraulic fluids to deliver power from the reactor to all the mechanical moving parts.

"Master Nader searched for a specialist to fill a need. Is that so surprising?" Vannier asked.

Jensen shrugged, "I'll make a decision tomorrow, I want to sleep on it. If I decide I am staying I will send you my findings, I am sure that will convince you."

Daedo nodded, "Okay. That's fair." He then turned to Vannier, "Let's get going."

Daedo, Vannier, Barran, Picard and Axelzero headed to the workshop. It was unusual for cadets to leave campus during the week. But it was allowed with permission which was sort and given by Master Nader. They arrived moments before their guests.

"Thoth squad zero," Cillian greeted them with a nod and a smile, "or should I say Daedalus?"

"When we are outside of the Academy Daedalus is fine," Vannier replied. "Welcome to our workshop." She introduced the cadets although it was probable that Cillian and certainly Col. Martin knew everyone by name.

"This is our BDE, everyone just calls him Tom," Cillian introduced the Marais Business Development Executive. He was the expert who Col. Martin asked Cillian to bring.

"Now. I have to ask," Cillian said, "Do you have all your patents in place now? Can I take a close look at everything?"

Axelzero nodded, "Yes sir everything is in place. You can look at everything except lower level two."

"What's on lower level two!" Cillian exclaimed before adding with a wave of his hands, "I'm kidding. You need to protect your ideas. Even from someone like me." Cillian then held his hand across his mouth and acted as if he didn't want his colleague to hear, "Don't trust Tom with any secrets. He's in sales."

Picard nodded knowingly and placed a hand on Barran's shoulder, "We have one of those."

"Let's give you the tour," Vannier stated before leading the group through the workshop. She talked the guests through each room, the machinery and setup before arriving at lower one which was the testing bay. Where Daedo took over and walked the guests through the exos. Including putting Col. Martin in one for a hands-on demo. Picard showed them the railgun they had been working on before the five cadets played a game of tag with Col. Martin. All six of them in the medium version of the exos.

They had dropped the heavy version before the tournament last term. Barran enjoyed the extra speed of the medium while Daedo preferred to have the entire squad in the same exo.

While the cadets were demolishing Col. Martins pride Cillian spoke to Tom.

"We need to get this exo on the EUDF procurement list. Stanley is certain its better than what they are currently using," Cillian said.

"Of course. What is the arrangement with the kids?" Tom asked.

"From my point of view its just helping the next generation and I can ask them if they will pay your usual commission. Is that fine with you?" Cillian asked.

"You're the boss. And yes, that's fair," Tom answered. "What about the railgun?"

"It's not there yet," Cillian stated. Tom was an excellent BDE, but he couldn't tell the difference between a military grade railgun and Daedalus' current model.

After the demonstration was finished Stanley asked, "how was that?"

"You got pwned Colonel," Cillian laughed at his friend.

"Bah, I haven't used one of these in years. But I'm certain its an improvement in speed over our current model," Stanley said.

"It's not ready," Daedo informed the adults, much to their surprise. "We need to improve the power delivery and the mesh compound. We need another term."

"We can demo this as a prototype and get the ball rolling," Tom advised before asking. "Will it feature in the Tier three league?"

"It better!" Cillian exclaimed before adding more softly, "I am sure it will Tom."

"Good that will help." Tom said before addressing the squad, "Cadets if you can give me six units the same size as Col. Martin's I can start the process. Mr Marais will forward you the contract for your approval."

"A contract for you to sell these to the EUDF?" Barran asked.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Tom asked.

"h.e.l.l no!" Barran exclaimed.

"a.s.suming the contract is acceptable," Axelzero added.

"I am sure it will be very favourable for Daedalus," Cillian said smiling.

The contract which Cillian Marais sent the following day gave Tom Synkov the right to represent Daedalus to approved clients. In each case, Daedalus would have to approve whether Tom could represent them to avoid any conflicts with their internal sales. There were no payments to Marais Industry, only a ten percent profit share to Tom Synkov. Which meant Daedalus would keep ninety percent of profits on any business deals Tom brokered.

Manufacture and supply contracts were problems for another day. Daedalus was given the expert help they needed to reach the most profitable contracts by someone they trusted. If Tom failed, it cost them nothing other than the materials provided. The innovative mesh weave was protected by the patent with the IPO. It was possible for another company to manufacture an exo with it and sell it, but they would have to pay Daedalus royalties as determined by the IPO.

Stanley had told the cadets on his last visit that if they ever wanted his advice, all they had to do was ask.

"Before you go," Daedo asked Cillian and Stanley, "I have a problem I wanted your advice on."