Y: 2142
Inter-Academy Round 5 Fortescue Points: 578, Rank: 5, PR: 0.578
Term: 4, Round 1
Daedalus Financial Position: +100,000 bitcreds
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Tier 3 Table
Rank
Academy
Points
PR (Performance Ratio
1
Tehran Mech
672
0.672
2
KAIST
634
0.634
3
Templars MA
632
0.632
4
Seoul MA
617
0.617
5
Fortescue MA
578
0.578
6
Heidelberg MA
551
0.551
7
Tsinghua MA
536
0.536
8
ETH Zurich
523
0.523
9
Lockheed Martin MA
518
0.518
10
Humboldt MA
475
0.475
11
Mumbai MA
463
0.463
12
Udon Thani MA
412
0.412
Back in the outside world, the very world which didn’t revolve around an isolated desert secret underground base, it was the beginning of Term 4 for the military academies and, while Squad Zero’s activities were a superb practical learning experience, they were falling behind on regular studies due to no educators, tutes or curriculum.
Projects, combat practice and physical training were their primary focus since arriving at the base, most of which were derived from actual duties from security to Daedalus functions. Daedo, Vannier and Axel-Zero perused the Fortescue data each round. Axel-Zero and Vannier were the main contacts for the Inter-Academy team, and they were in the process of upgrading the PPCs and shields on both the exos and the mechs.
Siderus delivered the old exos to Nanterre, while Daedo and Ikaros remotely controlled the manufacture and upgrade. Some parts were recycled, and others re-used. It only took them a week to add the Aurora shields to sixteen exos. They merely manufactured sixteen PPCs and delivered them to Romulus at the Fortescue Campus. As all of this was done remotely, it was not difficult with the setup they had in Nanterre. Ikaros had done a brilliant job setting up the plant over the last six months, and his actual presence was more of an emotional and personal requirement than a necessary one in the end.
Both Axel-Zero and Vannier would manage the contract and ensure the Fortescue Military Academy avoided relegation and, apart from a catastrophe, it was almost a certainty at this stage as they were almost three rounds clear of Udon Thani with only five rounds remaining. Udon Thani was the last African Academy remaining in the top three tiers and their relegation would make Africa the only continent without representation from this elite group. It was not a massive issue in the global scheme, but it did affect the morale and pride of the people from this region.
“They have the upgraded exo’s and the PPC’s,” Axel-Zero said. “We haven’t experienced any interference from the Organisation regarding supply with any of our business,” she tapped the table, “and I hope this continues.”
“Never let your guard down,” Vannier said, and Axel-Zero nodded.
“If it happens, we will deal with it but, on that note, I do have a report from our own operatives that you need to read,” Daedo said.
“What’s the summary,” Vannier asked, “anything relating to the Academy?”
“Their initial findings are that, while the Organisation would like to capture me to trap Master Nader, they are not going to go to war against Daedalus just to get me. They are putting their resources into finding Master Nader.”
“That’s good news,” Axel-Zero stated. She had not yet joined the Daedalus Private Military, and it was no longer a necessity due to their changing situation. The initial knee jerk reaction was not an issue as everyone who was in, was happy to be in. Only Axel-Zero and Kang were not members of Daedalus Private Military but what would happen in the short- and long-term future was unknown. For the moment, they remained members of Squad Zero as the lines between the Daedalus company, Academy and Military became blurred for the small group.
“It also means if Daedo shows his head in the EU, or anywhere, they will try and nab you, correct?” Vannier asked.
“That is their assessment,” Daedo agreed.
“What is the chance of their attacking this base again?” Axel-Zero asked.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“At the moment, it’s low. The Organisation isn’t used to this type of opposition. They’re usually dealing with civilians and never entities like military companies according to Mr. and Mrs. Mace.”
“Mm, it would make sense to them that if they have completed a risk and benefit analysis that the risk of attacking us outweighs the benefit greatly. However, apprehending you in a public place where we can’t bring military assets to bear has a much lower risk,” Vannier was thinking out loud.
“Agreed, that is the Maces’ assessment in the report,” Daedo stated.
“Can I travel home?” Axel-Zero asked.
“I think that is up to you so read the report and make your own informed decision. There is a risk if you do but that could be mitigated if Mace’s parents could shadow you but, ultimately, you’re not a prisoner here.”
“My family can provide protection if they’re informed but, damn!” Axel-Zero said as she thought the events through. “If I tell them the risks then they’ll worry even more and just want to lock me up, so I need to think.”
“Is there anything else?” Vannier asked, seeing if they could wrap up the meeting.
“No, I’m relieved that Siderus and Romulus are performing satisfactorily without our direct influence and that the new equipment should push them higher than fourth,” Daedo summarised.
Vannier stood, readying to leave, but then added a thought, “Do you think they could win?”
“No!” Daedo said flatly.
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“I’m hurting all over,” Barran commented on his current status. He usually never whined about physical activity, only academic.
Axel-Zero peered at him and asked, “Are you? I am fine.”
“Me too,” Kang agreed with Axel-Zero.
Picard laughed.
“What’s funny?” Barran asked.
“The pain you are experiencing is a message and you are so dense because you get the same message each day without realising it,” she lectured.
“What the hell are you talking about, woman?” Barran asked with a rising tone.
Picard shook her head while looking at the ground, chuckling to herself. Barran circled and stood in her way blocking her path. She looked up at him smiling, “Who would have thought that watching you get beaten would make me so happy.”
“Are you talking about training? I love your father’s training,” Barran responded genuinely.
Picard suddenly scowled, “But he beats you and you just said that you’re hurting all over.” She pointed at the bruise on his face and his leg where he had shown a slight limp.
Barran rolled his shoulder while tilting his head to the left, “So?” he questioned her logic.
“You don’t mind?”
Barran shook his head, “I’m good.” He was about to walk away but thought of something and turned back, “What message?”
“Bah,” Picard spat, “If you like getting beaten, how are you supposed to learn?”
“Listen,” Barran took on an air of a knowledgeable authority, “I’m a guy and a little bit of pain just makes me tougher and, if I couldn’t take it, what sort of man would I be?”
“You just turned fourteen!” Picard protested at his claimed status as a man.
Barran shrugged, denying her protest’s validity.
“And speaking of taking pain, you whinge like a baby when you have to do math problems,” Picard observed.
Barran looked thoughtful for a moment, “It only applies to manly pain not nerdy pain.”
Picard thumped him in the shoulder and pushed past, “You’re an idiot.”
She strode down the new corridor which connected the gym to the cafeteria. It didn’t take Barran long to come up with a comeback, “Yeah, a good looking, charming, elite combat warrior, idiot, so what?” He then went off to another section of the base leaving the girls to eat alone.
Axel-Zero and Kang slid into chairs at Picard’s chosen table. “What’s wrong?” Axel-Zero asked.
“I think it’s because we are cooped up here alone that Barran is getting on her nerves,” Kang conjectured.
Picard shook her head again, clearing her angst. “No, it’s just that Father’s training is supposed to challenge you and, when he punishes you, it’s because you aren’t striving hard enough. He does it to push you past your limits.” she explained.
“Is Barran sore because your father wants him to step up his game?” Kang asked.
“Yes, but, because he is so dense, he doesn’t mind the pain,” Picard looked at her friends, “Isn’t it annoying!?”
Kang and Axel-Zero exchanged looks, “I really don’t care that much,” Kang replied and Axel-Zero smiled weakly and shrugged.
Picard scowled, “What, so I am overreacting?” The answer was mute silence. “Fine!” she declared and buried herself in the menu for a minute.
“It’s the same menu as yesterday and the day before so you know it,” Kang stated dryly. Picard delivered her former friend a death stare. They sat and ate in silence for a time while Picard sat in contemplation, Kang and Axel-Zero were lost in their own thoughts but also not wanting to rile their friend further than they already had. Picard wasn’t someone you wanted angry at you. While the rest of them could kill with a railgun, Picard could kill someone with her bare hands.
“I’m going topside,” Picard announced brusquely after they finished eating but she didn’t invite anyone to go with her. She was supposed to take her partner but her partner was Barran so she would take out a mech or exo and scout the area alone.
Kang looked at Axel-Zero, “What are you up to now?”
“I have a call with Master Haddad,” Axel-Zero replied. She was instrumental, along with Vannier, in making Daedo’s plans which were to get their mini academy functional and a reality. While Daedo handled the big picture, Vannier and Axel-Zero had to make it all work which included the contracts, budgets and logistics or, at least, delegate.
“I don’t have a lot on, I’m wondering if my father will ever show up,” Kang replied showing some vulnerability for a change.
“He will,” Axel-Zero said, “hasn’t he called?”
“Mace blocked him,” Kang sighed, “they don’t want us to blab over the net.”
“He didn’t try other means?” Axel-Zero asked.
“Mace is good at blocking, so she probably just whitelisted a few people and blocked everyone else, come to think of it,” Kang speculated. Axel-Zero nodded.
“When will we be up and running as far as studies?” Kang asked. “If we can get that sorted before my father arrives it would make things a little easier.”
“We are putting Master Haddad in charge of academy training and he is looking for specialists so that’s partially what the call is about as well as what the specialist trainers’ roles, responsibility and remuneration will be. They are going to have to do it remotely as well to reduce the chance of infiltration by the Organisation and base access is on a needs only basis so if they can fulfil their role remotely, then that’s what they’ll do.”
“Isn’t Master Haddad a first-year master? I thought he only graduated last year?” Kang asked.
“Yeah, from Abu Dhabi Military Academy where he was the head cadet, and they got promoted to Tier two,” Axel-Zero said.
“Oh,” Kang said.
“Daedo and Vannier like him and so do I actually,” Axel-Zero stated.
Kang laughed spontaneously.
“What?” Axel-Zero asked.
“I just imagined if Master Nader turned up,” she said.
Axel-Zero laughed to the point of almost crying. “Oh my, Mace’s parents would go ballistic and, isn’t she an alien?”
“You’re asking me? Go ask Daedo,” Kang said loudly. They both giggled for a minute while Axel-Zero checked the time. “My call is soon,” she stated.
Kang nodded, “I guess I’ll go back to researching this Arkernite stuff.”
“Yeah, that’s weird, isn’t it?” Axel-Zero said.
“What?” Kang replied.
“We set up a base here and just happen to find an undiscovered material,” Axel-Zero stated her concern.
Kang nodded and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “Alien!”
Axel-Zero held up her hands, palms facing Kang, “Don’t include me in your …. whatever this is.”
Kang spat out an incredulous laugh, “You started it!” and she stood, “okay, fine! I’m off to help Cisse, if I can.”
It had taken Cisse a week to put her lab back together in the new base. While she waited for her rooms to be dug out and constructed, she was busy coding the instructions for the bots which did streamline the process. However, there were so many tiny elements that she spent months putting together which made a week was an excellent outcome.
Her new lab was far safer, apart from the occupants of said lab. If it exploded, it was encased in hundreds of meters of granite. There would be seismic activity, but the damage done to the rest of the base would be manageable due to the dispersion unless it was some type of anti-matter explosion, and then all cards were off the table.
“Oh, you’re back,” Cisse greeted Kang. Kang nodded a single time which was an informal bow as she couldn’t be upset with Cisse talking to her like this when she was busy because she did the same.
“I haven’t finished tweaking the superconductor mixture, as per orders from our mighty lord,” Kang joked.
Cisse harrumphed, but she gave Kang a small smile. “He just handed me a completed design,” Cisse said out of the blue, and she didn’t sound happy.
“That’s good isn’t it?” Kang asked.
Cisse stopped in her tracks and turned to face Kang. She opened her mouth and then closed it, “Ah, probably better if I talk to him about it,” she said scowling.
“Oh,” Kang replied.
They both worked for the next few hours when Daedo arrived. “I’ve come to help,” he stated.
“Help!” Cisse questioned her pent-up emotions letting off a little steam.
Daedo looked quizzically at Cisse.
“I think I will leave,” Kang said noticing the tension.
“No, you stay here, it’s better if this is out in the open,” Cisse said turning to Daedo and asking, “so why are we out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“To save the planet,” he answered honestly.
“You know damn well what I mean,” Cisse grumbled, “so now answer the question. What was the situation that forced you, your father, me and all of your friends to this remote shit hole?”
“You didn’t have to come,” Daedo retorted.
“I didn’t have all of the information when I decided to come!” Cisse exclaimed exasperatedly.
“You mean the plans,” Daedo deducted.
“Damn straight, I mean the plans. You had these all along didn’t you!” she accused him, and he merely nodded.
“And you drip fed me, why?” she questioned but, before he could answer, she answered for him, “because you knew it was impossible already and, if you gave me everything, there would have been no doubt that this was not your work.”
“That’s correct,” Daedo replied calmly.
“And you have made me an accomplice to an alien with god knows what plot.” Cisse’s voice was trembling with unbridled rage, “and, the worst part is, you did all of this without my consent!”
Daedo kicked the ground like he was a child being scolded. He let the fury drain from Cisse and hung his head in shame for a minute saying nothing. Her breath was heavy now and her chest was heaving up and down as she waited for him to defend himself or, at least to offer an excuse, something, anything, but he didn’t. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally raised his head and looked into her eyes, “You’re right, I did all that and I would do it again.” He then turned to leave.
“Hold it right there!” Cisse said forcefully. He turned back and faced Cisse, but he wasn’t upset. He didn’t look sorry and his face was like a blank mask. She had given him everything, her career, her love and her trust. He flat out betrayed his ally and he wasn’t even sorry. He looked like he didn’t care in the slightest. His lack of reaction incensed Cisse. She took in a long breath, her emotional temperature rising, she was a professional who was used to leading teams of researchers who followed her orders. She exhaled a long slow breath, letting out much of her anger with it. “Why?” she asked, and her tone spoke volumes. It conveyed the pain she felt. He was not her son, but she was so emotionally attached to him that it didn’t feel that way. “You owe me that much, at least,” was all she said.
He thought about his answer and he didn’t want to rush it. He wanted to convey the correct words and not just have the first thing that sprang into his mind come out his mouth. No, his words had to be the correct words. In this one moment, Daedo had never felt so sure of anything in his entire brief life. “Because we must win!” were the chosen words but the ones that he left unsaid were louder than his actual words. Cisse and even Kang knew what he meant. If they didn’t win, not only would they be dead, everyone left on the planet would be dead as well. All the while, the elite members of humanity would be shipped off into outer space leaving what they considered to be the dregs of humanity behind to die.