House Thoth, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: ?/1275
Term: 1, Round: 1
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The cadets looked at each other, thinking that Master Nader had clearly watched their every move and conversation. And that she acted whenever she saw something she didn’t like.
The group in question made their way to Master Nader’s office. It was adjoined, for good or ill, to where they slept and lived. There were other communal areas they could use, and they could eat in the middle academy cafeteria if they didn’t want to eat in their quarters. But this area was their own space. It had become home in the short time they’d been attending the military academy.
It was not long before the five were standing in front of Master Nader.
“Master, I apologise,” Picard began before Master Nader spoke.
Nader held up a hand and summoned them to stand before her desk.
Daedo wondered about the strategy Nader was employing as she sat behind a large desk, and they stood on the other side facing her. The master could arrange the room in any way she wished. She could have a round table with stools. A bench seat. Or she could have nothing and they all stand. But she’d chosen this setup. He did not doubt that she wanted it to convey something. A separation between her and the cadets, perhaps, or her dominance.
As he pondered this, she began to lecture Picard.
“Presumption, or a forecast in a situation like this, is unnecessary and unwise, Picard. You should wait and see what I have to say, and only prepare responses to what you think the words could be. There was no need to commit yourself.”
She paused momentarily, allowing Picard to feel the pressure emanating from her face plate, aimed in the young cadet’s direction, before continuing.
“Now, I summoned you all here to offer my assistance.” She brought up a map of Paris and zoomed in on the industrial estate outside the city. She pointed at a specific location in Nanterre, which then highlighted, and the image zoomed in closer. “There is a company based here, which used to repair mechs for the academy and others. It came into financial difficulty and stopped operating last year. And it appears it no longer owns the building it operates from.”
The owner of the building and other details were displayed on the interactive holomap as Nader spoke.
“There will be an auction this week for the liquidation of its assets, but, as I understand it, you can make an offer to the liquidators. You could purchase the company outright.”
She pulled up the registered supplier list.
“This is important because this company is a registered supplier of the academy, which means mechs and exos can be taken offsite to this company and its premises. But I would suggest that if you have enough funds, you purchase the dying company, and its tooling, for potentially a rock-bottom price. You could also purchase the building or just continue to rent it.”
“Why did it go out of business?” Axel-Zero asked.
“Does it matter?” asked Master Nader.
“Yes. There could be a reason that affects us if we purchase it,” Axel-Zero said.
“Have your families investigate it,” Nader ordered. “That is not my area of expertise. If you want an off-campus base, this would be ideal; it is close, and it is approved. That is enough assistance for you today. Dismissed.”
“Why didn’t you just send a message?” Daedo asked.
“I said, dismissed!” Master Nader roared with her robotic voice on full.
The room suddenly went dark, and arrows pointing to the exit lit up the floor.
Daedo shrugged. Another test. He was twelve, and the answer was unimportant; he had his guesses anyway. He left the office. He really didn’t want to find out what would happen if he disobeyed a dismissal for a second time.
“I’ll get our lawyers to investigate immediately,” Axel-Zero said.
“We should all buy in and become shareholders,” Vannier said enthusiastically.
“Let’s find out how much it is first,” Mace cautioned. “It may be in liquidation, but it might still be more than our parents are willing to give. Or what we have in savings.”
Myrmidon: There is an equipment list posted for the upcoming auction.
Myrmidon showed it to Daedo, who in turn showed the list to everyone by projecting it onto the wall of their communal area.
“Most of this is junk,” Mace said, “but the lifters, UAN table, machining, electrolyte bath, and lasers are useful. The fabricators are so old, we would need to replace the heads at least.”
Daedo sent the list off to his father with an explanation. He asked Ikaros to assess the workshop tools and equipment as part of a project to outfit a mech and exo workshop.
In a few hours, Ikaros came back with a list of outdated equipment that needed upgrading or replacement and a few of his favourite tools – some old school – which he would recommend adding. He also mentioned that the ventilation and compressed air supply of the building would need to be checked as well as its primary and secondary power supplies.
Daedo: Dad, could you come to this address on Saturday 0830 for an inspection of the workshop project? We would appreciate your help.
Ikaros: Of course. You only need to ask, and I will be there for you, son.
His father was probably surprised and delighted that his son had asked for assistance, and in his very first week.
“My father will inspect the premises this Saturday at 0830,” Daedo informed the group after they had all feverishly explained the situation and asked their parents for creds.
“We need to invite Barran and Gaumont,” Vannier said.
Mace shrugged. “Then invite them.”
“Where is Gaumont?” Axel-Zero asked and pinged him.
Gaumont’s door opened, and he came out of his room. He’d been working on his math and physics tutes the entire evening.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Vannier sent off a missive to Barran who was still topside exploring the fields and forests that covered the campus. Then she proceeded to explain the situation to Gaumont. He nodded.
“I’ll send a request to my parents, but don’t hold your breath,” he said. “They aren’t as wealthy as some and won’t invest huge amounts of creds if it is high risk.” Then he went back to his room.
“Vannier,” Mace said, interrupting her perusal of the schedule. They had done all they could do regarding the workshop and were working out their weekly schedule. “We don’t have a slot partner for tomorrow.”
“And we need the contract for Horus signed,” Axel-Zero said.
“Can I see it?” Daedo asked. He was no expert, but Myrmidon could scan it and perhaps pick something up. Plus, he was beginning to think of a tactic.
“Sure,” Axel-Zero said. “Anyone else?”
“I think we should ask Master Nader to look it over,” Vannier suggested.
Axel-Zero nodded. “Good idea. I’ll send it to her as well.”
Myrmidon analysed the document.
Myrmidon: It is a very simple agreement. No room for loopholes that I can predict.
Daedo: I want to create one.
Myrmidon: Oh, exciting. Tell me.
Daedo: I don’t know the wording. If you can, extrapolate what is there if I just tell you. Okay?
Myrmidon: Go ahead. Meathead lawyers can check when we are done.
Daedo: The number of matches, after the first match, should be left open. Horus said they had several extra slots. They will not expect to lose. If the contract was worded using open-ended terms and only had an end date of the first term and we continued to win … we could win all their slots.
Myrmidon: What happens if they win all yours?
Daedo: We have two secondary slots and one primary. If they beat us three times in a row, then we would have nothing. That’s perfect. If they see this loophole, they will assume they can take all our slots until we have nothing. A better outcome than our bet.
Myrmidon: It is a simple agreement. I only had to change a couple of sentences.
It did not occur to Myrmidon that Daedo needed to ask his squadmates about this gamble. As far as the AI was concerned, everyone was a lesser being to Daedo. Daedo himself believed that Axel-Zero’s lawyers would pick it up when she forwarded it to them, and he would explain his strategy when necessary.
“I made a couple of minor amendments,” Daedo said and sent the agreement back to Axel-Zero.
She forwarded it to Horus Squad Zero’s assumed captain, Karine Fortescue, Master Nader, and Becker, the house master of Horus.
Axel-Zero then changed the subject back to the workshop. “If your father is inspecting the workshop on Saturday, does that mean you’re buying a share?” she asked Daedo.
“No, my father is inspecting because he is an excellent mechanic,” Daedo said. I will purchase the largest share I can afford with my own creds.”
“How much do you have?” she asked him quietly.
“Don’t tell her,” Barran interrupted. He’d just made it back from his topside exploration. “All girls want is your money. Best - keep it secret.” He held a finger to his lips and grinned at the shocked look on Axel-Zero’s face.
“I was just curious!” she protested vehemently.
“She protests too much,” Barran said theatrically. He patted Daedo on the back. “The infamous Daedalus from CyberMech and a lady killer.”
Daedo blushed. He didn’t think about Axel-Zero that way at all, but no words would come out of his mouth.
Axel-Zero huffed and put on her helmet, an excellent method of withdrawal.
“So, we’re going into the mech repair business? It’s been, like, a day,” Barran observed.
“No, we’re securing a location to research and upgrade offsite,” Vannier said.
Barran shrugged. “Whatever, I’m in. I have plenty saved from my allowance. I don’t even need to ask permission.”
“We don’t know how much it is yet,” Vannier argued.
“I’ll just buy the share I can afford,” he said mimicking Daedo from moments earlier. “I don’t want to bother explaining it to my father – or worse, my sister.”
“My company’s lawyers just responded,” Axel-Zero announced.
“That was fast!” Vannier exclaimed.
“I think I get special treatment,” Axel-Zero said. “I’ll read what they said in summary. The repair business had standard overheads, sinking revenue, and failed ventures, which resulted in the removal of capital and its current liquidated situation. Risk of purchase low. Return on investment low to nil. Maximum advised bid for the company, fourteen thousand bitcreds. The suggested offer is five thousand bitcreds. Property value will increase if a purchaser is found. If purchasing the property, it is advised to do so before purchasing the company. Property value, twenty-one thousand bitcreds, suggested offer, eighteen thousand bitcreds.”
“The property is worth more than the company?” Vannier asked.
“It makes sense,” Barran said. “The company is almost worthless except for its equipment, and land is always worth creds.”
“I’ll put in half,” Daedo said. He almost had enough for all of it. His account had 21,300 bitcreds, but he did need some for parts, materials, ammo, and anything else that popped up. He thought it a good move to allow everyone who wanted to buy a stake.
“Half of the business or half of everything?” Barran asked.
“Everything,” Daedo said.
Barran whistled. “I can contribute twenty per cent,” he offered. “That leaves thirty per cent between you three. Can you do that?”
Axel-Zero looked at Mace and Vannier, who nodded.
“If one of us is denied, the other two can pick up the difference,” Mace suggested. She was always strategic.
“I recorded this conversation and sent it to the Axel company lawyers,” Axel-Zero said. “They will draft up the documents and make the purchase pro bono, whatever that means.”
Vannier looked it up. “It means free,” she said. “Will they get a good price?”
“Better than we would,” Axel-Zero said.
Everyone nodded.
“Thanks, Axel.” Vannier said. “Letting us use your company lawyers is a big help. And you’ve done it a few times now.”
Axel-Zero said, “Let’s hope they don’t start charging. If I have to sweet talk my mum and dad, we may need to put everyone into Axel bodysuits, especially if we do well.”
“Not everyone can afford them,” Picard said.
Barran rolled his eyes at Picard. “We know, we know, stop whining all the time. They’ll either be free, or we’ll all chip in. It’s better than paying for lawyers.”
“Who are we going to get for our second slot?” Axel-Zero said, changing the subject.
“Who hates Horus the most?” Daedo asked.
“Other than us?” Barran asked. “Everyone, I think.”
“I don’t know Amun-Ra Squad Zero members that well,” Vannier said. “We should approach Shu; I know Tiphanie Lazard, and she’ll be a lot better to deal with than Almeras, who we saw in action earlier today. I’ll contact her now. We can meet with her squad before bed.”
The night was escaping them. It had been a big day. They’d attended all the orientation lectures, picked a fight for slots with Horus, prioritised exo improvement to give them an edge, and had begun to purchase an offsite base to upgrade the exos on weekends so they wouldn’t have to wait for tools and could upgrade in secret. The offsite base would also give them room for testing and other activities.
And lastly, they were planning their schedules and filling in their last slot with someone who would push them. The core squad had stuck together. Only Gaumont seemed intent on doing his own thing. Barran was a maverick, but he went along with the group.
Vannier took Daedo with her to meet Shu Squad Zero. Everyone else stayed to work on their schedules and planning. They had to calculate how much time to spend on each subject. Only a few were interactive with compulsory attendance. The other subjects could be completed at any time. They just needed to be completed before week ten came to an end. Daedo had worked his schedule out hours before. With Myrmidon's help and planning, it was completed during the orientation, and it did not require much tweaking.
“Lazard,” Vannier said, greeting a tall, dark-haired girl who was flanked by three boys.
Lazard nodded. “Vannier,” said, returning the greeting. They were in the middle school cafeteria, which was almost empty. The six took a seat at a nearby table, the four Shu on one side and the two Thoth on the other.
“We would like to offer you two slots tomorrow and next week if you are keen to help us beat Horus,” Vannier said matter-of-factly.
“I heard. Everyone is talking about it, and most are laughing at you,” Lazard informed them.
Vannier grimaced. “I would like to make them laugh on the other side of their face.”
Daedo wondered what that even meant.
“What times?” Lazard asked.
“Monday evening, 1930 and 2015 back-to-back,” Vannier said.
Lazard whistled. ”Back-to-back, and on a Monday – awesome.” She looked quickly at her squadmates. They must have been sending her messages. “No strings attached?” she asked.
“Just one,” Daedo said. “You need to bring your A game. We need to practise hard, and we can’t do that if you’re just testing stuff or mucking around.”
“No problem, we can do that.“ Lazard held her hand out to Vannier and then Daedo.
It was 2100. Daedo had scheduled bedtime for 2300, so when he got to his room he spent the extra time researching parts and ways to improve the light exo. Even if they didn’t purchase their own mech bay, they would be able to make the tweaks on campus.
The next day’s schedule was full with only a few hours to spare for meals, tutoring, and a review of the day.
At 0600, he would rise and complete the obstacle course before heading to the gym for his physical training. It would be difficult, one after the other, but it made sense efficiency-wise. His body would just have to adapt and handle the strain.