64 Book 4 - Chapter 122

The Eye of the Sahara

Y: 2142

Inter-Academy Round 5 Fortescue Points: 578, Rank: 5, PR: 0.723

Term: 4, Round 1

Daedalus Financial Position: +100,000 bitcreds

Rank, Academy, Score, Performance Ratio

1, Tehran Mech, 672, 0.840

2, KAIST, 634, 0.793

3, Templars MA, 632, 0.790

4, Seoul MA, 617, 0.771

5, Fortescue MA, 578, 0.723

6, Heidelberg MA, 551, 0.689

7, Tsinghua MA, 536, 0.670

8, ETH Zurich, 523, 0.654

9, Lockheed Martin MA, 518, 0.648

10, Humboldt MA, 475, 0.594

11, Mumbai MA, 463, 0.579

12, Udon Thani MA, 412, 0.515

Back in the world, the 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 Axelzero perused the Fortescue data each round. Axelzero 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. 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 presences was more of an emotional and personal requirement than a necessary one in the end.

Both Axelzero 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," Axelzero said. "We haven't experienced any interference from the organisation in regards to supply with any of our business," she tapped the table, "And I hope this continues."

"Never let your guard down," Vannier said, and Axelzero nodded.

"If it happens we will deal with it. But on that note I do have a report from our own operatives which you need 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," Axelzero 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, everyone who was in, was happy to be in.

Only Axelzero and Kang were not members of Daedalus Private Military. 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.

"And the chance of them attacking this base again?" Axelzero asked.

"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."

"It would sense that they have completed a risk and benefit analysis, and the risk of attacking us outweighs the benefit greatly. But apprehending you in a public place where we can't bring military assets to bear has a much lower risk. To them," Vannier was thinking out loud.

"Agreed, that is the Maces' assessment in the report," Daedo stated.

"Can I travel home?" Axelzero asked.

"I think that is up to you. Read the report and make your own informed decision. There is a risk if you do, and that could be mitigated if Mace's parents could shadow you, but ultimately, you're not a prisoner here."

"And my Family can provide protection if they're informed, but damn," Axelzero said as she thought the events through. "If I tell them the risks they'll worry more and just want to lock me up. 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 the new equipment should push them higher than fourth," Daedo summarised.

Vannier stood, readying to leave, and then added a thought, "Do you think they could win?"

"No."

"I'm hurting all over," Barran commented on his current status. He never whined about physical activity, only academic.

Axelzero peered at him and asked, "Are you? I'm fine."

"Me too," Kang agreed with Axelzero.

Picard laughed.

"What's funny?" Barran asked.

"The pain you are experiencing is a message, but you are so dense 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 you're hurting all over." She pointed at the bruise on his face and his leg which 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. 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 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 … are 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.

Axelzero and Kang slid into chairs at Picard's chosen table.

"What's wrong?" Axelzero asked.

"I think it's that we are cooped up here alone, Barran is getting on her nerves," Kang conjectured.

Picard shook her head again, clearing her angst.

"No … it's just 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.

"And… Barran is 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 Axelzero exchanged looks.

"I really don't care that much," Kang replied.

Axelzero smiled weakly and shrugged.

Picard scowled. "What? Am I overreacting?"

Her 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 that, and … you get it," Kang stated dryly.

Picard delivered her former friend a death stare.

They sat and ate in silence for a time. Picard in contemplation, Kang and Axelzero lost in their own thoughts and not wanting to rile their friend further than they already had. Picard wasn't someone you wanted angry at you.

While they could kill with a railgun, Picard could kill someone with her bare hands.

"I'm going topside," Picard announced after they finished. She didn't invite anyone. She would take out a mech or exo and scout the area. She was supposed to take her partner with her, however, her partner was Barran.

She left the pair.

Kang looked to Axelzero, "What are you up to now?"

"I have a call with Master Haddad," Axelzero replied. She was instrumental, along with Vannier, in regards to making Daedo's plans, to get their mini Academy functional, a reality.

While Daedo handled the big picture, Vannier and Axelzero had to make it all work. The contracts, budgets and logistics, or oversee and delegate at least.

"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," Axelzero 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?" Axelzero asked.

"Mace is good at blocking, she probably just whitelisted a few people and blocked everyone else come to think of it," Kang speculated.

Axelzero 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, that's partially what the call is about. What the specialist trainers roles, responsibility and remuneration will be. And they are going to have to do it remotely. To reduce the chance of infiltration by the organisation; base access is on a needs only basis. 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, he was the head cadet, and they got promoted to Tier two," Axelzero said.

"Oh," Kang said.

"Daedo and Vannier like him. And so do I actually," Axelzero stated.

Kang laughed spontaneously.

"What?" Axelzero asked.

"I just imagined if Master Nader turned up," she said.

Axelzero laughed to the point of almost crying. "Oh my. Mace's parents would go ballistic. And… I dunno is she an alien?"

"You're asking me? Go ask Daedo," Kang said loudly.

They both giggled for a minute. Axelzero 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," Axelzero said.

"What?" Kang replied.

"We set up a base here and happen to find an undiscovered material," Axelzero stated her concern.

Kang nodded and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, "Alien."

Axelzero 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!" She stood, "Ok, 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, but there were so many tiny elements which she spent months putting together a week was an excellent outcome.

Her new lab was far safer, apart for the occupants of said lab. If it exploded, it was surrounded 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, it was an informal bow, she couldn't be upset with Cisse talking to her like this when she was busy. 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 a minute later as she passed.

"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. "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. She turned to Daedo and asked, "Why are we here in the middle of nowhere?"

"To save the planet," he answered honestly.

"You know damn well what I mean," Cisse said. "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 replied.

"I didn't have all of the information when I decided to come!" Cisse exclaimed exasperatedly.

"You mean the plans," Daedo deducted.

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"Damn straight I mean the plans. You had these all along didn't you!" She accused him.

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.

"And you have made me an accomplice to an Alien with god knows what plot," and the last part she vented her fury, "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.

She breathed waiting for him to defend himself, to offer an excuse, but he didn't.

He looked up at her finally and said, "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 to face her. He wasn't upset. He didn't look sorry. His face was almost a blank mask.

She had given him everything. Her career, her love and her trust. He flat out betrayed her and 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 letting out much of her anger.

"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; it didn't feel that way.

He thought about his answer. He didn't rush, the first thing that sprang to his mind, out his mouth.

"Because we must win," and what he left unsaid was louder than his words. Cisse and even Kang knew that he meant.

If they didn't win, not only would they be dead, everyone left on the planet would be as well. While the elite members of humanity shipped off into outer space leaving the dregs behind to die.