66 Book 4 - Chapter 124

Troika

Y: 2142

Inter-Academy Round 10 Fortescue Points: 1271, Rank: 3, PR: 0.723

Term: 4, Round 5

Daedalus Financial Position: +4,700,000 bitcreds

"What's next?" Cisse asked as they watched the prototype work.

The comment drew a rare chuckle from Daedo.

"Can't we enjoy this for a moment?" Ikaros said in awe.

It was the worlds first working Troika reactor. Daedo's initial ideas were made reality by alien experts as Nader called them. Or perhaps they were just the alien equivalent to school children.

It had taken them months at their new base to overcome the myriad of issues despite the detailed roadmap and technical designs that Daedo had memorised. In the end, it was nothing like his initial idea, and it was slightly different from the plans he recalled viewing in Master Nader's secret room.

It had taken everything from what Cisse and Daedo could bring to the table. They had made sacrifices. But without sacrifice, progress would have been impossible.

The troika reactor created and stored anti-matter in a net positive reaction. Bringing humanity ahead by a century in one fell swoop. The design was such it could annihilate as needed, but the piece de resistance was the ability to store anti-matter. It was possible to extract and use in a much smaller reactor with just an annihilator. One which could likely fit in a Mech and possibly an exo. That would be stage two and three.

"Anti-Matter storage, management and micro-annihilators," Daedo said.

"Is that all?" Cisse asked laughing maniacally.

Ikaros was concerned for Cisse's mental state, that was not a healthy laugh, "Perhaps Cisse could have a break. A holiday, just for a week."

Daedo looked to immediately reject the notion but halted his initial reaction and contemplated the suggestion for three full minutes.

Everyone just waited patiently, it was bizarre behaviour for normal interactions, from normal people. But increasingly the interactions with Daedo were headed further from normal. Small changes month after month.

Ikaros was concerned for Cisse one moment and Daedo the next. Wondering what was causing these changes, was it the pressure, his implant and AI or was he just grew into the man he would be one day. All of which were scary.

"Myrmidon just checked your work records Cisse. Analysing the data, I recommend an eight-day vacation visiting ancient sites in South America. But you can go where you like but be back in nine days ready to work. Vannier can take you," he recited.

Cisse peered at Daedo. "I am happy to take a break, I'm just a little concerned at how efficient you are at stalking and reading me. Even if it includes my dream holiday."

"Would you like an itinerary?" he asked, his expression was deadpan.

"No!" she exclaimed, sounding anxious about the offer.

Despite his concerns, Ikaros couldn't help but laugh. "We should call the others," he finally suggested. They are angry enough about being left out of the initial start-up.

Daedo nodded, "I already messaged Vannier to return with the carrier."

Daedo rejected the proposal to remove himself to a safe distance by Vannier. But at the same time, he insisted the rest of the squad did fly out of range of the most severe catastrophe.

It was possible to conduct the test remotely, but the milli-seconds lost in communications could have been the difference for Myrmidon or Cisse's AI if disaster struck. Strictly speaking, even though the calculated risk of failure was insignificant, they should have conducted the test remotely.

Daedo wasn't perfect. If he was perfect, he would have been with Vannier in the Carrier 100km away.

He wanted to be there for the test. To be there, in person, when the Troika reactor fired for the first time.

<>

"So, it just sits there?" Barran joked.

"Yes, idiot it's a reactor," Picard replied. "It generates, heck, I don't know how many gigawatts it generates. Vannier?"

"It just sits there Picard," Vannier giggled while shaking her head at Picard.

"What?" Picard looked from Barran to Vannier in disbelief her friend would betray her to Barran of all people.

"Ask Daedo," Barran suggested.

"No! I want a short answer," Picard stated.

"Watch and learn," Vannier told Picard and pinged Daedo over comms. "What's the power rating of the Troika Reactor prototype, short answer please."

"Theoretically, circa Ten Million Terawatts, but we have it limited to One Terawatt due to capacity to handle the load with the internal storage and annihilator hybrid …," Daedo replied.

"Thanks, Daedo," Vannier said cutting him off

Vannier smiled at Picard.

"Know it all. You've spent so much time with him you an unfair advantage,' Picard accused.

Kang scoffed, "She's taking one for the team, and you make it sound like a benefit. You want to swap roles with her?"

Picard scowled at Kang. All her friends turned on her in the space of thirty seconds, and she suddenly realised; they had made a pact to limit her when it came to Barran bashing. Just like Daedo had a limit on the reactor. She sniggered at the comparison, which transformed into a laughed.

Vannier looked at Kang who shrugged.

"I know your game!" Picard announced to her friends.

Vannier made no sound but made and 'Oh,' with her mouth and winked at Picard.

"You're wrong this time Vannier," Picard stated, emphasising each word slowly, "You are wrong."

Barran looked confused, "It looked like she nailed it to me." He said.

"She did," Kang said and began to circle the reactor. "This thing is safe, right?" She asked Ikaros, she trusted Ikaros he was down to earth, unlike his son who lived with his head up his ass.

Ikaros looked at her kindly. "No," he said honestly.

"I like you Mister," Kang said before circling back to her friends.

"Vannier," Kang asked, "Can you find out off boy wonder how far away we need to be to survive, if this thing blows?"

"We already know," Vannier replied, "100km reduces risk by ninety percent, but it would be best to be on Mars for one hundred percent."

"So this has enough juice to destroy the planet?" Kang asked.

Vannier nodded.

"Okay, I see a flaw in boy wonder's logic," Kang said.

"What happened to the no nickname rule?" Barran asked he didn't spend much time with Kang normally. And this was the first time she heard her speak this way, attributing a nick name to Daedo twice. He let once slide, but not twice.

Kang laughed, "Perks of not being in Daedalus PM." She tapped her bodysuit. Boldly labeled CIV, where her friends had a zero.

Kang and Axelzero held status similar to Ikaros and Cisse in the new regime. The only difference was they were tutored along with the five remnants of squad zero.

Barran looked at Vannier, his face showing a small amount of anger and he spoke way too loudly, while not quite shouting, "No one, told me this when I signed up!"

Vannier looked confused for a moment, before comprehending his concern, "Did you read the fine print of the Daedalus Military Contract?"

"Of course not, I trust you guys!" Barran exclaimed.

"And therein lies your problem, Y-Boy," Kang said.

"This is not fair!" Barran raged and turned his glare on Vannier. He really liked nicknames, and Kang was flaunting her power in front of him.

"Kang," Vannier scolded. "We're still a team."

Kang mock saluted, "Sorry Miss Zero Two."

Vannier laughed at Kang's cleverness. She was in squad zero, and she was number two in command. She also had red hair. All which resembled one of the most popular stream characters in history called Zero Two.

The group let it drop for a minute while they were waiting for the stream to start. Barran was busy with his helmet on. And after ten minutes he breathed an exclamation, "Yes!"

He immediately walked up to Kang and asked, "How's it going Kpop?"

While Kang fumed at the sudden turn around, both Vannier and Picard could not help but laugh at Barran's insightful revenge. After a quick review they realized, the nickname rule only applied internally to the Daedalus Private Military.

Mace arrived to witness the end of the laughter. She stopped, looked at them for a moment in contemplation before shrugging and announcing, "Stream is good to go."

The Daedalus team would all be present for the historical stream. They had set up sensors to collect a 360 capture so participants could view in VR as if they were present. If they happened to be an expert, they could access VR terminals and view data from the reactor. Or if they were interested Myrmidon had created a VR representation of the reaction.

They would not be interacting with the physical reactor but with a virtual representation. Mace, Ikaros, Axelzero and Myrmidon had worked on setting up a world class stream for the historic event.

It was being released on the Daedalus channel, Daedo's old channel which he created when he was nine years old playing CyberMech. Axelzero and Barran only had to inform a few people of the event before the news spread. They had waited until today to make the announcement and it flew through the mass media like wildfire.

Only Master Picard was not present for the stream. He and Mace's parents would ensure no unhappy surprises occurred, otherwise their security systems would give fair warning of a significant attack.

This was the biggest day in Daedalus' short life.

And it was just the beginning.

Daedo's HUD which was primarily used for combat was giving him the countdown. He had been forced by the rest of the team to present with only Cisse joining in. It was his and her moment, other than their silent partners who were lightyears away.

3 2 1

"Some of you know me as Daedalus." He began. "But my real name is Etana Daedo, and I am the commander of Daedalus Private Military."

Vannier thought he was doing wonderfully despite being an introvert who didn't like the shit work.

"You may not know the Daedalus corporate entity was recently folded into our Military arm as an ancillary department."

He walked around the reactor. "The Daedalus team has prepared this VR presentation to inform you of our breakthrough. A breakthrough which will change not only our planet, but it will facilitate our reach for the stars."

"It is a new reactor."

"The troika reactor."

"You will be able to access information in the VR at any time, bringing up output readings, input and visualisation of the controlled particles and reactions."

"I will pass on to our world-renowned quantum reactor researcher, Ms Cisse Reas."

Ikaros smiled. Cisse used to work for Fortescue, and he imagined that this breakthrough, ten months after her departure, would cause quite the ruckus. He thoroughly enjoyed imagining it.

Cisse began a dumbed down, walk through version, of what the reactor did. She explained its current capacity and also its theoretical capability. Its full potential was a million times that of the current peak reactors that the leading corporations equipped in their spacecraft.

After a ten-minute overview, she handed back to Daedo.

"The design and technology will be made publicly available on the IPO,' he stated calmly, "After we reach an agreement with the Big Three."

The feed was cut.

"So, when will they attack?" Barran said jokingly.

"That's not funny," Axelzero warned.

"They will talk," Daedo said.

"How can you be sure?" Axelzero asked.

"We showed them the raw power. Would you attack a base that had a reactor capable of blowing up a planet?" He queried Axelzero.

"Oh," she said, "I feel so much better now."

Everyone laughed, her tone implied that she was no longer worried about an attack but a reactor capable of blowing up the planet. A slightly larger impact according to her internal risk assessment.

"The views are rolling," Vannier stated excitedly. And they watched in awe as the VR presentation which was streamed live to a handful of major media services began to explode in terms of viewers and commentary.

Barran laughed and cried, "You had ninety million subscribers. I thought that was impressive."

It seemed there were quite a few people who did not want to miss the next Daedalus stream.

After a week the account had over a billion subscribers.

The most subscribed channel on the planet.

In a week.

Daedalus members popped into the secure VR room from different areas of the base and the globe.

Mace, her parents, Gabe and Adele, Daedo, Vannier, Axelzero and even Barran. Only Kang and Picard were excluded as their roles didn't touch on the topic of the meeting.

"Nothing is guaranteed," Gabe said, "But I concur with your assessment. The organisation is not governmental but a servant of its corporate masters."

"Ones with reach into Governments, hence the high-level interference with the EUDF, but without its support," Mace stated.

"In our research, our best estimate is the Defence forces will stay behind," Daedo said.

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"Why?" Gabe asked a pertinent question.

"We know they are severely underfunded and underprepared. I can only speculate their role is to reduce panic as the elite class vacate the planet via the spiral," Daedo said.

"That's an excellent point. So, they will just publish that while a few rich people and their Private Militaries are vacating that the populace need not panic because all the regional Defence forces remain," Gabe pondered the reasoning as he paraphrased.

"Except they're hiding the fact that the Private Militaries are better funded by a factor of a hundred to one," Axelzero added.

"That much?" Adele asked in concern.

"Yes, I reported on this. This is why we have done everything that we have done," Mace said exasperatedly.

"We're sorry we didn't take you more seriously, and we're on the right side now," Gabe stated.

"It's understandable, I wouldn't take a bunch of thirteen-year-olds seriously either," Vannier chimed in to soften Mace's criticism of her parents.

"Let's move forward, not back," Daedo stated.

Mace peered at him for the slight reprimand. Her features were non-committal in regard to remorse or anger.

Gabe nodded.

"This brings us to the currently proposed meeting, you should do a video meeting first to assuage their fears. This will lower their guard. If you were to commit to a face to face meeting now it would prove to be a major security risk," Gabe advised.

"Noted," Daedo said. "The latest report, can you summarise and update for everyone here?"

Gabe nodded, although it was VR his avatar nodded following his physical movements.

"We have been directing our investigation to a low risk segment with possibly high reward. That segment is the targets of our operations when we were in the organisation. If we can understand what the organisation was really after with these people, it will help us identify their agenda."

"You don't think it ties directly to what we were just discussing?" Vannier asked.

"It's possible," Gabe agreed, "But I think it goes much deeper. To a wider conspiracy."

"We have a few key findings," Adele said, "When we access all the data from the targets. Their communications and work show a pattern."

There was an unintentional dramatic pause.

"They were all involved in some fashion with inter system and interstellar mass colonisation," Adele said allowing the revelation to sink in.

"So ... that means they have been suppressing projects and research?" Vannier asked.

"Yes," Gabe answered. "This tied in very well with Alien conspirator and is probably why we didn't scrutinize and question our role as agents.

"The real question is why," Mace said.

The discussion continued for some minutes, and Mace noticed that Daedo had withdrawn. He was becoming like this more and more as each week passed. She had known him for almost a year, and he had always held his cards close, but this was different.

The paranoid part of her worried it was to do with his cybernetic implant and Myrmidon. Daedo and his AI were closer than anyone else, in fact, he was closer than his AI than other humans. Daedo's bandwidth was legendary but was that a warning sign instead of an achievement?

She pondered her reasoning while watching him out of the corner of her eye and felt that her logic was sound. When he retreated like this, it was because he and Myrmidon were working on a complicated problem.

She wanted to reach out to him. After they became so close during the defence of the base, they had drifted apart while he and Cisse worked on the Troika day and night. But he was hard to reach, even for her.

Perhaps she should have a conversation with Myrmidon, and the insightful idea made her chuckle to herself.

"I have an idea why," Daedo suddenly interrupted the conversation. Alert and present after returning from his deep contemplation.