Chapter Seven - Home Sweet Fortress

Chapter Seven - Home Sweet Fortress

Chapter Seven - Home Sweet Fortress

If you look back at our records--which unfortunately only stretch back to the early 1900s reliably--then you can chart the size of the average persons home through time. Its pretty obvious that from the 1940s onwards, the average size of a familys dwelling became significantly smaller year by year.

Now, in the early 2040s, a hundred years after the start of that decline in space, it isnt uncommon for the average person to have under a hundred square feet to call home.

--Quote from a Jon Mott Youtube video, 2042

***

I sent a text to the construction company foreman, asking him if the area was cleared. Then I sent another to Rac, to make sure she was safe. Apparently she was hanging out with the printer which had been moved into the room where Longbow was storing his gun. I told her to stay there for the next few minutes. It wasnt far off and it was probably a safe spot for the moment.

And that was it for preparations.

I think were ready, I said.

The area is cleared of living people, the struts are cleared and all structural points have been cleared by your new drones. It seems as though some of the metal used in the construction of the main building was predictably sub-par, but its all still well within tolerances.

You mentioned the drones being able to fix stuff, right? Well set them to upgrading the rest of the building later. I hovered down so that I was closer to the building. I couldnt call it the museum anymore, not when the entire top floor was gutted. Lets do it, I said.

This was going to be, by far, my largest purchase yet. That was a lot of points gone, points I could have spent on guns and armour and toys. Still, it would provide something important. A place for the kittens to stay, a safe place for Lucy to live in. A home.

New Purchase: Custom Building

Points Reduced to: 1,894

Such a small name for such a huge point sink.

I looked at the museum, waiting for something to happen. It seemed entirely unchanged, and I wondered if Myalis had made a mistake. Hey, wher--

There was a bang, like a car backfiring.

A huge sphinx now sat atop the building, a cloud of dust falling away from it. Whoa, I said as I pulled my bike back. Everything sat pretty though. No big explosions, no sudden collapse. I waited, expecting it all to crumble apart, but it held fast.

Well then, I breathed out.

Riding my hovercycle around, I flew to the front of the building and came to a gentle landing between the cats forepaws. My bikes landing legs popped out and I slid off and stepped onto the landing pad.

The huge cat head had looked a bit silly on the plans, but from up close, towering above me, it was actually rather intimidating.

For you? I asked. Simple. Myalis, did you narrow down a good turret blueprint?

Indeed. Two of them, in fact. One I would suggest using around your new base, and another that is more mobile and easy to place, though they are weaker overall. The second requires significantly less maintenance and only needs some sunlight in order to recharge itself.

Huh, I said. Two options wasnt bad. Whats the first one need then?

The first is from your Plasma Weaponry catalogue. It requires more power and ammunition to be fed into it. The destructive abilities are significantly greater though. If you intend to protect your home against Antithesis in the third tier and up, then I would consider using these.

Two images of turrets hovered before me. I have to admit I was instantly enamoured with the plasma turret. It was a big chonky boy, with a big barrel that had rings around it and a heavy base that looked like it was made to fit on a battleship.

The other turret looked fine. A box with a stubby barrel, some panels around it, and suction-cup like legs. It was the off-brand Ikea of laser turrets.

Cant you make that one look less lame? I asked.

In trying to keep the price low, I forwent any attempt at making the design appealing. I can armour it up for a few points, perhaps add some glowing bits to it?

The design changed, gaining a bulkier frame with some inset holes that glowed from within. The barrel got a bit fatter, and the end of it now looked like the silhouette of a cats head.

Stupid, but somehow much better, I said.

What a wonderful way to add ten points to the cost of something. Do you approve of both?

How dangerous are they? I asked.

Both are fairly lethal. The laser turret can burn through most first tier antithesis in a matter of seconds. The plasma turret can fire a supersonic burst of plasma capable of denting modern tank armour. The fact that the projectile is burning at several thousand degrees celsius might also add to its lethality. For both blueprints, it will cost you around four hundred and seventy points.

Alright, last big purchase of the day then I said.

New Purchase: Heavy Plasma Turret Emplacement Blueprint

Points Reduced to: 1,594

New Purchase: Mobile Laser Defence Mechanism Blueprint

Points Reduced to: 1,424

I clapped my hands. Alright Rac, Ive got some work for you. How do you feel about turning this place into a fortress thatd make any aliens think twice?

***