Chapter 5774 Different Strategy

Chapter 5774 Different Strategy

5774 Different Strategy

"You lost ground today." Jovy said once they all returned to their temporary lodging.

Ves grimaced at that. His ability to make a case for himself could only bring him so far during the second session.

"It dawns on me that I may have been playing into the hands of my opponents." He said. "Perhaps the selection of Lieutenant-

Commander Astrid Jameson and Master Alice Cantor goes a lot deeper than I initially thought. What if the opposition deliberately put forth their more provocative and less competent speakers on the first day in order to gain my measure? Not only did I expose a lot about myself, I also unleashed my firepower too soon. The opposition has been able to regain control of the rhythm by making targeted adjustments based on what they learned in the first session. The most obvious sign of why that may be the case is that Professor Kacuk Chabran did not repeat any of the mistakes that Master Alice Cantor had made."

His advisors all looked serious when he threw out this theory.

"You may be ascribing more competence to the opposition than they actually possess." Kelsey Ampatoch remarked. "The coalition against your living mechs are divided and not completely in alignment to each other. There is no single leader among them that can impose a unified strategy. The more likely possibility is that they are working alongside each other, but not necessarily with each other. It is mainly Professor Kacuk Chabran that you must be vigilant against. The other speakers have polished up their presentation, but they are still relatively manageable."

Jovy shook his head. "No offense, Mr. Ampatoch, but I believe your inherent bias against Terrans is clouding your judgment. The scholar from the Chabran Ancient Clan is in his element, but that does not mean it is wise to disregard the threat posed by the other speakers. The most important opponent is Master Cantor. It is not her ability that matters, but who she speaks for. The Mech Supremacist Faction holds the greatest jurisdiction over this matter. The policies and ideologies instituted by the Lord of Thermodynamics and the Web Mistress demand that the Red Association take at least some action against living mechs."

Vector nodded in agreement. "My fellow mecher is correct. If the third session proceeds along the same line as the second one, then I see no way of avoiding a reality where living mechs can remain as free and unrestricted as now. You may not like it, but it is fully within the Association's jurisdiction to impose reasonable restraints on the unbridled growth and proliferation of your living mechs. If you were a neutral bystander, you would agree with this stance, but since this issue is closely tied to your design philosophy, you cannot stomach the idea of compromise."

"Of course not! Living mechs were doing just fine all of these years! You mechers never saw fit to intervene even when early models such as the Valkyrie Redeemer and Ferocious Piranha went on to get sold by the millions. Why must you guys act now, and do so in such an adversarial fashion? This public inquiry is making a lot of uninformed people unnecessarily scared of my products!"

"The public has a right and a need for transparency, Ves." Jovy gently said. "Our Association can keep many secrets, and can tolerate others doing the same. However, a confrontation became inevitable when your living mechs started to behave much more like actual humans, and not infrequently either. Did you really think you can get away with unleashing such frightening possibilities onto the masses and expect them to accept it without question like they have done for your other innovations? I am afraid you have overestimated an average person's ability to embrace novelties that stray too far from the range of normality."

"Ugh." Ves let out a frustrated noise. "So I just have to sit back and take it, Jovy?"

"I am not telling you to admit defeat. I just want to inform you that the prevailing trend is slightly against your favor. You need to be prepared to make compromises tomorrow."

Kelsey Ampatoch tried to reassure his new employer.

"I think you did the best you could under the circumstances, sir. You are an excellent salesman. Your presentations have always succeeded in converting potential customers into paying customers. Your background, your personal journey and your professional experiences has made you good at captivating mech pilots. It is other audiences that you are currently struggling with. You cannot sell your attractive mechs to norms like you can do with mech pilots. Ordinary people with little to no connections to mechs are not attracted to the advantages of your products. Instead of speaking to the general folk as if you are a salesman, you should speak to them as if you are a politician."

The others nodded in agreement.

Jovy reached out and placed his hand on Ves' shoulder.

"Calm down, Ves. Do not let your frustrations cloud your judgment. I am glad that you feel passionate about the necessity to increase the sense of urgency among the civilization population of the Red Ocean, but I do not think it is a good idea to admonish the people you wish to win over. If you want to regain the upper hand in the next session, then you will need to radiate positivity as opposed to negativity."

"Why do I have to do that? The opposition is doing just fine with turning my living mechs into boogeymen."

"That is because their job is to impede your works. Obstruction is inherently negative. It is also easier to produce results with this stance. You on the other hand must promote relatively unfamiliar products and concepts to a large population of humans who are not naturally inclined to favor your living mechs."

In other words, this was an unfair struggle.

Fortunately, Ves was not out of options.

"I need help. I can't do this alone." He said. "I already requested the assistance of a friendly ally. Let me check whether he is finally available."

Ves briefly corresponded with the individual in question through his cranial implant.

He finally started to smile again.

"Good news. Captain Zonrad Reze of the Seventh Light Fleet has almost reached Ector V. He will likely arrive in time for him to speak during the session."

The sudden mention of bringing in a supposed ally from the Red Fleet disrupted the mood of the other three mech designers.

Jovy and Vector looked especially uncomfortable with this situation!

"Ves... I am aware that you have recently spoken with a starship captain from the Red Fleet, but... do you understand the optics of relying on the word of a fleeter to promote your living mechs?"

"Don't worry. Captain Reze and I have formed a pretty good understanding with each other. Not everyone in the CFA is as dogmatic as their colleagues from the Fifth Enforcement Fleet. This isn't entirely about mechs alone. This debate is also about politics. I think it would help a lot if I can present a fleeter who is willing to vouch for a mech designer. I can even turn his testimony into a component of a more elaborate strategy."

Though the mechers were not enthused with the idea of relying on a fleeter of all people to help Ves' cause, they needed any help that they could get. A lot of mechers would probably disapprove of this move, but the most important constituents right now was the general public.

Ves needed to show that the Red Fleet was not united on this subject.

He also wanted to prove that he had his fair share of backers from this powerful organization as well.