Chapter 148

The Daedalus Academy

Y: 2143 – 10 weeks until Southern Europe regional inter-academy first round.

Daedalus Financial Position: -33.9M bitcreds 

<break>

Jia sighed as the craft landed between Mace and Vannier they directed her down within range of a temporary entrance into their base. It was still 100km away from the base and newly constructed. The mining bots dug a new access point in the last few hours linking into the existing underground web.

Huawei may have an abundance of low and high orbit satellites but that didn’t help them see underground. At best, the current technology LIDAR penetrated 50m.

As she stepped off the craft, she was greeted by Vannier, Mace and their respective squads.

“Clear,” Mace ordered, and the craft took off, banked and began to speed back from whence it came. She turned and informed the crowd, “I’m sending it back to them.”

Something stuck in Jia’s throat, “There’s something I need to ask … but …”. She had been putting off asking about Daedo and Morton for the entire flight back. Not wanting to put it across the airwaves where it might be intercepted. Especially since it wasn’t their comms.

Vannier put a hand on her shoulder guided her to the tunnel, “Let’s get under cover first. Nothing is showing but there is no reason to stand out here where they can see us.”

Jia cast a sidelong glance at Vannier and then Mace. They both seemed calm which boded well.

“They showed me some unnerving surveillance when they had me,” Jia began.

Vannier merely nodded encouraging her to continue.

Jia drew in a deep breath, “It showed Daedo and Morton being bombed. Was it fake? Are they alright?”

Vannier froze. 

Mace said quietly, “Daedo went dark and he hasn’t resurfaced yet.”

Vannier quickly added, “Surely we would know. Myrmidon’s influence is throughout Daedalus.”

“Those programs are autonomous,” Mace corrected. “If he goes dark that includes Myrmidon.”

“Mace is there anything you can do to contact him?” Vannier asked.

“We can broadcast. But should we?” Mace responded. “He’s cut himself off to hide until its safe and any broadcast we send will be essentially open communications - even if its encrypted.”

Vannier turned to Jia, “How did they disable you?”

“My brother was sponsored by Huawei from a young age. I still had the cybernetic implant they gave me when I was ten. I was expected to follow him into Huawei.”

“You are from a wealthy family? I thought we didn’t accept cadets who were accepted into other Academies?” Vannier queried.

“No not wealthy,” Jia replied.

Mace clarified, “Probably something like Picard except groomed from a young age. Did they disable you by hijacking your implant?”

Jia nodded.

Mace looked at Vannier in horror.

“And my brother was their squad leader,” Jia said.

Vannier put a hand on Jia’s shoulder again, “We need to get that thing out of you and pronto. Mace is there anyway to shield outside comms to it?”

“We need a full spectrum shielded helmet ASAP,” Mace called over her own comms.

Vannier nodded, “Let’s move. Hopefully Daedo will resurface soon but I’m going to send some search parties despite his orders.”

Mace shook her head as they walked, “They won’t be able to find him.”

Jia hurriedly added, “There’s a weakness with the nanosuit. If you scan the UV spectrum you can be seen. Huawei worked this out in a short time while I was unconscious.”

Mace smiled, “They were idiots for letting you know.”

Jia shrugged, “My brother was trying to turn me.”

“After he nearly killed you?” Vannier asked.

“He’s dead now,” Jia said sadly.

Vannier shot a concerned look towards Mace and received a private direct message in return.

Mace: Daedo and Myrmidon trust her enough to put her on his squad.

Vannier: Unless that was just to watch her closely.

Mace: When he turns up - he can work it out. We don’t need to suspect her unless the worse case scenario eventuates, and if it does, this is a minor concern.

The party arrived at the mag paved part of the tunned and were able to travel at high speed in comparison to walking or running. The nanosuits had the ability to mimic mag-lev boots and they skated towards the base which was over 100km from their current location.

As soon as she was able Vannier deployed the mechs, the carrier and four squads to look for Daedo and his cadet.

An hour later Master Majors reported in from the carrier. “I can see the blast site. Sending images in now. There’s nothing but sand – this doesn’t prove anything either way.”

Barran and Picard were in mechs headed south east from the main base. They had been running for ninety minutes.

Barran: They’re panicking.

Picard: And why shouldn’t they? No sign of him and no contact for over twelve hours.

Barran: Bah – No way Daedo wouldn’t outsmart Huawei. He’s just gone dark. He will show up.

Picard: I hope so. If he doesn’t …

She left the sentence unfinished and they were both quiet for some time.

Barran: What’s that? Two bodysuits?

Picard: Yeah. Let’s get closer.

They closed on the two bodysuit figures running in the desert in the middle of nowhere. The two diminutive figures ran towards the mechs and it didn’t take long for them to break communication silence.

Daedo: I thought I ordered you to protect the primary base entrance.

Barran: Well sor-orry. But you went missing, presumably dead, and I had to come see if you got killed by the Huawei sobs.

Picard: Jia is back. She escaped and she said they showed her images of you getting blasted to hell.

Daedo: They only blasted our empty nanosuits. We programmed them to keep running without us.

Barran: They can do that?

Following a curt nod Daedo climbed up onto Picard’s Mech and indicated Morton follow his lead and get in the same position on Barran’s.

Barran: what’s wrong with my Mech?

Daedo: nothing. Picard is a smoother pilot.

Barran scoffed over the comms while Picard laughed at the small victory.

<break>

“Are you ready?” Vannier asked and Daedo nodded.

They entered the VR meeting room to enter likely heated discussions with all three major corporations in attendance. Daedo insisted that Huawei attend the meeting with DaVinci and Svarski where each group would send two representatives.

The DaVinci CEO and Chairman, Leo Vardy, spoke first, “We are all here it seems. Let’s get this started.” He sounded exasperated as if this was a problem he didn’t need.

In VR nothing was real, but it was human nature use some sort of structure which accommodated the purpose. A conference room formed with the representative pair standing together in front of their corporate logo. Or in Daedalus’ case the emblem for their Military organisation - a mechanical owl which looked to be swooping down in attack.

The CIO for Svarski led the meeting. If his VR image was accurate, he was a pale, lean, tall man in his late forties. He was bald and had a sharp nose. The VR application indicated his name was Ulrich, but that meant little. For all Daedo and Vannier knew he might not even be their CIO.

“We are gathered here to facilitate a cease fire and return to a nominal peace at least,” he began. He stared at the Huawei representatives, “The events that transpired over the last twenty-four hours were unsanctioned and unwarranted. Sanctions will be levied against Huawei if a reconciliation isn’t met.”

The Huawei representative, Cho their CEO, scoffed. “If we were successful you would be praising us and paying us. And you have the gall to pretend now that we were out of order?”

“You forget yourself,” Leo Vardy spoke loudly, “If you were successful what would have prevented the disillusioned remnants of Daedalus blowing the planet to smithereens? While we are still on it! His defacto aunt and bereaved Father would have had the keys to his Anti-Matter reactor. Did you think this endeavour through to its ultimate conclusion?”

“This cataclysmic threat is exactly what we are attempting to remove!” Cho shouted.

“Daedalus are not the aggressor here,” Vannier stated. “We are happy for you to go on your merry way. Build your spiral. Leave us alone and we will deal with what comes next.”

Vardy nodded, “There was an accord with neither side gaining by hostilities.”

Cho spat, “You want their Troika reactor. How can we spread across space without it?”

“You have the patent and enough anti-matter has made available for you to search our solar system, including the Kuiper belt and more,” Vannier objected. “Instead of crying about it you should be out there now.”

Leo scoffed at Vannier’s retort unable to hide his surprised amusement. 

The Svarski CIO, Ulrich, cleared his throat. “You can trade for anti-matter and enter agreements at another time. In this meeting we need a cessation of hostilities and reach an agreement to ensure tensions stay under the conflict threshold.”

“Agreed,” Vardy said.

“Agreed,” Vannier stated.

All eyes turned to Huawei and while they delayed their response Vardy injected, “If you don’t agree you may walk away from this meeting at war with three corporations.”

Cho scoffed and looked towards Daedo and Vannier. “Do not be fooled by their contentment. If they found a weakness, they would exploit it and end you while cannibalising all your property - intellectual and otherwise.” He paused for a short time before adding, “Agreed. We will play your game, but we need assurances.”

Daedo titled his head to the side and Vannier spoke as if it was a prompt, “You ask for assurances? Reparations are in order!” She paused waiting for the exclamation to sink and added before anyone else could speak. “We have a proposition which will reimburse us while establishing Daedalus with vested interest.”

“Go on,” Vardy said and wave a hand.

“We want all your shares in the spiral to contractually assigned to us the day after your evacuation.”

The three powers were silent in contemplation for a minute. 

“Agreed,” Vardy said.

“Do you plan to claim our elevator?” Cho asked. The question surprised Vannier and Daedo. They only knew of the one elevator from Antarctica.

Ulrich picked up on their surprise and explained. “There are three elevators planned. All will connect to the Spiral and we will control one each. One from the northern Russia, one from Central America and the current from the Antarctica.”

“We will control Antarctica,” Vardy added which meant that it was likely that Svarski controlled the Russian elevator and therefore Huawei controlled the one in Central America.

Vannier suppressed her curiosity and did not ask how it would possibly work with three elevators.

“Let’s entertain the idea that we sign you over our shares,” the Svarski CIO said.

“Unneeded, useless shares - you will be leaving and have assumed - we all die,” Vannier interjected.

Ulrich nodded slightly, “Very well. But what will you do in return to lower tensions right now?” It was a negotiating tactic. Rather than request actions from Daedalus but allow them to propose what they will do. Because they could always add to Daedalus’ offer and they might gain something extra by allowing the young masters to voice their initial obligation.

“We have no idea,” Vannier replied. “We have done nothing to impede you and nothing aggressive.”

“What?” Cho exclaimed. “You have restructured as a Military organisation and recruited thousands of cadets from around the world. You are training them in your not so secret underground base in Africa. Africa! Which has been our stronghold for over a hundred years.”

“In the middle of the desert. Thousands of kilometres from any of your bases or operations,” Vannier replied.

“You must stop your military build-up. It is threatening the status quo,” Cho declared.

“How will we defend the planet if you don’t build a defensive force?” Vannier was incredulous.

“She has a point Cho,” Vardy stated.

“We have stated our position that fighting is counterproductive! It will only weaken us and if you leave us alone it will only enable us to become stronger for the fight that is to come. After you leave!” Vannier said exasperatedly. She looked at Daedo in frustration as if she was wondered how the leader of one of the largest corporations in the world could be so stupid.

“You don’t know what you’re up against,” Ulrich said quietly.

“Nor do they,” Daedo said speaking for the first time.

The three leaders stared at Daedo wondering what he knew. Master Nader had imparted information that they were not privy - despite their best efforts.

“You should give us more,” Daedo said. 

“What?” Cho asked incredulously.

“The more incentive - to not cause you trouble - will give you the assurances you are seeking.” Daedo explained.

“I can’t believe we are being shaken down by a thirteen-year-old kid,” Cho said.

“A thirteen-year-old who invented an efficient anti-matter reactor,” Vardy clarified.

“What do you want?” Ulrich asked.

“Cede us manufacturing and mining operations which are not necessary for your exodus and we will give you all the anti-matter you could possibly need. We have an idea of the facilities you don’t require,” Vannier said and provided a list which shot across the virtual room to the delegates.

Vardy shook his head.

Ulrich grimaced.

Cho crossed his arms.

“I want a tonne of anti-matter,” Vardy said.

“Fine,” Vannier replied and Cho gasped. A tonne of anti-matter was worth trillions.

“We want ten tonnes,” Cho said like a spoilt child.

“Don’t be stupid,” Ulrich said flatly. “One tonne each will sustain the balance and give us enough energy for fifty years.”

“What if we can’t find Arkernite in this solar system?” Cho asked.

“It is not our responsibility to solve all your problems,” Vannier replied. “What were you planning to do a year ago?”

“You can fly several ships to hundreds of systems with a tonne of anti-matter. It will just take years,” Daedo said. “And I’m surprised you’re still here. You have very little time.”

“What do you know?” Vardy asked.

“There is only five to ten years left. Didn’t the box tell you?” Daedo asked.

“It tells us the what year we must no longer be on this planet,” Vardy said and he received a scowl from Ulrich.

“And you think if you are in near orbit you will be safe?” Daedo asked. “I think you need to worry about us less and get your act together or you will be our unwilling allies.”

“We’re already your unwilling allies,” Vardy replied.