What's Junk? (The Mech Touch)

[TheDerangedOne]

... ... ... Oh right Ves made that scavenging shotgunner mech when he was drafted to help the MTA steal a crashed CFA ship or sommat.
... ... Honestly It's been ages since I actually read The Mech touch.
Is Bolt going to be roped into that covert op too or are He and Ves just going to keep missing each other so they don't have to interact?

 

[lost star]

Their interaction is likely going to happen at some point, but only in the war arc. Ves is going to be leaving the sector shortly, and they literally can't interact.

 

[kienlong49]

Good, you really don't want to interact with Ves a whole lot. He have a strange tendency to just screw with you if it give him an advantage.

 

[lost star]

Of the big two, the CFA was the less public one. Humanity as a whole knew about them of course. They would demand nothing less, but the average person on the ground would barely interact with them. Contrast this with the MTA and the sometimes intrusive presence, and you would think they were lesser. That was if you were stupid.

The CFA was the stick. The MTA pretended to be friendly through various outreaches. The CFA was authority. They were actually relatively respected authority too surprisingly. Through good PR and relatively neutral dealings, everyone knew enough to avoid being on their bad side. They were the big stick that humanity used on their enemies usually. They only sometimes used that stick on humans and those sometimes were when the people violated very clear laws.

A priority reinforcement hub was one of those times they used the stick. It was a bureaucratic designation for a specific area in space. It essentially made the place dedicated to transportation and all conflict was banned. Fighting in the area meant death by CFA warship. (Specifically fighting in mechs or space.) It was also a temporary designation done only in times when an alien presence was being actively fought nearby galactically.

Basically the CFA was taking control of the area to provide an avenue of reinforcement in their campaign against the Sandmen. It polite fiction mostly. The CFA and the MTA relied on galactic scale portals to transport large fleets. They didn't really need hubs for simpler things, and the Sandman war was simple to them, despite the damage it was doing. Bolt's planet still qualified based on its unusual FTL composition and location, which made it a perfect cover for other business to be processed. Like discretely 'recruiting' a native.

"Gadget is quite brilliant for her age and status, but also quite behind those in her age group in our usual educational facilities. This is something we can compensate for. It is also something that will require her moving." The very attractive female recruiter explained to Bolt.

Bolt nodded quietly. He was the only one with even a bit of power at the level the CFA worked with, so he was the negotiator here. Not that he could negotiate much with such a disparity. He'd still do his best.

"We have no objection to her going to a school elsewhere." Bolt noted very calmly. "We do object to her being cut off from further contact."

"For the purposes of education, this is quite normal. Interruptions from family can hinder the process." The woman countered without a change in expression.

Bolt leaned forward in the seat slightly. "I did read the regulations you know." He informed her very softly.

There were two blinks to his response. No other changes. "Those regulations-"

"Are for citizens of a specific level yes. Which I am, my birth place non-withstanding." The young man's smile was very polite and very friendly even as he interrupted her. "Forbidding contact is against rule B202 if the parent or guardian is a citizen at my level."

"You are-"

"I am a guardian as of today." Bolt cut off the woman again. "Officially recognized by the MTA. You can check." It'd taken a paltry amount of MTA credits to pay for expedited processing.

For a moment the woman was silent as she obviously tried to review something with her implant. "Very well. Contact information will be forwarded." She wasn't so unprofessional as to be displeased, but there was a hint of it. Then she stiffened. "One moment." She held up a finger before standing. "Captain on deck!"

Bolt blinked. Then blinked again as a man appeared in a small flash. The woman gave him a salute and then disappeared after what appeared to be a non-verbal exchange of some sort. The teleportation technology they used for close range like this was both interesting, and honestly rather annoying in that there was almost no warning when it was used.

"I am taking over the negotiations." The man said. "I am Captain Denib, and will be in charge of managing this particular section of space." He took a seat in a fashion so precise it bordered on uncanny.

Denib was human. This had to be said because his eyes and face were just off enough to make it slightly inhuman. There was something about him that set him apart from normality. An aura almost. Bolt had heard that the CFA's current fashion was genetic engineering to set them apart from human baseline. This man's appearance confirmed that rumor as true.

"Captain." Bolt nodded agreeably and as peacefully as he could. "Kinda unsure what I can negotiate more here. Was happy just saying in contact."

"You were running around the recruiter." The captain said simply. "Impressive for a grounder, especially because you read the rulebook an hour before the meeting."

Bolt shrugged as he settled into his seat. "Seemed important."

"It's equally important that we develop young talent in a way that aligns with our values. This is why we prefer to have new cadets cut ties with their families." Denib leaned back into the chair himself and a small cup appeared next to him. "I can offer you a substantial sum of CFA credits to do so."

"Politely, no." The young man didn't even have to think about it.

"You are certain?" The captain asked while taking a sip of the drink.

Bolt gave the other man a stare. "Do I have ta write it in blood or something?"

"No, but I am expected to make the offer. The next step would be to pressure you with other factors, but that can be safely dispensed with in this case as you have enough prestige to push back." Denib dropped the glass and it disappeared from sight. He then folded his hands in front of him. "Formalities and official statements aside, we both know you can't stop us. You can make things difficult, and I do want your sister to have few complications in her new life. We do not need you trying to exploit a new cadet, nor do we need her distracted by your current needs."

"Give her work, treat her fairly, and she'll do it. I want to keep in contact because she's family. Ain't like we want anything else." Bolt replied with a slight bit of confusion. He wasn't sure where things were going.

Denib paused slightly as he met the other man's eyes. "You are serious." He gave a very slight laugh. "An actual family man. You do know the value of a CFA credit correct?"

"Yes." Bolt nodded. "Though er..." He paused and scratched at a cheek. "Ya might be getting a wrong impression somewhere. I do got some MTA credits too, and that helps me say no."

"I have a full profile of you, including your MTA company." The captain replied with a small shake of his head. "It changes little. Many rich people would jump at what we offer."

"Yet-" Bolt cut himself off and sighed. "Shall we move on?" The captain's objections were likely related to his place of birth and status more than anything else. There was no resolving this verbally.

"Very well, psionic nonsense aside, your sister attributed many of her accomplishments to your work so contact can be provisionally approved without further negotiations. Please be aware that we will be monitoring all communications, and improper information might cause restrictions or disciplinary actions." The captain continued. "You have the full contract for her enlistment?"

"Correct." Bolt said and paused slightly. "Since I don't want the credits, can I have her get the appropriate life extensions and implants for her station early?" He asked.

"CFA credits and internal merits are different. We prefer to avoid interchanging them, and it would likely make her future prospects harder rather than easier." Denib replied conversationally as he visibly recategorized something about the conversation internally. "Speaking from experience, the first few years in schooling are harsh but fair even to those with her background. We strictly monitor things to insure this. Afterwards she will face some social stigma, but considering her aptitude there will be few issues. That is assuming she applies herself."

"She will." Bolt let himself relax a bit. This was a career prospects conversation now, and they both knew it. "Would she have a chance to build ships?"

"We operate on automated tests and evaluations. If she passes the tests, she can apply to any opening and will be accepted if she has the appropriate score. Looking at her work on your primitive carrier, she could likely pass the test to become a junior shipwright now. I would not suggest it however, and you should speak with her on this."

Bolt paused and stared at the other man. "Weren't you worried about me talking with her?"

"Was I?" Denib asked with an upraised eyebrow. "I still am. Yet you should still talk with her about it. If she expands her education and moderates her vocabulary, she could likely apply to join a particular division that experiments with ships and other systems that are more aligned with her current leanings. I believe you understand what I am speaking of."

Ah. Bolt had forgotten that they were being monitored. Denib was dancing around a few things. He wanted spiritual tech. Gadget had done something with the carrier that had made the rather prickly and isolated CFA grab at it with both hands and now they were trying to cover their greed.

"I get it I think. You also..." Bolt trailed off and changed tracks. "Ahem. Actually you will be confiscating the carrier too as part of her submission for joining I assume."

"It will. You are entitled adequate compensation, unless you wish to wave it too." The captain asked with a small smirk.

"No, that won't be something we wave. We do need a ship like that. A replacement would be fine." Bolt waved it off.

That got a laugh from the captain. "No, actually it wouldn't. If we were replacing it due to normal factors that would be acceptable. Here..." The captain trailed off as he looked for something mentally. "Ah, there we are. You're getting an upgrade."

Something beeped on Bolt's comm and he pulled it out. The carrier that appeared in there was technically Third Rate in that the reactor was that level. The rest of it was very close to Second Rate. Skimming the specs made it apparent that the ship was a custom model of some sort.

"That experimental division I mentioned made this out of a desire to see how much you could do with primitive materials and explicitly limiting themselves. The thing was taking up space, so consider it almost a favor to take it." The captain waved a hand dismissively. "Your sister will likely be building a few of them as she learns. As part of our arrangement, we can have them handed to you, so long as she performs properly."

"I ain't selling family for anything." Bolt said very firmly. "But I will pass on your statements. Gadget's one of us, and now one of yours, and we all fight very hard for our family. Ya get it?"

"That is a very optimistic point of view, but a career of service is not something we are unfamiliar with." For a moment the captain looked very human as he looked off at something unseen. "The CFA was founded to protect humanity. We have long lines of people who do just that. If your sister lives up to those ideals, then she will have both my gratitude and appreciation."

"Well, I believe she'll try her best." Bolt said with a nod. "She's got a good head on her shoulders."

Captain Denib nodded as he got to his feet. "For a new cadet, that is all we ask for. Real duty comes after the training."

The man disappeared after that and Bolt stared a moment at the space before sighing and relaxing completely. That could have gone far worse.

 

[Sunhawk]

A stress point, but I think Bolt overall impressed the captain.

 

[Emptiness]

CFA: *Willing to give a small pile of credits for this example of spiritual ships*

Bolt: "Just give us a small shuttle, take care of me' sis, and let 'er call home once in a while"

CFA: *surprised Pikachu face*

 

[lost star]

With the CFA in orbit enforcing peace, the only thing they had left to do on the planet was cleanup. Locally this meant that morale was starting to soar. Battles had been reduced to a trickle due to sheer fear of possible CFA intervention. The organization wouldn't stop every fight on the surface, but no one wanted to chance the very fatal attention they'd provide. The Wrench Rats finally had room to repair and work.

They didn't even have to worry about the sandmen breaking through either. While the CFA wasn't going to handle 'internal' human affairs, they also weren't going to let the Sandmen disrupt them either. They were taking their time heading out actually, using normal FTL. If a few aliens got in their way, well they'd be negligent in their duties allowing them to exist. The pressure on the planet conflict wise was therefore basically gone. This meant a lot of celebration when there wasn't work.

Bolt was definitely not in the mood for something like that, so he'd ended up avoiding the main passages and sticking to the more isolated or barren areas. One of them, almost hilariously, was the main tactical room. There people still worked. It was with a skeleton crew yes, but they still worked.

"We still have many, many things to do, but for now we have something resembling a victory." Kriff explained once Bolt realized how empty the room was.

"No, no I get it." Bolt took a seat in front of the main tactical map. "Actually, if yer up for it, want to do a quick review?" He gestured.

"Something informal is fine ." The general agreed. "I still cannot believe this is the second time this has happened." He muttered.

"Hoping it's the last time." Bolt agreed. "Least it wasn't me this time."

"That does bring up a very large question we do need to answer for the future of the planet. Are your parents having more children?" Kriff asked almost half jokingly as he took a seat.

"Hah! No. They said they have enough stress already. The did negotiate with a few geneticists to have their DNA scanned. My sister and I have something special and rare apparently, but not unheard of. There's some hope for cheap genetic therapies for future generations or something like that based off our DNA." Bolt frowned slightly. "Actually, thinking about it, I should see how much we've gotten saved up. We do need to employ one at some point. Lilly's still furious she can't have her own kids."

"There is time. Honestly, now might be the best time. We have a cover for her in Headhunter, no one's eager to fight at the moment, and there's little immediate tasks that need to be accomplished." The general advised while bringing up a few things. "Even if the CFA leaves no one will attack this place for a good year or so just out of pure paranoia. You'd just need to arrange a secured trip and security there and back."

"That's probably the easiest thing." Renting a small MTA transport for just two people was actually 'relatively' cheap. Bolt could probably get Bubbles to help arrange that even. "But enough of that. Evaluations?" The designer asked the general.

"First thing I can think of is that we're likely going to be cutting back some on the Zombies. They're solid for their place, but too unconventional for raw recruits. I'd like to put more into the Soldiers, because a mech that moves forward with a spear is very easy to direct. " Kriff chuckled as he seemed to recall something. "I'd phase them out but a lot of our people like them for one reason or another."

"Fair." Bolt agreed with a nod.

"I'll hasten to say that I still want some. Not only do they produce some surprising hilarity sometimes, they're extremely useful to feign weakness when we need it." Kriff brought up a few pictures of mechs carrying around heads.

He hadn't intended that to be a feature, but he'd take it. "Anything else?"

"Bloody Berserkers are probably the only model I'd have complaints in, but that's only because using them in their intended role is costly. They're just a bit unconventional otherwise. Really I'd say everything you have is. It took work getting used to. This is both good and bad. The enemy has to adapt, but we do too." The general wiped out the pictures and brought up recordings of the previous battles. "For instance, the Undertakers went from being niche to being horrific battlefield controllers with just that strange change you did. That actually brings up my only real concern at the moment." He zoomed out. "What would we use for offense?"

"Off hand I'd say the Ghouls and the Curse Crows, but that's a bit anemic. The rest are sort of slow marchers due to a variety of factors." Bolt mused.

"Put it on your docket if you will then. Lower urgency is fine. Right now our goals are going to be to establish a presence on the planet and try to organize cleanups and actual systems for everyone else. We're probably going to have to fortify a few mountains. I don't think anyone else living here would be comfortable on the surface due to the constant battles." Kriff shook his head as he looked over the planet. "Hell of a thing to worry about."

He couldn't disagree with that. At the same time, when the battles weren't happening, he couldn't say he hated the world either. It was home to Bolt.

"For once we all have the ability to do lower priority things though, and that includes you. My suggestion is to head off with Lilly if you have the money and make those arrangements for childern. See if you can arrange to transport Morning Star as well. It does us no good here, and it'd reassure people if you keep some sort of defense with you." Kriff advised.

"I suppose I can research it all." Bolt said after some thought before turning back to the map. "Nothing else?"

"There's a whole host of things I could bring up. All of them boil down to the fact we need more mech designs. Yet like I said, we can wait. It's a fucking miracle, but we can wait." Kriff paused and leaned back in his seat. "If anything I think it'd be best for you to take your time if you leave. You and Lilly are pins holding everything up and you've been holding a lotta weight. Rest, recover, and stop thinking about what you can do for everyone and handle you own ass for a bit. Fuck, from what I've been told you never really had a honeymoon. Take one while you do your thing. If the geneticist insists on having her carry the child you'll want to limit piloting, and she'd go mad if there's nothing to do."

It was a very blatant near order that Bolt figured would be good to take. He left the room and began to research a few things before writing up a few messages. Might as well do this right if he was going to try.

A few exchanges with Bubbles, and then with an official who seemed like a cross between a travel agent and an MTA salesmen ended up with an actual itinerary. Bolt and Lilly would essentially pay for transportation to a specific planet. There they'd visit a geneticist that could help Lilly, and likely spend almost a year away while the child gestated and was born before returning.

It was surprisingly easy to arrange, and not even that expensive MTA credit wise. It was still hellishly expensive in local currency, but that wasn't something Bolt could fix. It was just one of the problems he'd had with his situation. MTA credits were simply too large to do anything locally, and using them would both draw attention and not really fix any serious issues. Using them here was splurging, but it was also discrete, relatively.

 

[lost star]

CFA educational facilities were top of the line. Education was beyond important to them. It was considered the cornerstone of their reality. Everyone who worked on a ship was expected to be an expert in at least one topic. If they wanted to advance, you had to demonstrate excellence in many subjects and meet a thousand other criteria to boot.

Gadget was finding that it didn't change that much in the end. She'd been bundled off here with great ceremony and more than an little dread to find out that in the end it was still school. Sure the topics were done better, they had custom plans, and she was pushed as far as psychological profiles showed she could be pushed, but it was still school. Her first few days had been lessons almost similar to what she'd dealt with normally. The only real change was that they were challenging rather than tedious memorization. She wondered if that was what her brother had felt sometimes. Feeling like you were moving through a world of grey before you found something that pushed you.

The largest quirk she'd found was the insistence on automation. Everything was monitored and controlled by computers. Every second of every day had a camera and microphone watching you. Even in your quarters. (Privacy concerns had automated censors there, but they existed.) You also had forced interactions and teamwork on a regular schedule with the reasoning that running a ship required teamwork and obedience. It was all a harshly regulated structure. This would change after graduation, but right now Gadget had to expect her time and space was all owned by the CFA.

It wasn't that hard to deal with emotionally. Perhaps another would have found it hard. Gadget had grown up in a series of creches and nurseries with a few dozen other kids while active battles had been fought close enough for her to hear them. (She hated mechs for a reason.) This was paradise compared to that. Some of the other cadets had grown up differently though, and they tended to lash out in counterproductive ways.

"Having fun Cadet Silica?" The voice of one those people made her look up from her current coursework.

"Cadet Comet." Gadget gave the young man a nod. "I am thriving." She said simply.

"Still taking with a grounder accent I see. You will need to address that, and how you wear your uniform." Comet informed the girl disdainfully. "You won't advance like that. That's assuming you can handle the coursework. No implant yet?"

Implants were actually a touchy subject she'd accidentally stumbled on. Gadget had expected everyone to have one. About half of them did. Those who were children of captains and higher typically, but not even all of them. There were actually very serious debates on when the best time to have one was in First Rate nations. There were even debates on whether they were even useful early or not. Some implants were highly specific and putting them in a kid before you knew their aptitude could be actively harmful. Of course children didn't care. If you had one, you were good. If you didn't, you were bad.

"I plan on saving up enough merits in time, but I might not have one implanted." The girl said with a small shrug.

"What?" Comet asked with a surprised and disdainful expression that he barely covered. "I mean, if you wish to cripple yourself that way, feel free."

"That is a matter of perspective." Gadget replied before deliberately turning back to her work. "The group project is starting soon. I believe your group is over there." She pointed carefully.

"Tch." Comet almost spat out before walking away.

Bullying was a normal thing no matter where you went apparently. Physical actions weren't acceptable of course. Verbal actions like what he'd done were usually logged. Comet likely had a small demerit on his record now. It'd be wiped within a day, assuming he didn't do anything else, which he likely wouldn't. When everything was automated and monitored you learned how to game things, and Comet definitely knew how to game things.

Frankly it was tame. Once the glamor wore off, Gadget found herself only impressed by the technology. The education was good, but the people were still people. Really compared to the hammers and oil that Wrench Rats could get into, the attempted bullying here was both tame and verbal. Cadets simply lacked too much to do more than petty verbal snipes. Gadget was quite sure that'd change as she advanced.

"What's this I hear about no implant?" Gadget's partner for the day asked as he took a seat next to her.

"It will take me years to save up for a good one. I might not even want one by then." The girl said simply. "Also the division I wish to go into actually requests that we not get one before joining. Apparently some of their experiments can have possible interference with specific models."

"Hah! Well I'm getting a combat implant ASAP. I'm Cadet Monkey." The young man gave a nod and a smile. "Probably getting into ship security and investigation."

Gadget already knew his name thanks to the project documentation, but she was still mildly curious about the name. Not that she was going to ask. That felt rude.

"Cadet Silica." Gadget introduced herself with a nod.

"Interesting accent." Monkey said slowly before grinning. "Guessing you're from somewhere fun!"

"Something like that." Gadget replied with a small internal laugh. "Shall we start on the project?"

"Oh sure, it's one of the random ones. Looks like... Huh, security patrol?" Monkey stared at the projection of their current assignment as the hologram formed in front of them.

"Looks more like a pseudo random one based on our combined specialties." Gadget noted. "Showing patrol routes, places of interest, places where ground forces would assault, and so on. We need to make a plan for defense." She shrugged. "Not difficult." She traced a few lines on the projection with a finger. "In the interests of teamwork you will need to contribute as well."

"Not difficult she says. She analyzed the entire assignment and did what amounted to an hours worth of work in a second." The other cadet said with a half grin. "I suppose we know why you don't need an implant."

"This isn't special." Gadget dismissed and pointed. "See, others are doing something similar. If anything, you might be behind here." She noted.

"I'm on more a grunt track. Good at physical, not the mental." The young man admitted without shame. "Could probably beat the pants off you in the sparing ring."

"Probably." Gadget gave an indifferent nod in tepid agreement.

There was a better than even chance he could. She didn't care for physical aside from keeping fit. That was perfectly fine. Everyone had their strengths. (According to her genetic profile, she could better physically, but why bother expending the time?)

"What, not even a snide comment about meathead?" Monkey asked after a moment.

Gadget almost laughed. "Why would I? It'd be a bit counter productive, and I ain't one ta do that." She paused as she realized her accent was slipping. "Plus my sister-in-law is an Expert. I have a healthy respect for the physical side. Good fighters need smarts too." She tapped at the assignment pointedly.

With a sigh, the other cadet started to help with the work. Gadget switched to something she could pay half her attention to while she worked on the project. The current task wasn't very challenging, but she had to assume that there was going to be more than this afterwards, likely something physical. Best to try to make her partner memorize a few paths and protocols before they started.

She'd naturally already memorized it all, and had a copy stored in the spiritual computer in her hairpin. It was mildly amusing to notice how bad even the CFA was at recognizing this sort of thing. When she had more authority she'd see about teaching some of it. For now it was a nice secret weapon for more CFA merits. Bolt had already made waves. She was going to make some of her own, in her own way.

(Monitoring stations noted Gadget's current progress, achievements, and general attitude. Her ranking in class was increased. This produced an error as the automated protocols were unable to push her higher. The error was noted and the programmer involved found hidden weighting placed on cadets with certain backgrounds. The issue was reported. The reports resulted in an immediate assassination attempt, several fist fights, and a singular instance of vandalism. Eventually the weighting was eliminated with extreme prejudice and an official investigation was ordered by an absolutely furious Admiral. The man had been less concerned with the weighting and more that it had been applied unofficially.)

 

[Simonbob]

(Monitoring stations noted Gadget's current progress, achievements, and general attitude. Her ranking in class was increased. This produced an error as the automated protocols were unable to push her higher. The error was noted and the programmer involved found hidden weighting placed on cadets with certain backgrounds. The issue was reported. The reports resulted in an immediate assassination attempt, several fist fights, and a singular instance of vandalism. Eventually the weighting was eliminated with extreme prejudice and an official investigation was ordered by an absolutely furious Admiral. The man had been less concerned with the weighting and more that it had been applied unofficially.)

Click to shrink...

The best part of the chapter!

 

[Thomisannoyed]

The CFA and MTA are both ready and willing to throw down against their comrades at the drop of a hat.

 

[lurkingkraken]

The man had been less concerned with the weighting and more that it had been applied unofficially.

Click to shrink...

I love this.

If we put weights and bias on people officially, it's just policy, and them's the breaks.

If we do it unofficially, then you are interfering with my plans and my crews and my ships, you pissant, how dare you think you can trick an admiral into doing what you want.

Whoever put their hands on the scale there should have gone through the official channels and all would have been well.

 

[OZT]

Xianxia setting with a coat of sci-fi paint everybody.

 

[Emptiness]

Fool, the bureaucracy demands blood payment in papercuts!

 

[Luckless21]

It was mildly amusing to notice how bad even the CFA was at recognizing this sort of thing.

Click to shrink...

This is what happens when denying reality turns into policy/dogma, you don't have any defenses to anything based on it.

 

[lost star]

"This feels like it's running away from something." Lilly muttered to Bolt as they got ready for their trip.

"Do you expect everything to fall apart the second we're gone?" Bolt asked in turn, because he did.

"A little." Lilly replied with a half smile.

That was probably a problem. Bolt was self aware enough to realize he'd been burning a bit brightly. Devoting everything to a place left you with nothing for yourself, and that was a rather large problem when you wanted a life. Bolt was a designer. He was not some nation builder. He also didn't want his home to become just an extension of himself. So stepping away for a year when things were fine was a good idea.

"If it does then we didn't do a good job." Bolt eventually concluded.

"Hah. Brutal, but fair I think." Lilly looked over what they were bringing.

It wasn't much. Clothing would be on the ship. As would basically everything else they could think of. The thing would have fabricators and facilities that could handle everything. First Rate ships had a lot. The sum total of things was basically comms and a few tools.

"Hate myself a bit for spending so much on this." The designer admitted once they finished packing what little they needed.

"You ran the numbers." Lilly reminded him. "We also want the best things for the kid. I want a kid Bolt. I want multiple kids if we can manage it. I don't want to be just a good expert." She said very firmly.

Bolt nodded in agreement. Fulfilling that request was always going to be expensive. Doing it with MTA credits had part of his plan so that they could get the best service possible. He was just being a bit of a miser. That was counterproductive here. So he tried his best to put his distaste for the big purchases out of his mind.

It helped that it was the most efficient option. Purchasing an MTA transport for him and Lilly's mechs practically guaranteed safety there and back. Anything less in a time of war like this would be risky. Bundling it all with the other things he wanted done, like Lilly's life extension and her fertility treatments, was just economical. The numbers worked. It was just so much money!

He was dallying too much on it. Bolt left the room and said a few goodbyes. They weren't particularly long goodbyes, just enthusiastic. This was really just a long vacation. It'd be good for everyone. The trip would hopefully be both refreshing and helpful.

Once they were finished, they were teleported up to the ship and began their trip. Quick and easy. Hopefully the rest would be just as easy. Bolt didn't hold out hope.

Far away, Bolt's destination got the information of a new guest and began preparations. Morocco Haven was considered by many a paradise planet. It was positioned very precisely in the goldilocks zone around it's star. It had a wide variety of beaches and tropic islands. There were no problematic native species. The most notable native life were massive coral clusters and glowing, non-poisonous, jellyfish. Even the temperature was always nice. As a massive tourist planet in the Friday state, it took pride in being a beautiful place to spend a day, a month, or even years. There was a lot of care and dedication in keeping it that way. Even in the war it had traffic in the millions.

This easy and tranquil setting was why it had a lot of medical clinics as well. It was very good for recovery and long medical procedures. One of those clinics was Bolt and Lilly's destination. The facilities were on the smaller side footprint wise. It consisted of a decently sized medical area, and a series of suites that were as close to First Class as one could get with Second Class tech. It was also one of the most expensive and advanced facilities on the planet. It prided itself on discretion and good service. Its standard clientele were high level politicians and important people. They had a waiting list, or rather multiple waiting lists, though this fact was not advertised.

Bolt had actually applied to be on the list several months before his trip. He'd been placed on the 'maybe in a few years list.' Most due to the tentative nature of his request, his status, and the lack of immediate payment. As a young Journeyman he'd been considered low priority, but also someone that had enough potential not to be dismissed off hand. They would have followed up in a few years, assuming his star had continued to rise. More than one recruitment for the nation had been done in this matter, and they had procedures for it. Bolt's recent inquiry accompanied be several factors implying association with the MTA meant that this evaluation needed to be changed immediately.

The clinic moved his and Lilly's profiles into the front of the line and began researching him. Highly trained secretaries and data analysists summarized everything possible so that they could provide the best service possible. There was admittedly some confusion at what they found. Bolt was officially a Third Rate Journeyman. Those simply didn't have the money to make the trip, much less afford the clinic normally. Yet Lilly was getting some very expensive processes done, including highly secured and highly sought after life extension treatments. A quick check confirmed the legitimacy. With that lack of information the clinic had no real idea of what his status was. They had to assume that he was an MTA affiliate of some sort. (Actual MTA members would go to a First Rate doctor. That was still out of reach for Bolt and Lilly, and frankly didn't promise enough to make waiting worth it.)

The two were bumped up again in priority. From important to highest priority. Their requested job was identified, their requested doctor had her scheduled readied, and then the woman was sent everything they had. It was a fairly standard high priority case truthfully, and they all knew the procedures. Prompt, sincere service with no complications was the best way to get this done and how they kept their high reviews and exclusive clientele.

Doctor Tyra was the woman responsible for overseeing the entire medical operation. She was a designer baby herself and had dedicated her life working on helping other people have children. She was considered one of the best in the field, and had even been consulted in some First Rate issues. She was essentially a brilliant woman in a highly competitive and mildly secretive field. This was both a good and bad thing.

Despite the surface appearances genetic alteration was a rather dirty discipline. Designer babies were extremely high value 'products' if you wanted to be cold about it. The amount of money and desires being thrown around meant that morals were typically the first things to go. People wanted the very best for their children. If you had to add a bit of illegal alien DNA to get the best, that was perfectly acceptable to many. It was a small internal field secret that they didn't advertise but everyone was aware of. This didn't even get into the even less than palatable desires and beliefs. There were reasons beyond the obvious that made genetic alteration something done discretely rather than publicly and proudly.

This was important here, because Tyra recognized several markers on Lilly's makeup upon review. She had a list of things that meant she had to alert various people. This one was with for a more cult-like group. That group had given her access to several secrets that gave her a significant leg up. Her entire career had been enabled by this.

She therefore literally owed them her position and was practically obligated to inform them about Lilly, client-patient confidentiality be damned. Fortunately for her conscience she also didn't really have to do anything that seemed sketchy in her mind. All the organization had wanted was for her to inform them of certain things if they appeared. She had been specifically told not to do anything more than send the information. So, as ordered, she sent out a discrete signal with the appropriate details. Once it was sent, she then proceeded to do her job as normal.

That signal and information traveled to an isolated cell tasked with processing information like what she'd sent. The cell looked at the information, saw the markers, and sent it up. The signal went to their handlers. Then it moved up further. Ultimately it reached people who the MTA and CFA would call members of the Five Scrolls Compact.

Those members made their own plans.

Unfortunately for everyone, they were not the only plans. Bolt had tried to be discrete. The MTA had been discrete. The MTA was also a multi-ton elephant in the room. People noticed every action. They were usually just politely ignored. In times of war like this, there was precious little politeness.

Spoiler: Evaluations

Variant name: Curse Crow V2
Base model: Curse Crow

Weight Classification: Light
Recommended Role: Flying Debilitator
Armor: D+
Carrying Capacity: D
Aesthetics: B+
Endurance: C+
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: B-
Firepower: C+
Integrity: C-
Mobility: A
Spotting: C
X-Factor: A

Overall Evaluation: A flying mech with a specialized and unique ability to 'curse' an enemy. Born from a fusion of three separate design philosophies it uses nano-machine laced needles to bypass an enemy's armor to hack their internal processes. The resulting attack is both semi-random and debilitating in some fashion. While it cannot be lethal alone, and is always temporary, the resulting disruption makes the victim easy pickings for follow up attacks.

Due to several design choices, this is a flying mech of choice for those with low to moderate skill. The needle deployment is optimized for high speed flybys and puts the mech at low risk due to the speed and altitude tolerances. This makes them useful as a setup for a one two combo of some sort. Unfortunately the design choices also make the mech's weapon non-modular. The hacking effect is tied to the framework and ethos of the mech, rendering it unusable when taken out.


Variant name: Skeleton Sniper
Base model: Skeleton Sniper

Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Marksman
Armor: D+
Carrying Capacity: D+
Aesthetics: C-
Endurance: C
Energy Efficiency: B
Flexibility: C-
Firepower: B+
Integrity: C-
Mobility: C
Spotting: B
X-Factor: C (Weapon is B)

Overall Evaluation: A budget marksmen mech with a nascent x-factor design focused around its weapon. It shows a budding specialty and grounding in design atypical from standard. While the design has been stripped of almost everything that is not necessary for its role, it still retains enough to make it a moderately useful design in its intended area and budget.


Variant name: Skeleton Deadeye
Base model: Skeleton Sniper

Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Marksman
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: D+
Aesthetics: C-
Endurance: C+
Energy Efficiency: B
Flexibility: C
Firepower: A
Integrity: C-
Mobility: C
Spotting: B
X-Factor: B

Overall Evaluation: A variant mech designed to work with a higher budget than the base design. The skeleton looks have been retained, but higher quality armor has been applied to allow it to survive more combat scenarios than the base model. The ammo has likewise been improved, introducing several variants contained in a small side-kit and designed to work against different armor types. This has removed the frugal nature of the initial design, but turned the mech into a specialized sniper that can destroy a variety of mechs with few shots. The x-factor is focused around analyzing enemies and eventually destroying them. This makes it disproportionately lethal if the pilot is ably to work with the design.


Variant name: Immortal Soldier
Base model: Immortal Soldier

Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Spearman
Armor: C
Carrying Capacity: C
Aesthetics: B-
Endurance: B
Energy Efficiency: D
Flexibility: C
Firepower: C+
Integrity: B
Mobility: C
Spotting: C
X-Factor: C (Component is B)

Overall Evaluation: A spearmen that uses takes several higher level concepts and downgrades them into a lesser form. The Immortal Soldier is a mech with an internal package of nanomachines that can be activated to give quick repairs. This gives the mech the ability to maintain battle capability far longer than its stats would suggest. While the mech's performance is outshined by almost all other mechs in the same category, it serves as proof that nanomachines can be used cost effectively in a Third Rate machine.


Variant name: Eternal Soldier
Base model: Immortal Soldier

Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Spearman
Armor: C+
Carrying Capacity: C
Aesthetics: B-
Endurance: B+
Energy Efficiency: C
Flexibility: C
Firepower: C+
Integrity: B+
Mobility: C
Spotting: C
X-Factor: B

Overall Evaluation: A refined variant of the Immortal Soldier that is designed to take damage and nothing else. This mech is focused on becoming immortal, and both it's x-factor and design choices are meant to reinforce that. If the reactor and pilot are intact, the mech can repair anything but lost limbs over time by expending the stored nanomachine solution. Of note, this solution is made with Third Rate technology, and is relatively affordable for the benefits it brings. It's still less costly to repair it normally. The mech is best considered a niche frontline unit that focuses on grinding or holding down enemies for more powerful mechs to deal with.


Variant name: Dullahan
Base model: Dullahan

Weight Classification: Medium
Recommended Role: Expert Front Line mech
Armor: B
Carrying Capacity: B
Aesthetics: A
Endurance: B+
Energy Efficiency: B+
Flexibility: Variable
Firepower: A
Integrity: B+
Mobility: C
Spotting: C-
X-Factor: A

Overall Evaluation: A deadly melee mech designed for an expert. The x-factor has aligned nearly perfectly with the intended pilot, causing the two to reinforce one another This has allowed it to have a unique resonance effect. It can summon 'ghosts' of defeated opponents by placing their heads on its neck, allowing it to mimic other experts for a short time. This can give it the mech extreme flexibility based off which heads are taken and what the pilot decides to carry at the moment, making it impossible to evaluate certain factors.

Without the resonance effect the mech is a fairly standard axe man. Falling on the power end of the spectrum, it's meant to take damage and return more damage rather than dodge. This makes alpha striking the mech extremely difficult and should allow it to always have an answer for the enemy, providing the expert has done his research and has the appropriate heads.

 

[Simonbob]

This is going to be a cluster fuck.

And Lily's bringing her beast of a mech.

 

[AmeriaOlacyne]

Snip

Click to shrink...

The entire 2nd half of the chapter is in italics

 

[lost star]

The entire 2nd half of the chapter is in italics

Click to shrink...

It was meant to convey a pov change. I'll alter it later.

 

[lost star]

The trip to Morocco Haven had been both quick and uneventful. Settling down had likewise been easy. Lilly's mechs had both been deposited in a small hanger right next to the facility. The clinic had a lot of high profile people apparently, and it was not uncommon for mechs to be brought. The only things unusual about it was that they were Third Rate and that there were two for one expert.

Lilly had been understandably eager to get started. Bolt had been less so. The employees were quite used to this sort of procedure and attitudes though. They were also both eager and highly trained, so the young woman had been ushered into a separate area while Bolt did his own thing. They'd gone over a lot of the process before they landed, and there was rather little for Bolt to do at this point. On Lilly's side, the very first thing they needed to do was sedate her and then start the Life Extension treatment. That would take about two weeks and she'd be out of it that entire time. After that Lilly's body would need a few days to settle while they did analysis of any changes and then they could finalize the plan for the kids. It apparently needed to be done in that order because life extension treatment significantly altered many calculations they needed.

"Did anyone ever really go over everything with you?" Doctor Tyra asked once Bolt settled into a seat across from her in their preliminary one-on-one.

"Ya mean the process?" Bolt asked back.

"No I believe you've already gone over that thoroughly. The genetic profiles and why Lilly needs this treatment." The woman clarified before continuing with a smile as she looked over files. "Let's put it simply. Lilly's DNA was customized before birth for specific features. Her height, her hair color, and even her dyslexia. It was all built into her, and none of it's standard."

Bolt nodded seriously and outlined the goal he and Lilly had desired. "Our wish is mostly ta have kids more towards the norm so that they won't need this treatment for themselves." They'd gone over that before this had started. "Don't want them ta have to do this."

"That's not the most common procedure, but we can certainly do that and are already starting the initial calculations needed. It requires more precision naturally. Physical reproduction as a whole is delicate and accounting for that requires more work. It is within our capabilities of course, but it does add to the complexity and is something we definitely need to account for." The doctor began to bring up profiles. "That said, you still need to make a few choices."

Bolt grumbled and crossed his arms. "We have some ideas, but I'd like her ta be here before we make the decisions." They had also spoken of it, but the final decision would have to happen after the life-extension because apparently that complicated things.

Tyra gave an agreeable nod. "Of course, we wouldn't dream of pressuring you to choose now. This is just to give you something to review while the initial treatment is occurring and smooth out any bumps. You will be getting a digital packet to pursue at your leisure, but I'd like to go over a few minor initial things to see if you have questions. You'll be able to determine sex, hair color, general aptitude, and so on. I must warn you that your personal strengths won't be explicitly passed on. You're aware of your own status?"

"Something something peak something?" Bolt had reviewed it once and promptly shoved it into a corner of his mind.

"The scientific name changes every decade. It's been called the Golden Body, the Perfect Alignment, and so on. Put very simply, everyone's genetics has a variance that defines what a person's body is capable of. Your profile is the highest possible potential for a human at an unenhanced level." The woman looked a bit irritated as she continued. "It's also not something that is always passed on genetically, it can be suboptimal in certain situations, and requires a significant amount of precision to engineer artificially. I will include the documentation for it. We can do it with our tools, but it requires extreme care and more than a little time. Do keep in mind that potential we give our children is just that, potential. Children become their own people, and we all the potential in the world doesn't matter if they don't live up to it."

"I'll look into it, though that does bring up another question. How easy is it to make another child after the first one?" Bolt asked seriously.

"It depends on what options you want. The more tailored you desire, the more monitoring and treatments we need. If you want less tailored children we can easily produce multiple fertilized eggs that can be implanted even in Third Rate states. I'd only suggest constant monitoring and that Lilly carries the children for four to six months if you go that route." Tyra offered with an agreeable nod. It was likely a very common request.

Something about that tickled at Bolt's intuition and he tilted his head. "Oh?" He prompted.

"Artificial incubation is actually advised for the last month so that the mother can avoid the stresses of birth, but multiple studies had found that the pilot potential and health prospects are higher when the mother carries the child for some time. Six months is considered an optimal tradeoff."

Bolt nodded slowly. That was an interesting fact that made him wonder about a lot of things. That wasn't his specialty though, so he was going to just put it in the interesting facts and leave it at that.

The doctor waited a beat before she spoke up once more. "From personal experience I'd suggest you make a small list of potential traits you'd like and discuss them with your wife when she wakes. It tends to speed things up. Sex and appearance are relatively easy and don't require advanced work, so start with that. Please read the information package and also take advantage of our entertainment facilities as well."

Or in other words, they were done here and please don't hover. Bolt chuckled to himself as he left the room. He then realized he had absolutely nothing to do at the moment. Two weeks without Lilly, without duties, and without anything else.

It was a surprisingly weighty discovery. Bolt wasn't attached at the hip to Lilly, but without his wife or work he was at a serious loss. What could he do?

For now the young man made his way back to his suite. The large set of rooms was expensive, fancy, and really not to his taste. Bolt sighed as he took a seat one one of the couches and brought out his comm. Perhaps he should design some?

This was supposed to be a vacation. He shouldn't. Even the best of the best needed time to relax, and Bolt wanted to clear his mind and look at things from a new perspective.

That was going to mean trying something different. Bolt grumbled to himself as he tried to think of what that could be. Eventually he started to look through what was available on the planet. There was both a lot and a little. There were literally countless beach activities. He could go swimming or check out some coral reefs. That felt like something to do with Lilly.

A bit of paging for mech related things left Bolt with less. The local mech scene was anemic at best. There were no real piloting competitions and there was like one arena on the planet. Keeping the place pristine was considered more important than indulging mechs. There were a few very minor design competitions for people under Journeymen.

To his mild surprise, there was a small invitation for a guest lecture at one of the designing schools. Bolt wasn't even aware that he was on any sort of list for that, but it did seem interesting. There was also another invitation for a design debate with fellow Journeyman.

Design debates were basically the closest thing to sparring Mech Designers had. It was very low stakes, very low reward, and was typically done to sharpen rhetoric rather than design abilities. A lot of, putting it politely, average Journeymen would frequently visit them. Bolt was fairly sure that most rising stars ignored them. He was curious enough to give it a shot.

That'd hopefully be enough for him to occupy himself, Bolt decided and then paused. He should probably go shopping too, just to see how things were locally. Perhaps he'd find something interesting, and there was apparently an open air market nearby.

 

[Simonbob]

To his mild surprise, there was a small invitation for a guest lecture at one of the designing schools. Bolt wasn't even aware that he was on any sort of list for that, but it did seem interesting. There was also another invitation for a design debate with fellow Journeyman.

Design debates were basically the closest thing to sparring Mech Designers had. It was very low stakes, very low reward, and was typically done to sharpen rhetoric rather than design abilities. A lot of, putting it politely, average Journeymen would frequently visit them. Bolt was fairly sure that most rising stars ignored them. He was curious enough to give it a shot.

Click to shrink...

Ok.

So, the students are going to get a bit of a treat, and some serious whiplash, because Bolt is very different to what they're used to.

And the design debate could be interesting, in of itself.