Sitting up carefully, I held my head and in my hands and focused on breathing. In and out. In and out. Maybe just maybe, I wasn't a morning person.
The first rays of sun shone into my mech, ugh, forgot to close the blinds too! What an awful start.
>Command Prompt: close cockpit blinds
But it was too little, too late. I was wide awake in my hammock strung across the rear two seats. I couldn't stay grumpy for long, or could I?
After a quick pit stop and slide down my rig and several cups of kaf thanks to Molly’s kitchen camp, I was going to see if my new talents could help me integrate the off-the-shelf compute systems with the legacy cybernetic parts to solve the latency problems for my synths.
I couldn't easily source the same hardware that I had installed into my two elite Squad Leaders. It was super expensive, plus I kinda stole the second one. I quickly finished my cup of synkaf and headed over to my portable shop.
It was so nice having a place for everything, and everything in its place. I pulled up the schematic that BigFe and I had been working on and threw it onto the larger diagnostic screen built into the workbench. I began running through possible permutations and possibilities in my head. As soon as I grabbed one of the Tier 0 kibi-compute systems, I could feel the neuro-circuit design in the mesh fabric. Wherever I got my psychic skills, the results were undeniable. I could anticipate scenarios a second or two into the future, and I could diagnose or even control computers around me.
I began reviewing my designs while simultaneously exploring alternative potential configurations on the processor in my hand. Why I could reliably only see 1 second into the future, in a very localized sense, (and 2 seconds when under VERY high stress), that was plenty of time with the computing speeds available these days. These powers have almost never manifested in the real world, but only when I was programming or wrenching on machines.
I reached over to grab my jug of juice from yesterday. I am sure it was still cold enough, when I accidently touched another kibi-compute node. The direct contact jolted my entire body, and the simulations I was envisioning in my head crashed and I almost fell over. How clumsy could I be?
Groaning, I dropped the first processor on the table and sat down in my mobile chair. Grabbing my head with my hands I shook my head.
>>What the heck happened.>>
>Command Prompt: status
<
>BigFe systems check on me please>>
<
>We thank you for the vote of confidence. And you know I don't like you calling me Prime>>
<
I had no idea why touching a second identical processor would have caused such a reaction in my mind. But it did give me several ideas. Instead of combining the processing power of multiple units, which is what I was simulating at that point, I wondered what would happen if I specialized each system and parallelized the computational burden.
Taking several big gulps of my tepid juice, I realized that I really need to create a perpetual cooling thermos.
>>BigFe add that to the list.>>
Diving back into my work the hours flew by and using 2, and eventually 3 of the inexpensive processors I was able to refactor the neuro-architectures across the three compute nodes. It looks like it wouldn't be as simple as a redundant or even divide by 3 task sharing. Rather I would need to develop a pseudo ego, id, and superego, at a very simplistic firmware level and assign scope to each processor separately. I had no idea what I was doing from a psychological perspective, but luckily I was working with synths!
Over the next few days, and few manic synth brains later, I was able to get a convergently stable model! Now comes the best part, field testing. One of my old teachers in the bunker always reminded me that I need to start with theoretical simulations, or even typed notes on syntha-paper. Then move onto computational models, bench testing, testbed experimentation and then finally you were ready for field testing. Course, I was in the field, and I was incharge, so field testing it is.
The next morning I had my hapless helpers, two camp synths I had repurposed- help me install the tri-kibi-compute cluster into a spare synth chassis.
>>need a better name for the core brain, Fe>>
The chassis, on the other hand, was a grab-bag of parts I had been reconditioning from the Kombi-bus spare parts bin. My personal bus was packed to the gills with a variety of cybernetic parts, industrial, commercial, and military equipment from a veritable lifetime of scrapping and salvage. The level of carnage, and therefore loot we had salvaged from the battlefields of California was incredible. Disgusting, and near suicidal, but still incredible. I was just glad we were able to remove all the ‘ganic material from the parts without damaging them. Turns out the super-defoliant that was dropped in the Southwest Water Wars was strong enough to inhibit protein binding in mammals as well, in high enough doses.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I shuddered and quickly returned to better thoughts. The particular synth in front of me was a bog standard commercial setup. Both sets of limbs were matching which was always nice for calibration, as we learned the hard way last time. Commercial torsos were not common at all, I mean what human replaces their entire torso? but with a combination of armor, exo-scaffold and rough reinforcement I had a completed ‘budget’ synth.
Now that I had the prototype completed I was eager to replicate the results and deploy the new and disproved? Downgraded? but still totally viable synthetic humanoids. The hardware I had leveraged to date was military surplus and premium commercial custom hardware, and far too expensive or rare to sustain full production runs. This new design, however, was functionally equivalent and was built using consumer grade off the shelf compute and network resources. I was eager to field test the design but I decided to wait until we had a reason for an outing. There was still too much I needed to complete around camp first. I was never good at waiting, however.
That evening, I had finished buttoning up the new Synth and I was enjoying another camp dinner when Sunny had a pensive look on his face, “Gabby, I was thinking about the tunnel mining we have been doing recently, I was wondering if we could rig something up as a tunnel borer. I know PCC, Norinco Industries, and BADS (Badische Anilin Dow Sinopec) ^AG have their commercial lines, but we could probably modify BDwerks? equipment far cheaper than buying their big stuff. The Roundabouts are dirt cheap, and already have the power-take-off for farming and forestry. Could we rig something up for more autonomous tunneling?”
I stopped daydreaming about the cognitive upgrades for Fe and thought about it. “Huh, I guess I don't know enough about how you mine. But I bet with your help I could rig up either a multidrill or actual energy lance to carve and cut the tunnel. Then we could connect it to your existing smelter/ separator.
He continued, “What we currently do is drill progressively larger pilot holes around the mineshaft and then carve our manageable blocks. Then the dumb drones can haul the rock and ore to the crusher for separation. If we get an incredibly rich vein we might mine by hand, but otherwise we just run as much crushed rock and ore as we can through the separator and then into the smelter. I was thinking about rigging my dozer to power drills permanently, but if you think we could create a specific machine for it, that would be amazing.”
I could tell Sunny was both excited about the prospect of playing with a new piece of machinery, and also with the improved efficiencies of mining. I begin to consider the design requirements for an industrial application like this. I was curious if a Roundabout could actually support it. The commercial tunnel boring machines were designed from the ground up, >>get it, Fe?>>
to drill, tunnel, and excavate the material. We would need a way to automatically reinforce the tunnel walls to avoid collapse. I had no idea if it would work but I know what we would call it, It would be our MOLE Mining Operations, Lining, and Excavation machine!
“Sounds fun Sunny! Let me think about it for a few days and see if I can mock up and then simulate a few options. Not sure we can build it with what we have on hand. Kinda need the two trucks we have. But it doesn't hurt to explore!”
I shrugged my shoulders, and waved good night to everyone around the campfire.
The next morning found me returning to the endless task of fixing the vehicles. Where I could, I was using the extra sheeting from the surplus trailer to reinforce and up-armor the cabs and tractors so we could have as much protection for the synthetic, and organic drivers The roundabout pickup trucks, and buses all had synth drivers without much armor themselves. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have all our vehicles with better protection for the driver’s seat.
Just before lunch a faint sound reached my ears and I began to subconsciously identify ariel power armor! I dropped my tools and quickly scanned the horizon.
>>Grace, are you in the air, do you have eyes on anything!?>>
<
Running out of time to continue talking. I quickly covered my synth workstation and walked toward the center of camp. The humming sound increased in pitch as 14 flying objects dropped altitude and came in closer to our camp. I could quickly make out a squad of American Empire soldiers, likely on a long range mission. No real reason they should be out here, but I wasn't going to be the one to tell them that. I mean, they already killed my father, I don't care what the hell they want.
The skybikes swooped overhead and hovered 20m above our heads. “Ahoy, camp. Mind if we join you all?” A voice boomed out of the larger power armor suit. I instantly identified two Rosatom General Energy ? Warthog Flying Armor suits, and a dozen vanilla but well maintained Toyota-Daimler-Bilaindand ? Pursuit skybikes.
Looking around, Miles was nowhere to be found, which wasn't surprising considering he was an alien and Sunny was all but glaring with his upper arms crossed, which was a bit of surprise, he stole my look. I guess I had to be the adult in this situation, frelling yonos!
“Howdy, soldiers, what brings you out to these Quad forsaken lands?” Without waiting to hear a response I continued, “Sure come on in.”
The lead soldier motioned to the skybikes on his right. The 14 machines, their directional jets howling, settled down into the clearing next to our main camp inside the walls. The skybikes were brutally elegant in their design, a pair of turbo engines stacked next to each other in the front and the rear. With a saddle and controls strung between. The inline jets provided lift and maneuverability up to 200m or so. It looks like it would be crazy fun to ride, but I doubt they would let me give them a whirl. Plus the integrated turret held each soldier's rifle so they could remotely control it if they didn't dismount. As they came into the land the two squads of soldiers in the rear said nothing, kept their rifles locked into the bikes, but close at hand.
The two leaders were equipped with fly harnesses (I had no idea of soldier ranks or positions but BigFe indicated he would be a Captain and the other was a Sergeant ) The venerable Warthog was a world famous design. A pair of larger jet engines connected to flexible pylons provided incredible maneuverability, VTOL, and hovering for power armored soldiers. Two massive weapons arms contained both PPG and gauss cannons on each side. And these two soldiers had cutting edge American Empire equipment. I could get a sense of the complexity of the software as they shut down their platforms and disconnected. The second in command seemed to be in the latest generation Warthog power armor. The Warthog had jump jets integrated into the legs and back with limited flight capabilities without the flying harness. With the harness the Warhog could keep up with any of the jet bikes and hover vehicles. It was a glorious piece of equipment.
They stepped forward and separated from their wings and engines. They both flipped their visors opaque and I could see their faces behind their armored suits. And impressive suits they were as well. They all had power enhanced exoskeletons with substantial armor, and a variety of sensors, weapons and frack knows what else attached to them. But the two officers were wearing full on power armor! Their substantial bulk and rolling gait gave away the fact that these two soldiers were walking talking tanks. They were likely equipped with adaptive camouflage and right now they were set to match the dusty skies. But as they continued to walk around the campfire and approach us. The armor began rapidly matching the sand and rocks in color and pattern. The lead soldier’s armor was more impressive and decorated, it looked like, honest to Quad, latest gen power armor. It might be a next generation Warthog some new design, or even a prototype! These suites were like a distant relative to what we found. Ahem, not that I was going to bring that up. I didn't recognize the newest design, and that surprised me, quite a bit.
“Afternoon, ma’am, I am Captain Vance and this here is Sergeant Altepeter.” The Captain’s voice was professional and polite but his posture and piercing eyes told a different story. Seems like Fe was spot on, as if I had any doubt. He continued “What are such, quant folks like you all doing out here?”
Wanting to start the conversation off on the right tone I was sure to respond politely, “Ohh just fekking around, Captain sir.”
See, Fe, I can be polite.
Not rising to the bait, “In these Quad forsaken lands’ as you said.” He gave a short laugh at his own joke.
“We saw your group earlier in a fly by days ago, and it looks like you have settled down for a while?” He continued.
I had no idea they had scouted us out earlier, I really need to figure out our air coverage ASAP. “Uhh, we’re just doing some mining and salvage. Just staying out of trouble. I have to say I admire those Warthogs! Is that a RGE FA T-100 or T-104? And honestly I am not even sure what you are piloting.” I said, with a belated “Sir.”
“Indeed. Indeed.You have a keen eye for American Empire excellence. It is actually an AE FA T-104, you are correct. And well I am afraid I cannot disclose what I am currently piloting...” He flipped up the front face shield to tap his nose and wink. He continued with a sickening grin “but rest assured you are safe with me patrolling these regions.” He continued to look around the camp and paused to look at my slightly modified Power Construction Corp? (PCC) 54r Provender Industrial mech.
“ Seems like you had some trouble with aliens earlier?” He pivoted his not insubstantial bulk and examined the scrapes and battle damage on my poor Gretta. I regretted even more that I haven't finished repairing her yet. A mechanic always works on their rig last.
I sighed and tried to keep it from being too visible. “We had a run in with a horde of Neamans a week ago. We are fine though. Took care of it.”
The captain grimaced and spat on the ground, “frelling aliens!” he almost yelled uncontrollably.. “Excuse my language, miss.”
Pausing to look around, again, the captain continued, “Yes I can see you have quite… the setup.” He continued, “You don't have any aliens with you, do you? We keep hearing more and more about how they infiltrate civilization. The disgusting creatures try to ingratiate themselves with us and they invade and destroy Earth! Africa is crawling with stuck up elves and I have heard the Europeans are actually making deals with the ugly neanderthals, and the sneaky robbits.” The captain was almost spitting inside his helmet in the end. It took me a moment to understand, robbits must be slang for Deren, I guess rabbit-hobbit did kinda make sense.
Great not just a long range AE patrol, but an even more unstable, xenophobic, condescending American Empire officier. Could this get any worse?
“I am afraid we will have to look around.” He said with an evil grin, “You understand, safety first, and a secure homeland above all else.” I could see out of the corner of my eye the Sergeant wince, almost imperceptibly. I usually couldn't read folks this well, but this was like a story book. Evil Goons, here to harass the Mechanic Princess. I think I saw that movie?
“We don't; really have time” I started as he quickly interrupted, and brushed by me, almost touching, with his massive power armored bulk. “This is for your safety of course, and I must insist.”
Spinning the Captain called out to the troops “Dismount and search this entire place! Of course, respect the fine lady’s property.” He gave me a sneering grin as he said the last part.
No sooner had the 2 squads of 6 soldiers each dismounted and unlocked their rifles from the integrated turret when the second in command spoke up. Immediately the Sergeant interrupted, “Captain, we just received a priority alert, looks like an…. incident nearby.” To his credit, the Captain immediately changed course, “Mount up and be ready to turn and burn.” Giving me a nod, “M’lady, until next time.” With that the group of soldiers kicked their machines into gear and immediately lifted off and sped away to the north east, back the way we came.
Heaving sigh of relief, I felt my stomach quiet and hands relax, I hadn't realized I was clenching them. It was nice to see Sunny was still nearby, he had my back. Course not sure what we would have done against two squads of hardened soldiers, but I figured we could come out ahead, in the end. Or not.
I also noticed the door to Sunny’s RV was cracked open and it looked like Molly had positioned herself to engage if needed. I felt better about being alone with the yono soldiers. I knew they weren't the same ones that killed my father, but that did little to sate my rage. I checked in with Miles, my squad leaders, and Fig Fe. Everyone was fine but Big Fe was slow to respond, must be modeling something massive, I figured I would ask him later.