Chapter 643: Warp Rider Drive
"I will make the modifications to the facility while you are aware and start moving the majority of the items to the trade space station you want me to construct. Are you really giving me this much freedom?" Hielo asked as they walked through a bustling hangar.
Jace was about to depart aboard the Lance of Thanatos for an area of space deep in the former dark elf territory. Their initial plan was to destroy the device that was blocking the psychic signals. Then they would be going on a hunt for other materials. Mostly straying deep into the kitinol systems where their action would go unnoticed for a while.
"I am. Have you made a record of the students you are sending with me?" Jace asked as he looked at some mechs that were being fitted into the hangar. The one they had on this side was almost exclusively for mechs and the harnesses and landing craft to bring them through an atmosphere. The other hangar had all of the fighter craft, transport craft, and drone fighters.
Hielo flinched for a moment. "I have... Some of them are academy students. But some of them are younger. I figured it was safe considering your itinerary. This seems more like a training mission than anything."
Jace frowned but moved on. "The armor for the artillery rooms?" He was talking about the armor that was apparently required to utilize the artillery units. Because for normal people the pressure and noise was too much. They actually modified the artillery bay to withstand the pressure and noise. So it would be much quieter when the artillery was fired.
"A heavily modified and hybrid version of power armor and lifting exoskeletons." Hielo nodded. "Honestly I should probably come up with a new name for them. But they are basically just a miniature mech. For firing there is a smaller armor that will be difficult to move around in but has full hand movement so it splits them into two groups."
"Loaders and operators." Jace nodded in understanding. He had seen the information pack on the set of available positions aboard his ship. He just did not know what they were until now. "How about our maintenance and technical crew?"
"About half of your crew consists of maintenance and technical crew. Honestly, it is the most I have ever seen for a cruiser of this size. It might be a good idea to consider having people with dual positions operate aboard the Lance of Thanatos." Hielo informed them as they stepped into a hallway and had to step to the side for people to move past with a cart full of materials.
It was probably being taken to the cargo bay where most of the spare materials and the printer were moved. The other cargo bay had the rest of the items that were being stored in the event of an emergency. But the first cargo bay would probably be utilized quite a bit more.
"I will more than consider it." Jace nodded. "I already have some ideas and will organize them during my trip. Is the AI on the Lance still acting shy?"
"Very." Hielo nodded at a discreet camera that was in the corner as they went around into a different hall. "According to Solisa, that is normal. They are a newborn Artificial Intelligence and unlike what we did with Cain. This one is completely self developed. But please do not abandon this one."
Jace rolled his eyes. "Understood. Now then, you have your ’shopping’ list of additional materials you might need?"
"I do." Hielo nodded as she handed him a datapad with a wealth of information. "I also provided you with some underground contacts in case you need it. I am sure you recognize a few of them. Now then, about the gateways..."
"Aside from the one that was near the dark elves, none of them have been touched or will be touched." Jace told her quietly as they stepped into an elevator.
"Not what I was talking about." Hielo scoffed. "I was wondering when we could go back to get Cain. I read the report."
"After the war. It will take some time for us to even start the gateway on this side. So four to five years at least before we can go after them." Jace answered as he moved to the door as it opened. The bridge door was already open across the hall. They could see a bustle of activity on the bridge as they prepared for departure.
"Them?" Jace flinched when Hielo whispered the word and she glanced at him. Her different eye colors were like a piercing gaze. He coughed and cleared his throat before looking away.
"Forget that slip up." They walked onto the bridge and Jace looked toward Shilla who was frowning while talking with some of her bridge officers. "Are you ready for departure?" Jace asked as he and Hielo moved behind her.
"I am." Shilla answered without looking up from her position. "I am surprised that you wanted me to captain the ship. I figured you would want to."
"No." Jace shook his head. "I am not a good commanding officer. I will point you in a direction and utilize ground troops and participate in ground operations. But I plan to leave all of the space combat to you. There should not be much though."
"I am surprised you are letting children on board. Is the trip going to be that safe?" Shilla asked.
"It is safe, not safer than staying here." Jace answered with a shrug. "But I figured it was more important for those wanting a career in the military to understand what they are getting into."
"Yeah but Jordan and Cho as well?" Shilla asked in surprise as she turned to him.
Jace blinked and his head snapped to Hielo who looked away. "I am guessing you were not going to mention that."
"I mean... Cho wants to explore and Jordan wants to command a mech. They fall into the category you asked about. Besides, you said it would be safe. Not to mention you will also get to spend time with your adopted kids." Hielo shrugged shyly with a nervous grin.
Jace shook his head. "Fine. I just was not expecting it. Wait until Taylor and the rest of the base personnel have departed before leaving the dockyard. As soon as we are a safe distance, utilize the new Warp Rider system to get to dead space. Then from dead space you are teleporting to these coordinates." Jace handed a data pad with information over to Shilla who frowned.
"Teleportation? Is that safe?" Shilla asked with a sceptical look.
"It is. A few weeks ago we took the Lance out with a skeleton crew and tested it in deep space where there were no observational drones." Hielo nodded her head in excitement. "There is not much in the way of issues. It is just a portal to portal teleportation travel. Do not utilize the point to point teleportation travel though. It is not dangerous but we have not worked out all the issues and need far more testing."
"Noted. Why would I use it then?" Shilla asked.
"Because it is the fastest travel method to utilize in the event the warp rider system goes offline." Jace informed her. "Basically the generator for the point to point teleportation system is far more reliable."
"How?" Shilla asked in surprise. "I figured new technology like that would be far more fragile."
"Because unlike the rest of the forms of travel. I developed the point to point teleportation from scratch. Utilizing concepts and theories I am familiar with. While the other warp and portal systems I am not familiar with or are based on other species technology. Because of that they are far more fragile and temperamental." Jace explained with a shrug, getting a look of confusion from Shilla.
"Unlike other technologies we did not have a base for point to point. So Jace decided to just make it from scratch." Hielo began explaining. "And as with anything he makes. He first made it with durability in mind."
"Hence its superior durability. You could make the warp rider drive more durable as well." Shilla pointed out.
"I plan to. But it is new and based heavily on the data the Lance first got for us." Hielo explained. "Which reminds me. Your engineering officer should make a record and data entry after each jump. He can automate it but he still needs to make physical observations for us to evaluate when you return."
"Unless it is an emergency?" Shilla asked.
"Yeah, if it is an emergency it is not as necessary." Hielo nodded in agreement. "But since it is a post jump observation, I imagine it is not going to pop up when he cannot do it."
"Is that it? Do we have anything else we have to cover?" Jace asked.
"Nope. I am heading back. Have a safe trip!" Hielo basically skipped away leaving Shilla and Jace behind.
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