Ugh it's really been a while, have I gained weight? Kat said aloud in response to the VI voice over. Fitting on bravos was much more difficult now than in the past, still probably looked better than trops though - and were certainly more comfortable. *You have gained 2kg since your last visit, Kommissaroberrat.* Fucking waistband. She muttered, fastening in the belt before taking a breath and looking in the mirror.
After a few minutes of slicking back her hair with half the gel bottle, Kat walked out the doors to be greeted by the duty officer, who left her with a PDA displaying the progress of all her projects.
That wasn't quite on her mind though, she needed to captivate the new Direktor and convince him to let her operate with the freedom and support Enfield had. NEUROTOXIN was probably the best chance she would have at doing that. Have the Direktor escorted down to level 5. Clearance given under my name. I'll be down there. The duty officer saluted and left just after.
-10 minutes later-
Kat leaned over the display table, starring at the project schematics. The only other person who had a good look at them was Enfield, and now he was gone to who knows where doing who knows what. Handing out such a dangerous design to anyone, regardless of allegiance or rank - brought about a fair bit of anxiety. In the wrong hands, or in too many hands - it would have real consequences. With the director's imminent arrival from the elevator, Kat minimized the display and stood up with her hands behind her back, ready to present herself to the new Direktor.
Kai Siegfried adjusted his collar as he slowly but deliberately took several steps into the elevator bound for level 5. It had been almost a year since he had the opportunity to step on firm ground in Weimar normal gravity, and it showed in the way the old man stood on his lift ride from surface level to Kommissaroberrat Laurenz's office.
"Show me Laurenz's file again," Kai said to an empty elevator car.
"Yes director. I am bringing up the most current and least redacted version for you now," whispered a voice into his ear.
Siegfried scowled as he consulted the documents projected onto his glasses. The files before him were mostly redactions with an insignificant sprinkling of text in between vast swathes of censor bars. It was normally not in his nature to sit well with such a degree of uncertainty, much less from an asset under his employ - but former Director Enfield had assured Kai that the secrecy was both justified and necessary to ensure the success of several research efforts critical to the Federalist cause.
Laurentz inspired nothing but the highest confidence and trust in Enfield - the same confidence and trust that Siegfried hoped to find with this site visit.
Whether or not Enfield was correct about Laurentz's work was about to be determined. Siegfried sharply inhaled as the lift reached its destination.
"Level 5. Opening Doors."
Kommissarat HQ Planet Weimar, Thuringia 10/7/827 A.S, 20:15 The doors opened to display the Kommissaroberrat standing as described prior.
Evening Direktor, I'm Kathrina Laurenz. She extended one arm out for a handshake to which the Direktor obliged. Geoff used to call me Kat, but I suppose that's your choice now. As I mentioned prior I've been overseeing the Kommissarat for the past two years. I've headed several projects in the Buro's new Arsenal, overseen Abteilung für Grenzwissenschaften, and on occasion taken the helm of Logistik-7. That's just the up front introduction, I trust you'd like to see a good portion of what you really have access to now? She said with a slight smirk, hinting at interesting projects. The Kommissarat was the forefront of R&D for Rheinland, and had a history of producing some of the most cutting edge hardware and software for the Buro and in time - Rheinland itself.
A slight grin crept up to Siegfried's wrinkled face.
"Very well then," Siegfried paused. "Kat, it is."
"Please feel free to refer to me in any manner you deem comfortable and appropriate. Old habits die hard, and all names and titles sound equally foreign and familiar to my ears.
"I must admit that I am more than just professionally curious to have a peek at the R&D division. The only unredacted part of Enfield's description of the place was his giddy enthusiasm with the whole operation - and that's quite a rare thing."
He gestured to the display schematics on display.
"Let's see what wonders you have in store for us"
Kommissarat HQ Planet Weimar, Thuringia 10/7/827 A.S, 20:30 Right this way, mind you the hardware you see only scratches the surface, but towards the end, we'll have a much more rich topic to discuss. Kat said, looking over her shoulder as she turned around and began to walk about the facility, the Direktor not too far behind.
Geoff called this the trademark project for my position, right now those in the Buro that know about it know it as the VENOM test rig. The VENOMs are the latest-in-line fighter weapons that deliver tremendous amounts of guarded antimatter to a selected target or distance. The rig was filled with sets of weapons angled upwards. It appeared as though the test-fire angle discharged them out of the facility and into the atmosphere. The heaviest in the VENOM series, the VENOM I have been completed already. Copies are being manufactured, the first set of copies have already been installed on my ship. The pair observed a test fire of the weapons - quite captivating.
The rest of the tour was an abundance of the latest forms of weapons, bombs, mines, and even a few ships were apparently "in talks" according to Laurenz. This all added to the captivating aspect of the tour that would hopefully allow her to continue her work as she had previously, especially now being out of hiding.
There was one thing though, one final thing that she was still hesitant to address. It was reluctantly shared with Enfield in the first place, but sooner or later it would catch up with her if she didn't get it out of the air now.
The pair had wandered to a lounge near where the entrance to the facility was. A large circular couch surrounding a table in the center made up just about the entire room, if it had curtains one would easily mistaken it for a section of a strip club.
I'll take it from here. Seal it off. The guards escorting the pair broke off, leaving Laurenz and Seigfried alone. There are things I do for this nation, and this agency that I consider within the confines of "my" moral compass. Taking a deep breath with arms rested against the table, still standing. She took a minute to glance down at the table's display before turning back at the director. And then there are the things I don't consider within my moral compass. The reason Geoff had me hidden away wasn't for my position, but instead for what I know, and what I can create. She quickly reached into her pocket and held up a small device at eye level, it looked like a small storage drive. This little thing has information that would hurt our reputation if publicized, it also has information that would kill millions of people if lost, and most dangerously - like everything else in this world, it can be bought for the right price. Direktor, to be blunt I don't trust anyone but myself with this, not even Geoff. Geoff was willing to go to lengths to win, he trusted me with this information and continuing the work it entailed. But you're not Geoff, if you tell me too, I will destroy everything on this right now; but if not I will continue to expand upon projects here.
The old man grimaced.
"I am going to be frank with you, Kat." He paused, as if to question the prudence of letting his genuine impressions surface.
"I am very impressed by what I have seen here today. More than impressed. Rather, I am convinced in the validity of the trust that Enfield has afforded you during his tenure."
"Unfortunately for the both of us, I am not Enfield. I do not doubt his judgement of character, and certainly not his competence - however, I will reserve my judgement until I have had more opportunity to observe you, and I fully expect you to feel the same."
Siegfried relaxed, his features returning to his usual urbane demeanor.
"That being said, I see no reason to change your current arrangements. For your sake, i will not inquire into the contents of that disk - at least until we have a more solid, mutual trust."
Rising up from the table, the Director adjusted his service tunic.
"In return, I expect you to continue serving your function as before - to the best of your moral obligations. We have a war to survive, after all."
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