"How are those control systems?" Enfield was in an entirely new part of the station, this wasn't your usual assembly line in a majority of other sectors. He was overlooking the shoulder of one individual who was getting used to a fire-control stick on his console, several monitors around the room on other consoles seemed to show areas around Schatten and Sektor-7. "Still getting used to them sir... I should ask how you're doing?" Enfield chuckled as he rested an hand on the Agent's shoulder, patting it twice to give him assurance of his condition. "I'm fine, I just came down to see the new security room... But how have we gotten around to fixing those feeding issues?" The agent was quick to point out on the monitor with a small diagram of the weapon platform uplinked to the station. "Here we had the problem, Uhh-- Engineer said there was something wrong with the discharge mechanism, whenever the plasma cell would lock in, electrodes failed to make contact with the canister and there would be a misfire. Although they extended the electrode contacts by twenty centimetres and added a buffer system to ensure contact once the arm extends past 15 centimetres." Enfield nodded as he watched the camera feed on the breach close in on a dummy round, two prongs extended and come into contact with the rear of the plasma cell munition, but the motors keep running while the prongs forward extensions retract into themselves, ensuring contact has been made. "I'll give props to the engineering department, cut the prongs in half, make them longer and add a spring...""Its really simple when you actually break it down, anyway-- Can you tell me about platform 4?" Enfield pointed to an unmanned control station, he noted that there wasn't anyone in it, but also few control decks weren't present. Looking unfinished. "We need to wait, Platform 4 hasn't finished construction and their efforts are currently being diverted to upgrading the station communication system for something else." "Yes, don't worry yourself about that... they should be finished doing so soon and priorities should get around to it once we're done."
The bulky metalic door closed with a heavy bang. This was Viktoria's third and final security checkpoint before accessing the Control Room X. Filled with screens and map holo projections, it was an unexpectadly busy place with analysts sitting on every terminal and inspektors circling around them like vultures, reviewing their findings and taking notes. As usual, Viktoria was wearing her formal uniform with the MND insignia however she made sure that her rather long blond hair didn't conceal the plastic card which she was carrying and provided her ID and clearance.
Reinforced separately with three extra plates of reinforced alloy, the metalic room is located deep within AESIR but is connected with the rest of the structure only through a single entrance and operates exclusively the top secret ERIS PROJECT. A surveillance program running on Rheinland's population, it focuses and specializes on the frequency of keywords used by people in their every day life, phone calls, social media posts or even their online searches and it measures their disposition towards any social or personal issues as well as the populace's overall satisfaction or unrest. Interestingly enough it receives little oversight by the Bundestag or even the Büro's own leadership. One might wonder what could happen if the data ended up in the wrong hands.
But that didn't bother Viktoria. Once her eyes adjusted in the Control Room X's dim light, she started walking again towards one of the Inspektors. Her heels created a thunderous noise, raising everyone's attention.
The man automatically turned to Viktoria, in his late thirties his hair is graying but his frame is still sturdy and strong. He is quite handsome as well.
"Inspektor Fischer. Have we made any progress yet? Viktoria asked, her hand automatically going to salute the Inspektor however she quickly put it down again. Some habits are hard to break.. or as Viktoria calls it "Military reflexes".
"Negative. Individual 1... the Police offizer I mean hasn't made any moves yet. However once the exchange takes place our men are ready to move in and capture both of them." He said while presenting a real-time hologram.
"Gut. Don't send them out too early. It's better if we don't apprehend them at all than risk arresting them without all the evidence. Do you have anything else for me?
"ERIS reports that public unrest in Planet Hamburg has increased by an additional 2% since yesterday. Across all districts. At this rate we expect riots at approx---"
"I know what this means Inspektor!" Viktoria snapped. Ever since the departure of Westfalen for the Kusari Front pirate attacks had intensified creating an atmosphere of lawlessness. And now Vierlande was attacked and captured by their home-grown emboldened terrorists, a place once hailed as the most secure in Hamburg. All former convicts, the scum and filth of Rheinland running free and terrorizing the populace again. Naturally this caused major unrest in Hamburg as people feel they are now at the mercy of the criminals. At least the Direktor made the right choice to pull out of this stupid war and concentrate on the home front, Viktoria thought. However this did little to help with her irritation.
"The Inspektorat has taken further measures. Fake reports about military buildup and increased patrols by the Polizei to reinforce the narrative that everything is under control. Also we ensured that the the League finals match will end in a draw and a new match will be rescheduled to determine the champions. Everyone is watching the finals on Hamburg, so it will be very useful to keep the populace occupied with it a bit longer." Viktoria explained while Fischer took notes. He would run those values on ERIS in the coming days to determine if those measures garnered the desired impact. That was another useful aspect of the ERIS PROJECT; determining the efficiency of their population control and manipulation tools.
"Bread and circuses..." Fischer murmured while typing all the notes. The woman heard him however raising her eyebrow in an obvious sign of disapproval. As one of the supervisors of the ERIS PROJECT it was her responsibility to ensure those who worked for it believed in their job and didn't have any second thoughts. Second thoughts create doubt and doubt creates dissent. Viktoria wouldn't have that. Not on her watch at least.
Name: Viktoria Landers
Rank: Agent, BDM Spezialoperationsabteilung
User ID: AS88
This is a verbal Status Update number five-five-nine-zero, L-class. Report begins.
The requested ship for my upcoming operations arrived at May 6th, 826 A.S., AESIR delivery number 45402MX. It is a used 19-ARKM-N82 "Mjolnir", allocated from the Schwerin reserves. As was ordered, I inspected the ship along with two specialized mechanics of AESIR.
The investigation has been thorough and I concur that the ship delivered to me is in prime condition. No mechanical issues were found as well as no construction faults.
Currently the ship is receiving a number of upgrades by AESIR's specialized engineering teams. These are the following.
One: Reinforced titanium plating along with other top secret alloys to reinforce the ship's armor, almost exclusively reserved for warships.
Two: Cloaking Device constructed by the AESIR's factory during the previous two weeks.
Three: Removal of VP series engines and installment of HNP series (Hybrid Nuclear Pulse) to maximize speed, output and long-range efficiency.
Four: As a secondary engine system, the default thruster will soon be replaced with a Cheetah version.
Five: This was a special request. Mounting one tachyon antimatter to ensure battlefield supremacy over hostile snubcraft.
Finally, the ship's lights will be modified in order to make the ship less distinguishable during close encounters in Westerwald or other extremely dense and dark nebulae, such as dark matter clouds. Within the next 48 hours the ship will be ready to depart for Bering to accompany the Kommissariat in a classified mission.
"The orders are clear!" Viktoria shouted to the Deck 4 assistant, her voice thundering across the massive arcs of the hangar.
The assistant was a young man in his mid-twenties, his pale face turned red as he was being rebuked. Viktoria continued relentlessly but this time without yelling.
"The Direktor's orders are clear. The Fleet Expansion Doctrine will proceed as planned. Based on the latest directive 40% of the Refurbished Eletronics that have been delivered to AESIR will be used to repair the electronics of the 10 damaged U-Boats that were recently transferred from the Military. We expect them to be operational within the fortnight!"
"But..but we cannot make it in such a short notice. The quality controls of--"
"I don't care, make it happen Molke!" Viktoria interrupted him without looking towards the assistant. Instead she started walking two of the U-boats located within AESIR's fourth hangar. The assistant had no choice but to follow the Spezialagent.
"We need as many operational warships as possible." She explained and gestured towards the ships, her tone more friendly and understanding. "I know that your team is tired but Rheinland needs you more than ever. There will be time for rest after that." Viktoria said while her right hand caught the man's arm to reassure him. "I am counting on you."
"But the experimental gunboat turrets on the Oders will give us a competitive edge on the battlefield." Kommisar Leontz replied with a sirene voice.
"Nein! This technology is still experimental, we can't take such risks without a month of tests first. Even so, I am not sure if my men are going to use it... you know very well the powercore issues the nomad weapons cause. Keep them for yourselves. Korvettenkapitän Heinrich angrily said putting emphasis on the nomad word. However it was obvious to everyone that he was putting effort into order to maintain his composure, Leontz usually got what she wanted in the end.
This was the third staff meeting in a row within the last day, and exhaustion was visible to everyone's faces. The subject of course was about the Fleet Expansion Doctrine. Sensing that everyone was reluctant to speak up and break the stalemate, Viktoria decided to offer a solution.
"By the end of June, the Inspektorat will receive four newly-constructed Oders from Schatten. We can install the experimental turrets to those ships instead. We will also have enough time to ensure that they meet all the standards that we have set." the Spezialagent suggested to the participants with a sly smile on her face. Unlike everyone, she held her back firm, her uniform was straight, her voice didn't reveal that she was just as tired. These kind of formalities and discipline was acquired from her time serving in the Military Police.
"But this is not what we have agreed, Spezialagent." Leontz snapped, sensing that she was losing the argument.
"The Expansion Doctrine is quite clear on this Frau Kommisar. We should focus on quantity, not quality. I understand that the Kommisariat is looking for a convenient way to test their turrets, but this is not the time. I myself am using a second-hand Mjolnir. We do not have the luxury to be selective." Viktoria said with confidence feeling the unrest as probably everyone in that room had pulled strings to ensure they operated brand new ships.
The matter was settled. Leontz didn't speak up though she was obviously not pleased with the outcome. After all they had a dozen more issues to discuss and solve.
Alright, we've re-ran the weapons checks right? No core overloads? The VENOM project had stalled out for a while based on some faults with the Wraith's core systems. The larger picture altogether would be a new fighter model, but that was a bridge the young Kommissar wasn't ready to cross just yet.
Weapons came first, and weapons alone.
Well?Checks complete, new systems in effect. VENOM ready for field testing. Alright I'll take it for a spin, seal the records and send a copy to my private folder. She traversed the catwalk readying the SECOND and hopefully final attempt to make the systems work for field testing. The diving systems were also in effect. Heat-sensitive energy conductors were in the ship to ensure powersaftey at the deepest points in Holstien's oceans. "Systems nominal, pre-flight checks complete. VIPER is ready for takeoff. Godspeed"
Alright, lets get this over-with. I want a pay upgrade.
Get the Power Cell & the Derelict Artifact off the ship! Let me take a look at the weapons we recovered. Run the ship through DECON immediately - we were out in some pretty high RAD locations. Viper ordered to the maintenance crew, the tone of her voice spoke the whole day's accounts without uttering them at all - or at least the gravity of the day's events.
DECON was quick and simple, a couple of new layers on and the tone switched from flying to studying in a matter of minutes.
Weapons have passed decontamination and are being moved to Deck 4, Direktor.Have the blueprints ready, I need to take a look at my inbox before we continue.
How are we looking? Viper said to the maintenance crew by surprise, none of them had seen her enter the hangar door.
It had been a few weeks, some tweaks to the mounting process were necessary to allow sufficient energy to flow into the weapons without ripping the ship apart. Luckily during the test run - they hadn't pushed it too far.
The weapons are mounted Direktor, we just need to stress test them. Once that's done, a full post-flight check should seal the deal. One of the supervisors said to her as she walked over.
Good, you've all done a great job in making this happen. I'll show you the footage once we get live results. She replied.
I've never seen weapons like these, do you have any designs for a larger ship? He asked.
Oh, believe me, we're getting to that point eventually. Time and place, Jurgen. Time and place.
Effective immediately, I will be temporarily relocating my offices to AESIR to oversee much needed refits of the station. Relocation of personnel during the evacuation of non-essential personnel from Thuringia has caused a minor logistical nightmare which needs to be addressed.
In the coming weeks, we will also be conducting a full site inspection and refit initiative to ensure that AESIR is up to code and in condition to best serve.
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