Quoted By:
“And so, I hereby declare this fusion reactor open.” You finish the short speech to the gathered crowd just as the two dozen Stings roar overhead. Their oversized main thrusters roar deafeningly loud in atmosphere.
With careful and measured steps, you begin to walk off the podium towards the awaiting bus that will take away the on watchers and the workers’ families. A large bus station was built keeping future population growth in mind next to the landing pads, again, in case of future needs.
Through the hard work of everyone involved, it took you 8 months, most of that time came from building the fusion reactor. Vastly under the presumed time it would usually take to build one of those.
The Stings as well, still making various moves to try and impress the people, you are damn glad to have them, the few pilots you have got into the occasional fistfight for the right to pilot something more than a civilian shuttle.
“An appropriate speech, sir.” Gotch says, she had organized the entire event, having an actual reactor going is an important step in having an actual civilization.
“Thank you.” You respond with a smile and a nod. “Anything else that had come up ?”
“Ashwin sent back a report. He thinks he may have managed to actually break through to the Madman. I have no idea how the man works his magic, but it seems he managed to establish a <span class="mu-g">cordial</span> relationship with him.” Gotch says not missing a beat and not changing the tone of her voice.
“How the hell did he manage that ?” You are genuinely surprised.
“I do not know, skill, luck, a bit of both ?”
“And how is he certain of that ?”
“Well, for one, he sent the Madman’s actual name.”
“Well, don’t keep me waiting.”
“Uriah.”
“Uriah ?”
“Nothing. Just Uriah.”
“Are you certain that it’s not just another fake name ?”
“Maybe. At least it is something better than <span class="mu-i">Madman</span>. Will certainly make his existence easier to swallow for your average colonist. There is something about having diplomatic relations with someone who refers to himself as a <span class="mu-i">Madman</span> that rubs most people the wrong way.”
“No doubt about it.”
“There is something far more important however.” Her even, calming tone, becomes deeper.
You look around, your bodyguards, curtesy of Celyn, you have no idea where she pulled them from, but so far, they had proven exceptionally solid, get your signal. They spread out and make sure nobody can approach you, luckily the roar of engines also ensures that no one is able to easily listen in.
“Our mining outpost on the outer most planet has picked up a fleet.”
“A fleet ?”
“About ten signals, one is large, really large. They have to reach the star in order to depart the system, while our mining colonies are decently hidden from scanners…”
“Our space infrastructure is not.” You quickly conclude. “I want Garri-“
