Speed Wing: Lab 3

[The Archangels Fighter Club]

SESSION 1





The "Speed Wing" labs, located on Blackport's Blackhack Hangar, are specially designed and supplied for research and innovation. With a large amount of size and capacity, they are able to be mixed-used to provide many sorts of activities and experiments. Lab 3 was dedicated to the research of the new project Sunny had in mind. Already, equipment was being moved into the labs from other storage facilities as well as externally from IMG ships that would be moored from the outside and bringing in supplies. The labs themselves were not attached to the rings of the station, and thus are able to have the unique characteristic of having their gravity off or generate artificial gravity.

Sunny was heading down to meet the IMG crew that had just arrived. He'd been excited to meet them.

The IMG crew was just unloading part of the equipment that they could carry, while the loading robots were unloading the heavy equipment in the cargo bay. As the AFC was informed, Mr. Henderson himself would accompany the group as he was on his way to a Liberty meeting anyway.

Sunny would see IMG engineers and science crews in Guild uniforms, and the only one who is just wearing a businessman suit is Jack Henderson, Operations Coordinator who Sunny already did some deals with (and who Julia worked for in some not-eaxtly-legal missions - he might remember).

"Good day, Mr. Sunny... good to be here." he walks towards Sunny, extending his hand immediately.

Sunny takes Henderson's hand in a firm handshake. "Happy you've made it in one piece as usual. I suspect there was not much trouble getting down here and you have a pleasant route." he grins a little. "Why don't we let the rest of your crew get settled in while I take you and whoever else you'd like down to the labs to show you around? There are some things I'd like to show you personally."

Jack shakes his hand and nods when he hears the offer: "Let's do it this way. Chief engineers and science staff will be busy getting their things settled and they have more than enough time to get accustomed to this place... whereas my time frame is more limited and I would like to get an idea of this operation - to be able to present it to the Guildmastery on return." he tells Sunny in a matter-of-fact voice, but with a friendly smile: "Jack Henderson, running IMG Operations Coordination. Rumor has it, that I do the shady stuff. We have been exchanging things mainly via Ms. Morrow's convoys."

"Alright, lest get going, then. I'm sure you are very busy. Right this way..." He turns and starts to lead him down the corridors towards the lab. "You'll be happy to notice we are decently equipped around here to do things... in a shady sort of way. You will have our equipment at your disposal as well as an AI if you so need it. Usually she just works in the background. We call her Diata... though it's D.I.A.T.A Data Intelligent Analyst and Technological Assistant. We've been programing her for some time now... anyway... right this way down this hall... it's gonna be on the left..."

He takes them further down and the area around looks industrial. Some people with lab coats are walking around and others look more like mechanics. "We do a range of things here. Some more ... hazardous than others... there was a major incident one time before we doubled down on safety... heh. No need to worry..."

He leads them through sliding doors and they enter into a large open space, in the center were already things being gathered...

Jack is following Sunny, taking in the information he is offering and looking at the quite impressive equipment: "Not even half-bad..." he says in a Bretonian understatement voice. "... I assume I underestimated the R&D capabilities, as well as your complete operations here, Mr. Sunny." he admits. "... pretty impressive facilities - which I am sure will be put to great use."

They enter the main hall and he looks around, while addressing Sunny: "I am not the technical type, to be honest entirely. That's what experts are for. However, I have been discussing the potential fields of use for what you mentioned and discussed with our R&D staff... and I have a question." he tells him. "... you know Tau 23 fields, mining areas. Those huge rocks. Do you think... Sir... that what you develop here can be used to break up these rocks? I mean... the Guild-masters will ask me for very much... practical usage"

"Yes, definitely. We can consider that to be the final test of the capabilities of our creation, but that's the intent. If we were to be able to have our device burrow itself and discharge at the correct depth, we'd be able to accomplish just that. The rock would either crack, fragment, or be split... in theory anyway... You'll find this a good place to test such theories. Not many people know about what we do around here. I like to keep it that way." He smirks back.

"Anyway... I am excited to show you the examples we will be working on to analyse and perhaps repurpose or learn from.... right this way." He says, walking down the room towards a large weapon-like item. "You may recognize this. The sunslayer torpedo... two of them in-fact... now out-dated technology."

Jack keeps walking next to Sunny, who is explaining the details of the plan which Jack knew partially, but wanted to get the short version without all the technical details of. "M-hm..." he nods and seems content: "<joking> We have a lot of training objects for fire-tuning payload and depth-detonators, etc..."

Jack follows him into the lab and they stand in front of the launcher, a massive thing: "... Hm... <nodding> outdated is a large term - especially for something that can still be very useful." he adds and looks over the piece of technology: "... pretty frightening when one sees it in a room, on board of a station.. unshielded..." he remarks.

"Well then I hope what I am about to show you does not give you nightmares." Sunny comments back. This, may be timid at best. Follow me, please... ah, never mind... here it arrives now."
From accros the room a large door would slide open and allow for a towing vehicle to pull with it a launching device of similar scale as of the torpedo launcher. On the following pulled platform layed the ammunition for the weapon.
"Henderson, I present to you... the NEMP bomb."

Jack snickers when he talks about nightmares and nods: "Bring it on, I guess..." he says and follows him around the installation. Jack notices the security doors and that would already lead him to the idea that this might be even more powerful. "... You... have a..." he looks at the huge bomb and the even huger launcher... "... Ouch." is all he says.

Sunny turns to Jack and has a more serious face. "It is quite important we keep the acquisition of the weapon in upmost secrecy... you of course have heard rumors of what sort of destruction this thing can cause... and what it can do in the wrong hands. But..." Sunny says and takes out of his jacket pocket a pack of cigars and offers one to Jack. "...I am sure you understand now what I am thinking to do with your help."

Jack nods and seems to agree, while he is running his hand over the glass casing of the ammunition... "... I agree. This can't be known or you might get some unwelcome visitors or unwanted requests..." and he shakes his head in amazement. "... With this little... toy in your possession... and with the right team of scientists... focused on the right goals, I am pretty sure that the tools to accomplish big thing are available..."

"Exactly, I'm glad you agree and understand. We have the possibility to make advancements here without the restrictions from the military or the scientific community. The best part is that our public image does not betray us." He nods an sighs for a bit, looking at the weapon. "So, Mr. Henderson, I imagine you are excited."

Jack nods while looking at the ammunition to the NEMP launcher, somehow with awe. Imagining what this warhead could to to the inside of this station is a terrifying thought, especially after he saw what effects an Unioner's on-board terrorist attack did in Rheinland. "... secrecy is a must." he re-iterates and nods when Sunny asks him whether he was excited about this: "Indeed. I see vast chances... on many different fronts, given the power that we have at hand." he says. "... this opens chances that go way beyond breaking up asteroids in Tau23 for more access to ore-rich asteroid-cores."

Sunny clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Indeed it does. We'll Mr. Henderson, unless you have some more questions to ask I do not want to keep you waiting more than you have to. Think about all this and let's get started."

Jack smirks and nods: "I think this has answered all the questions that the Guild-mastery might ask me..." and he uses his knuckle to tap the protective glass that holds the NEMP bomb safe... "... I expected that much more conversation would be necessary to clarify this thing, but you have presented a... very convincing... argument for this." he concludes while he is walking with Sunny: "... is there a place to waste 3 hours before my shuttle flight to Liberty departs?"