Kishiro Innovations: Project MIRROR™ - The First Jump

[Promotheus]

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Project MIRROR - The First Jump

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04-07-827 - Nago Station, Tau-29 System.

The area around the station, normally a busy trade route towards Bretonia and Gallia via the Tau systems, seems devoid of any ships.
"This is Ayame-3 to Nago Station, all traffic has been stopped at Freeport-6 and the Kyushu Jump Gate.
We have warned incoming vessels that the Blood Dragons are attacking the lanes and that they need to wait for the authorities to deal with it."
A few moments of silence filled the air before a reply came through: "Acknowledged Ayame-3, we are proceeding to the next phase."

In reality, the lanes were not under any such assault, but it bought Arakan Yukimura the time he needed, enough time to test out the devices they had
been building these last few weeks, the results of almost a years worth of research since the project started, not to mention all the science behind it from over the years,
all of it was leading up to this very moment.

With a slight skip in his step Arakan walked away from the comm center, activating his earpiece as he made his way through the halls of Nago station.
Konichiwa Yukimura-Sama. A young lady in a lab coat made a small bow as Arakan approached, a gesture he replied in kind before
she continued: The teams are currently running diagnostics on site A and site B to ensure the devices are good to go, we will be ready to proceed
with the experiment momentarily.

Arakan nodded, gave his thanks and continued on his way towards the recently installed Jump Pad.

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The Jump Pad

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In preparations for the experiment a large section of Nago station had been designated as off limits,
giving the teams the space and quiet they needed to install the Jump pad without interruptions or distractions.
There had been a few attempts to breach the security though none that had come close to seeing
what was being prepared. There was too much at stake for Kishiro to leave any room for needless risks on this project.

Engineers and research staff were being brought in from all over Kishiro's stations and facilities in order to
make this a success, and after several weeks of hard work the Jump Pads were succesfully constructed at
both locations.
"Access granted, okaerinasai Yukimura-san." the robotic voice of the ID scan filled the room as Arakan walked
into what he considered the inner sanctum of the entire project, the Jump Pad room.

Staff was spread out across the room, each working on their own tasks in order to eensure the device was working properly.
Arakan couldn't help but crack a smile as his gaze fixated on the device they were all working on.
This was a make or break moment for all their careers, his in particular.
And it revolved around one thing. The Jump Pad.

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Alignment

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The rest of staff rounded up their work and gathered around Arakan, spirits were high and everyone wanted to continue.
Arakan smiled, arms folded behind his back. "My esteemed colleagues, we are on the cusp of greatness.
If we can pull this off, not only will we have revolutionized transportation as a whole, we will have ushered in a whole new
age of scientific research and understanding for our great and venerable house Kusari."

The crowd kept their attention on each word spoken, it truely seemed like it could a once in a millenia opportunity to go
down in history. "Now, let us get started. Bring in the Hydrocarbons and load them onto the Jump Pad.
We will start the alignment with site B once they are in position."

With renewed vigor everyone quickly resumed their work, ensuring the crate of Hydrocarbons was loaded on the Jump Pad
and the status of site B verified to ensure they were ready to go as well. Once the final preperations were made Arakan Yukimura
stepped over to his console and started the phase alignment. "This is Arakan, site A is initiating phase alignment.
Site B, please copy and initiate as well." A few moments of silence passed, the ticking on the console the only sound
to be heard as everyone waited in anticipation. "This is Site B Yukimura-Sama, the jump corridor is aligned and ready to be established."

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The First Jump

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Prior experimentation had shown that a jump corridor could only be opened for a fraction of a second, costing a tremendous amount of power
to maintain it even for that long. Fortunately thanks due to the very laws of nature they were bending, that fraction was ample time for the material
to pass through. Now the jump corridor had been aligned between the two Jump Pads it was time; the moment of truth. Arakan placed his hand on
the initiate tile on screen and took a deep breath. "Ancestors, be with me today." he muttered under his breath, pressing the tile immediately after.

A buzzing sound could be heard as the stations generators started pumping out more and more energy towards the locked off section of the station,
the Jump Pads center circle opened, pushing out what appeared to be a miniature Jump Drive of sorts. The Jump Pad started humming as energy
seemingly swirled around it, causing it to grow brighter and brighter.

It was in that critical moment where disaster seemed to strike. "Yukimura-Sama! We are losing the signal of Site A! If it continues to
deteriorate we will lose the alignment of the jump tunnel!" With wide eyes Arakan quickly shoved one of his baffled colleagues to the side so he
could access the communication console and rerouted some power to the transmitter, strengthening the signal. Before he could check in however a bright
blinding flash of light filled the room. Once it faded the Jump Pad was empty once more.

Speechless, Arakan helped his colleague back up, though noone dared make a peep. Instead, everyone waited in silent anticipation for news from Site B.
"This is Site B. The experiment is a success. I repeat. The experiment is a success! The Hydrocarbons have arrived!"
The sound that followed was deafening, everyone in the room and at Site B instantly roared in celebration of their success.
They had done it! They had managed to downscale jump drive technology to a point that could potentially one day make transport ships, and concentional piracy,
obsolete!

There were reports to be made of course, superiors that needed to be informed. Data that needed to be analyzed. But tonight? tonight it was time to
party and celebrate with colleagues. Nago Stations bar was about to find out what it was like to have a large group of drunk scientists.

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// This story is part of Project MIRROR™