Chapter 281 — The First Exchange (real)
When Gaius and Tony entered the workshop that morning, they found it empty.
The large workspace was quiet.
Dr. Halsey had not arrived yet.
Neither of them minded.
Both had their own objectives for the morning.
Tony walked toward one of the workstations while Gaius moved deeper into the workshop.
Neither spoke immediately.
They already knew what they intended to accomplish and saw no reason to interfere with one another's work.
Tony activated a holographic display and began reviewing a collection of files.
Part of the previous evening had been spent considering future technological exchanges.
The UNSC already possessed many advanced technologies.
Offering something they already had little interest in would accomplish nothing.
If he wanted the exchange to be worthwhile, he needed to bring something genuinely valuable to the table.
Two possibilities stood out.
The first was artificial intelligence.
From everything he had learned, UNSC smart AIs were impressive.
Very impressive.
But they also suffered from limitations.
Rampancy.
Finite operational lifespans.
Eventually even their most advanced AIs deteriorated.
Tony leaned back slightly as files scrolled before him.
His own understanding of artificial intelligence had advanced tremendously over the years.
Especially after everything he had experienced through the Multiversal Chat.
JARVIS alone represented concepts far beyond what many civilizations considered normal.
He believed he could offer meaningful improvements.
The second possibility was shield technology.
More specifically, compact shield technology.
The shield systems used by the UNSC were effective, but they typically required dedicated hardware and substantial power generation.
Tony's technology operated differently.
Knowledge inherited from his future self had given him access to several advanced shielding systems.
His nanotechnology could deploy shields despite its compact size.
The nanites themselves did not create the shields.
Instead, they replicated and integrated technologies capable of generating them.
The result was a defensive system vastly more compact than many contemporary designs.
Certainly worth discussing.
Across the workshop, Gaius had his own plans.
He stepped onto the holographic design platform.
Almost immediately, the familiar warning interface began appearing around him.
Warning notices.
Safety protocols.
Authorization confirmations.
Before the system could finish, Gaius spoke.
"JARVIS. Do not add the warning messages this time."
"Understood, Master Gaius."
The AI's butler-like voice echoed through the workshop.
The warnings vanished instantly.
Standing on the platform, Gaius considered the task before him.
Ceramite was not a single material.
Many people outside the Imperium assumed otherwise.
The reality was considerably more complicated.
There were numerous grades.
Numerous compositions.
Numerous manufacturing standards.
The ceramite used in a Guardsman's flak armor differed significantly from the ceramite incorporated into power armor.
And those variants differed again from the superior materials used in Terminator armor.
If Halsey intended to properly study Imperial materials, a single sample would not be enough.
She would need examples from across the spectrum.
"JARVIS."
"Yes, Master Gaius?"
"Display titanium, steel, tungsten, iron, industrial polymers, and adamantium composites."
Immediately, the air filled with rotating holographic structures.
Molecular models appeared.
Magnified thousands of times.
Complex arrangements slowly turned in space before him.
Gaius began working.
"Adjust composition."
One structure shifted.
"Increase density."
Another changed.
"Layer composite matrix."
Additional modifications followed.
The process continued methodically.
Titanium interacted with specialized compounds.
Adamantium composites were introduced into advanced formulations.
Material ratios shifted repeatedly.
Entire molecular structures reorganized under his direction.
Tony occasionally glanced over from his workstation.
Every time he looked, the holograms seemed different.
New layers.
New arrangements.
New compositions.
Some formulations were relatively simple.
Others were considerably more advanced.
Minutes became half an hour.
Then nearly an hour.
Finally, Gaius stopped.
Several completed blueprints floated before him.
Standard armor-grade ceramite.
Power armor-grade ceramite.
And the advanced variants utilized in Terminator armor.
"Complete."
The blueprints automatically transferred into the workshop database.
Without hesitation, Gaius stepped off the platform.
Data alone would not be enough.
If Halsey intended to evaluate Imperial materials properly, she would require physical samples.
And Gaius intended to provide them.
He approached the fabrication systems.
Almost immediately, he encountered a problem.
The workshop lacked sufficient raw materials for the project, particularly the higher-quality grades he required.
Fortunately, that was not a serious obstacle.
Without hesitation, he walked toward the material chamber.
Drawing upon his parcel system, he began taking out resources he had brought from his own universe.
Adamantium.
Titanium.
Several specialized compounds commonly utilized in Imperial manufacturing.
The advanced materials were more than sufficient.
Unfortunately, they did not include everything.
After several moments of review, Gaius identified the issue.
He lacked several basic materials required for the lower-grade compositions.
Steel.
Iron.
Tungsten.
Materials so common he had not even considered bringing them.
For a moment he paused.
Then he turned.
"Tony."
Across the workshop, Tony looked up from his display.
"Yeah?"
"I require steel, iron, and tungsten."
Tony stared at him.
For a full second, he simply looked at the Golden Ultramarine.
Then he laughed.
"You, who is from the Imperium, didn't bring any steel?"
Gaius remained silent.
Tony shook his head.
"That's honestly impressive."
Another pause.
Then Tony accessed the workshop inventory system.
Several storage containers emerged from one of the automated compartments.
Tony had already transferred a large amount of material from his Parcel storage into the workshop inventory.
Preparation had become a habit.
He gestured toward the containers.
"Help yourself."
Gaius inclined his head.
"My thanks."
He collected the materials and carried them to the fabrication chamber.
One by one, resources were loaded into the Material chamber.
Titanium.
Adamantium.
Steel.
Iron.
Tungsten.
Additional compounds.
Everything required for the various formulations.
Once the materials were secured, Gaius began uploading fabrication instructions.
The machine immediately started processing.
Lights flickered across the system.
Manufacturing sequences began.
Soon, physical samples would exist.
From standard armor-grade ceramite all the way to the superior variants utilized in Terminator armor.
By the time Halsey arrived, she would have far more than theoretical explanations.
She would have actual Imperial materials available for testing.
The fabrication process required several hours.
During that time neither man remained idle.
Tony continued organizing information regarding artificial intelligence and compact shield technologies.
Gaius returned to a terminal.
The lasgun documentation still required additional organization.
JARVIS already possessed complete blueprints and manufacturing data.
However, the lasgun was not a single weapon design.
There were numerous patterns.
Numerous power configurations.
Different production methods.
Different maintenance procedures.
Different battlefield variants.
Some were optimized for reliability.
Others emphasized power.
Some were intended for harsh environments.
Others prioritized manufacturing efficiency.
Gaius spent hours compiling everything into a comprehensive package.
Every variation.
Every technical note.
Every relevant detail.
Time passed steadily.
Eventually the fabrication systems completed their work.
Numerous samples emerged.
Each was relatively small.
Simple square plates.
Designed specifically for testing and analysis.
Some were dark gray.
Others possessed slightly different colors and finishes.
The differences were subtle.
Yet meaningful.
Each reflected different compositions and quality levels.
Flak armor-grade ceramite.
Power armor-grade ceramite.
Terminator-grade ceramite.
All neatly organized.
Gaius reviewed them briefly before returning to his work.
Hours later, he finally finished the lasgun package.
By then it was nearly midday.
That was when the workshop doors opened.
Everyone looked up.
Dr. Halsey entered.
Alongside her walked an ONI officer.
Tony offered a casual smile.
"Oh. Good morning."
"Good morning."
Halsey returned the greeting.
Her attention shifted toward Gaius.
"Good morning as well, Gaius."
Gaius nodded once.
"Dr. Halsey."
Then, for the first time since entering, Halsey allowed herself a faint smile.
"I brought something you wanted."
Gaius nodded.
Even before she continued, he had already sensed the activity outside.
A transport vehicle.
Heavy security.
Dozens of armed personnel.
And a machine large enough that there was only one reasonable possibility.
The ONI officer stepped forward.
In his hands was a secured case.
He handed it to Halsey.
She opened it immediately.
Several documents rested inside.
Removing them, she handed them directly to Gaius.
"This contains the complete information package regarding slipspace technology."
Then she gestured toward the entrance.
"And outside is the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine."
Gaius accepted the documents.
"Thank you."
The exchange was simple.
Direct.
Professional.
At that point Tony rose from his workstation.
"Well."
He folded his arms.
"Since that exchange is finished, we have a few technologies we would like to discuss as well."
Halsey's attention shifted toward him.
Gaius nodded.
"We have already prepared them."
Then he looked toward Halsey.
"The complete lasgun documentation has already been transferred."
Almost immediately, Halsey's communicator emitted a notification.
A large data package had arrived.
Sent through JARVIS using Tony's communication network.
She glanced briefly at the notification.
The file size alone was substantial.
She chose not to examine it yet.
Instead, she nodded.
"Thank you."
Then her attention shifted toward the entrance.
"Shall we examine the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine?"
Gaius nodded.
As the group began walking, he quietly stored the slipspace documents within his Parcel storage.
The motion was subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
Yet the documents disappeared instantly.
Together they exited the workshop.
Halsey.
Tony.
Gaius.
Several ONI personnel.
And dozens of armed guards securing the surrounding area.
Outside, the transport vehicle remained exactly where it had been parked.
Security personnel maintained their positions.
Weapons remained ready.
The machine mounted upon the transport immediately drew attention.
The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.
The foundation of humanity's slipspace technology.
One of the most important technological achievements ever produced by the UNSC.
Even Tony found himself studying it with interest.
Gaius approached without hesitation.
The guards watched carefully.
The ONI personnel watched carefully.
Halsey watched carefully.
Without ceremony, Gaius placed a hand against the engine's metallic exterior.
A familiar interface appeared before him.
The Parcel System activated.
For a brief moment, shimmering light spread across the engine's surface.
Then the transformation began.
The massive machine dissolved into countless particles of light.
Millions of glowing fragments drifted upward.
The effect lasted only seconds.
Then the particles vanished.
And the engine was gone.
Silence followed.
The transport platform stood empty.
The machine no longer existed there.
The guards remained professional.
Years of discipline prevented any visible reaction.
Still, many could not stop themselves from staring at the empty space.
Tony simply watched.
By now he had seen the Parcel System perform similar feats countless times.
Even so, the sight never completely lost its impact.
Halsey remained focused on the spot where the engine had disappeared.
Deep in thought.
Even after witnessing the Parcel System repeatedly, the process remained difficult to ignore.
A machine representing decades of research.
One of humanity's most valuable technological achievements.
Removed from reality in an instant.
Stored somewhere beyond conventional understanding.
The implications remained as fascinating as they were unsettling.
~~~
Enjoying the story? Want to support future chapters and help this world grow?
Check out my Patreon here:
patreon.com/ZanderLee
Every bit of support keeps me writing, thank you.