UR-1 Cacophonous Sky

(In Sarkaz) Freeze.

Phew—let's call it a day. Thanks for agreeing to be my practice partner, Nasti.

We've only done half your normal routine.

It's time for you to go. Have you said goodbye to the others?

Not yet. Maryam goes without saying; Muelsyse is in Kjerag, and I don't know the new directors of HR and Structural all that well yet.

As for Justin Jr. and Ferdinand, I think it's better that those two see each other in private...

They can give each other an audience to name drop fancy banquet guests, or rattle off a couple of fanciful theories that are this close to crowning a new king of science.

Besides, it's just a business trip.

There are few things that require a business trip from the head of Engineering personally.

The District has approved our application to consolidate resources for the Horizon Arc Project, and continue developing levitation technology based on the legacy of Galleria Stellaria.

But they have also opened their doors to every tech firm in Columbia, designating an entire plate for the purpose.

Did you see the list of names? Administrators from the ATAO, and even Maylander.

Our proposal is now merely one of thousands. They're already showing as much respect as they could by allowing Rhine Lab to provide foundational engineering support for the plate.

Government officials, tech firm representatives... things will be very busy on the plate. You're not used to dealing with these things.

I haven't heard you complaining about anything... Control.

......

The Starpod is recovering, but the eyes cast up to the sky linger. When common sense is turned upside-down, what was once ignored has naturally become the center of attention.

Naturally? Since the announcement of the Special Loan Policy, one third of major enterprises have added an aerial operations department, and SMEs are climbing over one another to jump on the 'sky fever' bandwagon.

I know what you're implying, but I'm not interested in political games.

Even if how things develop is out of our control, Rhine Lab must maintain the initiative as the original proponent, in order to protect what Kristen left behind.

That's not so hard to understand.

Yes. Well, thanks for helping out.

One more thing. Why did you hang a sign that says 'Components Control Section' outside your old office, instead of moving into Kristen's old room?

I'm used to this place.

Muelsyse asked the same question. She grabbed my arm and asked with watery eyes whether I made this choice to honor Kristen, to ensure there would always be a place for Kristen at the company.

I suppose you just feel more comfortable in your old place. You personally oversaw every little detail here, after all.

You were watching over my shoulder the whole time I was furnishing your office. You were even more OCD than Parvis was.

......

Rhine Lab is the same as it ever was.

I wouldn't quite say that. At least staff who come looking for the Control will actually find her once in a while.

...I'm not sure you're the right person to say that.

Is this why you chose me for the trip?

Make a cut here. Yes, that's the right angle. That way, the branches of the main trunk will not be affected.

Test passed. Give it a tug for me before we pave it, Sky.

Next set. Light sensor performance, normal. Levitation attitude, stable. Energy input and output, check. This needs a tug, too.

Oh, and get the disassembly set from the toolbox for me as well.

Do you still need the high-speed screwdriver and multi-function wrench, then?

Depends... huh? What happened to your voice?

I would love to help, but I have a scissor hanging from my buttons, and I'm holding five... trees? I really can't take any more.

Sorry, I'll get it. Did Sky leave?

He told you three times that he was going to the levitation layer for inspections. You didn't acknowledge him at all.

You could have given me a heads-up.

The First Rule of Secretaries: Stand to one side and smile politely, only stirring when directed by your boss, and shut your ears when the conversation turns confidential.

I assure you I did not hear any of the figures or nouns that you just discussed, nor would I have understood a word of it.

I remember you now. You're from Administration—Gordon Tannen's secretary.

I'm flattered that you remember me, Director Lunorey.

My name is Mercia. You may call me Merry. Mr. Tannen would like to invite you to lunch.

Do you manage his work inbox?

He received your last sixteen rejections.

Then I'll get straight to the point. I know he's not interested in foundation engineering, and he knows that I have no interest in 'proposals' outside of work.

Hm...

Speaking of lunch, though...

Have you changed your mind?

It is, indeed, time for lunch.

Is this... brick... your lunch?

(Mumbles) Ration bar.

What?

Are you hungry? Would you like a bite?

I... I suppose. Thank you...

(Chews with great difficulty)

(Swallows arduously)

*cough* *cough*!

......

You didn't have to say yes.

The Second Rule of Secretaries: Never decline an offer from your boss's guest, for even the smallest trifle might sour a relationship.

How many rules are there?

Mr. Tannen gave me a booklet that is two centimeters thick.

However, the most important one, and the one that I memorized first, was—

Do whatever it takes to carry out your orders, for no one will listen to your excuses.

......

Don't force yourself to eat it.

Thank goodness... I mean, thank you for the hospitality.

I have a rule of my own, although it's a bit simpler.

What is it?

I was born in Kazdel. The first rule I learned there is that food is precious, and no one may lie before it.

You're holding my lunch, Mercia, so kindly tell me the truth.

What exactly does Mr. Tannen want to 'discuss' with me?

Reporting in! The core concept of this project is a perfect combination of zero-G simulation and wine tasting by substituting gravity with centrifugal force. 'You may spin, but your wine won't!'

Come to the Lucky Cystybeast floating revolving bar, where it's not just the wine that makes your head spin—

No need to read me the marketing copy. I'm just here to assess and ask questions from an engineering perspective.

Where's the other tester? Any feedback after the rectifications?

*Vomit*...

He didn't sleep well last night! We passed the re-check, didn't we, Mr. Jagger? We won't have our permit revoked?

The Lucky Cystybeast's floating revolving bar does not meet requirements, whether based on engineering reports or tester feedback.

We would love to solve the technical issue of unstable power supply, but we need time...

You had three days, in accordance with the rules of Propeller Paradise.

But it takes at least five days for the developers to discuss a solution!

Propeller Paradise has as many corporations as there are cars on the crossroads of Trimounts Square. Every driver has somewhere to be, but no one pleads to the traffic lights.

There must be another way... I know! We hired close to a hundred testers. We could fire them and hire more researchers with the money!

But you promised us yesterday—

Shut up!

I've reviewed the registration details for Lucky Cystybeast.

You were a grocer in a small town. You lack the professional knowledge for levitation technology research, even if the banks have relaxed the loan criteria for businesses in the aerial sector.

We stand upon Terra's first and only floating plate. Everything here must be worthy of it.

Please, don't tear off that ticket, I put my life savings into the Lucky Cystybeast, please...

That's it?

I'll be back to cleaning Trimounts office building windows in a couple of days?

*Vomit*...

Go on, barf your heart out. At least we got a taste of life in the sky... you won't have anything to throw up when you get back to the frontier, back to the cold and hunger.

......

Skip the technical inspections before the opening? Absolutely not.

Everyone on Propeller Paradise is racing against the clock to get across the finish line. Mr. Tannen believes that any delay to projects caused by inspections will compromise Propeller Paradise's opening.

In addition, reducing the amount of communication you have to conduct with other tech firms will allow you to devote more of your time to your Rhine Lab research. Mr. Tannen has your best interests at heart.

My best interests?

I spent years wandering the frontier when I first came to Columbia, building houses for the Pioneer Teams and killing bandits for the caravans. Life was hard until I finally got my big break.

If I had someone like Gordon Tannen with my best interests at heart, handling everything I wasn't comfortable with...

That would have been very fortunate, I'm sure.

I would have died out there in the wilderness, I'm sure.

......

Besides, what he really wants isn't for Rhine to forfeit our control over technical inspections.

How do you know?

You imitate his negotiating style too well. The traps and pitfalls are obvious.

I'm not a Cautus. I'm not in the habit of diving into holes.

Spit it out. What does he really want?

You are as astute and decisive as he said you were.

In that case, I'm sure you understand that, while Mr. Tannen is in charge of Propeller Paradise's overall administration, it is Rhine that has a stranglehold on public opinion.

He doesn't need any accidents at such a critical juncture, nor can he afford one. Therefore, he has put together a list based on project progress, and asks that you perform the inspections in this order.

This way, at least the inspections will have a minimal impact on the progress of individual projects, and minimize the chance of conflict, setting aside the issue of engineering control.

The less hassle for you, the less hassle for him.

......

I won't try to speculate about Tannen's intentions with the order. We have a compromise.

Give me the list.

Thank you for your understanding, Director Lunorey. I won't trouble you any longer.

One last question. Which rule were you following in the negotiation just now?

The twelfth: Know your boss, and communicate his intentions with absolute faithfulness when negotiating, for you are his personal representative.

However—

Yes?

Before I came, Mr. Tannen stressed how difficult the head of Rhine Lab's Engineering Section was.

I packed blankets because I thought I might have to spend the night in front of your office.

But that's not what I see. You don't need concern from other people, and you're used to cutting through the problem in the most direct possible way. But you still care about people.

Which is why I now have the time to enjoy my lunch in peace, something that I have not done in a long time.

Thank you.

......

Andrew! Did they hit you again?

Call me Sky.

But you gave yourself that name. Mom and Dad said...

Don't bring them into this! What have they ever done for us, except use us as punching bags? They don't get to decide my name!

I swept floors for six years at TIT and eavesdropped on every course so that I wouldn't turn out like those two piles of garbage!

But...

And you! Don't you have anything better to do than put nagging notes on my bag? It's not like I don't know how to eat—

Those people are here again...

Frickin' hell... they just won't quit, will they? Stay behind me.

You think you're all high n' mighty wearin' that white coat, eh? You and that li'l bitch there will always be slum dregs, no matter what you wear.

Hah... you're a musbeast in a ditch. You wouldn't know greatness if it shat on your face.

Say that again, I dare you!

Andrew!

Wh-What's that?

Catastrophe?! Run!

Catastrophe my ass! It's called exploration! Progress!

Aren't you worried about the Control?

Like she ever needs us to worry.

We're going the same way. And that's all we are.

We can only play our own parts, and then... pray she's lucky.

(In Sarkaz) If one day, Kazdel too hangs from the firmament, then I'll engrave your name into my stoves.

*pant*... *pant*...

E-Excuse me, ma'am...

Can you tell me about the one who went into the sky...?

Who was that?

Kristen.

Her name was Kristen Wright.

Lucky Cystybeast Food and Beverage will cancel their registration tomorrow, Director.

They didn't pass the re-check?

Not even close. They were one of the first corporations that made the transformation to get into Propeller Paradise, riding on 'sky fever', when review criteria were less strict—

What will happen to the testers they hired?

Their boss can't tell a motor from a transformer. I bet he just saw the name 'Propeller Paradise' as an opportunity to get rich quick...

What were you asking?

Nothing. You seem to like the name.

I wish they would just call it Galleria Stellaria.

I know you didn't approve of publicizing the Ring Lab's technological legacy.

I have no intention of criticizing the Acting Control's decision, but overly conservative decision-making will only cause us to lose the respect we deserve.

Countless tech firms have appeared out of nowhere, based on nothing but speckles of data. The Ring Lab that shone upon millions of Columbians is now educational toys accessible to anyone above the age of five...

'Space' and 'universe' are the buzzwords on every Columbian's lips, but few remember that they came from Kristen's experiment logs that were made public.

No one is truly commemorating her—not even you, Director Lunorey.

Recording and retrospection are historians' work. Our job is to analyze validated data and follow a path that is effective and proven.

And what has come of this data and path?

Over the past couple of years, Rhine has acquired a dozen smaller labs, making progress in projects large and small—with the notable exception of Kristen's legacy.

At this exhibition, we will publish Rhine's subsequent research into the Galleria Stellaria for the first time, putting second-rate tech firms in their place, returning to the realm of aero-exploration and the public eye.

I know the Vivarium was built on the data transmitted down from the Ring Lab, and that the development of a plant-based energy transmission system represents a monumental milestone in engineering design.

Nurturing sprouts, paving botanical units, technical inspections... all these are for the sake of progressing our experiments. But is a 'vivarium' really enough, when it did not even get its day in the sun from the pre-expo?

......

Please, tell me, Director Lunorey. Rhine has bigger goals, don't we? Like how no one knew that Kristen was going to pierce the sky before the night she did it?

That night over Trimounts was a long time ago.

......

Get to inspecting the next company. Take note of the change in order.

Yes, ma'am.

Sky.

......

I know how you feel, and I know that Kristen was the one who inspired you to join us.

Many people looked up at the sky that night. Not everyone chose to chase it.

Don't forget what made you take the first step.

...I'll prepare the inspection documents.

......

Here's your pass, agreement form and business directory. Once again, I welcome you and your team on behalf of Propeller Paradise!

Next! Can I help you?

I'm cancelling my business registration...

What is the name of the business?

Lucky Cystybeast Food and Beverage.

You will be dismissing eighty-two testers, correct?

Yes, I have their files and my own here.

Thank you. One moment please.

......

Did the Shadow-Moon fall on my head or something? Why was I so sure I would make my money back that I hired eighty-two amateurs with no corporate experience?

Every company does the same thing. Why does it have to be Lucky Cystybeast that gets the axe?

A million gold certificates down the drain just because we were a little bit slow dealing with problems? You gotta be freaking kidding me!

How the crap did One-Boot Shadow-Moon Real Estate solve that stupid '3D levitating boundary marker' technical issue? That bunch of cobblers?

Your request has been processed, Mr. Aspen. The Propeller Paradise hotline will remain available until the end of the day.

Okay...

However, if you have certain 'special' needs, like One-Boot Shadow-Moon Real Estate did... we can help you with that.

What do you mean?

One phone call to this number is gonna solve all my problems? Lucky Cystybeast won't have to leave Propeller Paradise?

Correct.

Then I want to withdraw the terminations and the cancellation of registration—

No need to worry. The registration of Lucky Cystybeast has not been cancelled. However, you do not need to withdraw the termination of your testers.

This phone call will 'completely' solve your problems, and you won't need those people anymore.

A miracle, or a scam...?

Screw it. Anything to stay up here.

Mr. Tannen.

Let me guess. Nasti was skeptical, but she accepted the list and agreed to the proposal?

Yes. I checked the Engineering Department's inspection schedule for today, and it's exactly in the order that you proposed.

But how did you know?

I didn't know what she was going to choose. All I know was that I'm at the apex of my life right now, and everything is going my way!

You're in good spirits.

It's gonna take more than a Rhine director to move the needle.

Open the letter on the table.

'From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Arts Units, and Originium, To: Mr. Gordon Tannen. Congratulations on your appointment as Chief Executive of Propeller Paradise...'

Two pages? I've never seen a congratulation letter this long.

The reassignment letter that I got six months ago on the border was two lines.

Everyone thinks the ATAO is a sweet gig, but I didn't get to embezzle shit from the savages in Sami or the tribals in the Sargonian rainforest.

The old fox hated me, and the rest of the ATAO turned their noses up at me. Now? He's retired, and I'm promoted. Things sure can change in a hurry, don't they?

It's still light out, but a happy occasion like this calls for a—

A toast.

Your champagne, sir.

Well done, Merry. You've made some progress in your time with me, whether we're talking about Nasti or this glass. Pour one for yourself.

Thank you, sir. However, the Rules are quite clear about not drinking on the job.

Beastshit. I pulled that manual out of my ass.

In that case... would you like to say a few words?

Yeah... the exhibition six days from now is just the start. My opening address will be the toast of all of Columbia.

Every rocket will have my face on it, and the largest district in Shadow-Moon will be named after me.

Rhine, ATAO, the District... no one's ever gonna tell Gordon Tannen what to do! This'll be my Propeller Paradise, forever and ever!

Bottoms-up!

Who are you? Here for the party?

Hello. Are you the Chief Executive of Propeller Paradise?

Oakley, newly appointed guide for Propeller Paradise. I'm supposed to report to a Mr. Gordon Tannen.

......

......

Pffft—!