Chapter 344 - Far Future, Ch. 54 – A Beacon of Efficiency (1/2)
”...please see the corruption resistance results in table 14-b...”
”Yes, the speed and conductivity is less than Mechanist Standard. That is THE POINT.”
”The working life of a circuit is indeed a fifth of the normal circuits. But if you will inspect page 247, third table, you will see they can also carry five times the load of a normal circuit during that term. The net effect is the same...”
”Yes, basic math does agree that if you use the same number of circuits, you will be able to handle five times the max load that the current Beacon can sustain, and conversely, also handle five times the stress at current loads. You are aware that is the primary selling feature of Vakker-tech, right?
”If you want to question the Coronal's testing results, I can put you directly in contact with the parties who performed them. I am sure they will be fascinated with your opinion of their aptitude at their sacred duties.
”You are also welcome to emulate the Capacitor design. Please. I encourage you. I am absolutely certain you will enjoy wasting your time and money trying to equal the resistance of the Rantha Corps product, as you have proven before.
”Ah, yes, I have an Umbran directive here concerning increasing production of high-stress firing relays. They are concerned that I do not have access to a higher degree of production technology. Would one of you fine sirs be capable of redressing this lack? If not, I'll send it back up the Order of the Fallen Moon with my regrets that release of such technology was proscribed by the Guild.
”Yes, adding these Capacitors will allow you to decrease the human element involved in managing the Beacon to a minimal level. The Mentats, who designed the Metaconcert Ritual the Beacon is emulating gave the specific production of how the effects of using block units of PP instead of Nimbus siphoning would perform. Page 314, tables 1 through 15.
”Oh, you didn't know the Beacon was based on a Metaconcert? Page 464 gives the derivative Ritual, although it is only properly understood in telepathic linkage. I'm sure you can see the parallels in the psionic circuits of the Beacon...
”If you see the circuit overlays and patterns on page 597, you can clearly see that all Mechanist-mandated rune circuit patterns are being followed precisely. The additional rune circuits are to maximize the performance and corruption resistance of the circuit, and as table 14-b-II clearly displayed, did not detract from the characteristics of the circuit at all.”
”Alien technology? My license for this technology clearly indicates that it was known among humanity over fifteen THOUSAND years ago. Are you questioning the authenticity of your records? The archived files are clearly displayed on my purchase certificate. Are you also incapable of reading Tellusian Standard?
”Your inability to duplicate the results of Rantha products is not my concern. You have the end product, I use Axiomatic Modular Tech in production, and you have reviewed my production line and facilities, as have the Umbrans and the Coronals. You are welcome to review them again. I have a permanent observer on station from the Umbrans. You can have coffee together with them.
”Oh, Vak-standard coding requires a higher level of complexity than TL 8 coding allows, so I had to invent my own. Yes, I did invent it. Ah, pages 771 to 847, performance differences with standard AMT Codes Level Six through Ten, compared to Vak-Coding at the same. The lower performance level is unacceptable, and if you will look at pages 873 through 950, the Corruption Resistance falls significantly when using Mech Coding, as you can clearly see. The Coronals mandated that I use Vak-Coding.
”The schematics for all circuits are displayed from pages 973 to 3,927, of course! Inspect them, please! All connections are AMT format, naturally. There are some minor additions to the hardware to allow easier access and replacement, of course...
”Your questions are done? Excellent, shall we move right on to price and the contract, then?”
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The Mechanists who maintained the Beacon naturally didn't care about showing up in person, and they really didn't want me to pollute their optics, anyways. A Boole meeting was perfectly fine from their standpoint, where their cyberized selves would naturally have an advantage.
Of course, thinking I couldn't handle the accelerated pace of the Boole just because I hadn't replaced my logic centers with machinery was wishful thinking on their part. Their Boole presences were sharp and powerful, but mine had depth and solidity theirs just didn't, and I could tell it made them uncomfortable. They didn't like cybermancers much more than any other kind of psion, after all. Using psi to command the machine was almost like blasphemy to them.
I couldn't do that, but Mental Stats were what they are, and a cyberlink could still send out a 50 Charisma. Despite their logic centers, I was still pressing on them, and they were finding it very hard to resist me, especially since I was doing something they wanted to happen.
I ended up with an initial contract for Vakker circuits, relays, and the Capacitors to work with them. All Capacitors were in multiples of 15, starting at 45 PP and ranging all the way up to 1500 if they really wanted so much power held in one place.
The first day they were installed, three dozen Beacon psis came to work for me. They were Marked, their accumulated Karma instantly filled the Mark to +1, their Intellect rose, and with it the bottleneck to advancing went away. Mental triggers flickered, and Levels went up.
Their Markspace was private among themselves and me, and the idea of a private telepathic connection that required no power definitely intrigued them. It was soon hopping with their conversations with one another, while I kept them separated from the greater Marktell for the moment.
Keen to do more, they came and were put to work making psionic circuits and psicraft... profitable, high-demand stuff they were usually barred from by their lack of skill and power, since all long-lasting permanent psiware required you to be a Five.
Still, Crystal Verje and Facets only required a Three, and the simple stuff, like basic healing, was always in demand. These things all had to be charged up, too, and simply being able to do that repeatedly now meant they had worth.