023. Erwin and his nephews and nieces

Erwin cracked his neck. 

Looking up at the design, he wondered just what it was that the boss was thinking.

Money was flowing into the... Education City.

A Cradle that had constantly expanded, housing individuals of technical skills from all walks of life, it was... in short... something truly marvellous.

Erwin himself taught a lesson weekly.

Advanced machining practicals. 

Taking the design down, he rolled it up, shoved it into the cylindrical document case and made his way out of his rooms.

They were in the original Cradle as part of the manufacturing section. Not that it mattered all that much with all the Cradles connected through underground rail lines. The maglev trains in the underground areas moving at hundreds of kilometres an hour made any trip trivial. 

There were multiple different layers of underground rail as well, cargo lines and of course, the dedicated military transport lines. 

Travel between different hexes was more of a matter of waiting for the trains rather than sitting on said trains, which said something about the efficiency of the mode of travel. The designers were improving the timetable even further, all the better to make sure that there was minimal downtime. 

Moving through the travellators, the horizontal escalators, moving walkways, whatever they wanted to call them, Erwin pushed his way past some junior machinists having an argument. Something about the wrong angle for effective wing-in-ground-effect. 

Erwin ignored them with the skill of long practice, moving his stocky body through the mass of skilled and unskilled workers. So focused they were on their discussions in the common areas that they ignored his presence. Something that he hadn't thought possible.

With so much in the way of 'innovation' occurring on Blackjack, there had been a large number of different individuals and groups making their way over. Some had to be inducted into the union, others were already members. So many different ideas that were melding together, so many perspectives, the individuals all joining a greater whole.

Thousands that wanted to be part of something greater, part of what they were calling the 'retro-revival'. Numbers greater than anything Erwin had seen in his life in one place. Many of these new initiates were talking about bringing back what was primitive. To 're-walk' the past and rebuild what had been lost in ages prior.

Some groups (not the machinists of course, he would have boxed the ears of any who tried) had already taken it to extremes, commissioning their own cradle where they were going to live through the different ages of mankind, trying to rebuild the technology available at that time to get back to the glory days of the Star League. 

Word was that they had gotten rather cultish. Or, more likely, they were already cultish and had taken this chance to create an entirely separate community where they could be cultish in peace... and safe behind a fortress' walls.

On the other hand... and closer to home, there were machinists that were, even now, saying that the existing World War Two era design was best, and attempting to improve it was heresy. 

These were already clashing with the 'cold warriors' as they were known, trying to complete the Little Boss' objectives of developing newer technology.

Each in their own sections, getting rather... tribal in their ways. 

It was one of the dangers of these Cradles he had found, the fact that once everyone was inside a cave like this, even one made of artificial rock... they devolved… or was it evolved? Into tribal societies.

Sure, the boffins at the anthropology department would call it something different, but Erwin called it as he saw it. Grouping together, not needing to communicate or even physically look at those outside of their cliques for months at a time... it changed people.

The only thing that had saved this was Bek. Having his architects design a common layout, something that forced constant social interaction. Food in communal areas, communal shopping, pools, and so on. Unless you were a true hermit, you would be forced to interact with others inside your block. 

Which alleviated the issues, but didn't solve them. As it was now, the section versus the world. Then the sections became hexes, and it became hexes versus the world.

Everyone was still Lyran, everyone shared the same values and the like. But it had created a very subtle tribal way of thinking. 

Us versus them.

He wasn't exactly sure what this would bring in the future, it might not be causing too much issue here. The Commonwealth realm was a rather permissive one, one that wasn't exactly causing problems when everyone had their needs being met. Every planet was already nominally independent, save for loyalty to the Archon and a member on the Estates General that represented them. Like, Capetown wouldn't even exist if not for this permissiveness. 

Them and their racism against those who were not white... and well, Erwin had a few run-ins with those that had come from that blighted planet. It hadn't gone well for those, he had run into a few walls. It was a blight on the Commonwealth that they had their own military academy to pass their horror onto new, impressionable recruits. It wouldn't even be possible if each planet was not allowed to make its own laws and enforce them. Save for those created by the Estates General or the Archon, all else was free game.

The problem was; what was happening on the worlds in nations where this was not true? When they had everything they needed and no longer needed, nor trusted their governments to provide safety for them? 

They could manufacture all their weapons and defences on-site, what need did they have of an interstellar government? 

Erwin wasn't too worried about Blackjack, or really anywhere else in the Commonwealth.

Some of those idiots on Skye however... maybe they would take this chance to cause problems. It wouldn't be too much of an issue starting out, but as people became safe, they became complacent. 

When they became complacent, any attempt at removing their power would see them furious. How many of these Fortress Hexes would turn on their original creators? How many would lead to different planets, or even different parts of a planet rebelling against their overlords?

Feeling safe, that they didn't need protection. Especially in worlds away from the borders. 

Sociologists would have a wonderful time, he was sure with this new reality.

In any case, as he made his way down the stairs, always take a chance to exercise your muscles(!) he walked into the maglev train carriage and was on his way to Education City. Home to tens of thousands of educators and even more of their students, the scale of the city was only growing. 

If one were to look down on the Cradles from on high, it would look like an atomic structure. 

Hexes upon hexes, each connected by a 'spoke' or branch that connected them further. Some looked as if there were gaps of rolling hills, before themselves appearing on the surface again, the pattern continuing. Those were underground, the military facilities that the LCAF was constructing on Blackjack to take advantage of the sheer scale of military expansion.

Trying to assault the complex would be suicide. Breaking through and attempting to make their way into the facility? Even worse. 

Military force had to be completely overwhelming, or to win through alternative means, guile and chicanery. 

Which led directly into the reason for his travel here, deep into Education City. Meeting with several department heads, individuals of great influence and power. 

Who, in the tribalistic manner of people everywhere, had colonised their own hex sections, or even entire hexes to make their own. Pushing opposing factions out, sometimes with force. 

Hell, it was even solidifying into different nomenclature which Erwin was using.

You had the 'sections' which were literal pieces of a hex. An entire 'Hex' itself. Indeed, the word hex would only be used to describe a full 8 sections (which made no sense, as hex was short for six, but Erwin didn't pretend to understand), and then the 'spokes' which were the sections that connected the different hexes together. 

Stereotypes were being created even now, the spokes being more open to newcomers, the sections ready to fight at any moment to keep what was theirs, and the hexes confident and smug in their superiority. 

In short, like people everywhere, they had already decided who was who despite just moving into the neighbourhood in the last few months.

Erwin wasn't sure if he wanted to be irritated or amused.

In any case, there was a single, 'neutral' ground on this side of the planet.

Administration. 

Directly established by Glory Brantzollen herself, nestled inside of Eggers Education City.

The iron fist to Huu Eggers velvet glove.

That which held the power over all of those inside the hexes, dictating funds and movement of people. Making sure everything ran smoothly, yet at the same time handing out dictates as if it were the Archon themselves.

Yet, the same people who could coral the different department heads into something coherent, managing the different companies that fell under the Eggers General Utility umbrella.

There was also the fact that the Eggers family had an entire Section to themselves adjacent to Administration. With several EDF Wolverines taking a personal interest in their safety, there was a sense of security about it all.

Enough for Erwin to feel safe presenting the information he had been sent by one of his many nephews and nieces.

Making his way through the Administration hex from the maglev, he walked up the stairs and tried not to gawk. 

He had forgotten how ridiculous some of these things could be.

They had removed three floors to create an enormous 18 metre high hallway, filled with desks and various secretariats. Each for a different department, giving off an extremely imposing feeling that he had stepped into something bigger than he could ever hope to be.

Not that it phased Erwin all that much, not after he had been inside the Defiance Industry manufacturing centres, where it was even bigger and filled with mechs... not desks. 

That said, the artificial lighting that resembled natural lighting was a good touch, felt like he really was that close to natural sunlight in here. As he strode through from the entrance at the front, he could feel different sets of eyes on him. Either the security, those who were waiting in line, or those of the secretariat that were in between aspirants. 

All looking mildly shocked as he ignored all of them, making his way through the centre to reach the 'heads'. 

Striding forward, he said the magic words to the individual who was probably more a coalescence of the concept of 'secretariat', secretary, secret police, assassin, all in one... than a person. 

"Erwin, I am expected". Sitting on a throne overseeing all others, the three had been secretly nicknamed Cerberus. Each facing at a different angle, their faces set in harsh lines of absolute authority. 

"Yes, go through door 12 Master Erwin, follow the orange line until you meet the green line. Follow the green line until the door." 

Doffing his cap, he strolled through, trying not to shiver as the secretary, for all of her 30 years of age, still gave him the chills. Power in capable hands had that effect on you.

Following the path, he marvelled at the sheer... extravagance of the Administration Hex. Carved sconces, sculptures, art pieces, all of it proclaiming that the individuals here had used a great deal of their grant money to impress visitors. 

Which made sense really, this was where the donors came, where the industrialists marched. Impressing them was half the battle when it came to getting money to flow. Not that Huu would care, not when he hadn't even stepped foot in these halls before bequeathing 50 billion kroner in research grants. 

If he wanted a way to draw yet more educators here, this was likely supercharging the bait.

Finally reaching the conference room, he was met with a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Eggers Education cared not who you were, so long as you had important skills that could be passed down. The only thing in common, they all had, was that they were responsible for entire 'Hexes' of academia. By all rights, Erwin would have been included if not for the fact that he ran Eggers Armaments as his primary occupation. 

"Morning. You've got the message? Good. We've got a problem that needs solving."

As he said this, the document roll he had brought in was uncapped, the inner-most sheet pulled out, and laid out over a projector (archaic, yet perfect for the task. No digital records left behind). 

On the sheet of transparent paper were several graphs, each labelled with years... and deaths of prominent individuals in academia. Others demonstrated trends in innovation and economic development. 

"This is information my niece sent to me from the Ministry of Finance. They've collected information from across the Inner Sphere. Put it all into this infographic. Simply, the more technology recovers back to the level of the Star League. The more scientists die and facilities are raided or bombed. This continues until they return to previous levels."

Those in the room had not been chosen by Administration because they were stupid. Half of it being staffed with LIC or LCAF-MI (that's what Erwin would do if he were Phan Eggers), they had chosen the most steady, and most... capable... for the role of department heads. For what they and their students would produce, would alter the Inner Sphere forever... if they survived.

"With half the brightest minds in the Lyran Commonwealth in Education City, we run the risk of being a target. Or, more likely, we are definitely a target. Security measures will be stepped up. Anyone who enters from the outside can be considered a serious threat. Individuals with unknown histories that have not been vetted by the EDF or LIC are to be banned from the premises entirely."

The EDF aspect was a little strange but, understandable. Coming from all over the Commonwealth, they certainly had a much greater reach into the 'unknown' parts of society than the LIC or LCAF-MI. 

Those in the room nodded. 

None of them wanted to die. 

That being said, they were inside a fortress that could withstand nuclear bombardment. Their sensation of safety and willingness to deal with security in exchange for that safety was the very reason they were here at all. 

"This is the main enemy, Comstar." 

Out came the second sheet, after a moment of frustration, the sheet unfurling in the cylindrical carry case and snagging on something. 

He growled under his breath before finally getting the semi-transparent sheet out.

"Right. Comstar. They have been identified by the Ministry of Finance as the biggest threat. Followed by the Combine, Free Worlds League, Federated Suns, and the Capellan Confederation. In that order. At no point are Comstar personnel allowed to enter or exit without a full security team surrounding them. They are not allowed to enter or exit any communication research facilities. Period." 

"Why the Ministry of Finance and not LIC?"

"Because they're good at hiding their tracks. Either suicide bombers, suicide-nuclear weapons, or cut-out mercenary units. LIC can't find anything because they control the HPGs. We can't read their mail, they can read ours, it's a little unfair. Can't hide general trends, though. That's how the Ministry of Finance pinned them." 

"That seems... a little obvious. Wouldn't they have figured out, that we've figured it out?"

"They're religious nuts on a crusade. Critical thinking isn't their strong suit." 

"Really?" 

"I don't know! If I did, then we would just wipe them out and start over. We've got to deal with their shit because I don't know. Why are they doing this? If we knew, we could have done something about it! That's why these rules are being put in. It's why I'm here and not at home with my nephews. They needed someone who could call a meeting without it being suspicious." 

And so, the meeting went, in the end the security measures had been explained, everyone was on board, and now was the second reason why Erwin was here.

He pulled out the final sheet. 

"Right, last thing. The boys in the shop worked this design out. We need help making sure that we can get it to production without snags."

The design was lit up on the wall, those who weren't interested started leaving, those who were looked on with mild shock in their eyes.

"Little Boss wanted us to 'advance' the designs a little. Look at something a little more modern. Some of us thought that we should look at building some of the tanks and the like. Building something like an M1 Abrams with its inbuilt CASE would have worked. Then he gave you 50 billion kroner to design a haptic control system and a melee system. He clearly wants us to work together." Those in the room looked a shocked at the change in topic. 

"Even if he hasn't said anything. Which is what we've got here. It's 5 tons total. Has a rolling block hand loaded 125mm, smoothbore gun at 1 ton, loads shells by hand, individually. The cockpit and computers would have taken it overweight until your research projects came in." Erwin rocked back on his feet, the machinist looking at the academics, who in turn looked at him like an alien had just appeared in the room. Or more likely, a Hyperdimensional creature of some kind.

One of the professors just looked at him with a deadpan. 

"Isn't this just a workable version of the Smialy from that Iron Harvest game?"

Erwin rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Why not?"

"Because it's a game?"

"No, no, settle down, this could work. The tube is because we need it for the haptic control system. The gun is the simplest weapon you can have. A tube with a rolling breech block. A bayonet on the end... legs. One ton of armour. ICE engine on the back, no computers at all. Except a roving camera connected to the pilot. Overlaid gun sight and a screen for the pilot... this could work. It will take a lot of effort... but it could work." 

The room was silent. 

"Why?"

The Headmistress, Aliyah Martinez, spoke. Chosen as an administrator, with the understanding that she was required to be far-sighted. Ready to act on actions that would take decades to come to fruition. 

"Because we need it? How many Castle Eggers are there right now? How many soldiers are needed to defend this? There are not even enough Battlemech regiments to station one per world, how are we going to keep ourselves safe from an attack? The enemy will adapt, will learn, will deploy artillery and forces with greater range. Our current forces are adequate, but will not be sufficient in the coming years as our enemies learn. A fortress that remains stable is a target, a fortress with a sallying army is a threat. For every Castle to be of equal threat, they must have cheap, mobile forces. This... this can be such a threat."

Her voice was as cutting as her expression. As if she had been born with a permanent frown, she glared at the naysayers in the room. She spoke as if she were speaking to cadets, some of the academics shifting uncomfortably in response. From their expressions, this had been an ongoing thing.

"It will die quickly, but if it is cheap enough that it can overwhelm even a light mech for less cost, then it is worth it. If these can be built with the ease of a primitive, perhaps we have a solution for the cost of invading a fortress world. To build our own mech forces on-site will allow the LCAF to threaten even Luthien in time. The LCAF will be greatly interested in this project, I can assure you of that. Your students are particularly far-sighted Erwin, you should be proud."

Erwin just shrugged. 

They had taken the standard barrel, cut off the breech, added their own pneumatic auto-locking version and lightened the material. Against BAR10 armour it did 375 kilograms of damage, 6 points. Not great, not really... but it did have a range advantage over other weapons and was incredibly cheap to build. A speed just above the average infantryman's jogging pace, no armour on the engine at the back, very exposed stick-legs... it was a matter of compromises to fit the gun and its ammunition, yet cheap enough to sell as infantry equipment.

The entire design was rushed, but for an estimated cost of 50,000 kroner given just how bare bones and primitive everything was... they would have a proper Militiamech to put to market. The most expensive part of it was the ICE engine, the eye/headset receiver/, and... well, standard armour. In fact, the armour and inner structure was the most expensive part of the entire setup. 

It was why he was here, to get the different research projects into one, workable one. 

He could only marvel at the vision that the Little Boss possessed. To be able to join together so many disparate projects into a singular whole. To fill in the weaknesses that the Cradles possessed before they were even manifest.

Was there anything that he couldn't turn to a profit? 

He just had to do this same meeting, including the security brief, with the industrialist leaders. And to convince them to invest in the Smialy. Or, more likely, to establish lines to build the things. The more there were, the bigger of an impact they would have.