Dr. Conrad Voss
Dr. Conrad Voss wasn't the type to be fooled by good sounding proposals. He had spent his entire career dismantling so-called "revolutionary" defense systems, exposing their flaws, and proving why modern military technology was always two steps behind where it needed to be. In his world, reaction time was everything, and humans, no matter how well trained, were always the weak link.
As he stepped into Elias Varis' office, he barely gave the man a glance before dropping into a chair uninvited. He didn't believe in wasting time with pleasantries.
"You want an AI-driven defense system that can neutralize threats before they hit?" Voss asked, his voice carrying an edge of both intrigue and skepticism. "Good concept. I assume you've already got some half-baked prototype?"
Elias smirked. "You read ahead."
Voss tapped his temple. "I do my research. High-powered UV lasers to create artificial heat signatures and prematurely detonate incoming warheads before impact. Smart. But current laser tech is garbage for this. Insufficient energy output, tracking speed limited by human constraints, and the power draw alone would make it useless in high-speed aerial combat."
Elias didn't argue. Instead, he slid a tablet across the table.
Voss raised an eyebrow but took it anyway, his fingers swiping through the data. Within seconds, the casual disinterest in his eyes sharpened into something else.
"What am I looking at?" he muttered, scanning the specs. "This… this isn't standard UV laser technology. This is a multi-phased energy focusing system."
Elias leaned back, letting him process. "You tell me."
Voss zoomed in on one of the diagrams, his expression shifting from skepticism to excitement. "You're… using a quantum-cooled emitter system? No diffraction loss? And this heat signature overlay, it's calculated at a molecular level…" He trailed off, whispering to himself as his mind raced through the implications.
Elias finally spoke. "It doesn't just disrupt infrared-seeking missiles. It actively forces their detonation sequence through precision heat manipulation. Real-time analysis, instantaneous adaptation. And most importantly, no human pilot input needed."
Voss let out a short, incredulous laugh. "So you're telling me you already solved the biggest problems with modern laser defense technology? I was expecting to tear this idea apart, not get handed something that actually works."
Elias shrugged. "Consider this the starting point. What I need from you is to take it further. I don't want this strapped to a slow-moving ground installation or a stationary ship. I want it in a jet."
Voss narrowed his eyes. "A jet? You mean… you want this thing integrated into an aircraft that's moovin supersonic?"
Elias nodded. "March 10 is the goal."
Voss exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Jesus. You don't think small, do you?"
Elias smirked. "Not when I have the resources to make it happen."
Voss leaned forward, studying the specs again. The more he looked, the more he realized just how much potential this system had, not just as an anti-air defense, but as a fundamental shift in how aerial combat was conducted. Traditional countermeasures like flares and chaff would become obsolete overnight. Stealth technology wouldn't matter much if the AI could track and predict trajectories before missiles even got close. This wasn't just a defense system; it was an entirely new doctrine of aerial superiority.
His mind raced through the implications. If they could refine the system, increase its power efficiency, and fully integrate it into the new jet Elias was building…
Voss grinned. "Alright, I'm in."
Elias simply nodded. "Good. You'll have full access to whatever resources you need."
Voss chuckled, standing up. "That's what I like to hear. Now let's get to work."
The meeting room was larger than necessary, but Elias had arranged it that way for a reason. It wasn't just about space; it was about perception. He wanted them to see the scale of what they were involved in, even if they didn't fully grasp it yet.
One by one, they entered.
Dr. Aria Chen was the first, her sharp eyes scanning the room before she took a seat without a word. She didn't need introductions, she had already researched everyone before arriving.
Commander Julian Cross followed, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. He had spent the past few days reviewing the early engineering models for Project Revenant, and he had questions, questions he wouldn't hesitate to ask.
Professor Nia Kapoor entered next, noticeably more composed than the others. She was already running calculations in her head, considering the possible applications of her work in ways Elias had expected.
Dr. Conrad Voss arrived last, looking as casual as ever. His signature smirk was in place, but Elias could tell he was already piecing things together.
Elias stood at the front of the room, hands clasped behind his back. When the doors sealed shut, he spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began smoothly, "you've all been briefed on your individual projects. You know why you were chosen."
A pause. A glance across the room.
"But you don't yet understand what you are creating."
The lights dimmed. A massive holographic display activated behind him, revealing interconnected schematics, each of their projects linked together into something far greater than any single one of them had imagined.
There was silence as they took it in.
Chen was the first to break it. "You're integrating my alloy with Kapoor's fusion reactor."
Elias nodded. "Your material eliminates friction under extreme conditions. Kapoor's reactor will power an aircraft that will surpass anything that has ever flown before."
Julian leaned forward, studying the displayed jet. "Mach 10?" His voice carried a mix of awe and skepticism. "You're serious?"
"Completely," Elias confirmed. "This is Project Revenant."
Kapoor crossed her arms. "Fusion power at that scale… in any application… it's unheard of."
Voss chuckled. "And you're throwing my AI defense system into the mix." He gestured toward the diagram where his laser interception model was integrated into the aircraft's wings. "To neutralize threats before they get close."
Chen shook her head, still studying the display. "This is beyond next-generation. It's decades ahead of anything the world has."
Elias smirked. "That's the idea."
A heavy silence followed.
Finally, Julian let out a slow breath. "I thought I was just here to fly something ridiculous. Turns out I'm strapping into a damn weapon of the gods."
Elias leaned forward. "You're not just flying it. You're pushing it beyond its limits. You're proving that it can be done."
Voss laughed. "You sound like a madman."
Elias' smirk widened. "That's because I'm the only one who can see the endgame."
Kapoor narrowed her eyes. "And what is the endgame?"
Elias met her gaze, his voice calm. "A world where we dictate the future, instead of waiting for it to happen."
The room fell silent again.
Then, one by one, they nodded, thinking he had a few screws loos.
They didn't fully understand it yet.
But soon… they would.
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