Chapter 7: The Presentation

The night had stretched on far too long for Kia Mercer. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about the design, replaying every detail in his mind over and over. The ideas, the concepts, the possibilities. His ship—his defensive fleet—had been meticulously designed, each ring forming an integral part of a grand vision. A planetary defense system that could not only protect entire worlds but could also serve as the backbone of a blockade force when necessary.

But now it was time to present it. And Kia couldn't shake the feeling that his career—no, his future—depended on how it went.

The morning light came too early, its dull glow streaming through the small window of his quarters. Kia had set an alarm, but it wasn't the usual routine that greeted him. There was no buzz of the morning routine, no immediate pressure to hurry. His mind was consumed by the presentation. He didn't want to risk being distracted by anything—least of all food. Breakfast seemed trivial. This moment, the presentation, was everything.

Kia had skipped breakfast entirely. He wasn't hungry anyway. His thoughts were too occupied with the design—the eight rings of the ship, the fighters, the gun platforms, the shields that could form a protective blanket over entire planets. The weight of the work was heavy on him, but it was exhilarating too.

He paced back and forth, sketching lines and figures on his data pad as the clock in his quarters ticked closer to the scheduled meeting time. Each design decision—each choice of materials, each element of strategy—felt like it was slowly coming together in a way he couldn't fully grasp until it was out of his hands.

The Destiny's research and development deck had been quite early that morning, most of the engineers and professors already busy at their terminals, working on other projects. Professor Roman's station was near the center of the large room, and Kia knew that when he presented, all eyes would be on him. There was no turning back now.

After a quick glance at his data pad to double-check the final schematics, Kia took a deep breath and made his way out of his quarters, moving swiftly through the corridors toward the Research Deck.

The doors to the Research Deck slid open with a soft hiss, and Kia stepped inside. As expected, it was a hive of activity. Engineers bustled between workstations, scientists examined holographic schematics, and the soft hum of equipment filled the air. But in the midst of all this, one thing stood out: the imposing figure of Professor Roman, standing at the center of it all.

The professor looked up from his terminal as Kia approached, a small nod acknowledging his presence. Roman's expression was unreadable, as usual. "Ah, Ensign Mercer. Right on time. I trust you've finalized your design concept?"

Kia felt a flicker of nervousness spread through him, but he forced it down. "Yes, Professor. Everything is ready."

Roman gestured toward one of the nearby holoscreens, a gesture that seemed to invite Kia to present. Kia moved forward, taking a deep breath before activating his datapad. The holographic display flickered to life, projecting a vast array of images and schematics. The eight rings of the defense ship hovered in midair, each one intricately detailed.

"Let me walk you through the design," Kia began, his voice steady despite the tension coiling in his chest. He pointed to the outermost ring on the holo-display. "The design is based on eight concentric rings, each with a different function. As you move inward, the rings become progressively smaller, but they each have the ability to operate as independent vessels."

He swiped his hand across the display, zooming in on the outer ring. "The outermost rings are primarily designed as starfighter carriers and gun platforms. They house thousands of starfighters—about 25,000—along with heavy gun platforms equipped with long-range cannons. The outer rings are perfect for engaging in long-range combat or defense from the outer reaches of a planetary system."

Kia paused for a moment, watching Roman's reaction. The professor's face remained neutral, but his eyes were sharp, studying the schematics intently. Kia continued, pointing to the next layer of rings.

"The inner rings are more specialized. They function as command rings, equipped with advanced systems for fleet coordination, communication, and tactical analysis. While their gun capacity is more limited due to their smaller size, they have a unique ability. These rings are far nimbler and more capable of landing on planets or acting as mobile command centers."

Roman's eyebrows raised slightly. Kia could tell the professor was intrigued, but he wasn't giving anything away.

"The true strength of this design comes when the rings operate independently. Each ring is equipped with its own shielding systems, which can be expanded outward to create a defensive barrier around an entire planet. Imagine a blockade, where every ring can cover a sector of space while simultaneously protecting the planet below."

Kia's heart rate increased, but he pushed forward, explaining the finer points. "With the shields deployed, each ring can act as both a defensive platform and a blockade enforcer. And while they might not be able to take on an entire fleet by themselves, their individual firepower, combined with the sheer number of starfighters—nearly 75,000 fighters per ship—would be enough to challenge any enemy force. And together, as a unified unit, they can punch above their weight. The 50,000 light-speed cannons spread across the rings would make them a formidable force."

Roman studied the holoscreen in silence for a few moments. Kia's stomach twisted, and the silence stretched out far too long. He could almost hear his heart in his ears. Was Roman impressed? Or was it all just... too much?

Finally, Roman spoke, his voice low but measured. "This is... incredibly inventive, Mercer. You've designed a fleet that could be deployed rapidly in any theater of operations, with the capability to both defend and engage offensively. The rings themselves are highly adaptable, and I imagine the modular nature of the design means they could be easily reconfigured depending on the needs of the mission. Impressive."

Kia exhaled slowly, the tension easing in his chest. "Thank you, sir. I tried to think about all the different roles a planetary defense fleet would need to perform. The modular rings allow for quick deployment, and by working together, they can form a defensive net around any given planet."

Roman was silent for another moment, his eyes narrowing in thought as he reviewed the holograms. "You're right about the defensive capabilities. The fact that each ring can independently shield a sector of space, while still offering potent offensive power—this is exactly the kind of solution the Union has been looking for. A rapid-deployment force capable of protecting a planet while being versatile enough to act as a blockade."

Kia allowed himself a small, tentative smile. It felt as if his design had finally clicked. But he wasn't finished yet. "There's another feature, too. I've designed the rings to be modular. If a mission requires it, they can be stripped down and repurposed. Fighters can be swapped out for cargo transport or medical equipment. If the rings need to operate in different roles, the versatility of the design allows them to serve more than one function."

Roman nodded slowly, clearly impressed. "Mercer, I'm not going to lie. This is revolutionary. The sheer versatility and efficiency of the design—this is precisely what the Union needs."Kia's stomach fluttered again, but this time, it was excitement. "I'm glad you think so, Professor."

After a moment of thought, Roman stood and clapped his hands together. "I'll tell you what, Ensign Mercer, I'll let you keep fleshing out your design. We'll need to work through the specifics—the materials, the power sources, the interlinking systems—but this has the potential to be a game changer for planetary defense."

Kia's jaw dropped, and he blinked a few times as the words sank in. "You're assigning a team to develop it?"

Roman's eyes gleamed, and his lips curled into the smallest of smiles. "Not yet. This is too good to pass up but it's still needing some work. Once you have a more through design, I'll have the team go over your work and see what we can improve. After that it's going to need all hands-on deck to make this a reality, and I have no doubt you'll be at the center of it."

Kia couldn't believe it. This was his moment. His design had been accepted—not just as a theoretical exercise, but as something that would move forward. 

"Thank you, Professor," Kia said, his voice filled with awe. "I'll be ready to do whatever's needed."

Roman gave a curt nod, the faintest of smiles still tugging at his lips. "Good. Don't disappoint me, Mercer. This is only the beginning."

As Kia left the research deck later that day, he could hardly contain his excitement and disbelief. He hadn't just completed a design—now he was part of something far bigger than himself now. His career was officially on its way, and the ring ships were just the beginning.