The coffee tastes very different. Not better, not worse, but
different. You can remember Mama Scorpion wrinkling her nose and complaining the first time she had local USNN coffee. "Zuri-style" coffee had been all over the service, especially with Nuhaian beans in short supply.
Chicory, that was what it was. Furtively, you add an ungodly amount of milk and sugar to mask the bitter, acrid, and slightly less familiar taste.
"We'll be sending them plans, a mock-up, and maybe a prototype," Johnny says, blithely sipping from his cup.
"And you expect Great Blythe Isle to be able to match Nukashuban engineering?" You frown.
"No, not really. There's some tolerance built into the plans, though." Johnny taps his finger. "But we're trying to finalize something that can be built locally on Nudezret without relying on USNN infrastructure. Even if what's left of the USNN's manufacturing base
could reach the volume their military wants, they're leery of sharing technical secrets widely. The Union may have collapsed after the fall of Capital City, but there's a lot of nostalgia for the whole national Coxian system in the former southern Union republics."
You roll your eyes, but it's a fair point. One reason why the UCSR had collapsed so quickly when faced with the White Ghosts is that they'd invested substantially in propping up East Numexinova in what had started as a proxy war with the USNN. And South District's Coxian government had remained largely intact, even if they had modified their laws to make accommodations for the White Ghosts' different beliefs – including unasked-for special exemptions to monogamy and concubinage laws for the offworlders. From what you've heard, Blessed Blake didn't have
any wives. Rumor has it that made for some awkward theological wrangling in Slakecitu in North District.
"Well, if it's locally constructed, maybe we could have them use an
ultracannon," Jennifer says. "They've salvaged enough examples of them from enemy
Sentinels. For that matter, Major Clemens said that with all the disgruntled Coxian dissidents in North District, intelligence leaks straight over the Jerthree border like it's a sieve."
You frown, tapping your fingers. "It's true, it is twice as powerful as a regular medium autocannon," you say. "More accurate, too. But not necessarily as reliable. Especially if it's a reverse-engineered Jerthree special."
"Girls," Johnny says, "come have a look at what's already on the plans, yeah?
Then tell me what's wrong with it?"
Both you and your sister give the man a black look. "Fine," you say, leaning over the table. "Let's see what we have to work with, then we'll figure out how to make it good enough to make Major Langhorne Clemens jealous of what we're sending to Great Blythe."
Design plan
[] [Engineering] (write-in plan)
Plan elements:
- Basis model (optional): Model the design on an existing BattleMech.
- Description: Write in a description here.
- Specification tolerance: Exacting, moderate, or loose
- Build a prototype on Nukashuba first: Yes or no. (Costs 4 RP. Will use placeholders if design calls for equipment not available on Nukashuba.)
- Specify parts to be manufactured on Nukashuba and shipped, if any.
[] [Travel] Stay on Nukashuba.
[] [Travel] Travel with plans and/or prototype to Nudezret.
(If allowed...)
; By how much?