Re: Life - Business & Technology

Chapter 80 - Armored Suit Trials

(Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel)

A discussion was ongoing in a meeting hall at the Kandahar Future Tech branch building.

"I'll pass on the proposal to Vince and our legal team. I appreciate your sincerity, President Karzai." Price stated.

"Please do. I want prosperity for the Afghan people and trust in your character in helping me achieve this goal. Hopefully, I can meet with Vince Dalton before my presidential term ends." Karzai replied.

"He loves meeting new people. But, sadly, he's often busy managing the core divisions of Future Tech. You're welcome to visit our Austin Headquarters if you find yourself in the States." Price suggested.

"Thank you. Now that we've concluded the serious part of my visit, would you please show me the new facilities around the city?" Karzai asked.

"Of course, Mr. President." Price replied.

General Dolan returned to the Air Force base while Felix left and prepared for his flight back to the US.

Felix arrived in Austin via an FT-05 Super Galaxy after 17 hours which landed on the private airfield next to the FS Austin Barracks and took the company CAV already waiting for him to the Downtown Headquarters.

Vince was in his office and outlined corporate directives for the core Future Tech divisions when Aiya notified him of Felix's return.

"Good to see you, Vince. Did Price tell you about President Karzai's offer already?" Felix inquired.

"Yes, he told me during the director's meeting earlier. I've thought about how to prospect the vast deserts of Afghanistan, but I have to finish my previous work first. You can meet with Heidi as soon as you're ready to start testing the prototype suits. Don't hurt yourself." Vince instructed.

"Got it. I'm ready as I'll ever be. See you later, then." Felix replied.

"I might swing by the testing area later today if I have free time. Good luck." Vince said before dismissing Felix.

A fiery-haired woman in her late 20s was in the middle of trial preparation at the remote testing site 25 miles away from Austin. The vicinity looked like a battlefield with plenty of obstacles and weapons around the area.

Her secretary entered the control room with a robust caucasian man in his early 30s.

"Heidi, our test pilot is here. I'll have the team prepare the infantry variant suit while you speak to Felix." The secretary stated before leaving the room.

"It's been a while, Heidi. How are things in the Robotics division?" Felix started with a bit of small talk.

"Things would be much better if Vince sent Price or Marco to test these new suits," Heidi replied in banter.

"Come on, stop hurting my feelings. Anyway, those two are unavailable, so you're stuck working with me." Felix bantered back.

"Okay, okay. Follow me; I'll explain our testing parameters before we make you suit up." Heidi instructed as she walked towards a table with two Hypervisors.

"Wear this. It'll help with the explanation with visual and audio aid." Heidi said as she handed Felix the new Future Tech commercial product.

"I know how a Hypervisor works, Heidi. I'm not stupid," Felix stated playfully.

"That's what you say. Now focus and turn on augmented reality mode. You should see an encrypted file if you pull up the context menu. The password is Cataphract. Heidi instructed.

[I'm not dumb. We tested the prototype MVR Visors in Kandahar extensively. I think she's just trying to get a reaction out of me.] So Felix thought as he followed Heidi's words.

The AR presentation began with three distinct armor variants lined up in the middle of Felix's field of view.

"Let's begin with the infantry variant." Heidi declared while the 3D images disappeared and were replaced by a magnified view of the first variant, featuring floating text describing each vital design component.

"The helmet was designed based on the Hypervisor and is pretty much the same thing but enclosed in a recently developed hybrid composite plating and two separate layers of diamine graphene. One on the inside surface and the other on the outside surface. A layer of diamine graphene is almost as tough as diamonds, but be mindful that continuous damage on the same specific area will eventually defeat the layer." Heidi explained the basics of the first helmet design.

"Okay. So if I'm targeted by either high-powered lasers or an M134 Minigun, find cover. Great." Felix commented.

"The suit's frame is made from carbon fabric weave, designed to be light and maneuverable without an energy source. Two diamine graphene layers are applied both inside and outside also." Heidi stated.

"Alright. It's like a skin-tight full-body type 4 armor that looks futuristic, but what I desire is the good shit. The ones Director Price has been telling me about!" Felix declared passionately.

"Hold your horses, partner. We need to test the presumed standard-issue infantry version first to expedite mass production. However, the other two variants utilize a feature that may be jarring at first, so we better start at the basics." Heidi explained truthfully.

"Okay, you're the expert. Show me the changing room, and I'll get the data you need quickly and easily!" Felix replied confidently.

"An automated fitting room is outside and around the corner. The AI drone will help you wear the suit because it may be difficult initially." Heidi replied before Felix hurriedly left for the changing room.

[He wants to test the power armors so severely, it's a bit cute.] Heidi pondered.

While Felix was changing, a pretty caucasian woman in her late 20s walked into the control room at the remote testing facility.

"Hey! It's good to see you, sister! So you've finished work at Future Education for today already?" Heidi asked.

"You look fabulous today, sis! And yes, I was about to leave the office when my secretary notified me about our new test pilot for the Power Armor program. So I took an AV and wanted to see a few trials for myself." Alexis replied.

"We'll only be doing a few tests this afternoon. Let's go to the club or something tonight after. Maybe the Vulcan Gas Company?" Heidi offered.

"Good choice. I'm down!" Alexis stated in agreement.

Alexis and Heidi have been spending more time together since getting to know each other at E3 and The Longhorn.

A man entered the control room wearing the black skin-tight armor, which accentuated his well-toned muscles underneath.

[OMG, this suit looks so embarrassing. Though there's a hybrid composite crotch guard, it still feels like I'm naked.] Felix pondered in doubt.

"I didn't notice how ripped you were when you wore the regular FS operator uniform," Alexis commented vivaciously.

"Please stop; it's embarrassing. Now, what do we test out first?" Felix asked as he attempted to change the subject.

"User Assist features, then maneuvering, and lastly, ballistics testing. Please head to the obstacle course; we'll instruct you from here in the control room." Heidi stated.

Felix followed Heidi's direction and walked a few minutes into the open obstacle field.

"The variant you're using is meant to be the primary and standard-issue armor system for FS soon if the tests are successful. So now, let's start the trials. One of the assist features is the target location tracker. Similar to the Dragonfly drones, the helmet overlays a colored outline over enemies as a marker for a clearer engagement." Heidi explained.

A random FS operator posing as an enemy appeared from the surrounding area. The helmet HUD immediately marked the enemy and outlined him in red. The enemy ran away behind cover, but the outline was still visible due to estimation and visual indications that the user's field of view captured.

"Wait, so can I see through walls with this Helmet Hypervisor thing?" Felix asked in confusion.

"The 'Augmented Combat Helmet' cannot see through walls, unfortunately for a pervert like you. However, the many sensors constantly scanning an area of 100 meters observe slight sounds like breathing or a rifle reloading, or shadows and how light reacts, which adds critical data to the Target Location Tracker." Heidi explained.

"That feature alone sounds complicated," Felix commented.

"It took plenty of math and algorithms to develop the echolocation component alone. We're lucky to have Dr. Miller's team assist us with the development. The next feature is the suit temperature control powered by batteries integrated within the Augmented Combat Helmet. The suit's fibers will absorb body heat and recharge the batteries if you feel too warm. It could also restore power using solar energy. If you feel too cold, then heat is applied throughout the suit." Heidi explained.

Felix tested the temperature control after feeling a bit too warm in the middle of the trial field.

[Wow! The suit instantly adapted to the most suitable temperature for my body.] Felix pondered.

"Most of the other assist features you've already experienced with the Hypervisors. The helmet is just a heavily armored version of our commercial MVR product. Let's move on to the maneuverability trial." Heidi explained.

[I expect to be much more agile without having to deal with large pads of kevlar on my body.] Felix pondered before initiating the subsequent trial.

Stats last time checked: 

Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion 

15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000) 

$16 Billion cash in Future Tech 

105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg) 

20,000+ operators under Future Security 

Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn 

Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E) 

Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)