First Upgrade
Another day went by and the people inside the mech facility was on their edge. The ones who carried their supplies had their own precious food confiscated and distributed evenly to everyone. Some had openly protested and threatened to start a riot. Thankfully, Mina was able to quell this by firing a few rounds into a hanging mech trunk, as if it was target practice.
Somewhere in the assembly line, Sy sat with a sullen face - the finished parts flanking him. It was an unsatisfactory product of his work that haunted his ego. Even he couldn't set up an ancient dynamo in order to take advantage when the feet rotated and regulate energy - just because of the lack of tools. He felt that his skills were inadequate without tools.
"What's with the long face?" He heard Mina's voice and rotated toward her direction.
The woman was holding a transparent plastic bag stuffed with a bread and a bottle of water. She held out the items and said, "Here. Your sustenance."
Sy reached out and took the offered provision, his mind still begrudged to his inability. When his senses came about, he quickly turned and said with an appreciative voice, "Thanks."
Mina was in charge making water. She did nothing of the little tasks and preferred to bark orders. Surprisingly, she volunteered on her own volition in delivering Sy's food.
Nearby, Niel was still working with the mech's trunk. He somehow found it hard without help, and asked the groups for any able individuals to help him. Soon, some came.
After inspecting the finished parts, Mina found it to be the best time for an idle chat.
"My brother said you're not from the Union." She hopped in front of Sy, sitting and crossing her long legs, completely facing him to grab his whole attention. She asked, "Where did you wander from?"
"Somewhere.." Sy muttered, finding himself in an awkward spot, facing a beauty.
"You can do better than that!" Mina said with a raised brow. Her face showing a mild disappointment. She still showed eagerness to know the origin of the man. Although her expectations were more inclined to the bigger factions like The Empire of Durn. But never in her mind that he came from The Republic of Leeb. The sole nemesis of the Union.
Sy chuckled at her determination. He briefly hesitated before answering, "The Federation.."
Mina's eyes widened - taken by surprise. She asked hastily, "Federation? Which one?
The man sighed as he subsequently enumerated the names of their founding Pioneers, "Tir, Rev and Iiv."
"The Trinity!" She exclaimed. After regaining her initial shock, she narrated, "I heard from my father about The Trinity Federation. He always wanted to go there. He talked about titanic World Engines capable of totally transforming planets into a desired one. He said they could even make the sands in Logria plantable!"
"It's called Genetic Architecture. Biologists created bacterias that can make the soil fertile." Sy explained in a simple way, a bit startled that she had this innocent side.
"Can you make one?" Mina asked in anticipation. Her eyes showing eagerness.
Sy shook his head, "In the future.. maybe."
"Hmpff!" She moved her head backward, showing him a face that didn't believe him, "I dreamed of trees and grasses in Logria. If you could make a terraforming engine that can do it, I'd marry you!"
Sy laughed but instantly recognized that she was not joking.
"Are you really from The Trinity Federation?" She realized something, "They are an enigmatic faction. The troubles of others don't bother them."
Upon hearing this, Sy reached down under his shirt, grabbing an object and removing its hold from his neck. He handed it over to her with a serious expression.
Mina stared at the object on her open palm. It was a metal forming the letter 'F' and engraved with the first letter of the three founding Pioneers' names; 'T', 'R' and 'I'. The metal itself was fascinating. It was dark-blue and a swirling dark-green as if a liquid inside. It was definitely an exotic material.
"My people are proud of their heritage. Each were given with this emblem as soon as they were born." He added, "The alloy itself is made of Trium and can only be harvested in the deep oceans of Tri Prime. That little trinket reminds us of our dark-blue and green iconic planet and of our founders. And that we are.. the Federation."
"This is no mere trinket." She said in a low voice. After a last look, she motioned to return the emblem.
However, Sy refused to take it back, saying, "Keep it. I'm not returning to the Federation for a while. Someday. Perhaps.."
"Then I won't refuse!" She teasingly retorted, hiding away the object, "It might cost trillions in the market!"
They both laughed.
Mina then turned to leave, joking, "Well then. I'll leave you to your self pity."
The man chuckled, before casting his attention to other matters.
After a making a good distance, Mina paused for a second. She forgot to ask something. The Trinity Federation earned the title as home to the revered Pioneers! These legendary figures were a myth to the Union. No one had witnessed one since their founding father. She wanted to know how they looked like. How they think. How they treat people. Do they even exist?
'Some other time.'
She flipped the emblem and saw a hidden imprint: Syrille Verdin.
Meanwhile, being a Pioneer himself, Sy had not much to think about. He directed his attention to the system.
[Status:
Name: Sy Verdin
Profession: Level 0 Pioneer
Pioneering Score: 50
(Attributes)
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 11
Vitality: 21
Intelligence: 21
Wisdom: 13
Innovativeness: 8
Focus: 9
Neural Affinity: 0
(Martial Skills)
Basic Weapons Mastery = Level 0
(Technology Skills)
Basic Weapon-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Energy-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Construction-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Computer-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Propulsion-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Bio-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
(Specialty)
Basic Miniaturization = Level 0
Basic Mecha = Level 0]
The young Pioneer's eyes bulged out at the new feature. If he can level up his knowledge in a tech field with some scores, won't that compensate for his lack of Neural Affinity? Normally, Pioneers could just absorb countless of data and digest them over the coming years. And he was eager to try this one out.
However, he lacked the score to make an upgrade. But conveniently..
[50% Discount on the first upgrade!]
'System! You're making my life easier. I'd marry you if you were a woman!'
Sy cheered mentally, not noticing that his manner of speech was being affected by the people of Logria. He then proceeded to carefully select which one to upgrade. The Computer-tech tempted him to the bone. But with this kind of environment, with no modern computers, it will prove to be unusable. Bio-tech was another option. He might be able to convert the replicators into a bio-organic replicators for fabricating food. Though his Construction-tech might not keep up, and he won't be able to complete the task.
'Energy-tech, Weapon-tech, Propulsion-tech.. Nah!'
With no other option, he selected the Construction-tech and upgraded it. He felt a sudden surge in his brain as countless of information was stored and processed.
Sy shook his head after regaining his composure. He narrowed his eyes and inspected his knowledge. It was as if nothing happened. However, he soon found as if a memory had been unlocked like it was there all along. He glanced at the iron, carefully placed on the floor and almost knew instantly how to make something more useful out of it. The mech limbs he had finished could be fleshed out even without the help of modern tools.
Construction technology had always represented the advancement of architectural design and fabrication methods - influencing the speed of which factories produce and the durability of starships. It also involved working around matter as well as material bonding - like the traditional welding method that partially melt a material in order to be welded in which Niel was engaged right now while wearing an industrial mask.
By upgrading his construction-tech, Sy had unlocked a new method. The Gamma Welding. This method was already conventionally used in the Federation. Sy had finally understood the technology which bonded materials through nuclear interaction and could easily implement it. Although, there were some parts that he could not explain and needed to upgrade mainly his Bio-tech to level 1 in order to completely perceive it.
This was a step by step process that Pioneers needed to thread. Every technology field was needed to advance the other.
With that, Sy hastily entered the chamber of the ancient computers and began plotting a new design for the iron. Even with the lack of advance computers, Sy had finally broken from his slump and saw a solution with microchips.
'What the..' The young Pioneer halted for a second, realizing something, 'Isn't this more potent than the Neural Affinity? I could just gain knowledge to a new technology by spending some scores?'