That girl needs to level up before he runs out of well water!

Good priorities there. If you can't replicate the entire workshop of tools - at least make sure you complete the hammer selection!

I really, really hope Ves's financial councilor remembered to put Gloriana on a budget. Or at least limit her card to the "personal account".

Is this the excuse Ves needs to make a PROPER mech fabrication totem for Vulcan? Perhaps a whole factory line full of them for his flagship? Might really help churn out the Masterworks if all his technicians have direct access to Vulcan fabrication machines. Would also be an amazing new company and source of profits! How much would people pay to have fabricators that increase your chance of Masterworks?

Ves has used his fist before - or even an indirect link through Binky.

But Ves can also do the "Vulcan bonk" with his fist!

That's the problem - HE did it. Not a replicatable process for anyone else.

Calm Aura time now? It might counter the illusion.

The weavers aren't out of place here either - you can use crochet techniques with wire! Or make chainmail. Or metal thread embroidery.

I think the Artists might be more successful if Ves gives them some totems with sample glows of Ves and Blinky. Let them experience the nuance needed to properly channel the energy. Also... if they have some base "spiritual metal" to work on. Perhaps scrap from dead living mechs could be repurposed as totems? Might have to be Gold Label quality mechs at a minimum. And perhaps from specific mech models for each totem.

Might be VERY useful for Ves to release his full-power glow to help! (Slowly, so not to break his concentration)

I think Meng REALLY needs some calm aura right about now.

That breakthrough on totems might be what Ves needs for Master! Got to be more refined to get from a proper copy of an existing totem to allowing other humans to create UNIQUE totems and variations on Ves's inventions! Now that Senior is just around the corner... time to start speculating on Master!

Alliance with Bodier Sr is even better than ever - expecially with a marriage contract for the Jr involved. That kid desperately needs a competent wife!

So... an empathic succubus with immunity to all your tricks and calm aura sounds ridiculously perfect for this "fight".

Possibly the line "I'm just a MASTER mech designer!" I mean... why exactly are all the MTA officials treating Ves like he is an "almost Master" instead of "almost Senior"? Is Senior even a real level between Journeyman and Master? Or is it more like "Senior Apprentice"? Because I remember a few times early on when Ves interacted with "Senior Apprentices" before he jumped straight to psudo-Journeyman.

Ves really needs to aquire either much better colony ships - or a practical "everyday" version of the hyper-realistic com.

Well now... is Ves really about to soften his stance and settle down on a planet? Or is he about to FINALLY give up on the remaining shares of LMC and shed his whole "bring his family with him to 1st Class" idea? Honestly, I think Calabast and Sheriden are pushing him closer and closer to Option 2 at this point! Springing the whole "you will give public support and officially join this new country" on Ves was NOT a diplomatic move at all! I honestly expected way more tact from professional diplomats! It also looks like "Option 3" - keep setting up more branches in more areas will be the best compromise. Perhaps a 3rd class branche with the old family as a core?

Don't worry - Gloriana will claim a minimum of 55% credit if this becomes a Masterwork!

Benedict is helping on ALL the Expert mechs - so power is slightly less of an issue then usual. And the value of a "mere Journeyman" making quasi-1st class Expert mech a Masterwork is high! High enough to continue trading favors in the future!