I said, "In case that minuscule little mind of yours has forgotten, we do have the library of Lady Sylax aboard. I'm busy translating its contents into something useful."
"How long will it take you?"
"Seven years. Roughly."
"Too long," Anna said, shaking her head, "Even if I were willing to be patient, this crew won't hold together that long and we need them to stay. I've heard that sockets of this complexity aren't taken by single cores but require the talents of multiple ones to properly control."
"Do you have connections among the Scholars that might still help you?" Tara asked.
"Not intentionally, but I've got a plan. Is there any sort of city nearby?"
Tara frowned. "Two weeks away at full power. If there were anything close, this place would have long since been discovered."
I said, "I'd like a shot at figuring out the shield myself. While the best of the Righteous scientists may have had a look at it, perhaps a proper intellect will have more success."
"Fine. You have a week and unless you’re showing progress, we move on. Use the time to further upgrade our systems too," Anna said.
"Three weeks in total will give me some time to complete some research," I said.
"Do it, and find a cabin for Tara," Anna decided.
33
I studied the shield for the week. The city beneath was large, well maintained, and completely unreachable. The force-field remained at a constant power level and after a week of testing I wasn't able to cause more than minor variations. My sensors wouldn’t penetrate, so teleportation to the other side wasn’t possible. Neither was burrowing beneath—while it appeared a dome across the surface the shielding continued underground completely isolating the interior.
My science drones couldn’t initiate any sort of research project. That was disappointing, but at least it gave me time to complete some of the ones I had pending. Between them and the command points they would generate I was about to undergo a major upgrade.
Research Project
"Plant Samples"
You have identified the retrieved plant samples and can now grow them in your growth tanks.
Idari Leaf - Can be refined into Blocker, a chemical that when consumed can block telepathic abilities.
Semhar Root - Can be refined into a drug that produces feelings of euphoria as well as a powerful addiction.
Gralker Stem - Can be refined into a stimulant that offers a short-term boost to strength and agility although is also addictive and in the long term results in physical degradation.
Vinto - A water weed this plant seems like it may offer an antidote to several poisons as yet undiscovered.
Revo - A plant difficult to analyze properly because of its constant genetic alteration. Some degree of this mutation is passed on to a biological host and can result in rapid physical alterations. These are usually negative although with further study a way may be found to improve results.
THEY WERE a fascinating assortment of plants that the cartel had been growing in private. Given the large capacity of my growth tanks I had room to grow a supply of all of them.
Research Project
"Baron Wolfson"
Baron Wolfson is imbued with powers from a Fauna Core that offers him some of the animalistic properties of a Wolf as well as the ability to shapeshift. He experiences an increase in agility and speed, and is particularly effective when fighting as part of a pact. You can now grant a weaker ability of the pack boost power to your drones or agents via upgrade.
I HADN'T SEEN MUCH of that from him so far. The Wolves had been pretty well decimated by the powers of others despite being together.
Research Project
"Doctor Batavius"
Doctor Batavius is imbued with powers from a Vision Core that offers her an ability to see well outside the normal human visual spectrum. While this can offer insights and awareness lacking to others it can also cause blackouts and disorientation from overstimulation. You can now grant a weaker ability of the enhanced vision power to your drones or agents via upgrade.
THAT EXPLAINED the goggles her people wore. They must be designed to filter out some of what their power was providing them and help to regulate it. While some powers I'd seen had some negatives, such as Hot Stuff's problem with clothing, this was the first time I'd seen genuine negative consequences to the holder.
Research Project
"Ratticus"
Ratticus is imbued with powers from an Energy Core that offers him an ability to regulate different forms of energy he encounters. This can have a host of potential uses from regulating kinetic impacts to rendering the user immune to electric fields. You can now grant a weaker version of energy regulation to your drones or agents via upgrade.
RATTICUS HAD A GOOD ABILITY. Of the various section heads he had always struck me as the least impressive when it came to powers, but I had underestimated him. With proper application his abilities would make him a formidable fighter, just as they seemingly made him a formidable engineer.
Research Project
"Hot Stuff"
Hot Stuff is bonded to a Fire Core and more recently was exposed to a Metal Core which bonded with her as well. This has granted her the ability to manifest a motorcycle at will. This motorcycle requires no fuel and no ammunition and is capable of impressive speed and offensive power. A lesser version of this power can be granted to those already imbued with the powers of a Fire Core allowing them to manifest some item of their own combining the properties of these two realms.
I WAS INTRIGUED. This was the first real example I had seen in a human of core strengths directly playing into each other. This metal ability required her fire ability as a base.
With that research done there was something more vital to focus on. An embarrassment of riches—four core upgrade points. I'd never had so many to spend at one time.
You have four unspent core points
Your options are
Research 7
Research 7 will allow you to build the physics lab. This will open up whole new avenues of research and may have unexpected pairings with your genetics lab.
Military 2
Military 2 will allow you to control a greater number of defense drones. There is power in numbers. In addition, defensive systems all acquire a minor upgrade.
Engineering 2
Engineering 2 will allow the production of the Fabricator. A Fabricator is a versatile production machine that can apply schematics to construct everything from ship upgrades to trade goods.
Command 1
Command 1 will allow status warnings. Currently you receive no notification when an individual component is in distress. With this upgrade you will receive alerts with the issue, severity, and suggested fixes.
Espionage 1
Espionage 1 will allow you to control a reconnaissance drone. This unit is capable of stealth and will allow visual and audio surveillance.
BEFORE I SPENT a point I had to put thought into limits. I knew from my own drones and from upgrading Anna that the maximum I could raise their attributes was to ten. It wouldn't surprise me if that applied to myself as well. If so, that last upgrade would probably be a profound one. That would require sinking all four of my remaining points into that one section.