Capítulo 30: It IS Rocket Science! (7)
At the factory, Mark does a last minute check to make sure everything is in order. The trucks carrying material are all loaded, and the escort vehicles are ready with both security and ammunition in case of trouble. The staff will ride together with Mark, while the Wube Inc. convoy waits for the last minute guests.
The first ones to arrive are Maine's crew in the car loaned by Mark for the following weeks. The group disembark from the vehicle and come to greet the Engineer.
"Hey Mark, thanks for loaning your preem ride!" Rebecca waves at Mark excitedly, while the rest of the crew approaches the Wube Inc. Chief Engineer at a sedate pace.
Mark and Maine shakes their hands. "Hey choom, how are you doing? Heard you wanted us as guests?"
"Things are doing well, Maine. Thanks for asking. Yeah, I have some things to discuss with you and the crew, but instead of meeting at Afterlife I wanted to let you guys take a peek at some of the things I'm cooking. Also, we can't have a more private meeting than being in the middle of the Badlands. Even if someone else will also tag along."
As if on cue, another car parks nearby after being directed by Mark's security team. From the upscale car a familiar figure exists.
"Faraday." Mark nods to the Fixer, "you arrived in good health, I presume."
"Of course, I am know by my punctuality." The Militech Fixer answers with none of the implied hostility of his previous encounter with Mark, acting like a picture perfect professional.
Mark nods. "Private security will be limited, as already agreed on the document I sent you."
"Of course," Faraday readily agrees, "don't worry, I made sure that my security is sufficient for this little journey. Did you know that ever since Militech heard I was acquainted with the Engineer I heard talks of promotion? It is all thanks to you, my friend."
Mark raises a single eyebrow at Faraday's audacity, while the rest of Mine's crew has a more visible reaction, specially Rebecca as her jaws drops open in surprise.
"Well, talk with Miguel, he will give you more details about following the convoy. Please excuse me, I have to talk with my staff. Maine." With a final nod to the Edgerunner Mark looks for Kiwi and David.
Mark finds Kiwi, Sasha, and a new figure teasing David when he approaches. "Ladies, please, wait a few years before the boy can legally drink."
"Screw you, gonk." David flips the bird to Mark, and the Engineer simply laughs it off.
"It's hard being popular, isn't it?" Mark teases the boy before turning to the girls. "Hello Sasha, Kiwi, new girl. I assume Kiwi invited you? Could you please introduce us, Kiwi?"
"Sure," the older Netrunner of the group says, "this is Lucy Kushinada, I mentor her in my off hours and help the little scamp get her footing on Night City scene."
"It's a pleasure to meet with the famed Engineer." The younger Netrunner greets Mark with a slight bow. "Thank you for the invitation." Mark could see a bead of sweat running down the young woman's face, as she appeared to be scared of Mark.
"Hey, Kiwi probably told you to stay on your best behavior, but there's no need to be nervous. Only Scavs and similar gangsters deserve my full wrath. You can relax, you're between friends here, alright?"
"Nova. Uh, thank you for inviting me."
Mark gives Lucy a thumbs up, then turns to Kiwi. "I'm glad you decided to attend."
Kiwi shrugs. "It was a good opportunity for a change of air. I almost would complain from the lack of forewarning, but that's corpos for you." At Kiwi remark Mark winces, "what?"
"Would you believe me if I said I forgot to to tell you and some of the staff? I was so busy with other things it slipped my mind."
Kiwi raises a single eyebrow, mimicking Mark's earlier attitude with Faraday.
"So! Sasha," Mark turns to the third Netrunner to try and distract the others from his blunder, "how are you doing?"
"Oh, everything's preem, don't worry. Thanks to you I didn't get much heat from my job, so it's fine."
"Great, great. Anyway, I just came here to remind you that after the event there will be an open bar and buffet, and wanted to know, is there any dietary restrictions for any of you?"
"Nope, I'm good." "I'm fine." "Don't worry, I brought my face today."
David blinks as one of these where not like the others, but he didn't pry on other people's business.
"Alright, get ready everyone, we will soon depart!"
After making sure everything was done, everyone went to their respective vehicles and started the convoy, with Mark leading the group. They left Night City from one of the main roads, driving for a while until they reached a large electric pole that acted as an improvised landmark, and the group turned right.
The full journey took an hour, but eventually the group reached a large concrete that stretched far into one direction. Mark disembarked and directed Miguel and the rest of the security team to direct the vehicles before they entered the large structure. Passing electronic gates, they travel further inwards a large empty area through a concrete road until they reach the designated area.
Most of the guests park their vehicles while the large trucks drive a little further towards the storage area where their valuable cargo will be later transferred. Everyone is directed to a prepared area with chairs, a podium, and other equipment and amenities meant for this special day. The guests seated on their seats, with the drinks and food tempting them on the back while Mark does a last minute preparation, and he also gives ear muffs for everyone present.
When everything is ready and everyone is accounted for, Mark climbs the podium to start the ceremony.
"Thank you for everyone present here. Some of you are part of the Wube Inc. staff, and we have been together for a brief period you quickly became valuable employees of the company, with some of you I have the honor to call friends." Miguel smiles while standing guard, and even Kiwi relaxes slightly at Mark's words.
"Wube Inc. is primarily a company that works setting up precious infrastructure, from roads, water treatment plants, electrical grids, buildings, factories, and even farms should the need appears. As such, is it any wonder if Wube Inc. also has the means to reach for the Final Frontier?"
Mark clicks a remote, and a large projector shows the hidden Rocket Launch Site with its gates currently closed. Near the Rocket Launch Site there are several Inserters putting three special materials inside the Launch Site: Low Density Structures, Solid Rocket Fuel, and Rocket Control Units.
Some of the guests gasp at what they see, since Aerospace is still an area that's considered expensive for corpos standards. A rocket to the moon costs around a hundred thousand eddies, a significant sum for an individual, and that's only for a single ticket. The cost to set up the infrastructure to send a rocket to space isn't anything anyone present has experience estimating.
"I am happy to announce that Wube Inc. received the permits to work with Aerospace operations, and starting by launching the Wube Inc. Satellite Network, Wube Inc. will build its private orbital stations, and soon we will start colonization process to extract precious resources from other planets, moons, and asteroids, with the aim to further scientific progress for humanity."
Finally, the inserters stop their arms and the large gates slowly open, revealing the rocket hidden inside. Slowly, the rocket emerges from the ground for everyone to see both with the cameras and with their eyes further away.
"It is the hope of Wube Inc. to also use our Satellite Network to ease the burden of communications around the world, reconnecting the cities and countries once more into a new World Wide Web, hopefully avoiding the mistakes of the past and earning new wisdom along the way. Please feel free to put on your mufflers."
Those without the necessary chrome put the provided pieces of ancient PPE, and once Mark realized that everyone was protected he activated the launch. Slowly at first, but then faster and faster, the rocket lifted in the air before going higher and higher until it disappeared from view. The gates of the rocket silo slowly closes, and the surprisingly intact inserters once again insert the three special items on the Rocket Launch Site. The camera feed cuts off as Mark turns to the audience and bows.
Most guests clap with enthusiasm in appreciation of the achievement, and before Mark can open the open bar and buffet, Mark receives a series of messages from his System.
Factorio System detects Extra Terrestrial Link
Current firmware version 1.5.10132020
A new firmware update is available to Factorio System
Updating firmware…
Update complete!
Factorio 2.0 installed!
Factorio reached Space Age!
Recalibrating current modules…
Recalibration finished!
Factorio System update complete!
Remember the Motto…
To the surprise of everyone present, Mark starts laughing, though they quickly dismiss it mere happiness for accomplishing something so important for the new company. "I'm sorry everyone. Please, enjoy the open bar and the buffet!"
The last restraint of the guests evaporates, and Mark slowly walks to the buffet table to celebrate his latest achievement, while silently muttering under his breath.
"The factory must grow..."
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