After several months, the striker ch project neared completion.
After a third round of iteration and prototype testing, hardly any surprises erged. The few unexpected deviations didn't aningfully affect the performance of the ch.
Of course, performance nerds still cared a lot about these small discrepancies. Any instances of inefficiencies and lack of optimization had to be worked away with entirely before they were remotely satisfied with their work!
Fortunately for Ves, he was the one who decided when to drop the curtains on the project. Though his girlfriend still demanded extra ti to refine the design even further, he resolutely blocked her requests!
She may have the upper hand on him in bed, but he would be damned if he let her take charge of the design lab as well! This was his most important bastion and the source of his confidence!
Besides, they already agreed that Ves had the final word on mass-production ch designs. When they designed a custom ch, then Gloriana possessed the biggest say, but their striker ch was anything but a product tailored to a single custor!
"We don't have the ti to iterate further." Ves put his foot down. "Our Larkinson Clan is bleeding cash left and right and will likely deplete all of our savings in less than a year. On top of that, the LMC hasn't published a new product that possesses wide appeal since the start of the Sand War! With all of the disruption that has happened in the Komodo Star Sector, all kinds of pirates and scum are already pouring into the space devastated by the sandn. A ch that can proficiently deal with hordes of low-quality chs will be incredibly valuable to many outfits looking to pick the ruins!"
His personal analysis of the market situation concurred with the market reports compiled by the LMC's Marketing Departnt. Everyone saw that his product would likely sell well if it fulfilled its role!
While its technical performance didn't particularly exceed other spaceborn striker chs, its promised fear-inducing glow was sothing that might completely revolutionize everyone's views on this ch type!
The Living ch Corporation needed to strike while the iron was hot! Not only did Ves want to take advantage of the current market trend, he also wanted his ch company to show up on the news again! The company's hard-earned reputation was already eroding due to its lack of activity because the market's attention span was too short!
"Are we truly ready?" Gloriana asked with doubt. "This isn't the Sand War anymore. While the Komodo War is still raging in the center of the star sector, many of the lesser states are in the process of accumulating their strength."
He shook his head. "Even with so minor inefficiencies, our striker ch is still competitive compared to the competition. Besides, what you are talking about mostly concerns state actors. Our striker ch is a purely comrcial product that is targeted towards security companies, rcenary corps and other private outfits. Their procurent patterns aren't as sensitive towards generational shifts."
States possessed a high sensitivity towards new generation shifts. Their ch militaries abhorred fielding outdated chs. Even a ten percent difference in performance between the generations was enough to shift the outco of a war against a rival state!
For this reason, ever since the new generation rolled in, practically any state that wasn't destitute or in collapse had undergone a very broad renewal process.
Their ch militaries gradually recycled as many chs as possible and built new generation chs as fast as their military industrial capacity allowed.
Of course, they mostly procured chs designed in-house or in partnership with certain trusted Seniors.
As for the regular outfits, they tended to cling onto their older chs for a longer ti. Their financial situation usually didn't afford them the luxury of exchanging their chs as if they were clothes.
While the more prudent outfits saved enough money in the past to invest in new war machines, even they tended to be cautious and patient. The first models to enter the market were usually overpriced and underpowered.
It took several years for the product offerings to slowly ramp up their standards to an optimum level. At that ti, the ch designers beca fully proficient in the changes the MTA introduced in the new generation.
So far, this ramp-up pattern was still an on-going process, but the rate of improvent had already slowed down. The ch industry already familiarized itself with the most drastic changes.
This ant that more and more outfits were entering the market in waves. The actual details concerning their purchasing behavior was actually very nuanced and complex, and Ves could talk for days about this subject.
However, that didn't change his overall conclusion, and that was that this was a good ti to release a new product!
"Are we really going to settle with this iteration of our design?" Gloriana asked.
"We are." Ves smiled. "Let's finalize our work. We have spent enough ti on it already."
The process of finalizing a ch design was a bit more complicated than before. With the growth of the LMC and its expansion in other states, the ch company had to comply with a lot more legal and administrative demands.
The headquarters of the LMC turned into a hive of activity. Both new and old workers initiated the process of introducing the new products to a diverse range of markets.
In so states with open economies, that might be as simple as filing a simple docunt to a governnt institution.
For the more troubleso states with more regulated economies, the LMC had to submit a more elaborate application. Not only that, but the ch company also had to submit the ch design and a physical copy to the MTA for validation.
Without the ch Trade Association's stamp of approval, there was no way those picky foreigners would allow a potentially-dangerous ch to be put on sale!
In addition to all of this regulation-related work, the LMC also needed to finish its preparation for a large, multi-state marketing campaign.
In truth, the ch company already began its marketing preparations at the start of the striker ch design project. Ves frequently fed pertinent information about the project to Gavin, who proceeded to pass it on to the Marketing Departnt.
Ves and the LMC both had high hopes about this new product. Most of the LMC chs with glows had already proven successful, and this one should be no different.
The question wasn't whether the product would be a success. The true issue they worried about was whether it would sell quickly enough!
As long as the opening sales surpassed a certain threshold, the montum generated from all of the hype about the new product release could be used to drive up even more interest!
In order to reach sales figures that were close to the numbers of the Desolate Soldier, the LMC had to go all-out and invest a lot of money to publicize the new release!
Though Ves winced at the astronomical price of the marketing campaign, he knew it would likely pay off in the end. Just because Ves and the LMC had both beco fad throughout the star sector after their latest accomplishnts didn't an they could just coast on free publicity!
While all of this took place, Ves and Gloriana prepared to fabricate the first production model.
The first copy of a ch design was always a significant step to ch designers. This was usually the ti when they both 'completed' their ch design and received the corresponding feedback from their design seeds.
It was also the best and most hopeful opportunity to fabricate another masterwork ch.
To Ves, this mont was even more significant.
First, he deliberately refrained from bestowing a na upon the ch design.
Second, he held off on bestowing the ch with a design spirit until the final mont.
Both of these asures served to maximize his montum for his upcoming fabrication session!
Every mber of the design team gathered at the ch workshop next to the design lab. The Tovars and the Ylvainans both looked incredibly enthusiastic at the show they were about to witness!
It was rare to see Ves and Gloriana put together a ch in person. Each ti they did so, they served as an example for the others to follow. This was because their fabrication and assembly skills were so of the best in the LMC!
It was a pity they weren't allowed to assist in person, but with their lack of experience and proficiency, they would just get in the way of the lead designers. In the worst case, the clumsiness exhibited the assistant ch designers might very well spoil the creation of another masterwork ch!
Both Ves and Gloriana prepared carefully for this fabrication session. Gloriana, in a rare mont of benevolence, dismissed the guards from their stateroom the night before and allowed Ves to enjoy so much-desired fun!
The glow he exuded when he woke up the next morning was so bright that even Lucky couldn't stand its intensity!
"ow!"
"What do you an I sll?" Ves frowned as he began to eat his hearty breakfast. "I took an extra-long shower this morning!"
Sitting on the opposite side of the table, Gloriana partook in her breakfast as well. She grinned at her boyfriend.
"I'll give you another reward if you do well in our fabrication session." She promised with a coy smile. "I already told you, Ves. As long as I'm in a good mood, I'm open for anything! If we happen to make another masterwork ch…"
Ves gulped.
Though she didn't elaborate on what might happen, his overactive imagination was already conjuring up all kinds of heated scenarios!
"I will do my best!" He quickly coughed and tried to regain his composure. "I an, I will endeavor to replicate our previous success and craft a ch that ets our expectations."
To be honest, Ves had a hunch that he wouldn't be getting lucky anyti soon. Making a masterwork ch was anything but guaranteed and building one consecutively right after the Quint was highly improbable!
Though Ves harbored plenty of enthusiasm for his striker ch design, it hadn't reached the level of anticipation he held towards his Hexer ch design project. The latter was a true ga changer as far as he was concerned, and Ves already made more elaborate preparations in order to maximize its impact.
As for this session, he believed it was much more likely he would be getting the cold shoulder after this conclusion!
Ves tactfully refrained from voicing his doubts. There was always a chance a fluke might occur, and he never ruled out a lucky break. It was just that his intuition hinted that he should temper his expectations this ti.
Before he began to bestow his ch design with a glow, he turned to the two Larkinson seeds that had been invited to the ch workshop as well. Just like his assistants, they looked forward to witnessing their idols in action!
"When you witness what we are about to do, don't focus too much on what you can see with your eyes." He advised. "Instead, feel the love and care we put into our work. Close your eyes and sense how we shape the intangible properties of our ch with our efforts. As long as you can perceive what we do on this level, there is hope that you may be able to develop a similar specialty to mine."
Both Maikel and Zanthar looked incredibly hopeful at his vague words!
Though Ves didn't outright spell it out, he basically suggested that he might pass on so of his core teachings to the Larkinson seeds!
He had no intentions on passing all of his exclusive knowledge to them both. Neither of them possessed the high degree of spiritual perception that his design philosophy depended upon. That did not an he could steer them in a direction that enabled so forms of spiritual manipulation.
Perhaps he could raise another ch designer like Ketis, who received so much influence from him that she found a way to manipulate spirituality in her own unique way!
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