The optimization process of the two expert chs proceeded with difficulty.
It was hard to simulate the performance of a ch that incorporated such a dazzling combination of resonating exotics, high-grade exotics and spiritual applications.
The best that Ves and Gloriana could do was devote a small amount of precious raw resources to fabricate scale models of specific parts of their future works.
Even then, these practical tests only explained a fraction of the expert ch's actual performance in the field.
"It would be great if I can just upload a design to the MSTS and have it simulate our work to an accurate enough degree." Ves sighed as he sat next to Gloriana during a scale model test.
The two ch designers continually observed the data panels as well as the miniature arm of the Ghost Project that they had installed in the testing chamber.
After activating a command, the arm began to disappear from view. All of the sensor and scanning systems pointed at it suddenly found themselves unable to detect anything unusual.
The impressive Seferath AQ-3M was doing its job. Even as Gloriana slowly dialed up the detection power of the various different sensor systems, the arm remained remarkably unnoticeable to most of them! The only sensors that managed to sense anything amiss were those that made use of physical particles or had been specifically designed to detect stealthed units.
None of this fell outside of the expectations of the couple. They already understood that there were too many ways to defeat active stealth systems at closer ranges. It was already impressive for the Seferath AQ-3M to be able to hide itself completely when it was not being actively searched upon.
"I think the MSTS can already be used to test a large range of standard chs." Gloriana shared her own views even as she adjusted the settings of the sensor systems. "It already has a fairly realistic ability to simulate ordinary physics. The greater the similarities between ch designs, the lower the chance the simulation results will deviate from reality. It is the abnormal designs that incorporate a large range of new exotic materials and unusual applications that throw off the calculations. This applies to both the MSTS and more conventional virtual simulation programs."
The Design Departnt was slowly expanding its output rate. The recent recruitnt of Miss Beatrice Hendrix opened up nurous new opportunities to design chs with improved modular configurations.
Ves had also been looking to recruit a Journeyman who specialized in artillery chs or explosive weapon systems, but all of the good ones had already been picked up by other employers.
A part of him regretted that he had listened to his wife and let Jocasta Clive go. The Design Departnt was lacking in ranged weapon specialists.
Though the Larkinson Clan had grown so popular that the recruiters received applications from dozens of eager and ambitious Journeyman ch Designers a month, none of them were worth a damn.
Ves even rejected a few nas proposed by Gloriana because the applicants did not possess the spark of brilliance that he sought in his future subordinates and collaboration partners.
As far as he was concerned, the only Journeyn worth his consideration were those who had the guts and confidence to asure themselves up against their peers in ch design tournants.
It was easy for ch designers to score easy successes by competing in a regulated ch market or receive favorable commissions from a compromised party.
Ves vastly preferred to evaluate potential candidates when they needed to compete directly against other peers.
Working for the Larkinson Clan was not safe. If his ch designers could not handle the pressure of publicly showcasing their work in ch design competitions, then they had no business participating in dangerous expeditions!
Of course, his wife was an exception to this rule. She was a special ch designer.
Once Ves and Gloriana concluded the expensive scale model test, they studied the data and took note of any discrepancies.
Even with the unique little quirks and modifications they applied to the Seferath AQ-3M active stealth system, its real performance did not significantly deviate from their expectations.
That was good news. The Ghost Project ca one step closer to reaching its finalized state.
Gloriana looked satisfied. "We have been making such good progress that we should probably complete the second iteration of the Ghost Project over the next week."
"I think it's ti to prepare for the fabrication of this expert ch." Ves declared.
His wife imdiately frowned. "Isn't that premature? The Ghost Project is extrely complex. It is packed with advanced technologies and new innovations. The Geist System alone is a mystery box due to how little of it is based on conventional physics. We should thoroughly verify our design over several more months so that it will beco as flawless as possible when we finally bring it into reality."
Ves couldn't wait that long anymore.
"No. Enough is enough. Our ability to test our expert chs is too limited at this point. Any improvents we can make at this junction are marginal at best and counterproductive at worst. Don't forget that this is just the starting point of our first expert stealth ch. We can always fix any shortcomings that beco obvious after we have fabricated our work."
His wife did not look pleased after hearing this. She clearly wanted to maximize the probability of gaining another masterwork certificate.
Although Ves wanted this as well, he did not want to delay too much over this obsession. The Golden Skull Alliance had spent enough ti in Davute. It was ti to restart the Trailblazer Expedition and continue to chase after greater riches.
The completed Ghost Project played a large role in his future plans. A fully functional expert stealth ch was one of the most effective scouts that an expeditionary fleet could ask for. There were so many ways they could tilt a situation in the clan's favor.
Expert stealth specialists were exceedingly rare in the ch community. The Larkinson Clan was blessed to have one in their ranks. The Larkinsons would be stupid to ignore such a precious asset!
Though Ves and his wife disagreed on many matters, the Ghost Project truly needed to be made sooner rather than later.
"We are not going to waste additional ti on iterating the Ghost Project any further." He insisted. "The more we play with theoretical data, the further it becos removed from reality. What we need at this junction is a real ch that can produce solid data for us. Besides, Venerable Zimro Belson has been doing little actual piloting during all of these months. He has been awfully patient towards us, but it won't do us any good to deprive him of a machine when he still hasn't completely solidified his new state."
Zimro only broke through a relatively short ti ago. When expert pilots initially ca into existence, their force of wills were still in flux and could easily be grown through practice.
Every week was precious while Venerable Zimro remained in this temporary state. Once they missed a precious window of opportunity, the expert pilot would have to put four to ten tis as much effort to grow at this astonishing rate!
As much as Gloriana wanted to deliver perfection right out of the gate, she could not ignore the greater needs of the Larkinson Clan.
"If it turns out that we missed out on fabricating a masterwork ch, it will take years if not decades for my god body to produce a qualitative transformation." His wife grumbled. "The MTA likely won't issue masterwork certificates to us as the thods used to attain this result do not comply with the rules."
Ves rolled his eyes. They already had more than half-a-dozen masterwork certificates on their belt while they were still at the Journeyman stage. One more virtual docunt did not make much of a difference.
Besides, Ves had a different perspective on what it took to turn a ch into a masterwork. Whenever he looked at the designs of his next two expert chs, he beca so excited that he felt his head would explode with ideas!
This was a good sign in his experience. The more enthused he felt about translating an innovative design into reality, the greater the chance that he would get caught up in a fever of inspiration!
Still, even if he missed out this ti, it was no big deal.
"I also plan on completing the Dullahan Project soon as well." Ves notified his wife. "It will take a little more ti on completing the iteration of this larger and more massive expert ch, but I see no reason to bother with a third iteration for the sa reasons as I have ntioned before."
His announcent did not do anything to lift Gloriana's mood.
"Are you sure you want to do that for Venerable Jannzi?" She questioned him. "Your cousin has been waiting to regain a version of the Shield of Samar. The consequences are dire if you fail to et her expectations. She has placed so many hopes on the outco of the Dullahan Project."
"I am sure. You know how much work and effort I put into this design." Ves reminded her of his vastly improved productivity. "There is no need for to work over its design for an additional 6 months because I already did double or triple as much work as before."
"That may be true, but that only applies to work. What about , Ves? We both know that you are more effective at the early stages of a ch design project. Now that we have reached the later stages, my expertise is much more relevant. If I had access to the sa augntations as yours, I would have been able to complete the third iterations of the Dullahan Project and the Ghost Project in another month!"
Ves let out a tired breath. "You don't need to remind about that fancy implant that you want to obtain. I promised you that you will get what you want once we complete our current batch of expert ch design projects. We need you in your current peak condition in order to complete them in a tily manner. By the way, how far have the Bloodripper Project and Greenaxe Project progressed?"
"Both of them are proceeding at a slower pace than before. It is hard for to spend too much ti on them when you have put such a high priority on the Dullahan Project and the Ghost Project. I estimate that we will be able to complete them within two months if we do not spend as much ti on optimizing them as we should."
"Hmm. Understood. It will be a little inconvenient to transfer them back to Davute once they are complete. Both Venerable Pedro Rodrigo Venerable Kolak Glendale have stuck to their decisions to join the 77th Warborn Division, right?"
Gloriana nodded. "General Ark Larkinson has already taken the two new expert pilots under his wing. He had been training and tutoring them so that they will get off on a good start once they receive our completed works."
Ves could only shrug at that. He didn't really care about two new Larkinson expert pilots as his expeditionary fleet already had plenty at its disposal.
Now that familiar heroes such as Venerable Tusa Billingsley-Larkinson, Venerable Joshua Larkinson and Commander Casella Ingvar passed the threshold of mid-tier expert pilot, there was greater room to upgrade their existing expert chs into much more powerful versions than before!
Ves truly looked forward to upgrading the likes of the Everchanger and the Minerva into domineering quasi-first-class expert chs!
However, before he could embark on these ambitious upgrade projects, he still needed to verify his experintal innovations and improved design applications. That could only be done by fabricating his much-anticipated expert knight ch and expert stealth ch.
"Soon."
A week was practically nothing in his opinion. As these two crucial projects ca closer to completion, Ves began to contemplate an important decision that he had withheld from his wife.
Which design should he Superpublish?
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