He put off checking in with the altar first, instead using the connection to contact the managers. He started with Solani 2-nine, being the most familiar with the feel of her mental voice.
Solani 2-nine? Are you there? This is Pax. Sorry about not checking in last night. I was pretty exhausted from working with my mother and the new mana skill I got. Please tell me everything is going fine with all of you, the altar and the base. I hope I didn’t hold up anything you tried to get done overnight.
An affectionate feeling of humor resonated down the connection he’d opened. You’re fine, Pax. If anything critical had come up, we’d have woken you. We all understand how fragile you organics can be. To keep our Commander functioning at top performance, you need to take care of yourself.
Relief swept through Pax at her response. He resolved to not neglect his responsibilities again. Perhaps he would make it a habit to check his list at every meal, to update it and remind himself of the important things he needed to get done. At breakfast, he’d read it off to his crew and see if there were more things he’d missed.
Can you update me on how things are going and let me know what you need from me? I’ve got a lot to do, but getting the base fully functional is one of the important things on my list.
Certainly. Solani’s tone turned all business. First on the list is the power situation. With Tyrodon and other crafters helping, we’ve been able to get close to 20% capacity working again.
That’s all? Pax immediately felt bad about disparaging all the work they’d probably done, but he’d been imagining something closer to half.
Solani let out a rueful chuckle. Commander Vipersworn, I don’t think you have a true vision of how large this headquarters is. Twenty percent is an amazing accomplishment, especially considering the basic skills of the crafters we’re working with. Your friend Tyrodon is truly a miracle worker. He might be as valuable a crafter as you are a light mage.
Pax grinned, glad to hear her mirror his own admiration of his friend’s abilities. Then I’ll make sure he keeps working with you.
He has had a bit of trouble with one of the senior crafters also working in the power room. Perhaps you can address that and make her not only listen to us, but also follow Tyrodon’s suggestions.
A surge or irritated anger hit Pax again. Maybe he needed to march into the power chamber and start throwing his weight around. Surely whatever crafter was giving his people trouble would back off when he showed off his complete control of the power. Or, he could stalk back into the committee’s chamber and tell them their time for dithering had run out.
Who is it? I’ve got some work to do down there in the training rooms today. I can make the power room my first stop and talk to her.
Actually. A bit of a sly tone entered Solani 2-nine’s voice. As commander, you need to learn to delegate. If you’d like to give me permissions to the controls down there, I can show her who exactly is in charge of the base on your behalf.
Pax grinned as he imagined 2-nine terrorizing some stubborn crafter who thought the base belonged to the rebellion.
If you trust me, that is? Solani suddenly sounded tentative.
Of course. Pax didn’t hesitate. What do I need to do?
Just answer my question. Do you, Commander Vipersworn, give me permissions over the controls of the main power room as long as I don’t do anything to significantly harm the base or our allies within it?
Yes. Pax chuckled as he ran over the specifics of her request. I notice you used significantly. Feel free to put a decent scare into her so Tyrodon can get busy. We’ve got a war on and need this base up and running as fast as possible.
Instead of laughing back, Solani 2-nine was silent for a long moment, a complex blend of emotions filtering back to Pax along their connection. When she didn’t respond he asked, Are you alright?
Yes. It’s just how easily you agreed—
She didn’t continue. This time, Pax waited patiently for her to organize her thoughts.
I don’t know if you realize how hard it’s been for the three of us, now four, to see our life’s work on the verge of permanently disappearing. Her words came out slowly, thoughtfully. And then, when the rebel troops showed up and took over, dismissing us with their entitled arrogance? We figured we might not only lose our home, but our reason for existing.
Never, Pax protested. Without you two Solanis and Fenix 3-one, we wouldn’t have survived long enough to claim this base. Even now, we’d be idiots to try to get this place up and running without your help.
That’s not what the other groups here think.
Like I said. They’re idiots.
Now Pax could feel amusement from her, as well as a stronger sense of purpose and gratitude.
Well, all of us are on your side. Whatever you need, we’ll do it for you.
Remembering the list he’d just made, Pax couldn’t resist asking. I know we have more important things to discuss, but I was wondering if you’ve found a new workshop for Magesecond Fenix and if he and Fenix 3-one have met. How did it go?
Now Solani let out a delighted peal of laughter in his mind. Why don’t you ask them yourself?
It’s about time you quit focusing on yourself and thought about us. The grouchy tone was instantly recognizable as Magesecond Fenix.
Magesecond Fenix is correct. You promised him a new workshop as soon as you arrived. It’s been four days, which is long to keep one such as him waiting. This tone had the same timbre, but the emotion behind it was much more diffident. Pax figured it had to be Fenix 3-one.
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3-one, I’ve told you to stop being such a bootlicker. We’re all managers now, equally responsible for getting this place functional again. Magesecond’s annoyed tone was easy for Pax to recognize.
I’m sorry, Magesecond Fenix, but I have to disagree. As the first of my line, you will always hold a venerable place above the rest of us.
The impatient grumble in response made Pax’s grin widen. He chuckled at the back and forth between the two Fenixes. Apparently, 3-one’s groveling and admiration was too much for even Magesecond Fenix’s usual enjoyment of subservient flattery.
Pax couldn’t resist as he adopted his most groveling tone. Oh, most venerable Magesecond Fenix? Have you found an appropriate location for your new workshop that I as the Commander can offer you?
Argh! Impudent boy!
Pax stifled a laugh.
Don’t think I’m going to tolerate that attitude from you. I still have more knowledge about light magic in my little finger than you’ve ever learned. Mock me at your own risk.
Sorry. Sorry. Pax hurried to retreat. I’m just trying to lighten the mood.
Magesecond Fenix harrumphed, but seemed to be calm down at Pax’s apology.
Pax did one better. Magesecond Fenix, please use whatever altar access you need to find a suitable workshop for yourself. Then once we have power to the essentials, we can siphon off some to get it up and running for you.
A silence greeted his words, stunned and similar to the recent one from Solani 2-nine.
You’d really do that for me? Give me that kind of access to power and my choice of any facility in the entire place?
Of course. Pax nodded, though Fenix couldn’t see it. Just like I told Solani 2-nine, I wouldn’t be here without all of you. And I most definitely wouldn’t have anything like the powers I have now without your help with light magic.
Hmph. Fenix let out a satisfied grunt. Good thing you recognize that. I’ll let you know when I find the perfect workshop. Until then, I’ll help the others get this place into shape. Now you need to check over the progress report from the altar so you can get to work for the day.
True. Pax turned his attention to the altar. Can you provide me with an update? I’d like the diagnostics on the current systems and those that are still broken.
There was a beat of silence before messages popped up in his vision.
***
Commander Pax Vipersworn recognized. List of current directives and their status:
- Conserve enough energy in the altar storage crystal to maintain functions for a period of two months.
Status: Achieved. Energy reserves are stable and sufficient for 65 days of autonomous operation.
- Establish a connection to power sources, starting with the main power station in the basement.
Status: Achieved. Main power station operating at 20% capacity. Additional resources and work required to increase output. Unknown completion time. Further analysis required.
- Initiate a full system diagnostic upon power restoration.
Status: In progress. Diagnostics of functional base areas complete. Estimated time to full report: 12+ hours.
Currently ~25% of the base is functional, including the following based on data when base was fully functional:
- 57% of altar’s full functions.
- 20% of main power station.
- 20% of possible living quarters.
- 1 of 4 dining halls.
- 10% of workshop facilities.
- 62.5% of student elemental training rooms.
- 4 of 20 golem protectors.
- 35% of base protective shields.
- 24% of base repellant fields.
- 30% of storage facilities.
- 22% of climate control and air filtration.
- 12% of water and waste controls.
Unknown status ~75% of base currently being analyzed. Results will be in the full diagnostic report when finished.
- Repair systems based on critical functionality and security.
Status: Initiated. Prioritizing power and defensive systems.
Would the commander like to change the priority of the current directives?
Yes/No?
***
Pax’s eyes were wide as he finished reading the report and quickly chose No. It seemed the altar had made significant progress already, and he had no problem with the focus being on power and defense first.
But everything they restored was still only a quarter of the full base? Most of the base wasn’t even functional enough for the altar to give him a report. He knew there had to be vaults, armories, crafting facilities and more out there just waiting to be brought back.
But the place had had generations to fall apart, especially considering the various vermin and beasts that had moved in and ruined things. Remembering the changes the glitterhive colony had made to that section of the base made Pax wonder what had been there originally. Hopefully, it had been nothing as critical as a library or alchemy workshop.
They couldn’t afford to ignore the rest of the base, considering what valuable items and knowledge might assist the rebels in the war. But it was also important to focus on the things they knew could empower their fighters, like more training with additional elements and beast companions.
A fresh idea occurred to Pax, and he wondered how efficient it would be to send crews out to explore more of the base as training. Navigating the dangerous corridors would help scouts and ranger types gain practice. Fighting against any beasts they found would definitely improve everyone’s skills.
It would take care of two objectives at once, as long as they didn’t run into anything too powerful for them to handle. He’d discuss it with Bryn and come up with a reasonable plan to present to the committee when the stubborn leaders finally listened to them.
Pax blew out a breath, already feeling a bit overwhelmed, and the day hadn’t even really started yet. Thank you, managers, for all your work. We’ll work on more specific tasks once the altar finishes its diagnostics for the rest of the base. But for now, would you keep working on the power, defenses and getting the student training rooms working? I think that is plenty for the day. And I don’t mind you breaking in with questions or updates for me throughout the day. Anything else?
Excuse me, Magesecond Fenix, if I may speak to the commander? Fenix 3-one was back.
Magesecond let out an irritated harrumph. Speak to him, already. You don’t need my permission.
Pax felt 3-one’s attention turn to him. I noticed your work with the various younglings in the base and wondered if you’d like some help in awakening them.
Pax groaned at another thing he’d been meaning to do, especially after Kai suggesting it. Yes! Thank you for spying on us, so you could bring it up. Please tell me you know how to awaken children without an artifact.
First, it isn’t spying. Fenix 3-one sounded offended. My duties of guarding the student vault use little of my time. So, I checked in with the two Solanis who suggested I find more ways to be useful while they work on powering the altar and defenses to full function. Of course, I checked on what you and your friends were doing to see how I could help—
Sorry, again. Pax hurried to interrupt the tirade, feeling chagrined at how 3-one took his offhand comment. The idea of being constantly watched was a touch disconcerting, but the alternative was much worse. I appreciate your initiative, and I am extremely interested in learning more about awakening the younglings here in the base. How can I do it? And how hard is it?
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