Page 148 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

composites and ceramic metal alloys. It was a tenth of the mass of similar sized vessels. Energy
requirements had been minimised as and where needed. To compensate for the reduced mass,
Inertial Dampening systems had been strengthened to military levels; this would prove an advantage
during a later part of the expedition. One item in the special equipment Hubris had brought was a
version of a Krall Exo-Suit. This one had been extensively modified to suit a Vahamat frame. Most of
the body panels had been changed to flexible materials with interwoven Krall Nano wires. These
emitted a powerful force field. The result was a more flexible suit that withstood nearly everything
that was thrown at it. Trok took an instant appreciation to its design.

“I wonder if the “Skin” could be adapted to Mechanoid specifications?” he asked

“I don’t see why not” Hubris replied adding “I have the specifications to hand in case we need to
reproduce any materials for repairs. Though it’s so tough I can’t see that we’d need to” Hubris
laughed. He brought up the data on a lab screen. Trok analysed this and; after a ten minutes said

“It would mean a substantial change to our power generation systems, but it is feasible. It would
mean an end to bulky armour on the military spec
Mechanoids. I had been tinkering with a modified
version of the Kryst Probe power generators that
would be more than capable of doing the job” and
he showed Hubris the designs and the smaller
version he had fitted to himself. “Regulation would
have to be improved, but the basic systems would
be a substantial improvement” he added

“Ah; so that’s where the power system for the
Hyper Warp Drive on this ship came from! I must
say I am in awe at how you and your kind have progressed since the early days. I was around when
The Tribe were first contacted and your ancestors discovered all those centuries ago. At that time I
was attached to the Unat command on the World Ship, now I’m one of only six Vahamat still in this
sector. Tell me; do you have a spare power unit? I wonder if it can be adapted to power this suit.”
Hubris asked. Trok informed him he had two functional spare units and a third being repaired in
Engineering

“While it’s still apart we could see if it could be jury rigged to the suit. I’ll let them know we’re
coming down with a bulky item” Trok chuckled “Tom Vergon will “blow a gasket” when he sees this
suit. His Great-grandfather was one of the first engineers to find one of the original Krall suits on the
Outpost” Trok added and the two of them manhandled the suit into a service elevator.

“I hadn’t realised Tom was part of the Ship’s Crew; it’s been six years since I last saw his Father! He
was working at the Academy training ground the last I heard of him. And you’re right about him
blowing a gasket; I’m beginning to find this expedition enjoyable. Having two former students I know
will help me get back into the swing of things” Hubris replied and whistled. They fell out of the
elevator as they arrived and both laughed loudly; Tom came over to help. “You two seem to have
struck it off; welcome aboard Hubris… Is that what I think it is?” he said, and helped the two of them
get the suit onto a bench. As they worked, Hubris caught up with his student’s career and Trok ran
through the specs of the skin-armour.

The Veklaar’s first rendezvous was at a way station in the Lubrintz Chancellery at an outpost
on Rega; a world in the star system of Ulrat. A former mining colony processing planet; the world
had traded its origins for the manufacture of high grade armaments during a conflict early in the
Border Resettlements. That had been a hectic period of trade and territorial border shifts. The
borders were finally realigned when Unthar and Hetrosia settled into the Unity. Rega had been