The team gathered in their secured conference room aboard the cruiser after the trade show hall closed, everyone looking drained from the day's unexpected challenges. The grandmother's intelligence operation had left them all on edge, and now they had to process the consequences of Prince Archibald's sudden involvement.
"Let's address the obvious issue first," Davidson said, settling into his chair with a slight frown. "Prince Archibald declared he would pilot your ship tomorrow, but you never actually agreed to let him do it."
Tanya blinked, realising he was right. "He just... assumed I'd say yes."
"That's how royalty operates," Amara said dryly. "They make statements that sound like requests but expect compliance."
"Can we actually refuse him?" Tanya asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
"Absolutely," Davidson replied firmly. "The Royal family has no authority over your private property. A polite 'thank you for the interest, but no' would be entirely appropriate."
"But it would be incredibly stupid," Amara interjected before Tanya could respond. "This is an enormous opportunity. Having a prince demonstrate your technology will generate publicity that money can't buy."
"I'm more worried about whether he can actually fly the thing," Tanya said. "What if he crashes it? The Avdrulla Stela is more complex than standard craft."
"That's not a concern," Davidson assured her. "Prince Archibald is an exceptionally skilled pilot. The royal family has access to... enhanced training methods. He could probably fly your ship better than you can."
Red nodded in agreement. "His reputation among military pilots is legendary. Technical competence won't be an issue."
"The real problem," Davidson continued, "is that any ship he pilots requires approval from his personal shipwright. Royal safety protocols are non-negotiable, and that means we can't keep secrets from the inspection team."
Janet leaned forward with interest. "Does that actually matter? We're planning to reveal the dimensional shielding technology on day four anyway. Does keeping it secret for two extra days really change anything?"
"It gives potential competitors more time to prepare countermeasures," Green said quietly. "Corporate intelligence operations work faster when they know what they're looking for."
Blue nodded in agreement. "Once they understand the basic principles, they can focus their espionage efforts more effectively."
Tanya found herself torn between the publicity opportunity and the security risks. "Is there some middle ground? Maybe we could explain the technology to the Prince privately but ask him to keep it confidential until day four?"
"That might work," Davidson said thoughtfully. "He might be willing to help protect your technological advantages until you're ready for full disclosure."
Cameron had been quiet during most of the discussion, but now he spoke up. "What about the inspection itself? Even if the Prince agrees to discretion, his shipwright will need to understand how the systems work to certify them as safe."
"One person learning the details is manageable," Amara said. "It's when dozens of corporate agents get access simultaneously that we lose control of the information and the narrative."
"I can work on arranging a private briefing," Davidson offered. "The Prince is intelligent enough to understand the strategic implications, and he has his own political interests in seeing your technology succeed independently."
Tanya looked around the table at her team, happy to see them all working for her benefit. "Alright," she said finally. "Let's try to work with the Prince. But I want assurances that the technical details stay confidential until day four."
"I'll handle the arrangements," Davidson said. "The Prince respects skilled engineering, and I think he'll appreciate both your innovations and your caution."
As the meeting broke up, Tanya reflected on how much more complicated her simple atmospheric surfing demonstration had become. Between corporate intelligence operations and royal politics, she was learning that revolutionary technology came with responsibilities she'd never anticipated. She had dreams of just running back to Eden-Five and hiding away in her workshop.
The next morning came far too early. Davidson appeared at her door before dawn, his expression carrying the kind of polite urgency that meant royal schedules were not to be questioned.
"Prince Archibald has agreed to conduct the safety inspection earlier than expected," he explained as she grabbed a quick cup of coffee. "He thinks acting quickly will limit the chances of interference."
Before leaving their quarters, Tanya had already powered down and removed the Avdrulla Stela's dimensional shielding array, storing it away in her multitool dimensional storage as a safety precaution.
She was whisked away to the Prince's personal vessel, barely given time to process the corridors she would have loved to explore under different circumstances. Her escort hurried them along with practised efficiency, and she found herself face to face with Prince Archibald again, but he wasn't alone.
Elizabeth, Garret, and Klein stood nearby with scanning equipment and professional expressions. An ancient-looking man moved with the careful precision of someone whose joints had seen too many decades of careful work.
"This is Bert," the Prince said by way of introduction. "Royal Shipwright, and the only person whose approval I need before taking your ship out for what he insists on calling a 'joyride.'"
The Prince's tone was casual, but Tanya noticed how his eyes tracked the master builders with subtle wariness. "Of course, these distinguished colleagues insisted on providing additional technical oversight. For my safety, naturally."
Klein stepped forward with his reasonable smile. "Standard protocol requires comprehensive structural analysis. We wouldn't want His Highness taking unnecessary risks."
"Fascinating how many people are suddenly concerned about my safety," Prince Archibald murmured to Tanya. "Almost like they're more interested in your ship than my wellbeing."
The master builders had already begun deploying their scanning equipment around the Avdrulla Stela. Their devices were far more sophisticated than simple safety instruments such as material composition analysers, quantum resonance scanners, and dimensional field detectors.
"Your Highness," Elizabeth said smoothly, "we're simply ensuring the vessel meets all Imperial safety standards. The readings we're getting are... unusual."
The Prince glanced at Tanya with subtle concern. "Are you worried about their examination?"
"Not at all," Tanya replied calmly. "Let them scan whatever they need to."
Red had moved closer during this exchange, his expression suggesting that he recognised the intelligence-gathering operation for what it was. Blue and Green were also watching intently, noting which scanners were recording what data.
Klein frowned at his readings, comparing them against his tablet. "The power distribution systems are oversized for what we're seeing. Why would you need this much reactor capacity for a basic atmospheric craft?"
"The structural integrity calculations don't match the performance data," Elizabeth added, studying her scanner with obvious frustration. "These materials shouldn't survive the stress loads we witnessed in the Hecalon footage."
Garret was running his hands along the hull while consulting his own readings. "There's something missing here. The atmospheric pressure differential equations don't work without some kind of active protection system, but I'm not detecting any barrier generation capabilities."
"Perhaps the viral videos were enhanced for dramatic effect," Elizabeth suggested, though she sounded unconvinced by her own explanation.
"The power coupling architecture is designed for systems that aren't here," Klein muttered, his reasonable facade cracking slightly. "It's like examining half a ship."
Bert, who had been quietly conducting his genuine safety inspection, looked up from the control systems. "The basic engineering is sound. Standard atmospheric craft design, well-executed. All safety systems check out."
"But how—" Klein started to ask.
"Gentlemen, ladies," Prince Archibald interrupted smoothly, checking his chronometer. "While I appreciate your thorough analysis, we have a schedule to maintain. The demonstration window won't wait for extended technical discussions."
"Your Highness," Klein protested, "there are significant discrepancies in the—"
"Are you saying the ship is unsafe?" the Prince asked with raised eyebrow.
"No, but—"
"Then we're done here," Prince Archibald said with finality. "Bert has certified the vessel as airworthy, and that's all I require. Unless anyone has specific safety concerns rather than technical curiosity?"
The master builders exchanged frustrated glances. They had detailed scans of impressive but conventional spacecraft technology with sophisticated power systems designed for equipment that wasn't there, materials engineered for stresses they couldn't explain, and control architectures that seemed to be missing critical components.
"Of course, Your Highness," Elizabeth said diplomatically, beginning to pack away her scanning equipment. "We're simply being thorough."
"I appreciate the diligence," the Prince replied with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Now, we have a deadline to meet. If you could please return to your own vessels."
As the scanning equipment was packed away, Tanya could see the master builders' barely concealed disappointment. They were leaving with reams of technical data that revealed absolutely nothing about her revolutionary breakthroughs.
Cameron appeared at her elbow as the group dispersed. "They have no idea how it actually works," he said quietly.
"That was the point," the Prince said, overhearing. "Now, shall we see what your ship can actually do?"
Tanya moved to the Avdrulla Stela, removing the module from her multitool without anyone seeing and reinstalled it, being careful as it was a precise operation. She reactivated the dimensional shielding systems, and there was an immediate effect.
"There we are," she said with satisfaction. "Now she's herself again."
Bert's eyes widened as he watched the transformation. "Fascinating." As he looked at the new shielding around the ship.
"Dimensional shielding," Tanya explained to both the Prince and the shipwright. "The technology allows us to create localised dimensional bubble that separates the ship from the rest of space."
The Prince studied the now-active systems with obvious fascination. "That explains the impossible performance at Hecalon 5. You were riding the atmosphere while being separated from it"
"Exactly," Tanya said. "The shielding doesn't just protect the ship but allows it to interact with atmospheric forces in ways that conventional physics would consider impossible."
Bert was running new scans with his safety equipment, his expression shifting from professional assessment to genuine wonder. "Nothing passes the shield. This means it wouldn't matter what the pressure was. Ah I see," he said with surprise. "The power consumption is unbelievable. I assume it's linked to the size of the shield. That makes it impractical for any normal-sized vessel"
Tanya was surprised he could glean that much information from a few sample readings and also impressed. She guessed why he was a royal shipwright.
"I hope you don't mind," the Prince said, his excitement barely contained, "but I'd like to practice a little before the public demonstration. I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself in front of everyone or worse, damage your beautiful ship."
"That's actually very thoughtful," Tanya said, impressed by his consideration despite his obvious eagerness. "Let me explain how the controls work with the dimensional systems active."
She walked him through the enhanced cockpit systems, noting his careful attention to every detail. "The controls are much more manual than a normal ship, but now they're also more responsive. The dimensional shielding provides feedback about atmospheric conditions, and you'll feel like you're truly connected to the flight dynamics."
The Prince seemed even more excited than before, his eyes lighting up with genuine enthusiasm. "So it's actual pilot skill that decides how well it will fly? Not just automated systems managing the impossible parts?"
"Exactly. The ship amplifies your capabilities, but it responds to your actions and intentions."
He started up the Avdrulla Stela, and Tanya immediately sensed something she had never experienced before. It seemed the ship greeted the Prince with what could only be described as eager recognition. No one else appeared to have sensed it, she wondered if the ship was actually alive or if she was imagining things. She would ask Sage later, surely they would know.
"Fascinating," Cameron murmured, watching the Prince's hands move across the controls with surprising familiarity for someone who had only just learned the systems. "It's like the ship is teaching him as he flies."
"I'll need some time to get used to her enhanced capabilities," Archibald said, but almost instantly he was executing manoeuvres that pushed far beyond what Tanya thought possible. The ship performed better in his hands than it ever had with her or even Sage controlling it remotely.
//Most impressive. The Prince's skills seem perfectly aligned to the ship's own desires,// Sage commented privately to Tanya. //His enhanced capabilities appear to include intuitive dimensional awareness.//
After a flawless series of dances that left everyone watching in stunned silence, the Prince brought the ship down with perfect precision and exited with a massive grin on his face.
"Don't tell my wife," he said with mock seriousness, "but I think I'm in love."
"With the ship?" Davidson asked dryly.
"Is there any other kind of love worth having?" Archibald replied, patting the Avdrulla Stela's hull affectionately. "The demonstration is going to be spectacular. Your dimensional shielding technology doesn't just make impossible flight possible but makes it feel like dancing with the universe itself."
Tanya found herself both thrilled and slightly intimidated by how effortlessly he had mastered her creation's true capabilities.
With the testing complete and the Prince appropriately satisfied, the Prince's ship moved to the smaller gas giant in the system. It was a beautiful world banded in green and purple with minor storm systems dancing across its upper atmosphere.
"I should warn you," the Prince said as they prepared for the demonstration, "this event has attracted more attention than we initially anticipated. Having Imperial involvement tends to do that."
He wasn't exaggerating. The viewer numbers were staggering, with holovid streams carrying the demonstration across multiple networks throughout the Empire.
Prince Archibald addressed the watching audience with genuine enthusiasm. "Welcome, citizens of the Empire, to witness this marvel of engineering achievement. This represents the brilliance of our independent innovators and the creativity and excellence that makes our Empire truly great."
Tanya noticed his careful phrasing: "independent innovators" rather than "Imperial engineering." Even his public statements were calculated to support technological freedom.
With that dramatic introduction, the Prince launched the Avdrulla Stela from his ship's bay and began surfing the gas giant's upper atmosphere. His personal camera streamed every moment directly to the watching millions, capturing both the ship's performance and his excited commentary.
"Look at this responsiveness!" he called out as the ship danced through atmospheric currents. "Perfect stability in conditions that would challenge any conventional spacecraft!"
Tanya watched nervously as he pushed into the atmosphere.
"Feel that control!" the Prince continued, his voice filled with genuine awe. "Every atmospheric current, every pressure change, and the ship responds like it's reading the pilot's intentions!"
He executed a series of spiral dives that transitioned into impossible barrel rolls, the ship flipping end over end through the dense atmosphere with perfect control. "The specially-enhanced hull is responding to atmospheric changes in real-time!" he continued, his professional commentary occasionally interrupted by uncontrolled whoops of pure joy. "WHOO! Did you see that flip? This isn't just flying…this is absolute mastery over the elements themselves!"
The Prince pushed the ship into a steep dive toward the denser atmospheric layers, then pulled up sharply, the wings automatically adjusting their configuration to catch the updraft. "I have complete control!" he shouted, his excitement evident even through the technical description. "Every input, every atmospheric current and the ship responds like it's reading my mind! This is what happens when human engineering conquers the impossible! YES!"
His delighted laughter echoed through the comm system as he executed another series of flips, the ship dancing through the gas giant's currents like it was performing a carefully choreographed ballet with the storm systems themselves.
When he brought the ship back to the bay, the Prince walked around the Avdrulla Stela with his camera still active, showing that the vessel had performed flawlessly despite the challenging conditions.
"This is what we achieve when brilliant minds have the freedom to innovate!" he declared. "When engineers like Tanya Furrow are free to explore new possibilities without bureaucratic interference!"
As the broadcast ended, Tanya realised the Prince had turned her demonstration into a political statement about technological independence and simultaneously protecting her most valuable secrets from corporate espionage.
The extranet response was immediate and massive. Technical forums buzzed with analysis of the wing configurations and atmospheric dynamics. Extreme sports enthusiasts speculated about booking flights. But underneath the praise, there were also critics.
"Just another toy for the rich," read one popular comment. "While ordinary people struggle with basic transport, engineers waste talent building playthings for princes."
Those criticisms stung, but Cameron was there to provide perspective. "You brought wonder to millions of people today. Children across the Empire watched impossible flying and felt inspired. That matters."
"Besides," he continued, "the technology you've developed doesn't stay exclusive forever. Today's luxury innovations become tomorrow's standard features."
"I just hope I'm making the right choices," Tanya said. "I wanted to build better ships, not get caught up in politics and corporate warfare."
Before anyone could respond, Amara entered with her usual directness. "Don't second-guess yourself. Today was a perfect balance. It was impressive enough to establish your reputation, careful enough to protect your real advantages."
She settled across from them with a more serious expression. "Tomorrow and the day after is when things get really challenging. The technical presentation will bring every major corporation and government representative with detailed questions about how everything works."
Tanya was too tired to care about that today; they were future Tanya problems.