Tanya stood before the packed auditorium, acutely aware that this moment would define everything that came after. The main conference hall hummed with an energy she'd never experienced, with hundreds of the galaxy's most influential people gathered to hear what a young shipwright from Eden-Five had to say about the future of space technology.
Tanya could feel nothing but nerves; she had never done anything like this, and all she wanted to do was run away. Her stomach ached, her hands trembled. She was struggling to breathe.
//Bio signs show signs of extreme fluctuations. Suggest you relax and take in deep breaths.//
Tanya wasn't happy with Sage stating the obvious, but knew they were right, and slowly started to take control of her own breathing and could finally focus on the crowd in front of her.
In the front rows, she spotted Prince Archibald leaning forward with obvious interest. The Hallow Guard representatives sat with military precision, their expressions neutral but their attention absolute. Elizabeth, Garret, Klein and other master builders occupied premium seats, their professional scepticism evident even from a distance. Tanya found it amusing that they still took time out of their busy schedules for a no one like her.
The Vortex Drive Consortium had sent a delegation and she recognised several faces from Davidsons' intelligence package, including Dr. Marcus Webb, who had dismissed her material sensitivity questions so condescendingly. Near the back, she caught sight of the elderly woman who had extracted her beacon secrets with such sophisticated manipulation, now watching with benign interest. Tanya observed her entourage which seemed especially on edge. She wondered what her true identity was.
Even some of yesterday's interview candidates had managed to secure seats. They still hadn't shortlisted the interviewee yet, as Amara said that preparing for the presentation came first. She wondered if they were trying to curry favour and, if so, it had worked.
//This audience represents the full spectrum of power and influence in human space technology,// Sage observed privately. //Your words today will shape industry development.//
No pressure at all, Tanya thought back, taking a steadying breath.
"Thank you all for attending," she began, her voice carrying clearly through the hall's acoustic systems. "My name is Tanya Furrow, and until recently, I was nobody special …just a girl from an agricultural world who dreamed of building ships since she was little."
She paused, noting how the simple opening seemed to catch the audience off-guard. They'd expected corporate polish or academic credentials, not humble honesty.
"I've been incredibly lucky. Through a combination of circumstances, hard work, and yes, pure chance, I've made some breakthroughs that I believe will change how we think about space travel. But before I explain what I've discovered, I need to teach you real physics of the vortex."
Tanya activated the main holographic display, showing a three-dimensional representation of the parallel dimensions of realspace and vortex space. "Everything we know about faster-than-light travel depends on dimensional manipulation. Vortex drives work by creating temporary windows between realspace and what we call vortex space—a dimension where distances are compressed." She paused, noting some restless shifting in the audience. "You might be thinking, 'Yes, I already know that. We all learned this in high school.' And you would be correct."
The audience leaned forward as she continued. "But here's what most people don't understand: these spaces are glued together in such a way that every realspace point links to a vortex space point at specific mathematical coordinates that can be mapped."
She gestured, and the hologram showed the complex mathematical relationships between dimensions. "The intersection points can be mapped. While they are sensitive to outside conditions and vortex storms, it is possible to map these in real time."
Dr. Webb from the Vortex Consortium spoke up. "This is basic vortex drive theory. What's your point?"
"My point," Tanya replied calmly, "is that current navigation assumes these intersection points are fixed relative to gravity wells. Stars, planets, massive objects and we use them as anchors because we can't measure dimensional coordinates directly."
She switched to a new display showing current navigation limitations. "Every vortex jump requires calculating position relative to known massive objects. This limits us to mapped systems with established gravitational references. That was until now."
"I've developed what I call dimensional sensors," Tanya announced, activating a new holographic sequence. "These devices can record precise coordinates in both vortex space and realspace simultaneously, creating fixed reference points that exist independent of gravity wells."
The mathematical framework she displayed was elegant but complex. It showed how you could accurately use the data to travel anywhere in space.
"Each sensor can be attached to a beacon. A dimensional anchor that maintains consistent coordinates regardless of local gravitational influences. Ships equipped with my specialised navigation boxes or navboxes as I call them, can use these beacons to travel anywhere, not just to the nearest gravity well."
Dr. Webb stood up, his voice carrying a clear challenge. "That's theoretically impossible. Dimensional coordinates are relative measurements. You can't establish absolute reference points in vortex space."
"You can if you understand the dimensional maths involved, which you clearly do not," Tanya replied, switching to detailed mathematical proofs. "The key insight is that the dimensional interface between the two spaces follows a difficult but not impossible to calculate geometric shape."
Dr. Webb stood up again, his voice carrying a clear sign of panic. "And you a farmer's girl, just so happen to have discovered this shape?"
"Yes," she continued, and showed navigation calculations that demonstrated unprecedented precision. "With beacon networks, ships can navigate to any point in space with meter-level accuracy. And as I said before, we're no longer limited to established systems or gravity-well navigation."
A Hallow Guard representative raised his hand. "What are the security implications? How do you prevent these beacons from being used for unauthorized access to restricted systems?"
Before Tanya could respond, the elderly woman from the back spoke up with deceptive gentleness. "Surely the young lady has considered authentication protocols? Such elegant mathematics would naturally include security frameworks."
Tanya recognised the subtle support and nodded gratefully. "That was one of the many solutions we have studied. An example would be that each beacon requires cryptographic keys to access navigational data. Unauthorised ships receive no dimensional reference information. But we would leave implementation of any of these solutions up to the government to decide"
"But the underlying physics," Prince Archibald interjected with obvious fascination, "suggests applications far beyond navigation. If you can manipulate dimensional intersections with such precision..."
"Exactly, Beacons are not the only breakthrough that comes from understanding dimensional science," Tanya said, activating her most dramatic demonstration yet. "Understanding dimensional science has allowed me to create something entirely new: dimensional shielding."
The holographic display showed two sections of space with a shimmering barrier between them. "By manipulating the dimensional window that a vortex drives open, I can create localised separations between different sections of realspace."
The auditorium erupted in murmurs of disbelief. Garret stood up immediately. "That's physically impossible. The energy requirements would be astronomical!"
"You're absolutely right," Tanya agreed calmly.
She switched to energy flow diagrams that showed power consumption during shield operation. "The shield's power draw is a constant once it is activated, but it follows the square-cube law, and the power drain is very significant"
Klein shook his head. "Even if that were possible, the applications would be limited. What practical use could such technology have?"
Tanya smiled, remembering every moment of the Prince's demonstration flight. "Let me show you how my atmospheric surfer actually works." She paused to gauge the audience's response before continuing, "Everyone said there was no way it could withstand those forces, and they were correct if you think of traditional methods."
The display shifted to footage from the Prince's gas giant demonstration, but now with a technical overlay showing dimensional shield configurations. "The Avdrulla Stela doesn't survive atmospheric pressure through conventional materials. The ship exists in a dimensional pocket that's partially separated from the external environment. The shape has been fine tuned to give the lease amount of surface area,"
Elizabeth stood up, her voice carrying professional outrage. "You're claiming your ship exists in and out of reality during atmospheric flight?"
"No, it selectively interacts," Tanya corrected. "The dimensional shields can be configured to allow beneficial interactions while blocking harmful ones. The ship experiences atmospheric currents for manoeuvrability while avoiding pressure damage."
She showed shield configuration data that revealed the elegant complexity of her system. "The dimensional window can be programmed to protect against pressure, temperature, radiation, and chemical exposure while maintaining pilot control and atmospheric response."
Dr. Webb's face had grown increasingly red during the explanation. "This violates fundamental principles of conservation of energy! You can't selectively ignore physics!"
"I'm not ignoring physics," Tanya replied with quiet intensity. "I'm applying physics that current technology doesn't understand. Dimensional shielding works within a dimensional framework that conventional engineering hasn't accessed. I so happen to have discovered that framework"
//The audience is reaching a critical decision point,// Sage observed. //They must choose between accepting revolutionary concepts or rejecting evidence that contradicts their worldview.//
The elderly woman stood up, her voice carrying surprising authority. "Perhaps the young lady could demonstrate these principles? Theory is fascinating, but practical proof would be... illuminating."
Tanya had anticipated this moment. "Then, proof you will have."
She gestured toward the side of the auditorium, where a concealed section of the wall slid away to reveal the Avdrulla Stela in all its elegant glory. The atmospheric surfer's quantum-enhanced hull caught the auditorium lighting, creating subtle patterns that seemed to shift and flow.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is dimensional shielding in practice."
Gasps rippled through the audience as Sage remotely activated the ship systems. The ship started to give off a purple-blue glow.
"The shields are now active," she announced, stepping back. "I invite anyone with scanning equipment to test them out. Try to get sensor readings. Touch it if you're brave enough."
Prince Archibald was the first to approach. Tanya knew he had already seen it before, but she assumed he was using his status to encourage others to approach as well. Davidson had explained to her that the prince had an invested interest in seeing this demonstration succeed.
Several Hallow Guard representatives rushed forward with their instruments, only to watch their scanners return impossible readings. Energy beams disappeared as they hit the shield like they had never existed. They even obtained permission to try projectile weapons, and they lost all kinetic energy and fell to the floor upon impact.
Dr. Webb approached with obvious scepticism, pressing his hand against the hull only to have it stopped.He jerked back as if stung. "This is impossible!"
"As you can see, it is possible," Tanya corrected calmly. "It's a controlled dimensional interface. The shields determine which aspects of our reality the ship interacts with. At the moment it is set to block everything"
One of the master builders tried striking the hull with a testing rod, watching in amazement as the impact was blocked. No damage occurred and no surge of energy or anything. The builder looked on as if fascinated with the idea.
Dr. Webb made one final attempt at dismissal, his voice strained. "Even if your demonstrations are legitimate, the practical applications would be limited to specialised research vessels. This hardly represents a revolution in space technology."
The audience waited for Tanya's response, sensing that her answer would determine how seriously to take everything they'd witnessed.
"Dr. Webb," Tanya said quietly, "you're thinking about this backwards. I'm not showing you a new type of specialised equipment. I'm showing you fundamental principles that apply to all space technology."
She gestured to encompass the entire assembly. "Every ship in this system could be equipped with dimensional sensors. Every navigation system could use beacon networks. Every hull could benefit from applications of dimensional shielding. This isn't specialty technology. It's the next evolution of how we interact with space itself."
The auditorium fell silent as the reality of the statement fell over the audience. Master builders were rapidly calculating how dimensional principles could enhance their designs. Government representatives were considering strategic advantages and security concerns. Corporate executives were evaluating market disruption on a galactic scale.
//You have succeeded in demonstrating not just new technology, but a paradigm shift that will reshape civilisation's relationship with space travel,// Sage observed with something approaching pride. //The question now is whether they will embrace the change or attempt to control it.//
Tanya quietly left the stage she didn't know how she'd managed to get through the presentation, but she was ready to get back to her workshop and never speak in public again. Her legs felt unsteady as the adrenaline began wearing off. The calm authority she had projected moments before evaporated completely, leaving her hands trembling and her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
"Tanya!" Amara appeared at her side, her face glowing with professional triumph. "That was absolutely brilliant!
Cameron and Janet flanked her other side, both talking excitedly about the audience's reactions and the technical demonstrations. But their voices seemed to come from very far away as Tanya fought to control her breathing. She never wanted to be center of attention.
"I need to sit down," she managed to whisper, her vision starting to blur around the edges. The thought of hundreds of staring eyes, the questions that would follow, the corporate battles and the government attention her revelations would bring. It all felt overwhelming.
"Easy," Cameron said gently, guiding her to a nearby chair while Amara quickly cleared the area of curious onlookers. "You did something incredible in there. But right now, just focus on breathing."
As her heart rate slowly returned to normal, Tanya realised that while her presentation might have been a success, her life as a simple shipwright was likely over.