Save the Day Program, once again. (Gundam IBO/Satisfactory SI): Chapter 10

“Hmm, so they are basically some kind of topological defect harness combined with a miniature star held within itself?”

“Yes. While the science behind it is far too complex for your human brain to comprehend just yet, that is the essence of it. Rest assured, you don’t have to worry about studying it by yourself since I am already working on it and will take care of its manufacturing for you.”

“Alright. But, what about the Mobile Suits and the Mobile Workers? How practical are they?”

“So far, putting aside their primitive weapon systems, the rest of the machines are surprisingly advanced and could easily meet FICSIT standard with little modifications. The Mobile Suites will work as the perfect mobile weapons platform for our defence, but the Mobile Workers are highly inefficient. On the other hand, the modifications that you have suggested exponentially increase their usefulness in the field, so I am thinking about manufacturing the flat-bed model for resource transportation and your model for general operations.”

I nodded my head and continued staring at the screen that showed the various spoils we got from our latest exploit.

The Mobile Workers of this universe are nothing more than a glorified cargo truck on three wheels, running on a hydrogen combustion engine.

These things can be modified to have weapon placements as well, but overall, their usefulness is no greater than that of a regular truck and does not justify the higher cost of their manufacturing.

That is why, I changed their design completely and replaced them with a 'proper' Mobile Worker design that I remember from a Gundam show from back home.

Specifically, it was the Construction Mobile Worker from the Principality of Zeon.

Its highly modular design meant that its parts could be swapped to make it useful in all kinds of ways.

"Any movement from Gjallarhorn or the SAU?"

"None. While I did track a memo within the SAU discussing the death of one Hinz Mercy, it would seem that he was not particularly important in the grand scheme of things, and nobody in the SAU, the Jupiter Sphere, and Gjallarhorn cares about his death."

I released a sigh of relief and leaned back into my chair.

I always knew that the fool Mercy would attack our ships for our cargo. But I never imagined that he would be this foolish as to ignore the obvious red flags within my ship.

Then again, this is a Gundam universe.

Shaking my head to get rid of those thoughts, I focused back on the screens.

“What do you think? Is it worth replacing our ship’s main power source with an Ahab reactor?”

“Yes. The sheer practicality of semi-permanent energy generation far outweighs any negatives of having this reactor. Although there is the problem that the propulsion systems that utilize Ahab particles are extremely inefficient, and I would recommend not including them in the designs.”

“Then, we will keep our Plasma thrusters and use the Ahab reactor for power generation and artificial gravity.”

“Confirmed. Making changes. Changes complete. Administrator, I must inform you, it will be obscenely expensive to manufacture a Mobile Suite grade Ahab reactor, let alone a Starship grade one, with our current factory set-up. We will need to expand to other planets to support their production.”

“Understood. On that front, I think you should start negotiating with the Chryse Autonomous Region of Mars to acquire the land we talked about previously. Since we have real Employees now, we might as well start expanding.”

“Understood. Speaking of Employees, they are here.”

At her words, I sat up straight in my seat and pressed the button on my table, opening the lock of my office and allowing my ‘guests’ to enter.

Five young adults who could not be older than 20 walked in along with a few dozen teenagers who had barely crossed the 18-year mark.

Unfortunate children who had become the victims of the incompetence and greed of the adults.

Sold into slavery and labelled as ‘Space Rats’ or ‘Human Debris’. Names that are used to brainwash them into thinking that they are less than human. That they are expendable.

Before I woke up as a Pioneer of FICSIT on that accursed world six years ago, I had a nephew who was preparing to go to college.

To see children his age, and even younger, be subjected to what they had been, I could not help but feel my blood boil in rage.

It is the reason why I saved them from the Brewers before I killed them all with a nuke.

I will not allow children to die needlessly if I can help it, and in this case, I sure as hell could help it.

Despite their best efforts, I could see the fear in their eyes and their body language thanks to my enhanced eyes, making me sigh and lean back in my seat.

“Sit down, and we can get to business.”

The oldest of the group, a young man with black hair and vaguely Asian features, nervously walked forward and sat down on the seat, leaving the rest standing, much to my annoyance and pity.

“All of you.”

This time, they moved as one and sat down on the chairs that ADA had prepared beforehand.

The communicator within my ear pinged as ADA talked to me through it, to which I replied with my thoughts that the communicator picked up.

“Administrator, your tone of voice is making the prospective employees uncomfortable. I must remind you that as the Administrator, it is your duty to maintain the morale of all FICSIT employees, even if they are still only prospective employees.”

“And what the hell am I supposed to say? I was never good at talking to children, and neither am I good at expressing empathy without coming off as condescending!”

“In that case, I suggest you maintain a professional attitude.”

“I’ll try.”

“As you all probably know by now, the Brewers are no more, and since I took you all from them, you are all now my responsibility.”

The children nodded meekly as the oldest of them stared at me neutrally as he spoke.

“We know. Whatever task you have for us, please say it, and we will fulfill it as much as possible.”

…….I don’t like it. Not one bit.

The way the children behaved so meekly, the way the boy spoke as if he were merely a tool, a machine for me to use as I see fit.

I hate it!

I leaned forward on my desk and pushed forward a datapad.

“Let’s make one thing clear. Mr. ?”

“Ren. Ren Arnolds.”

“Mr. Arnolds, then. Anyways, you and the rest of the children are not my slaves, and neither will you be doing what you have been doing until now. No, you adults will be proper employees of my company and will be treated as such.”

The surprise and the suppressed hope within his eyes made the knife in my heart twist even more, but I held my emotions in check as I motioned him to pick up the datapad, which he did.

“As is standard with FICSIT Inc. You and the other employees will be working eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. You will be allotted Health Insurance registered with the Jupiter Sphere general insurance and will be entitled to a paid vacation once every Fiscal Year cycle. Your basic pay will be the industry standard for unskilled labour at 10,000 Jupiter credits a month, and any additional contributions made to the company will be rewarded with an additional monetary or equivalent bonus. Promotions and other such career options will also be available depending on the skills and experience of the employee in question. Do you have any questions?”

The only response that I got to my speech was deafening silence as the young adult called Ren Arnolds stared stupidly at the datapad. Given the way his eyes were moving, it was clear that he was reading through the legal document to confirm what I just said, while the remaining children just stared at me with pure shock on their faces.

…….Seriously, if I ever find out who was responsible for starting this mess in the first place and bringing back something as vile as slavery, I will make sure that he or she is remembered by history as the worst monster to ever exist in this universe.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Ren Arnolds put down the datapad with shaky hands with tears in his eyes, and a small smile on his face.

“W-We accept! Sir! Um-“

“My name is David Thornton, but you can call me David or Mr. Thornton, it's up to you, really.

“I-I see. Then,  Mr. Thornton, sir. On behalf of the others, I accept this employment offer. Um, but I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“W-What about the others? The children, I mean. Will they be provided with the same package?”

“No.”

My words instantly made the light in his eyes dim.

“I-I see. Then-“

“FICSIT is going to establish a Martian branch very soon. All of you will be moving there with me when we shift our HQ over there. Once we are set up, the adults among you will be working for the company while FICSIT will sponsor the children’s enrolments into school. Depending on their academic excellence in the future, FICSIT will also be sponsoring them for higher education.”

This time, there was no stopping the tears in their eyes as they cried in joy, making me grimace even more.

Children their age should not be worrying about things like these. They should be spending this part of their life fooling around with friends and exploring their hobbies, and maybe start focusing on their future careers and education.

Besides, I am not just doing this because I care. I am doing this because I want my future employees to be a cut above the rest in every way possible, which also includes these young adults who will also receive education from the best people I can get my hands on once I acquire some land on Mars.

But for now, I just smiled and silently moved forward a box of tissues for the children to clean themselves up, and walked them through the facilities that ADA created just for them, based on FCSIT standard employee quarters, claiming that it was her duty to assist me in managing our employees.

Seriously, will it kill the girl to admit that she feels bad for these children?

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FICSIT Mobile Worker: Flat Bed type.

Mobile Worker: Humanoid Type: