It was finally happening.
Vano stood at the entrance of the warehouse, keycard in hand. The anticipation was palpable. At his side, Juli, his assistant, stood attentively. She was a wisp of a thing; an omwati, she was lightly blue-skinned with feathery white hair, her slight frame barely noticeable in her smart business clothing. Then again, that was her job; capable but unnoticed, efficient but unobtrusive.
"It's here Juli. Finally. We've arrived." Said Vano, whispering excitedly.
"Indeed, sir. Should I order champagne?" Asked Juli, scrolling down her datapad.
"Two cases!" As he spoke, Vano stepped forward, sliding the keycard through the slot next to the warehouse door. It beeped angrily at him, refusing to open. "I...stupid..." Vano muttered as he swiped it again, the reader once more offering a dissenting beep. "Juli! Make it-do the-swipe the-the thing!"
Juli, taking the datacard, rubbing it on her shoulder in a brisk motion, swiped the card through the reader in an expertly smooth motion. Beeping, flashing green, the door hissed open - first try.
"Have the - " Began Vano. Juli spoke over him, interrupting him; something she did very rarely.
"- The reader replaced with a newer model, and a higher fidelity keycard. Already ordered. It will be installed tomorrow." Finished Juli with a small smile.
With a wordless sound of approval, Vano stepped through the doors, taking in the interior.
The warehouse was a boring gray affair of durasteel reinforced ferrocrete. It lacked windows, except for thin slit-like panes at the top of the walls, made out of flexiglass. Across the ceiling, rows of harsh phosphotube lighting trays flickered on, shining brilliantly harsh sterile white light across the interior of the warehouse. Across the center of the warehouse floor, long rows of workbenches were equipped with myriad tools, applicators, and manipulators. Across a far wall, a bank of blocky machines - synthicators, automated plants, and fabricators - were housed. On an adjoining wall, racks of materials - tubes of metals, cases of dust and compounds, rolls of fabrics - were stored, ready to be tailored, shaped, molded, or fed into the fabrication machines. On the remaining wall, a row of Servomech droids (humanoid droids with an array of integrated tools at their disposal) stood in recharging alcoves. Everything was covered in thin plasticene sheeting, keeping things sterile and clean.
To the side, on the closest bench to the door, a package sat on the sheeting. Taking it, Vano read the small note attached. "Vano, congratulations. We look forward to seeing the fruits of your labors." The package was an industrial coat - part lab coat, part tough jacket to protect from sparks, acids, and sharp edges. The interior held small pockets for tools. Slipping it on, he nodded at Juli.
"Let's get to work."
Vano stood at the entrance of the warehouse, keycard in hand. The anticipation was palpable. At his side, Juli, his assistant, stood attentively. She was a wisp of a thing; an omwati, she was lightly blue-skinned with feathery white hair, her slight frame barely noticeable in her smart business clothing. Then again, that was her job; capable but unnoticed, efficient but unobtrusive.
"It's here Juli. Finally. We've arrived." Said Vano, whispering excitedly.
"Indeed, sir. Should I order champagne?" Asked Juli, scrolling down her datapad.
"Two cases!" As he spoke, Vano stepped forward, sliding the keycard through the slot next to the warehouse door. It beeped angrily at him, refusing to open. "I...stupid..." Vano muttered as he swiped it again, the reader once more offering a dissenting beep. "Juli! Make it-do the-swipe the-the thing!"
Juli, taking the datacard, rubbing it on her shoulder in a brisk motion, swiped the card through the reader in an expertly smooth motion. Beeping, flashing green, the door hissed open - first try.
"Have the - " Began Vano. Juli spoke over him, interrupting him; something she did very rarely.
"- The reader replaced with a newer model, and a higher fidelity keycard. Already ordered. It will be installed tomorrow." Finished Juli with a small smile.
With a wordless sound of approval, Vano stepped through the doors, taking in the interior.
The warehouse was a boring gray affair of durasteel reinforced ferrocrete. It lacked windows, except for thin slit-like panes at the top of the walls, made out of flexiglass. Across the ceiling, rows of harsh phosphotube lighting trays flickered on, shining brilliantly harsh sterile white light across the interior of the warehouse. Across the center of the warehouse floor, long rows of workbenches were equipped with myriad tools, applicators, and manipulators. Across a far wall, a bank of blocky machines - synthicators, automated plants, and fabricators - were housed. On an adjoining wall, racks of materials - tubes of metals, cases of dust and compounds, rolls of fabrics - were stored, ready to be tailored, shaped, molded, or fed into the fabrication machines. On the remaining wall, a row of Servomech droids (humanoid droids with an array of integrated tools at their disposal) stood in recharging alcoves. Everything was covered in thin plasticene sheeting, keeping things sterile and clean.
To the side, on the closest bench to the door, a package sat on the sheeting. Taking it, Vano read the small note attached. "Vano, congratulations. We look forward to seeing the fruits of your labors." The package was an industrial coat - part lab coat, part tough jacket to protect from sparks, acids, and sharp edges. The interior held small pockets for tools. Slipping it on, he nodded at Juli.
"Let's get to work."
