Chapter 276: Personnel Integration - III

The process continued for nearly two hours.

During the earlier parts, Tyrus still had enough energy to laugh at whatever he was seeing or feeling inside the pod.

It didn’t last, however.

There were moments when his entire body stiffened against the restraints, followed by others where his fingers twitched or his legs strained against the supports.

Hans observed everything from beginning to end. Eventually, Tyrus stopped reacting altogether.

The readings continued changing around him for several more minutes before gradually settling.

Then the lights around the pod dimmed.

A tone sounded from the control room.

------

[ Personnel Integration Complete ]

[ Candidate Successfully Registered ]

------

The transparent cover opened.

Tyrus remained unconscious inside.

The restraints around his wrists, waist and ankles released automatically. Several of the contacts attached to his body withdrew while others remained in place.

Then the entire padded platform beneath him moved.

Hans watched as it slid out from the Integration Pod and locked onto a low transport frame that had emerged from beneath the floor.

The recovery doors opened.

The platform carried Tyrus through them without anyone touching him. Another panel appeared in front of Hans.

------

[ Integrated Personnel Profile ]

[ Name ]

Tyrus Shearman

[ Personnel Type ]

Integrated Non-System Personnel

[ System Registration ]

Active

[ Combat Class ]

None

[ Tier ]

Tier 1 (17% Synchronization Rate)

[ Axis ]

Cognitive / Perceptual

[ Base Status ]

Physical Condition: Stable

Neurological Condition: Stable

Cognitive Integrity: Stable

Foreign Cognitive Influence: None

[ Professional Specialization ]

HELIX Research

Biological-Anomaly Analysis

Enhanced-Personnel Evaluation

[ System Compatibility ]

System Facilities: Compatible

System Medical Support: Compatible

System Logistics: Compatible

[ Research Status ]

Scientific Specialist: Recognized

Research Director Candidate: Eligible

Research Director Accreditation: Pending

------

Hans read the profile several times.

The Tier One part wasn’t new. He had watched Tyrus cross into it himself. The 17% Synchronization Rate and the actual classification attached to him were.

At least the Cognitive and Perceptual part made sense.

The man had always been annoyingly good at noticing things Hans would rather he didn’t.

"How long is the recovery process?"

"That will depend on the Doctor, Commander."

Dianne followed the moving platform into the recovery section.

"His physiology, neurological condition, integration load and synchronization response all affect how quickly he stabilizes."

They entered the recovery area.

Tyrus’s transport platform had already locked itself into one of several recovery stations. The frame lowered slightly before additional equipment folded around him.

A clear breathing piece settled over his nose and mouth while the system began regulating the air flowing through it.

Another set of connections attached themselves along his arms.

Hans watched several transparent lines fill.

"What are those?"

"Fluids, electrolytes and nutrients," Dianne said. "He’ll remain unconscious for some time. The cradle handles hydration, nutrition, oxygen regulation and temperature while his body stabilizes."

Another section adjusted beneath Tyrus’s back and legs.

Small pulses moved through several contact points along his limbs.

"And that is for muscle stimulation. It prevents unnecessary deterioration while he’s inactive."

"I don’t think someone like him will deteriorate."

"No, but there’s no reason to take chances, Commander."

Dianne checked another reading.

"The System releases the patient when the relevant physiological, neurological and synchronization indicators remain stable long enough. It does not force every person into the same recovery schedule."

Hans narrowed his eyes.

The recovery cradle finally settled completely into place.

Tyrus lay motionless beneath the transparent cover, breathing steadily while the facility handled everything else for him.

Hans crossed his arms.

"Well."

He looked toward the unconscious scientist.

"Welcome to the System, Doctor."

...

Hans led the way back to the front door of the Tech Center. Dianne was beside him, with Reechard still overlooking Tyrus’s cradle.

"With the Integration Pods online, should we..."

"Announce to Grefort that the Golden Eagle Army is recruiting specialists?"

"You read my mind."

"That will cause quite an upheaval, Commander. Your reputation is not as small as you think it is. And I doubt specialists will be the only ones interested."

"You mean people want to join the Army too?"

"There have already been multiple inquiries about that."

Hans raised a brow.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Veterans, former security personnel, civilians asking whether you accept volunteers, and people who simply want to join your forces."

Dianne paused.

"The problem is that integration and military induction are two different things."

"Hmm?"

Hans opened the System interface.

Another notification was already waiting for him.

------

[ Research Prerequisite Updated ]

[ Barracks Personnel Induction Wing ]

Operational Tech Center: Complete

Successful Personnel Integration: Complete

Research Director Appointment: Pending

[ Base Research Cost ]

300,000 Gold

[ Base Research Time ]

3,000 minutes

[ Effect ]

Unlocks a Barracks induction pathway for eligible System-integrated personnel to train into conventional System military classes.

[ Status ]

Locked — Accredited Research Director Required

------

"Three hundred thousand. Do all research projects cost this much?"

Dianne gave him a small smile. "Not necessarily. You will soon see more of it, Commander."

"So now even my own units are hiding things from me?"

Dianne shifted her tablet under one arm and the topic along with it.

"The absence of a Research Director doesn’t mean we should wait before recruiting specialists."

Hans looked at her.

"We can begin accepting applications, Commander. Background checks. Medical screening. Skills assessment. Security screening. Interviews."

Hans nodded in approval.

Recruiting people didn’t mean someone walked into an office, said I want to join, and woke up the next morning carrying a System rifle.

Dianne continued.

"Specialists can also be processed separately. Researchers, engineers, physicians, technicians and other personnel do not need to become conventional soldiers."

"I’ll leave the filtering process to you." Hans smiled.

Dianne looked at her own System interface.

"By the time the Barracks induction research is finished, we may already have a pool of suitable candidates instead of starting from nothing."

Hans almost couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

Not only could he recruit specialists for research and development, he could bring in veterans who wanted another chance to serve.

Then there were the younger ones who probably thought enthusiasm alone meant they were ready for a battlefield.

They would learn otherwise soon enough.

"Prepare an announcement to Grefort City, Saicine and all the surrounding areas."

Dianne immediately began taking notes.

"Tell them that the Golden Eagle Army is expanding."

"Specialists and military applicants?"

"Both. But make it clear that applying doesn’t mean automatic acceptance."

Dianne wrote a little more before looking back up.

"When will it be posted, Commander?"

Hans looked back and opened one of the nearby Radar Facilities.

------

[ Research Path Identified: Advanced Radar Network ]

[ Research ID: BLD-NATIVE-RADAR-I ]

[ Base Research Cost: 500,000 Gold ]

[ Base Research Time: 5,000 minutes ]

[ Requirement ]

Tech Center

Physical Radar Facility

Accredited Research Director

[ Current Status ]

Locked — Research Director Unassigned

------

Hans stared at the last line.

"...Of course."

"Do it two days from now. First, we should prepare a few things."

Since formal Tech Center research couldn’t begin until Tyrus woke up and passed Research Director accreditation, Hans might as well focus on what he could do without him.

Instead of upgrading production facilities that could not use the induction system yet, Hans began marking accessible areas where recruitment and screening could be conducted.

He avoided the deeper sections of the Main Base.

There was no reason to allow crowds of applicants anywhere near the restricted areas when they could be processed somewhere more accessible and still protected by his troops.

Grefort and Saicine already gave him several useful options.

Applications could be collected there. Backgrounds would be thoroughly checked.

Specialists separated from ordinary military applicants.

And only after all of that would anyone even get close to an Integration Pod.

Hans closed the interface.

"Oh, and I almost forgot. We should invite Kordula as well."

"Perhaps it would be better to wait until Doctor Tyrus has awakened, Commander."

Hans looked at her and felt a storm brewing inside Dianne’s mind.

"What kind of mischief are you up to now, Adjutant?"

"Rivalry works best when you see your rival doing better than you are. We don’t even have to approach Overseer Kordula. She’ll come to us instead."

"Of her own volition. Dianne, you’re one sly fox, don’t you know that?"

"I’d like to keep those two ex-lovers competing, Commander."

"Alright then. Here comes another Tech Center. No, queue two. I’ll find another region for the other one."

Hans tapped through the queue like a child picking candy from a counter.

"And let’s not forget to power them up. Being low on power doesn’t sound good to me at all."