The video showed a time-lapse of the construction of an airfield from start to finish. The voiceover said, “The island will feature four small airports, north-east, north-west, south-east, and south-west of the Palace. Each will be seven by four kilometres and built in the outer ring of the island. Each will feature electromagnetic runways, a large terminal, shopping, hotels, and parkland.”
The video showed a time-lapse of an enormous scaffold constructed over the Palace. A starship came and lifted the dome off, and a building site grew around the Palace. The voiceover said, “Phase Three will be the construction of a new Palace. We will expand the old Palace to four thousand three hundred and twenty-one metres tall. The base of the new Palace will be three-point-four kilometres wide. We will build it in thirteen sections, each over three hundred and ten metres tall. The width of each section will be 3.141 per cent smaller than the one below. Each floor is to have a double-width balcony sealed with armoured transition superplastic panels, with the old dome placed on top of the last section.”
The video showed flying cars going to and from the Palace and airports. The top three sections had a single landing platform on each side; the bottom three had three landing platforms, with those in the middle having two.
The voiceover said, “Each section will have a flight deck, with a parking area and a section for flying taxis, which will operate once we have an automatic flight control system and service stations from them around the island and city.”
The video showed the Palace, a large white pagoda with red roofing, surrounded by three massive square walls made from granite. Each wall had a gatehouse flanked by towers with more towers spaced out around each wall. Each gatehouse led to a gigantic round parking structure. North was marked staff only; the south was marked Imperial Knights, east and west marked public. Each connected by a road that ran between the outer and inner walls. A covered walkway ran from each parking tower to the Palace. Between the inner wall and middle wall were many gardens, some with ponds, and a couple of large hothouses. Between the Palace and inner walls was a large parade ground.
Spotlights on the outer walls moved over the Palace and from the top of the Palace a lighthouse cast beams over the lake, while flying cars landed on decks on each level.
The voiceover said, “The first level will have a library, various halls, museums, offices, malls and many restaurants and the Imperial court. It will have a massive public gallery, another gallery for the lords to lobby the Senate staff, another gallery for the Dragon Council or foreign dignitaries to lobby the Senate staff, and a chamber for the Senate. The main hallways will be large enough for small electric buggies and travelators. As some of you are shield engineers, you will build a shield system to protect the Palace and other buildings.”
The video showed a vast hall with a continuous strip of light from the top of both walls, the voiceover by Kaede, said, “Offices of the Senate staff will dominate levels two to six, seven to twelve will be for the imperial staff. Level One, the top floor, will be the home of the Emperor and the Imperial clan.”
The video showed high speed lifts going up the central shaft. The voiceover said, “Sections two to thirteen will be connected by multiple lifts that are spaced out. The central column runs from the top level to subbasement twenty-two.”
Images showed the fun park; it had many rides around a huge Ferris wheel; an aquatic centre with two pools, one with water slides, the other with a diving tower; a large karting area with stadiums and three tracks. The north shore of the island had a large cruise ship terminal. The south had a marina. Around the island were many beaches and ferry docks — the bridge connected to the island on the eastern and western shores.
The voiceover by Kaede, said, “During the last phase, hundreds of apartments, hotels, embassies, schools, shops, and medical centres will populate the ring around the commercial zone, with various parks between it and the shore.”
The presentation showed bridges from both the east and western shores to the island, a combination of box and suspension styles. Inside the two-storey structure was an eight-lane highway, over four subway tunnels. While the highway had ramps from each land to roads on the island; the subway went into the island.
Under the Palace was a massive shopping complex, with parking and an underground terminal. Four tubes came from the east, turned north, and ran under the water, on the bottom, to the island. They connected to a large tube train station under the subway. It had a platform on either side of each tube, with seating on the left-hand side. On the north side of the island, they ran north under the city.
The voiceover said, “Engineers will come from all around the Empire. But you will need a place to train them. Once stage two is complete, the airport will be redeveloped, as will camp Bravo, and the old Imperial Administration centre will be torn down, except for the Lilith Foundation building. All around it, you will build a university. But it will not open until we complete Imperial Island. There are many projects on every planet in the Empire. Not just to build new administration centres, we will upgrade and expand the tube train network. The new trains will run twice the speed of sound in sealed tubes. The network will connect all major cities. Other projects to come include space stations, reactors, communications networks, and more subway systems.”
The video ended with Kaede on screen. “Some of you may think it is impossible, but many of you have worked on starships. However, only some of you have trained with exotic matter alloys. In a few weeks, we will introduce you to new materials, replicators, robots, and other tools. For those new to Kaede Constructions, these new replicators will align atoms to create a matrix within materials and produce exotic matter alloys. These new metal alloys are superplastic embedded exotic particles into the material. Not only does the use of exotic matter alter the mass and strength of materials but increases their durability. Also, instead of glass or plastic, windows will be a clear metal that is stronger than iron and coated with transition paint. Many surfaces will be coated with this paint. Transition paint is clear but can change colour or opacity.”
Kaede walked over to a model of the island, with a robot standing beside it. He said, “I am aware there is a shortage of skilled engineers. We will assign each of you a team of non-Elves to train them in new building methods, tools, and materials. Kaede constructions have assigned each team of engineers a couple of lawyers, personal trainers, housing officers, and medical staff.”
Kaede walked towards the camera and said, “If you have questions, call your project manager. But know this, if you finish each stage on time, I will reward you and your team. Each workday without loss of life, I will reward you and your team. Come in under budget; I will reward you and your team. I have enough work for all of you for a thousand years.”
As the lights came on, some clapped. The chief engineer said, “Before we start, I must remind you that many of you will be training teams of androids, Dwarves, Daemons and giants, and while they are trained engineers, not all have worked on starships and none have experience with superplastic or exotic matter.”
“Androids?” someone asked.
“Androids are smart robots. We do not program them; They can learn like everyone else,” the chief engineer replied.
“Are they replacing us?” the first engineer asked.
“No, but four in ten workers will be either a mechanoid, robot or android,” the chief engineer replied.
“I think it is a fast pace,” someone said. Many nodded and grunted agreements.
“Hashimoto Constructions does sixty floors from start to finish in twenty days with a team of a hundred,” the chief engineer replied.
“Yeah, but not with trainees,” the first engineer said.
“That’s why the hard part is the last, so they’re not trainees when it comes time to rebuild the Palace,” the head engineer replied.
Chapter 29
Kaede, in his walk-in closet, selected a blue nightdress off one of two racks, while Freya held his tablet for h
im. He passed the gown to Nori, who went behind the change screen. While Kaede waited, he read the report on construction outside the Palace.
“First day and we are already in trouble. Hotels want more gold; many ships were late, thousands of complaints, mostly about missing tools,” Kaede said.
“If you don’t mind me asking, but do you seriously think they will finish the island reconstruction?” Freya asked.
“Only if this new bill passes soon,” he replied.
“New bill?” Freya asked.
“I have legal working on two bills. One to authorise unlimited use of androids on national security projects, and the other to have courts and the Inquisition to enforce contracts.”
“Enforce contracts?”
“Prevent companies from increasing their prices in a negotiated deal without justification, the word must be out, and hotels are trying to take me for a fool,” Kaede replied.
“It is a big project, things are bound to go wrong,” Freya said.
“It is not the biggest, nowhere near it, terraforming takes an army of millions, this project is not in the top one thousand,” Kaede said.
“Wow,” Nori said as she tossed her socks and playsuit into the laundry basket. She noticed the scowl on Kaede’s face and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The Senate. I told them the project would not be finished on time if they don’t pass the bill to stop gouging, and to increase robotics to forty per cent,” Kaede said. “I warned them it would cost them, but they will not listen.”
“Why will it cost them?” Nori asked.
“My company is only the prime contractor. The thirteen houses, the Lords, and the owners of the new buildings share the cost of construction. I gave the Senate the proposal, and if they don’t give me the labour force required to meet deadlines, they must share the cost of the overtime and penalties and exempt me, unless I cause the delay,” Kaede replied.
“Everyone in the media is asking where the Senate will hold meetings?” Freya asked.
“Most Palace staff will move to various buildings in the old administration area; the Knights will stay at Camp Bravo; the Senate and key staff will be in the old Lilith Foundation building in the middle of the old administration area,” Kaede replied.
“Kaede, I remind you that you allocated this time as your bedtime, do try to get enough rest,” Freya said.
“Freya, before you go to bed, make sure no daily bonus is paid, have a security team check into widespread theft, and tell Yuki to warn hotels who want to change prices on us that we will sue them for breach of contract,” Kaede said. He nodded to Nori who raced into the bedroom.
“Goodnight,” Freya said.
Kaede took a light blue kimono with him behind the change screen while Nori pulled on her one-toe socks. She followed Kaede and Freya into the bedroom and slid under the covers of her futon on the floor beside Kaede’s bed.
Kaede got into his bed, and Freya tucked him in. She tucked Nori in and turned out the light. Katerina stood at the door nodded to Freya as she left the room.
“Goodnight Czarina Katerina,” Freya said as she turned to leave.
“Freya,” Katerina said.
“Yes?”
“Mind if I walk with you back to your room?”
“I don’t see why not?”
“How do you like working here?” Katerina asked as they walked down the hall. Freya was not just taller, but broader than Katerina.
“I know Elves are competitive, but Nori often talks about how long she can hold his breath. Is that normal?”
“Yes, Aquatic Elves can hold their breath longer than other Elves can,” Katerina replied. “Why do you ask?”
Freya stopped and asked, “Why are they called Aquatic Elves?”
Katerina smiled and said, “Aquatic Elves are natural swimmers with their streamlined bodies, big lungs and webbing between fingers and toes.”
“I hope you don’t mind me asking. Are Aquatic Elves like a Daemon?”
“In what way?”
“I mean are Aquatic Elves the product of genetic manipulation?”
Katerina frowned and replied, “For as long as anyone can remember, Aquatic Elves have always been natural swimmers.”
“But you do alter DNA?”
“The Dragon Treaty forbids the creation of new races and the altering of the base code of existing races.”
“But Nori will have her DNA altered,” Freya stated.
Katerina frowned and said, “I know it is very controversial; People are worried about designer babies and a new way for athletes to cheat. While others are asking if they can get wings and the daemons are worried that we will turn them back into Elves.”
“Back into Elves?”
“Yes, daemons are the product of genetic manipulation long ago, so are Dragons.”
“I didn’t know that,” Freya said, “Is it a secret?”
“Don’t worry,” Katerina said as she put her hand on Freya’s arm and added, “It is not a secret.”
“Thank-you Czarina,” Freya said. Katerina ran her hand up the giantess’s thick arm.
“Hello,” Abelle said as she entered the room. She checked on Kaede and Nori, then sat in the main room. “Am I interrupting?” Abelle asked. Katerina released Freya’s arm.
“Well, maybe it is time Nori had a room of his own,” Freya replied.
“Yes Abelle, do you have a spare room for Nori?” Katerina asked.
“Yes, Nori will soon have her own room,” Abelle replied.
“Good,” Katerina said.
“Goodnight,” Freya said before she left.
Katerina followed Freya down the hall. “Everything all right, Freya?” Katerina asked.
“Not to pry, but why doesn’t Hitomi divorce, Hiro?” Freya asked as they walked around the central shaft.
“Hitomi is not married to Hiro. She is only under contract to care for the girls until Kaede turns eighteen,” Katerina replied.
“I don’t understand; I thought he was married?” Freya asked.
“Yes, but it is complicated. Hiro is married to Galené, but they didn’t consummate the marriage. But the rumour is he married Galen,” Katerina replied.
“I don’t get it. Hiro hates his father. He doesn’t love his wife. Now you tell me he is gay?”
“No, Galen has penile agenesis and isn’t considered a male.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It is when a male doesn’t develop a penis.”
“I am worried about Kaede. Hiro is never there for him. Soon as he is back, he is actively seeking new missions.”
“That is why so many don’t like Hiro,” Katerina remarked as they arrived at a door to Freya’s room. It was like most staff residences in the Palace; It had a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. In the bedroom, there was a 9ft square bed with a small pull-out bed underneath.
“When I first came to work here, he was so friendly, I thought he was hitting on me, but when I asked him to come up to my room, he turned me down. I even offered to let him fuck me.”
“Surely, you have other offers?”
“I am just over 8ft tall; most Elves are turned off by my size, or they are married.”
“So how often does Patya try to get into your panties?”
“I shouldn’t talk about your husband.”
“Relax, I do not care if you are having sex with him. I want to sue him for abandoning me. I am his prime. But none of his flings will testify against him.”
Freya patted her bulging belly and said. “The czar wanted me to put on more weight and have sex with him on his yacht in the lake.”
“That bastard, that’s my yacht.”
“It is not the worst offer I had. Arjuna offered me six million to do six pornographic movies with him, more if I have threesomes with him and his boyfriend.”
“Arjuna is a shameless pig. His wife is a beautiful woman. I don’t know why she puts up with him.”
“I asked Dain out, but h
e turned me down. Is he gay?”
“No, he is my son-in-law.”
“Sorry, just that he dresses so neat, and is so polite, but I have never seen him with a woman. He was so cold when he turned me down as if I violated the law.”
“My daughter is missing, presumed dead. Abelard is my grandson; not that you would know, the ungrateful twerp doesn’t even say hello to me.”
“Yes, he is always trying to touch me. What is wrong with him?”
“Abelard is a shameless sex addict who frequents my husband’s private estate with Arjuna; they take turns with shameless sluts who do anything for money.”
“Gross.”
“I tried talking to my husband, but he doesn’t listen to me anymore.”
“Anything wrong with Yaotl?”
“He is in a relationship with a herd of centaurs.”
“Oh my. What about Adalwulf?”
“Adalwulf is gay.”
“Gay? But he has a daughter?”
“Adalwulf, Viktor, and many of the Lords are gay.”
“But so many have children.”
“Yes, they either have marriages of convenience or hire a surrogate. I gave up years ago trying to find a real man. Most of the wealthy elite are perverts.”
“You and Patya have been together a long time; He cannot be all bad?”
Katerina shook her head. “There was a time when I thought I could fix Patya. It isn’t the fact that he likes BDSM. I would let him whip my arse all night long if it led to good vaginal sex. But he only wants to stick a vibrator into me and whip me until I hurt.”
“You and he used to have sex.”
“Yes, but I had ice cream cocktails that were more satisfying and lasted longer.”
Freya looked around and said, “I wish I had a man treat me like Kaede treats Izanami. If only he were an adult, I would let him ravish me.”
Power Games Page 25
