Project Ulir [IC Secret]
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Vardic Defense Research Agency (Vardvarnarannsóknarstofnun / VVOT)
Olleris Proving Grounds, Randrokk Mountains, Vayinaod
March 28th, 2020Dr. Steinar Jakobsson stared at the packet laid before him, bright red letters signaling its confidentiality, he stared in both curiosity and reluctance. The engineer felt brittle in his legs, even though he was seated he felt like the world would collapse on him. Ulir was an ancient Vardic spirit for archery and the Hunt, eventually evolving into Saint Ullr in modern Vardic Orthodoxy.
"Do you understand the agreement doctor?" asked the non-descript air force officer.
Steinar broke out of his trance just enough to reply yes, just enough to sign the line on the typical non-discourse agreement. The officer nodded in excitement and looked to the obvious one-way glass to signal to whomever was back there it was time to come in. Moments later a less non-descript Vardic Army general entered the room, followed then by an Air Corps General was well. The man and woman respectively seemingly looked like their owned the entire room, which they likely did to Steinar's point of view.
'Dr. Steinar it is a pleasure to finally meet you, I am Lieutenant General Viktor Jansen. I along with Major General Rebekka Svendsen here command the Olleris Proving Grounds, and a vast majority of the projects under it," the army General started with as he shook Steinar's hand, "I think we met once at the end of your initial mass driver experiments for the VRA about ten years ago."
"Yes.....you mean the only experiments," Steinar bluntly replied.
"At your level of clearance yes the only experiments. The Air Corps continued with them for a few more years citing your work, national security reasons at the time precluded your involvement." General Svendsen replied. The mild disgust evident not only in her grey eyes, but her pale skin as well.
"So did the Fremetian National Labratory finally loan me out to outside military projects apart from its own?" replied Steinar who attempted to ignore Svendsen's evident superiority complex evident of most Vards, especially over half-breeds like Steinar. Even a Vardic-Fremetian couple while accepted still shouldered the cultural pressure that came with having an 'impure' Vard.
"Actually yes they did. Please you can open the packet now without me having to arrest you for foreign espionage," answered General Jansen.
Steinar cautiously opened the packet, which was curiously split into two 'chapters' if one could call them that. Projects Artemis and Apollo, weird for the Vards to reference Greek mythology instead of their own or stock standard Norse alternatively. His aged eyes poured over the documents. He knew the Generals saw his overzealousness, Steinar himself would probably admit it was borderline psychopathic in his excitement.
While continuing to read the documents, he just had to start asking question after question.
"Will I get the funding I need?"
"Yes, both the Army and Air Corps have siphoned off funds from other projects into the investment. If even just the Apollo Batteries end up successful, the First Konsulate feels its worth the investment," replied Jansen.
"Do I get to choose my team, even if they are Fremetian?"
"The FNL is involved with Project Apollo, and depending on their likely ENAA application in a few months may join Artemis, but the agreement was for the Fremetians to be involved across the board from a development stand-point. So yes, you may choose your time provided they meet our security requirements."
"You realize you're trying to weaponize a concept entirely meant for peaceful applications right, if I get who I want-" Steinar was cut off before he could finish.
"Your team is going to be compartmentalized, and few if any will know the entire scope of the projects until it reaches their end. The cover story will be for those that you and we believe to be more...pacifist in nature....that we are developing a potential anti-asteroid fragment protection system if the need arose," General Svensen stated without even a care for the horror that Steinar had on his face.
"You want me to lie to people, that I've worked with my entire career?"
"Yes, and I know you will because I know for a fact Project Artemis would be the culmination of all your life's work," retorted Svensen
Steinar was silent for a few moments, not because he could not find a valid argument to fight back with, but because the blasted Vardic woman was right. Steinar was more so a man of science than a man of total morality.
"Okay, lets get started, lets make General Reid of the DU squirm in fear when he tries to sleep," Steinar finally blurted out.
"Excellent. The FNL has already granted you permission to start, we expect plans for a concept device as soon as possible. I wish you luck Dr. Steinar. I will leave you with General Svensen to work out remaining details and questions you may have over the packet. Welcome to Project Ulir," replied General Jansen with both amusement, and a clear grin on his face.
One could say that Ulir nocked their arrow that day.
