They arrived at the Shauzhu system the next day, and Tanya had never seen anything like it in her life. Megaships that had to be at least twelve kilometers long drifted through space like mobile cities. Massive stations hung in orbital formations, some larger than the moons of her home system. The sheer scale of human engineering achievement was overwhelming.
"My God," Cameron breathed, pressed against the viewport beside her. "Look at the size of that thing."
Janet stood nearby, her expression more calculating than awed. "Those aren't just impressive displays," she said quietly. "They're statements of power. Every corporation and government here is showing off their capabilities."
Tanya had read about the engineering marvels of the Core worlds during her university years, but seeing them firsthand made her feel like a complete country bumpkin. Everywhere she looked was another example of humanity's highest technology: orbital elevators stretching beyond the horizon, manufacturing platforms that could birth entire fleets, residential stations housing millions in unimaginable luxury.
"This is what we're up against," Amara observed, her tone carrying both admiration and concern. "Every piece of technology on display represents billions of credits in research and development."
Tanya had to wonder if her little inventions and ships would even turn anyone's heads, compared to this. Everywhere she looked, she saw a new marvel she didn't understand.
Amara didn't look away from the viewport, her eyes tracking one of the megaships as it turned lazily, its hull glowing with the light of a thousand running systems. Seemed to have read her mind.
"Don't be fooled by the spectacle. Yes, it's massive, yes, it's impressive, but most of what you're seeing out there isn't new. It's iteration and refinement stacked on refinement. Polished to perfection, but still the same foundations that have been in place for decades." She finally glanced at Tanya, her tone becoming gentle. "That's why what you're building matters. Innovation has stalled. Everyone here has gotten comfortable polishing old crowns. When you show them something genuinely new, they won't know whether to admire it or fear it. And either way, they won't be able to ignore it."
The trade show itself was being held on a small moon-sized station positioned above the system's fourth planet. It was a paradise world where only the extremely wealthy could afford to live. Even from orbit, Tanya could see the carefully maintained continents below, all natural beauty and perfect climate control.
Davidson noticed their stunned expressions and laughed. "You get used to it. Behind all that impressive technology, the people here are still human. They still have human desires and vulnerabilities. The key is remembering that wealth and technology don't automatically confer wisdom or integrity."
"But they do confer influence," Red added grimly, studying the security deployments visible around major corporate vessels. "Every ship out there represents potential leverage against us."
The cruiser docked with the main station, and Tanya couldn't help but catalogue the other vessels visible through the viewports. She was already automatically analysing design choices and component arrangements, noting innovations she'd never considered.
"That's not why we're here," Amara said firmly, noticing Tanya's distraction. "Focus on protecting our intellectual property. We can discuss ship designs after we've become the talk of the show."
Walking through the station with their protection detail made the stakes clear. Red maintained his professional bearing despite his prosthetic, while Blue and Green blended seamlessly into the crowd of well-dressed professionals. The sheer number of bodyguards, assistants, and various attendants suggested that corporate espionage was a constant threat.
"Look at the surveillance density," Janet murmured, her history making her sensitive to security measures. "Cameras, audio pickups, probably biometric scanners. Everything we say and do here will be recorded and analysed."
Cameron noticed something else troubling. "Those aren't all legitimate security personnel," he said quietly, nodding toward several individuals who seemed to be following specific attendees. "Corporate intelligence is already active."
Tanya wondered what kind of childhood the pair had to make them so attuned to threats. She also wondered if her future children would have to worry about the same thing.
As they passed through commercial sectors, Tanya caught sight of one of Helena's advertisements on a public display. The experience was surreal, as she watched her own ship dancing through storm clouds while the tagline "Furrow Incorporated: Growing Beyond Horizons" scrolled beneath.
"Helena's campaign worked too well," Amara observed, noting how people stopped to watch the footage.
Their assigned booth was tucked into what the exhibition organisers clearly considered the "mid-tier" section. It was respectable enough to be noticed, but far from the prime real estate dominated by the megacorps. Around them were independent shipwright collectives, ambitious start-ups, and a handful of freelancers showing off specialised components. It wasn't obscurity, but it wasn't prestige either. A place for medium and small players to prove they deserve to be taken seriously. It was just as Amara had planned.
"Perfect," Blue said approvingly. "Easier to control access and monitor approaching threats."
When their ships arrived via cargo transport, the nearby exhibitors immediately took notice. The Avdrulla Stela commanded attention simply by existing, and the Beacon drone looked intriguing. The two ships were hard to ignore.
"Wait a minute," one of the seller said, approaching their setup area. "Is that the viral atmospheric surfer? The one from the Hecalon 5 footage?"
Amara stepped forward smoothly, intercepting the conversation before Tanya could respond. "We're still in setup phase," she said with practised deflection. "Happy to discuss our ships once the show officially opens."
"No way," another exhibitor called out, abandoning his own booth. "I didn't think that thing actually existed. Half the extranet thinks it's fake."
"What's it doing here in the small fry section instead of the main hall?" a third person asked, and Tanya realised this was the type of attention that Davidson had warned them about. She smiled to herself, thinking that if this keeps up, then she will easily accomplish Sage's mission.
"Budget constraints," Amara replied smoothly, maintaining her prepared cover story.
The crowd's interest was becoming problematic. Every question, every photo, every casual observation was potentially valuable intelligence for competitors that they wanted to delay until the show started. Red positioned himself to better monitor the growing group while Blue made subtle notes about who was asking which questions.
The gathering soon drew official attention. A well-dressed station coordinator approached with the practised smile of someone accustomed to managing problems.
"Excuse me," the coordinator said, studying the impressive ships. "I think there might have been a booking error. These vessels should clearly be in the main exhibition hall."
Before Tanya could respond, Amara transformed herself completely. Her sharp professional demeanor vanished, replaced by someone who seemed almost painfully innocent and apologetic.
"Oh dear," Amara said, wringing her hands with apparent nervousness. "We're just a small company from the agricultural worlds. This was the only space we could afford, and we've invested everything into this opportunity."
Janet watched this performance with obvious admiration. "She's really good at this," she murmured to Cameron.
"Terrifyingly good," Cameron agreed, recognising professional-level deception.
The act was working. Amara managed to project simultaneous hopefulness and vulnerability. Claiming to be the manager of a small-town entrepreneur who had mortgaged everything for one chance at success. It was masterful manipulation disguised as innocent honesty, but it was clearly spontaneous.
Word of the viral ship's presence had spread throughout the setup areas, drawing more exhibitors despite the show not officially opening yet. The crowd was creating exactly the kind of security vulnerability that Red had warned them about, but it was also creating an unexpected opportunity.
"We need to make a decision," Green said quietly to Amara. "Either we control this exposure or we get out of here."
That's when Tanya spotted three familiar faces approaching: Elizabeth, Garret, and Klein. The master builders moved with the confident bearing of people accustomed to being the most important figures in any room, but they weren't alone. Other master shipbuilders accompanied them, Some were legends whose names Tanya recognised from university textbooks.
"Here we go," Red muttered, recognising potential trouble.
Garret laughed openly when he saw Amara's performance. "Mara, when have you ever been innocent? I remember you negotiating contracts that left grown men crying."
The deception was blown, but Amara maintained her act with admirable dedication. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean. Have we met?"
"They know each other?" Janet whispered to Tanya.
"Ex-spouses," Tanya whispered back. Janet raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The master builders began examining both ships with professional interest, but their questions were probing rather than appreciative. Tanya felt like a student whose dissertation was being challenged by a hostile committee.
"Interesting hull, it seems more advanced than the Vanguards," Elizabeth observed, studying the Avdrulla Stela hull. "Though the application seems... unconventional. Where exactly did you develop these fabrication techniques?"
It was a trap. Any detailed answer would reveal proprietary information or Sage's involvement.
"Trial and error, mostly," Tanya replied, using the deflection techniques she'd practised. "Engineering school teaches you theory, but practical application requires experimentation. It's something more shipwrights should try."
Klein stepped forward with his deceptively reasonable manner. "Of course, but surely you didn't develop these enhancement processes through random experimentation? The precision required suggests access to advanced computational modeling."
Another probe, this one more sophisticated. Cameron caught Tanya's eye and touched his collar—the signal for legal trap.
"Quality work," another master builder observed, running his hand along the Avdrulla Stela's hull. "Though some design choices seem... inspired by non-human aesthetic preferences. Have you studied xenoarchitecture extensively?"
The question carried dangerous implications. Acknowledging alien influence could trigger security investigations or patent challenges.
Red stepped forward before the interrogation could continue, using his considerable presence to impose himself between the masters and the vessels. "Gentlemen, ladies, you can all get a proper look tomorrow when the show officially starts. For now, we're still in setup mode. We are happy to invite you to a panel on the third day or a live demonstration on day four."
But the master builders weren't deterred. Instead of leaving, they began complaining that such interesting ships were being sidelined in this section.
"The solution is obvious," Garret announced to the station coordinator. "Move these ships to my booth. I have adequate space, and it would be educational for Ms. Furrow to display her work alongside properly certified vessels."
It wasn't a generous offer. Tanya knew it was a trap to try to get access to her knowledge.
"Absolutely not," Elizabeth interjected. "If anyone's providing guidance, it should be someone with actual structural engineering credentials rather than pure showmanship."
"Please," Klein added with his reasonable tone. "Propulsion integration is clearly the critical element here. The ships should obviously be displayed where the technical complexities can be properly explained."
What followed was a heated argument between master builders, each trying to claim custody of Tanya's ships for their own booths. Tanya knew it was about control, influence, and the opportunity to study her technology up close.
Amara was watching this unfold with growing calculation. Tanya could see her planning a pivot as this wasn't part of any plan, but it was an opportunity that might not come again.
"They're not fighting over helping us," she said quietly to Cameron. "They're fighting over who gets to dissect our work."
"And who gets credit for discovering you," Janet added. "Professional legacy is everything at their level."
The station coordinator looked increasingly overwhelmed as legends of the industry conducted a territorial dispute in his exhibition hall. Finally, he raised his voice: "Enough! We'll arrange space for an independent booth in the main hall. These ships clearly deserve proper presentation."
Amara's expression shifted as she looked towards Tanya. No words, just the slightest arch of a brow, the faintest tilt of her head toward the masters still circling like hawks. A silent question: Do we seize this, or retreat?
Tanya responded with a slight nod.
Amara's expression softened, her mask of innocence snapping back into place as she added aloud, "Oh, that would be wonderful! We're so grateful for your understanding."
The masters bristled but said nothing as the coordinator hurried off to make arrangements. Only once the crowd had begun to disperse did Tanya lean close to Amara. "You upset at the call?"
"The viral campaign created more buzz than we anticipated," Amara admitted. "When the coordinator offered main hall placement, I didn't want to refuse. But this wasn't planned…we're adapting to circumstances. I think you made the right call"
"Which means our security protocols just got much more complicated," Red said grimly. "Main hall means maximum visibility, but also maximum vulnerability."
"So we've just upgraded from flying under the radar to being in the spotlight," Tanya said. "Are we prepared for that?"
"We'll have to be," Amara replied. "Sometimes the best opportunities come disguised as problems. The question is whether we can handle the increased pressure."
//I find human territorial behaviour patterns fascinating,// Sage observed privately. //The master builders' responses suggest they recognise your ships as legitimate threats to their established market dominance.//
"Great," Tanya muttered. "So we're not just showcasing our technology, but we're also challenging the entire power structure of the shipbuilding industry."
"Was there ever any doubt?" Cameron asked. "You've been doing that since you first opened a vortex drive and turned it into a navbox."
Janet studied the departing master builders with tactical interest. "The real question is whether they'll work together against us or continue competing with each other. United opposition would be much more dangerous."
"Either way," Red said grimly, "we're no longer flying under anyone's radar. From this point forward, everything we do will be watched, recorded, and analysed by people who have centuries of collective experience in corporate warfare."
Tanya couldn't help but sigh. Her simple plan to demonstrate atmospheric surfing and advertise her brand had evolved into something resembling a hidden warfront.
The show hadn't even officially started, and she was already fighting for survival.