After the victory banquet, Nick said his goodbyes to Bill and the team and caught a flight back to Tampa. He'd originally planned to stay in Atlanta for the state parade, but a breaking report from CNN forced him to scrap those plans and slip away quietly.
The issue was that Bill's research results, along with some leaked experimental footage, had finally hit the news cycle. Domestically, it didn't cause much of a stir—people were already flooded with high-tech success stories during the holidays. Compared to some of the flashier scientific breakthroughs, a ten-second clip of drones in a valley didn't seem like a big deal to the average viewer.
But those ten seconds were enough to set the international community on fire.
CNN ran a lead story titled: "The US Successfully Tests Massive Drone Swarm: The Future of Warfare Has Changed."
The article broke down the footage and satellite photos, sensationalizing the terrifying lethality of the "hive mind" weapon. Then came the moral posturing, debating the ethics of such a system and the high risk of collateral damage. Everyone was used to the usual media spin, but a paragraph at the end of the report made Nick's stomach drop.
In it, "experts" claimed that the technology being tested likely originated from a group of college students who had debuted a similar system at a tech expo in Miami back in May. The report didn't just dig up photos of them at the expo; it included clips from their recent show in Miami. They were being directly targeted.
Even though his name wasn't in the headline, a quick Google search in the digital age could pull up the names, ages, and backgrounds of everyone on that stage. Between previous domestic media coverage and online doxxing, their lives were now an open book. Every detail—short of their social security numbers and favorite color—was likely floating around on the dark web.
Nick was on edge, and the brass at the research institute were equally concerned. The day he landed in Tampa, agents from the security department were already waiting for him.
"Hey, Nick. I'm Arnold Peterson." A burly man in his mid-thirties, built like a linebacker, shook his hand firmly.
"Nice to meet you. Sorry for the trouble," Nick said, feeling the weight of the situation.
Arnold waved him off and gestured for everyone to sit. "Look, we've actually known about you for a while. You haven't really left our radar since you got back from Miami."
"You mean Captain Robby..." Nick said, the pieces clicking together. Their Miami experience was a tightly held secret. If Arnold knew, it was because Robby had flagged them. It made sense; with technology this sensitive, the government wasn't just going to let them walk away without an escort.
Arnold gave a small smile. "No need to be stiff. We aren't that much older than you. Just think of us as regular guys doing a job that happens to look mysterious from the outside. Protecting critical R&D and cutting-edge tech is what we do."
Seeing Nick relax a bit, Arnold leaned in. "Your tech hits some very sensitive military nerves, so our leadership is taking this seriously. The eyes on you and your company haven't blinked once."
"We're at a tipping point. Now that the other side is hyping this up, every shadow-player in the industry is going to be looking for you. In their eyes, you're a prime piece of braised pork—everyone wants a bite. You've got to be extremely careful in your daily routine from here on out."
"That said, don't panic. we're stepping up your protection. As long as you stay within your normal routine and avoid remote areas, you're safe. We're good at what we do. Here's my cell—if anything feels off, or you see a face twice that you shouldn't, call me immediately."
"Thank you. I really appreciate it," Nick said.
Arnold nodded. "It's the job. Now, let's talk about your company. First: your tech. Because it touches on national security, we need you to submit your architecture to the National Security Tech Evaluation Center for a formal audit as soon as possible. It's not just for us—it's a legal shield for you."
"Consider it done. We'll start prepping the files tomorrow," Nick replied.
"Good. Second," Arnold continued, "we want you to start the application process for high-level security clearances. This isn't just about your software; it's about certifying your entire company as a secure facility. It's a grueling process, but it's the best move for your future. You get what I'm saying?"
Nick smiled. "I do." Having those clearances meant they could bid on top-tier government contracts and access classified data. It was a massive win for the company's growth.
"Glad we're on the same page," Arnold said. "We're going to do everything we can to support a tech powerhouse right here in the city. We'll guide you through the red tape."
The meeting with Arnold's team was a massive weight off Nick's shoulders. That security "shield" would make anyone thinking about targeting them think twice.
A few days later, watching the parade on TV, Nick felt a surge of pride. The precision of the formations and the reveal of the new hardware made a gear-head like him ecstatic. He felt a twinge of regret—if it hadn't been for the CNN report, he'd have been in the VIP stands watching it live. But as he sat in front of the TV with Tyler and the rest of the crew, seeing the drones on screen, everyone shared the same thought: maybe one day, the tech in those formations would be theirs.