Post by malloc on Jan 20, 2023 1:27:45 GMT -5
THREAD DISCONTINUED -- SEE MAIN RESEARCH THREAD HERE.
University of Capannoli, Capannoli, Federal District -- AMALI
A quiet afternoon fell upon the University of Capannoli’s Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. While the university was bustling up above, engineers and researchers were at work below. Doo-dads whizzed and whirled, varying states of machinery sat on tables being worked on or on shelves for another day. The room’s windows were cracked open to allow air to ventilate the hot nickel fumes.
Vaso Melili returned from the university’s telegraph office, carrying with him a folded sheet of paper. His black hair was slicked back, likely a newfangled fashion at the time for academic men - something many abhorred. The door slammed shut, and a professor or two looked up at him. Melili was a relatively fresh hire for the university, having worked with Ansoft, LLC. for the majority of his PhD, and led several projects into pushing the field of private corporate computing forward. Some were successful, others… Required more time in the bakery. However, as was most of the case, being able to use the University as a way into the National Research Foundation was an alluring prospect to many.
One of the professors flicked the butt of a cigarette out the window, releasing the puff of tobacco she held in her lungs. Evi Andrili, an older woman fifteen years Melili’s senior, stepped down and away from her colleague. The young professor eagerly pointed his head towards one of the conference doors that was open, before slipping inside. Andrili looked to a few other engineers near her, and they too stood up and followed into the dimly lit room.
Well, it was dimly lit only for a moment, as Vaso flicked the lights on. The light filled the actually-decently-sized box as several of the engineers took up positions inside the conference room.
“What is it, kid?” One of the researchers questioned, bemused by the excitement of the new blood.
“It’s-” Vaso began.
“Yeah, what gives? We’ve got projects to work on,” another said, not so bemused. A few people shot him a look, which the man shrugged off.
He continued, ignoring the interruption for the most part, “Several of the projects we’ve been working on have been funded. Well, almost all of them, actually.”
The researchers looked between each other, trying to get a grasp on what the youngest engineer said. The engineer placed the pink paper he had been carrying on the table.
“Projects selected will have whatever funds they need.”
A stunned silence. Long, awkward, and deafening. The researchers didn’t know whether to rejoice, or be skeptical.
“Do you… Do you happen to know which ones?” A researcher asked, finally breaking the silence.
Melili shook his head. “They didn’t say… At-At least not over telegram. They said someone would be coming by to announce which projects were confirmed.”
Silently an engineer took the telegram and passed it around. Pink paper did, in fact, signify a governmental notice. If this was indeed a ruse, Melili surely went the extra mile for it. The engineer passed it to another person to look over, who shook it in their hand to see if maybe some water-logged ink would run off.
“... And they’ll be here right after lunch.”
---
Consigliere Vitale Alfonsi pinched the bridge of his nose as he held firm to his briefcase. As much as he enjoyed getting to present researchers with life changing money for their research, going to them rather than meeting them in an auditorium was a bit strange. It was for a good cause, of course. Private details in these situations were necessary for the nation to push forward fields necessary to their survival. Some things could be publicly announced, some had to remain hidden until just the right moment.
The train announcer stated the station’s name, Universita Capannoli Stazione Principale. His stop for the SEMs, and with his security detail they left the train. The car had been specially designed for dignitaries, statespeople, and others to utilize the public transit in private. A bit excessive, but some dignitaries were prissy bunches and some deliveries did need security. Such trains were given no special privilege; however, if they were running late, that would be their own fault.
The Consigliere walked, flanked by the detail, towards the building. Students very quickly go out of the way; immediately speculating someone was under arrest, at the worst, or they may have lost a fan favorite professor. A few folks peaked their heads out of their offices to see what the commotion was and only went back to work after the party had moved far beyond their own office, hopes dashed of being able to join the NRF.
Upon knocking the door, the statesman was greeted by the SEM Director, Evi Andrili, who bid them welcome. The lab area was organized with projects set neatly about on the tables, and those shelved were easy to access and identify. The air seemed clear enough, something that was certainly not previously an hour ago. Though, the Consigliere did notice a hint of vanilla in the air. Several of the engineers were talking, if seeming a bit winded, while a few others were about working on their myriad of projects. Of which, the Consigliere couldn’t name one thing.
“Good afternoon, Consigliere Alfonsi,” Evi stated.
“Afternoon, madam, and engineers,” the statesman said, nodding his head slightly. “I hope I’m not arriving at too busy of a time, and I trust you received the missive from my folks.”
Evi nodded in response, “We have, and you’ve come at a good time. Everyone is just getting back from their own lunches.”
In truth, no one had eaten. Everyone pitched in to clean the place up enough to be presentable. It had seemed Melili wasn’t lying.
“Then I believe we should get about it before too long. I’d rather not take up much more of your day than I need.”
Several of the engineers took seats around, and Evi had moved away from the Consigliere to find her own seat. The statesman put his case on a table that had enough room for it, and opened it up. He took out one of the checks - naturally, mainly for show and non-binding, as final details still needed to be named.
“It is with great distinction that the Consugio Nashale, Parlamentia, and the Prime Minister have all agreed to expand the operations of the SEM from a Department to that of a full School.”
An interesting note that earned applause, but the researchers were naturally more curious about their own fundings.
“With the rights that entails, we will also be awarding the SEM a new, independent building that shall begin construction at the end of the semester. The new building will be constructed with the modern amenities required to conduct cutting-edge research.”
Alfonsi placed the check on the table in another clear spot, which was quickly running out.
“And as to the matter I assume you all are most interested in: funding for your individual projects.”
The statesman listed off several projects: funding for new capacitor research, expanding electrical engineering tools, better transistors, better architectures for computing, and then some more. All funded in full, and then some.
“Now, with all that being said, I would speak to the Director alone, please.”
The professors looked at each other, curiously, before silently getting up to leave. The security detail ushered them out and away from the door so they could not hear. Alfonsi shuffled some papers around in his briefcase before pulling out a stack of papers.
“The government is handing out these contracts to researchers in both industry and academia.”
Evi took the manuscript… Manuscripts, really. She weighed them in her hands and thumbed through them quickly. Cryptanalysis, communication security, fire systems, general purpose calculation machines, etc.
“What-” She began.
“I will be needing those back, but I will also need an amount needed to help hire new staff for your expanded School. What is it your department wishes to be known for, Director?”
She took a few moments to read over each proposal. She pulled out one before handing the rest back to the Consigliere, holding it up towards him.
“In salary support? Seven hundred and fifty thousand. Three quarters of a million.”
The Consigliere nodded, scratching his chin as he thought of his next words.
“And this is the project you want?”
“Yes. The rest can be left to whomever else you so desire.”
[
Amali begins research on the following projects:
- Electro-mechanical Cryptology Decryption and Encryption Machine - EMCDEM, La Bombe <<< This thread follows the development of this technology, but will include other results as an addendum
>>>> Specific focus on Kumosenkan, Verakian, and Galran ciphers - Improved Electro-Mechanical Capacitors
- Computerized Firing Systems for Artillery and Ships
- Improvements to the switchboards in electro-mechanical computers
- Reduction in size of tubes and switches to make computers faster and more capable
- Studies on binary computing systems and their production methods
