CH265 ARCH and ARMOUR

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"Proposal for the creation of the Advanced Research Command Hub (i.e. ARCH)… and the Centre for Advanced Research for Military Operational Utilities and Resources (i.e. ARMOUR Centre)."

"How much time did you spend coming up with a word-like abbreviation that still managed to convey your intentions in full?" Drake suddenly asked.

Initially taken aback, Alex gave a wry smile.

"They're called acronyms, Father. And your guess is right—it took me an unhealthy amount of time. Honestly, I probably spent more hours ruminating on that than on the actual framework behind the plan. But it was worth it, I believe."

"Why so?" Drake pressed.

"Bureaucracy and branding," Alex replied with a faint smile. "Bureaucratic names for projects, programs, or plans like these are always long and painfully dry. Acronyms make them easier for everyone to say and remember.

"For example, imagine having to say Advanced Research Command Hub every single time, as opposed to just ARCH. It's obvious which one people will prefer.

"Also, acronyms add a layer of secrecy. If someone doesn't know the meaning behind the acronym, they'll never truly grasp the context of the conversation. For instance, if I say, 'ARMOUR created my sword', anyone who doesn't know what ARMOUR stands for will be left utterly confused."

"You sound more like a bureaucrat than the people we actually employ for that sort of thing." Drake commented.

"Let's just say I learnt a lot from my time at the Enclave," Alex replied lightly. "I met a number of interesting people, and picked up a good number of things."

"Alright then, get on with it. What are ARCH and ARMOUR?" Drake asked, nodding.

Alex straightened and began his pitch.

"For any entity to rapidly grow, it must develop its own unique products or innovate solutions that give it an edge over competitors. That is why research and development becomes vital for any organisation with serious growth ambitions like ours.

"This is where ARCH and ARMOUR come in.

"The Advanced Research Command Hub—ARCH—and the Centre for Advanced Research for Military Operational Utilities and Resources—ARMOUR—are two separate entities, both tasked with promoting research and development within our territory.

"ARCH is proposed as the umbrella body for all R&D within our lands. Every other research outfit, including ARMOUR, will fall under its oversight. Its task will be to coordinate all R&D efforts, ensuring that projects receiving public funding align with policy direction and territorial interests. This will be achieved through the allocation of funds and resources, based on both territorial needs and the performance of each outfit over time.

"ARCH's mandate, in short, will be to ensure the efficient distribution of scarce resources towards meaningful research and product development."

"ARMOUR, on the other hand, is my proposal for a top-secret R&D outfit focused primarily on products with military applications. Its mandate will be to ensure our territory's self-reliance for critical military resources, utilities, and weaponry. At the very least, every vital piece of military equipment must be internally sourced, so our territory isn't left at the mercy of others."

Earl Drake flipped through the opening page of the document introducing the two proposed organisations. His eyes lingered on the introduction of ARCH.

"Efficiency based upon policy and territorial needs, huh…" Drake muttered, tapping the table with his index finger. "That all sounds promising, but have you considered the possibility of groundbreaking research being stifled simply because it doesn't align with current 'territorial policy or needs'?

"From my understanding, the most valuable research often solves problems we don't even realise exist, or opens doors to possibilities we never thought attainable. Have you considered that this mandate of ARCH might block such innovation?"

"That's an astute observation, Father," Alex said with a small smile. "Let me make it clear—the proposed ARCH isn't designed to cherry-pick projects or interfere directly in research. Its role is to allocate scarce resources where they're needed most.

"Think of it like wartime priorities. As you know, agriculture and the military often overlap in their needs. Iron for weapons is also used for farming implements, and certain farming inputs can be repurposed for military use. In times of peace, resources might be shared equally—or even tilt in favour of agriculture. But in war, those same resources are redirected almost exclusively to the military.

"ARCH will function in much the same way. Depending on circumstances, it will control the distribution of resources to research projects. In wartime, projects that can be quickly completed and aid the war effort will be prioritised. In times of peace, the reverse will be true.

"I am aware this system may cause unintended harm, but that is an opportunity cost we'll simply have to accept. To address it, I proposed in the documents that relief measures should be offered to unfavoured research outfits. This can take the form of upkeep grants for valued projects, increased quotas once conditions improve, future boosts in funding, and several other mechanisms."

Drake's eyes skimmed further through the paper.

"If I understand correctly, ARCH isn't really a brand-new organisation, but more of an overhaul and standardisation of our current system of resource allocation. Its core mandate would simply be to facilitate research and guide the exploitation of that research." He commented.

"Well… basically, yes," Alex admitted with a shrug.

Alex decided to let Drake keep that interpretation. At the end of the day, the papers would ultimately land in the hands of the true bureaucrats, who would grasp the finer details of his work and present it properly to his father and the Elder Council for final deliberation.

"You said the core mandate of ARMOUR is to eliminate our exposure to the whims of others—hence the name, Armour. But why should that be necessary?" Drake challenged. "It is common practice to buy from those who have more and sell to those who have less. Without that exchange, every economy would stagnate."

"You're not wrong, Father," Alex conceded. "But there are certain things we must never entrust to others. One of the reasons the Kellerman failed during their assault on our fort was precisely because they purchased core components for their siege weapons from outside sources.

"It was the movement of those purchased components—from the seller to their warehouse—that exposed them to our intelligence agents. All the agents needed to do was mark the shipments, and from there, we could track their supply lines at all times.

"We had no such insight into their in-house weapons or components, because those were kept secure. The only breach in their defences came from the vulnerability of buying externally. That single crack in their 'armour' cost the Kellerman dearly.

"And that is but one example. More deliberate and malicious scenarios are outlined in the document, but the key takeaway is this; security and defence cannot be left to chance. We must pursue total assurance whenever possible. Producing everything in-house allows us to control nearly every variable—and among the most critical of those variables is secrecy."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone sharpening with conviction.

"If you reread my proposal for SODIV, you'll see I emphasised the need for proprietary technology to support Special Force Operators. Much of that technology will only be effective so long as the enemy doesn't know it exists. The moment it becomes known and predictable, countermeasures will be devised, and the tech's advantage will be lost.

"Furthermore, having our own dedicated research wing for military innovation will allow us to rapidly adapt. Feedback from Operators in the field can guide the creation of new, unique tools and weapons—tailored for our needs and impossible for others to replicate. It is this constant cycle of innovation that will ensure our forces stay ahead of rivals and hostiles alike. Such an edge would vanish if we remain dependent on external partners."

As if to prove his point, Alex flipped open the ARMOUR dossier to a bookmarked section.

"This," he said, pointing to a carefully drawn schematic, "is a weapon I believe will significantly increase the lethality of the Fangs—whom I proposed should serve as the first generation of SODIV."

Earl Drake's eyebrows furrowed,

"Crossbows?"

***

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