SCMR Chpt 16

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==Chapter 16 - Self Configuring Modular Robot==
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===Meanwhile in the Free Worlds League===
Four more worlds have dropped off in the border...
...of the Free Worlds League. Survey ships were sent, and the results are identical to Callison. 
It's spreading.
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===Class is in Session===
"Good Morning class...
...today I'm going to spend a few minutes getting your names straight." When Hanse Davion plans something, big, he plans big.
NAIS, Halstead Station, the 4th Succession War, the war of '39...
Dr. Banzai watched through one-way glass as Cynthia Ekhardt, age 24 and one of his most promising grad students, got her first taste of teaching.
"A grade school." He commented.
"For gifted kids, yeah." Hanse agreed.
"You want me to run a Grade School?"
"Only part time, Doc, I wanted your input setting this up for reasons...Victor's mono-focused on being a Mechwarrior, Katherine's got passive-aggressive issues out the wazoo and severe daddy issues, Peter's got Influenza so bad he might end up causing a major incident when he gets older, and then, there's Arthur, who hasn't seemed to be able to make any real peer connections in the usual ways, because of how we've had to raise them."
"So it's an experiment."
"Yeah." Hanse nodded, "One of my goals, Doc, why we established NAIS in the first place and why I fought personally in the defense when we got hit by that false-flag. We have to get out of the dark ages."
"Especially with that 'machine plague' hitting worlds along the Leaguer border?" Banzai prodded.
"Yeah. These kids-our analytical types think they might have the kind of talent we need to cultivate to stop it...including my son."
"I saw Snord's report...and you've passed along the other reports to my desk. I've got a team working on it."
"Yeah, but we still need to finish spooling up the Helm Core data, and this problem's not going to just magically go away, and what about the next one?" Hanse asked rhetorically, "You're a genius, but we need more than one genius-hence..."
"Brat-boot for scientists, like what, Groningen, or the NAIS per-qualifiers?" Banzai asked.
"Well, the roving school concept didn't deliver. This is more or less me punting to try and get a turnover at first down."
"Your sports metaphor is wrong." Banzai noted.
"Ian was the jock." Hanse shrugged. "What do you think?"
"We'll see. How much leeway are you willing to let me have?"
"As much as you need." Hanse told him, "I outlined what our strategic objective is in the memo, I'm kinda trusting you to deliver the right strategy to make it happen."
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