Sarah felt all eyes in the room turn to her as she held the container of nanites. The auditor's challenge hung in the air, thick with tension. She could sense the other specialists holding their breath, a mix of relief and anticipation on their faces.
"Well?" the auditor pressed, his augmented eyes scanning Sarah with barely concealed skepticism.
Sarah took a deep breath, her mind racing. This was her moment to shine, to prove her worth not just to these corporate drones, but to herself. She had come too far to falter now.
"Before I begin," Sarah said, her voice steady despite her racing heart, "may I ask about the intended application for this swarm? Different uses require different calibration parameters."
The auditor's eyebrows raised slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Waste processing, of course. What else would we use them for in a Reclamation Company?"
Sarah nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Of course. My apologies for the obvious question. I just wanted to ensure I wasn't making any assumptions."
With practiced ease, Sarah activated the container's diagnostic interface. A holographic display sprang to life, showing the swarm's current configuration. Her fingers danced over the controls, adjusting parameters with a speed and precision that drew murmurs of appreciation from the other specialists.
As she worked, Sarah explained her process, her voice taking on a professorial tone. "For optimal waste processing, we need to balance the swarm's aggression level with its discretion. Too aggressive, and it might damage salvageable materials. Too cautious, and it becomes inefficient."
The auditor watched intently, his hostility gradually giving way to grudging respect. Sarah continued, "I'm also adjusting the swarm's sensory threshold. In the Reclamation Zone, we deal with a wide variety of materials, some of which can be quite similar on a molecular level. A finely-tuned sensory array can mean the difference between reclaiming valuable resources and discarding them as waste."
With a final flourish, Sarah completed the calibration. The nanite swarm in the container hummed to life, forming intricate, shimmering patterns that reflected its newfound efficiency.
"Would you like to test it?" Sarah offered, holding out the container to the auditor.
The man hesitated for a moment before taking it. He ran it through a series of diagnostics, his frown deepening with each passing second. Finally, he looked up at Sarah, his expression unreadable.
"This is... impressive," he admitted reluctantly. "Where did you say you were from again?"
Sarah's mind raced, remembering the backstory she had concocted earlier. "I've had experience in various sectors," she said vaguely. "Sometimes, necessity is the mother of invention."
The auditor nodded slowly, a new respect in his eyes. "Well, it seems NeoTech Industries has made a valuable acquisition. Welcome aboard."
As the tension in the room dissipated, Sarah caught sight of the supervisor hovering near the door, his face a mixture of relief and triumph. She had just saved his job, and probably several others as well.
But Sarah knew better than to celebrate too early. She had passed this test, but there would be more to come. And somewhere in this facility, Jake was facing his own challenges.
As the meeting wrapped up and people began to file out, the auditor held Sarah back. "I'd like to discuss some of your ideas further," he said. "Perhaps over dinner?"
Sarah froze for a moment, caught off guard. This wasn't part of the plan. But as she opened her mouth to decline, she realized this could be an opportunity. The more she ingratiated herself with the higher-ups, the easier their escape would be.
"I'd be honored," she said, forcing a smile.
As she followed the auditor out of the room, Sarah's mind was already racing, planning her next move. The game was far from over, and she was determined to stay one step ahead.