In this chapter, we're introduced to a new character named Barney. He's a member of the Imperial Scientific and Engineering Service, or ISES, and he's the guy who invented the red cap. Barney tells us that he doesn't want to tell anyone about the incident because he wants to publish a story about it. But he does want to know what's going on with the Red Cap. First off, he tells us, they're testing a new type of gun that's supposed to be able to fire at long range. It's called a "bolt-action" gun, but it's not as accurate as a bolt-action rifle because it uses gunpowder instead of bullets. The red cap is supposed to have a bullet that hits the ground at a high rate of speed, which means that it can be used to hit enemy soldiers at a much higher rate than a standard rifle. The problem, says Barney, is that the new gun has a flaw in its design that makes it impossible to control the gun until the magazine has run out. He also tells us about a new technology called "alloying" and "smelting" , which are supposed to make the gun stronger and more maneuverable. He says that if they were to use these new weapons, it would be a lot easier to defend the Republic than it is to defend it against the enemy. But Barney is worried about this new technology, because he thinks that if it were to be developed, it could threaten the Republic's hold on power.