Chapter 44: The Ship That Was Devoured
“After examining the cross-section of the recovered ship’s bow, it is presumed to have been severed by something enormous.”
This was the conclusion drawn by Ringo, the AI Commander, after analyzing the bow section of the ship they had salvaged recently.
“Severed?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It appears that something clamped down from both sides simultaneously and swiftly tore it apart. The analysis of the surrounding damage and the remnants embedded in some structural components leads us to conclude that a colossal creature bit into it.”
“…Just to confirm, this isn’t because Ringo has been watching too many B-grade movies, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The manner in which the wood was broken and the remnants we found clearly indicate the presence of what seems to be teeth. We have also recovered some biological tissue. Genetic analysis is ongoing, but we expect to have results soon.”
The simulation video created by Ringo depicted a massive creature, though its exact form remained unknown. It was theorized that this creature had bitten down on a sizable wooden ship from below and savagely torn it apart. The way the wood was fractured allowed for an analysis of how the force was applied from the outside.
“Hmm… Is it merely a gigantic whale-like creature, or is it some magical beast?”
“At the very least, no scientifically abnormal traits have been confirmed in the biological tissue itself.”
If the force had been applied slowly from the outside, the ship’s hull would have been crushed entirely. However, the bow had detached almost intact, resembling a clean cut as if severed by sharp scissors. This creature did not gradually crush the ship; it likely destroyed the wooden vessel in a single bite.
“Is there really a creature out there that can tear apart a ship like that…?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We have already confirmed the existence of sea beasts far larger than our common understanding. It is believed that there are other ferocious and gigantic creatures that prey on such beasts.”
She pondered, crossing her arms.
While they had been wary of human intrusions, they had discovered a far more direct threat. If such a creature existed, could they prevent it from approaching The Tree?
“We can’t devise a countermeasure without confirming the actual creature. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to allocate resources for a search for this monster.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I will arrange for that.”
Currently, many solar-powered reconnaissance aircraft, Swift, were deployed with electromagnetic wave transmitters and detectors to investigate ocean currents. They were searching for driftwood that could serve as markers and utilizing the Doppler effect to directly observe the currents.
However, if they were to search for a gigantic creature, they would likely need visible light detectors. If the creature was underwater, they could only confirm its presence when it surfaced. Electromagnetic waves would be mostly absorbed underwater, leaving them with no choice but to rely on visual searches.
“This is quite troublesome… Should we narrow down our resources for a satellite launch? Or perhaps expedite the underwater mining platform…? We don’t have enough materials to simulate, so it’s hard to determine the optimal solution…”
“Yes, Ma’am. Following the drifting ship, the need for a swift response to this large creature is also critical. Resources are finite, but the tasks at hand are piling up.”
Every issue was of such importance that prioritizing them was nearly impossible.
Securing iron from Port Town of Terek was non-negotiable. It needed to be addressed as a top priority.
The drifting ship suggested that, sooner or later, someone would inevitably reach The Tree. To prepare for that and to establish an effective patrol network, investigating the ocean and currents was absolutely necessary. Since ocean current surveys took time, it was not something they could afford to postpone.
In fact, mapping the currents would provide invaluable information for future operations, so they wanted to complete it as soon as possible.
Then there was the matter of the gigantic creature. Unlike the drifting ship, this was a living being, and if it became aware of their presence, it could attack.
Without knowing the nature of the creature, they couldn’t devise a countermeasure. It was unclear whether they could repel or destroy it with conventional weaponry. Thus, acquiring information about the creature as quickly as possible was imperative.
As for the issues outside of Port Town of Terek, while they were urgent, they lacked a definitive deadline. The need for urgent responses without a clear path forward was quite troublesome. They had no idea how much of their resources to allocate.
“This gigantic creature has been attacking ships, and based on the severance marks, it seems to bite from directly below. Assuming it is carnivorous, it is likely targeting large sea beasts, and capturing that moment would be crucial.”
“Hmm… So, we should look for a pod of whales or something similar and track them?”
“Yes, Ma’am. For now, let’s observe the situation. Additionally, we will conduct wide-area image surveillance.”
“That’s all we can do… Alright, let’s proceed with that plan.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
A month passed after the decision was made.
As a result of their continued exploration, they had discovered and were tracking several pods of whale-like sea beasts. However, the elusive gigantic creature had yet to reveal itself. Given that visibility became impossible if it dove too deep, this was somewhat expected.
Fortunately, the sea beasts had not been found along the shipping routes to Port Town of Terek. The colossal creature would likely avoid areas devoid of prey.
Nonetheless, they could not afford to take no action, so they managed to keep a Swift in the air. Even if they were attacked, they would at least be able to monitor the situation.
“We have confirmed several remnants resembling the wreckage of the shattered ship. We are gradually understanding the conditions of the ocean currents, allowing us to narrow down the area where the ship was attacked.”
The driftwood appeared to be carried by the currents, and they were searching for its origin. Based on the barnacle growth and other biological attachments, it was estimated that the attack had occurred within the last month. By calculating the speed of the currents, they had pinpointed a rough area. While no sea beasts had been found in that vicinity, it remained unclear whether they had never been there, fled, or been consumed.
“If it is indeed being carried by the currents, it may be moving closer to The Tree. The average flow rate of the currents is quite gentle, at several dozen kilometers per day, but in two months, it could have traveled 500 to 600 kilometers.”
“This is a precarious situation.”
She gazed at the increasingly detailed nautical chart. Although the survey range was skewed in favor of searching for the gigantic creature, it had expanded significantly since the beginning. As they gradually understood the currents, the patrol range was becoming more defined.
“What if it is coming this way?”
“Sister, do we need to kill this gigantic creature?”
“Hmm. If it poses a threat to us, then yes. It would be troublesome if it sank Alpha-class ships or transport vessels.”
Given its anticipated size, capturing it was not realistic. Ideally, they wanted to study it, so if it could be killed, they would prefer to do so, but if that proved impossible, they would have to drive it away.
“We could attack to drive it off, but that might draw unwanted attention.”
Typically, large creatures were quite intelligent. There was a possibility that an attack could lead to it harboring a grudge and stalking them. Therefore, they wanted to eliminate it cleanly and conduct biological research through dissection.
“Literature suggests that indiscriminate killing is unwise, but I wonder if that applies in this case.”
“Ichi, you are quite serious.”
As usual, she affectionately ruffled her sister Ichigo’s hair.
“The interpretation of ‘indiscriminate’ depends on the situation, but I believe that killing for the sake of killing is wrong. In this case, we have reasons such as self-defense and academic research. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, not killing it could lead to problems later on.”
“…I don’t fully understand the concept of killing for the sake of killing, but I understand. I will inform the other sisters, so please allow everyone to observe during the operation.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to call you all. Thank you, Ringo.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”