“The planned number of ships for the fleet is complete.”
“Well done!”
The last of the destroyers had been launched. Manufacturing would continue for reserve ships, but for now, the construction of the fleet with the cruiser as its flagship was complete.
“Eight Hedgehog-class Destroyers and the flagship Panas, a Panas-class nuclear-powered cruiser, are combat-ready. All inspections within the dock have been completed. All that remains is the trial voyage.”
“Oh, it’s quite a sight…”
For the time being, the cruiser and eight destroyers were arranged in a circular formation. Commander (Eve) was very excited as she watched the scene from the drone footage.
“It really makes a difference having a flagship! It suddenly looks like a real fleet!”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you.”
The flagship Panas in the center. Six Hedgehog-class Destroyers around it, and two in front in the direction of travel.
This was the circular formation adopted this time.
In addition, a Wide-Area Surveillance Drone was kept on standby in the sky to ensure constant visibility. The drone flew at an altitude of 20km, so its field of vision was calculated to be over 600km.
Therefore, instead of attaching it directly above, it would be placed behind or to the side to obscure the direct relationship.
Similarly, the power supply drone was placed in a remote location, taking a position where it would not be easily visible. Power supply efficiency would be reduced, but the nuclear-powered cruiser (Panas) could supply sufficient energy on its own, so this was not a particular problem.
“The trial voyage will be from ＜The Tree＞ to Fortress Two.
After that, we will replenish supplies at Fortress Two and head to Telek Port City.
If there are no problems, we plan to load Burnstone into the cargo hold and depart for the Repuytari Kingdom.”
“I see. I think they’re saying they’re going to dispatch troops to Telek Port City. It’ll be a pain if they get the jump on us, so we need to nip it in the bud.”
“Yes, Ma’am.
It is assumed that the permanent garrison at Telek Port City alone would be sufficient to repel them, but it would be better if they did not come at all.
It will also serve as a model case for conducting diplomacy with other countries.
Their country seems to be a cut above the surrounding nations, so it would be a good test case.”
The bots infiltrating the Repuytari Kingdom were steadily collecting information. The current goals of the Repuytari Kingdom were to control Telek Port City and secure Burnstone.
As a hegemonic power, this was an understandable policy.
Currently, the main power source of the Repuytari Kingdom was steam engines using Burnstone. And it seemed that Burnstone itself was hardly produced within the Repuytari Kingdom.
The main Burnstone producing country was, none other than, the Afrasia United Kingdom. If the world were different, the Afrasia United Kingdom might have been a dominant power as an energy-producing country.
“We will establish diplomatic relations with the Repuytari Kingdom, and then keep the surrounding countries in check.
If we show our strength, we can manipulate the situation to some extent as we wish.
I recommend a plan to advance into the inland of the Afrasia United Kingdom with perfect timing.”
＜The Tree＞, or rather, ＜Paraiso＞ to the outside world, would interfere in the Civil War of the Afrasia United Kingdom.
It was a bold plan to seize domestic resources and colonize the entire country.
This was not something ＜Ringo＞ had come up with on her own.
The territory of the Afrasia United Kingdom was being carved up by surrounding countries.
This was the fact that was revealed as a result of optically scanning the Northern Continent over a wide area.
The purpose of the invading countries was the Burnstone produced from the territory of the Afrasia United Kingdom. Burnstone was a mineral with the property of generating stable heat.
Currently, it seemed to be generally recognized as something that made cooking more convenient. It was also used in some iron manufacturing.
Until now, the amount produced had not been very large, so wood charcoal and other materials had been more in demand, but there seemed to be a gradual shift to Burnstone due to its ease of use.
However, since the Repuytari Kingdom was currently buying it up at a relatively high price, it had not become so widespread in any country.
However, the fact that it had begun to be used extensively in the great power, the Repuytari Kingdom, had driven up its market value.
“Either way, the Afrasia United Kingdom will collapse within 10 years even if we leave it alone. Sooner or later, so we might as well take it first.”
That was the conclusion reached by Commander (Eve).
With the current strength of ＜The Tree＞, it would be possible to seize the entire Afrasia United Kingdom with hardly any bloodshed.
The number of deaths would be much lower than if the Civil War and the carving up of territory by foreign countries were left unchecked.
Fortunately, the staple food on this continent was a grain similar to wheat. If arable land was prepared and a large amount of chemical fertilizer was put in, enough food could be provided.
If thread and cloth were supplied and construction materials were released, it would not be impossible to win over 90% of the population.
Very few people would dare to go against a leader who provided sufficient clothing, food, and shelter.
“We will seize the entire Afrasia United Kingdom and secure the lodes that are expected to be distributed in large numbers in the north.”
In the central part of the Northern Continent, there was a huge mountain range running from east to west. The southern side of it, that is, the territory of the Afrasia United Kingdom, was a land covered with lava that seemed to have flowed out from that mountain range.
And it was assumed that many lava pools, that is, lodes, were more common in the north.
“The area around Fortress Two is almost at the tip of the lava flow. The amount of lava that has arrived is not very large. The further north you go, the more lava there is. If there are depressions or valleys, it is thought that lodes are created from the lava that has accumulated there. We should quickly seize the entire country and conduct a full-scale survey.”
Then, the status of the Afrasia United Kingdom as a nation would be improved, and various resources would be imported from foreign countries. If this could be done, the resource balance would be considerably stabilized.
“Well, that’s just theory. First, we have to silence the Repuytari Kingdom, which is the biggest threat to the surrounding countries.”
Commander (Eve)’s policy was to get them to accept her demands without fighting as much as possible.
For now, the best solution was to occupy the Afrasia United Kingdom with an overwhelming force in a blitzkrieg.
And for the Repuytari Kingdom, gunboat diplomacy with a giant ship as the flagship.
Since there were still not enough resources to build up her forces, she decided to put the Repuytari Kingdom and its surrounding countries under the influence of ＜Paraiso＞ first.
“I didn’t intend to rush this much.”
“Yes, Ma’am.
It was fortunate that we were able to learn about the internal affairs of the Repuytari Kingdom at this stage.
We can go there before the punitive fleet departs.
If we were to meet at sea, there would have been a high possibility of a state of combat.”
“To make them surrender without fighting. That’s the best way to avoid leaving a grudge. Probably.”
“Yes, Ma’am. The fewer deaths, the better.”
The ideal was to build up her forces carefully and then take everything in one fell swoop, but it became certain that she would clash with the Repuytari Kingdom before preparations were complete.
In reality, it was impossible to ravage the entire Repuytari Kingdom with just the fleet being dispatched.
However, ＜Ringo＞ judged that it was sufficient for diplomatic use. At the very least, it had enough firepower to turn the Repuytari Kingdom’s capital, Moor, into scorched earth.
It would be a sufficient deterrent.
“Besides, if we can trade Burnstone directly, it will be difficult for them to refuse.”
What the Repuytari Kingdom was concerned about was the Burnstone supply route. Although it was trading with multiple countries, it was being taken advantage of to some extent, and transportation was costly.
If it became possible to import large quantities of Burnstone by sea, they would welcome it, not turn it away.
However, since they seemed to understand the danger of having the supply route monopolized, the upper echelons of the Repuytari Kingdom would have to make some very difficult decisions.
“Well, are the preparations for departure complete?”
“Yes, Ma’am. All is well.”
“Good. Well, shall we go see them off? It’s the departure of ＜The Tree＞’s first ever strike fleet, a momentous occasion.”