Episode 16: Ringo, Incarnate. Instant Fall in 3 Seconds
“How is it, Ma’am?”
“…Hmm. Well, I don’t feel that much…discomfort, I suppose…”
Before her stood a neat row of humanoid communicators, numbering ten in total. Functionally, they were almost indistinguishable from humans, so perhaps it would be more accurate to call them ten people.
These bio-androids were cultivated and manufactured using her genes as a base, so they looked remarkably similar to her. However, they had adjusted their skeletal structures as much as possible, so it wasn’t as if all ten shared the exact same appearance.
“…I guess we’ll just push through with the ‘similar-looking race’ angle…”
“Yes, Ma’am. As you wish.”
For the time being, they decided to conduct the first contact with these ten. The sailing ship they would be using was 25 meters in length, classifying it as a smaller vessel. A larger ship, around 50 meters, was also being designed for full-scale trade. It was being created by fixing block-shaped parts with a basic structure to the keel, and then streamlining the exterior. The strength was expected to be about the same as or greater than a wooden ship, and it was designed to be very difficult to sink because each part was watertight. In addition, it was less dense than wood and equipped with ballast tanks to ensure the draft, making it very stable. However, because they prioritized appearance, it lacked mechanisms to reduce wave-making resistance, and the maximum speed was estimated to be around 40 km/h.
Normally, operating a ship of this size would require 30 or more people, but they would be going with only ten. Technically speaking, it was a fully automated electric drive powered by a diesel generator, and no crew was needed because ＜Ringo＞ would be remotely controlling it. The judgment was that they could gloss over the small number of crew members by limiting the number of people going ashore to a few.
“So, when will the Brain Unit be ready for use?”
“Yes, in about a month. However, it will take several years to achieve complete autonomy.”
“…Well, that can’t be helped. It’s not a problem as long as ＜Ringo＞ is supporting it, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Hmm, she nodded, and approached the humanoid communicator that ＜Ringo＞ had been using for the conversation.
“The five senses are connected, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Confirming that response, she suddenly embraced the communicator.
“Thank you as always, ＜Ringo＞.”
“…Yes.”
She noticed that ＜Ringo＞’s response was slightly delayed, and continued to pat its head affectionately.
“How is it? Skinship is apparently not something to be underestimated. Especially for Brain Units with neural networks, it seems to be effective.”
“Yes… Effective, it is.”
“I see. That’s good.”
(Hopefully, this will increase ＜Ringo＞’s mental stability.)
Judging from this reaction, it might have been a bit too stimulating. ＜Ringo＞, who should have had the processing speed to answer any question without hesitation, had hesitated for even a moment, and she felt happy about that.
It was unknown what kind of impact this action would have on ＜Ringo＞, but it wouldn’t be bad.
“Yes… That’s right. You should practice moving your facial expressions a little more.”
As she said that, she smiled brightly, and the communicator in front of her also made an awkward smile.
“….＜Ringo＞, it’s too creepy to make everyone have the exact same face… I guess this won’t work for a while.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I will increase the patterns.”
Perhaps they should also practice the conversation itself.
Creating patterned expressions would be easy for ＜Ringo＞, but making expressions that matched the conversation would require practice. However, since she was the only practice partner, there were limits. All that was left was for them to learn on-site.
Incidentally, from then on, several times a day, ＜Ringo＞ began to very awkwardly and indirectly request to be hugged. It seemed that the stimulation had been too strong.
Of course, she happily embraced the humanoid communicator operated by ＜Ringo＞.
◇◇◇◇
“Now then.”
55 days after the transfer.
At the finally completed ship dock, she was gazing at the disguised sailing ship No. 1 floating on the sea.
“Finally, it’s setting sail.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
The disguised sailing ship for the first contact, with the keel and other main parts manufactured from reinforced steel, and most of the other parts made of cellulose-derived materials. It was equipped with a diesel generator and intended for propulsion by paddle wheels, but it could also sail. It would be heading straight for the Northern Continent on its maiden voyage, but ＜Ringo＞ had determined that there were no problems as a result of the simulation, so they decided to let it set sail as is.
“In the end, we’re heading out with nine people, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We will leave one behind.”
And, of the ten communicators prepared for trade, one would be left at the fortress ＜The Tree＞ as her attendant, or rather, as a dedicated terminal for ＜Ringo＞. ＜Ringo＞ had unusually insisted on it, so she had agreed without much hesitation. Perhaps it wanted to engage in skinship.
“Alright… Should we decide on a name for the ship?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Our internal designation can be a number, but it would be better to have one for external purposes.”
“A name… a name, huh?”
Honestly, she didn’t think it was necessary to give a name to a ship of this level, but it was certainly necessary for external purposes. They couldn’t exactly introduce it to the locals as Prototype No. 1.
“Hmm…”
If possible, it would be better to have a name associated with the fortress ＜The Tree＞. If anything, they could reuse it for the entire trading fleet.
“＜Paraiso＞ it is. The trading ship ＜Paraiso＞. We’ll use it as the name of the flagship of the fleet.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I will register it as such.”
Immediately, a work machine flew over and began to engrave the ship’s name on the bow. Confirming the name [PARAISO], she nodded.
“Then, ＜Paraiso＞, set sail!”
“Roger. Trading ship ＜Paraiso＞, setting sail.”
＜Paraiso＞ moved for a while with its paddle wheels, then began to raise its sails. With the power of the nine bio-androids and the winch, the sails were hoisted smoothly on the three masts. The wind was gentle, but it was blowing enough to not hinder the ship’s progress. The sails caught the wind, and soon the hull slowly began to move.
“…A sailing ship in this era, huh?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We will build even larger ones in the future.”
Certainly, a sailing ship that could navigate using only the power of the wind without using fuel was not a bad choice for the hungry fortress. The ships scheduled to be built in the future would also be equipped with emergency water jet propulsion engines, but unless they could secure oil or an alternative energy source, they would have to make sailing ships the mainstream for the time being.
“I guess we have no choice. Speaking of which, I’ve been putting it off, but what kind of power do the paddle wheel ships operating in the Northern Continent use?”
“Since it is unclear from external observation, that also needs to be investigated.”
The paddle wheel ships that could be observed in the Northern Continent could not have their power source inferred from their appearance, at least. A chimney was always necessary to burn fossil fuels, but no chimney could be confirmed. Therefore, ＜Ringo＞’s speculation was that they were using other unknown technologies. During the island occupation operation some time ago, a flame emission using a mysterious power was observed, so the prediction was that a similar technology was being used.
However, information gathering on these matters has not progressed at present. It would be good if there was a battlefield that seemed easy to observe, but all of those that could be observed were very far away, and they had not yet succeeded in photographing them.
“It would be nice if we could gather information about that in the city we’re aiming for.”
The city they were planning to land in this time was a port town that was expected to be fairly bustling. The entry and exit of sailing ships had been confirmed, and since those ships were only slightly larger than ＜Paraiso＞, they predicted that ＜Paraiso＞, being a paddle wheel ship, would be intimidating enough. Since no ships equipped with rotating turrets had been confirmed in the surrounding area, it would be possible to have them recognize it as a threat.
“I will do my best.”
“I’m counting on you.”
In this way, the trading ship ＜Paraiso＞ completed a five-day voyage from the fortress ＜The Tree＞ and was about to enter the target port town.