Chapter 62: Fortress Two and the Worm Story
Fortress Two (name undecided) is currently in the midst of its foundational construction.
To support the main above-ground structures, pillar-like structures are being embedded deep underground.
The depth reaches 50 meters.
Because the ground is covered with relatively brittle lava rock, it was necessary to create supports down to the bedrock layer located 40-50 meters underground. Currently, they are excavating and pouring high-strength concrete.
Due to the unexpectedly deep foundation required, the cement stored at ＜The Tree＞ will likely only be enough to complete the foundation work.
However, as a result of the boring survey, limestone was discovered in the surrounding underground area. By mining this, there is a prospect of procuring cement for construction locally.
Therefore, excavation equipment is currently being built in parallel with the foundation work.
By the way, concrete foundations usually include reinforcing steel, but due to the current shortage of Iron Material, carbon nanotube fibers are being used.
Originally, there is a world of difference in cost between reinforcing steel and carbon nanotubes, but there was no choice in the current situation where there is no Iron. However, it is fortunate that the amount of concrete used could be reduced due to the reinforcing effect of carbon nanotubes.
“It was necessary to develop specialized equipment to use carbon nanotubes as aggregate, but it can be used in the future, so it will not be a waste.”
According to ＜Ringo＞, general-purpose machine tools can be used for reinforcing steel, but carbon nanotubes cannot be used in any way, so a dedicated concrete foundation driving device was manufactured.
The device is diligently erecting foundation piles at the bottom of the excavated vertical holes, while consuming the supplied raw materials.
By the way, since carbon nanotube short fibers are mixed into the concrete, the color is quite black. This is a side note.
In parallel with the foundation work, boring is being carried out to investigate the surrounding geology. For the time being, the distribution of limestone has been confirmed, so they are digging to see if there are any other resources.
As a result, a large-scale lava-related ore deposit was discovered about several kilometers inland. Unfortunately, the iron content is not very high, but the survey results indicate that metal resources such as nickel, copper, chromium, and platinum can be secured.
It is thought that lava pools formed in the depressions, and metal resources settled at the bottom.
In addition, since the composition of the surrounding Lava Rock also contains iron components such as iron oxide, there is a high possibility that there is an iron lode somewhere.
Iron is relatively light (compared to other metal elements), so it is thought that after precipitating in the upper layer, it flowed to another location due to the pressure of geological changes. Currently, the survey around the discovered ore deposit is continuing.
A scenario is also being considered in which a large-scale excavation of Lava Rock is carried out, and an element accumulation device is introduced to remove the main component, silica (silicon dioxide), and collect other elements.
Considering the processing volume, it is necessary to build a fairly large-scale facility, but if you throw the surrounding stones into it, you can extract useful elements such as aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, and titanium. At the same time, a large amount of silica will be generated, but if it is solidified and returned to its original location, there will be no waste problem.
The problem is that a large amount of energy is required for processing. It is necessary to add a Fusion Reactor.
“I definitely want to introduce this element accumulation device, but to do that, I need to consume a large amount of construction materials and add a large-scale facility and energy furnace… Geez, the required resources are more than Fortress Two.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Even so, that is the minimum processing volume, so we recommend at least five times this scale. This is equivalent to seven Fortress Two.”
“…That’s outrageous.”
As a result of the review, it was decided that it was premature. Rather, they want to allocate resources to the construction of an offshore platform.
At least, iron oxide lodes have been discovered on the seabed. The depth is lower than 1,000m, though.
A large excavation device is being built to mine the discovered lode. Since the ore deposit was discovered in a relatively shallow location, they are trying to quickly carry out open-pit mining.
The plan is to blast and crush the ore deposit, and then dig it all at once with a giant rotary bucket.
A refining facility will also be built nearby to convert various metals into ingots. The manufactured ingots will be consumed by the construction machine (printer) in Fortress Two, or transported to ＜The Tree＞ for use.
Once these series of facilities start operating, ＜The Tree＞’s resource balance will improve dramatically.
“Commander (Onee-chan), once this starts moving, there are so many things I want to make…”
“Oh, is that so? Hehe, then let’s write a list of things you want to make.”
While confirming such a situation, the fifth daughter (Olive) succeeded in successfully coaxing her older sister (Eve).
Olive, who has a bit of a manufacturing mania, rarely makes selfish requests, so when she takes this attitude, her older sister (Eve) easily falls for it. By the way, it was ＜Ringo＞’s suggestion.
The cement used in Fortress Two will be collected from the limestone lode. Since this is completely buried underground, it is necessary to construct a tunnel.
A small shield machine is currently heading towards the ore deposit. After reaching the ore deposit, a belt conveyor will be laid, and the ore will be continuously mined.
After being manufactured, the cement will be mixed with aggregate and property modifiers, and transported to the construction site as ready-mixed concrete.
Basically, since a large amount is required at once, a large transport vehicle with a stirring device is being prepared at the same time. There was no particular merit in making these construction machines multi-legged, so the movement function was set to wheels, but it was unpopular with Commander (Eve).
＜Ringo＞ ignored it.
Now, finally, let’s talk about the current situation of the Monsters (Worm) that we have been observing.
“Well, it’s getting a little bigger, Commander (Onee-chan).”
“It’s starting to stick its head out just by getting close, Commander (Onee-chan).”
They were feeding it smoothly.
The third daughter (Utsugi) and the fourth daughter (Erika) are taking care of it (?) when they have time, and it seems that it is growing by eating a lot of fish.
＜Ringo＞’s observation results show that it doesn’t seem to be eating anything other than fish. The fact that it can grow on fish alone means that there is no problem even if the food is biased.
It is currently unknown whether the body has a simple structure, the digestive organs are excellent, or there is another reason, but at least it seems that it can grow by ingesting the corpses of organisms. However, since it seems that it has survived under the soil without food until now, it is thought that life maintenance and growth are separate processes.
No, it is also possible that it was living while consuming the accumulated nutrients, so it cannot be determined.
“We have secured some body tissues that appear to have peeled off during the growth process, so we are analyzing them.”
“What about the genes?”
“They were detected. In the simple analysis, there were no similar patterns, so it cannot be applied to known organisms.”
The fact that genes were found means that the biological structure is known.
It is a harvest just to know that the biological structure does not require genes.
Since it is known that it is a Monster, if we can identify something that cannot be analyzed by comparing it with known organisms, we can assume that it is composed of a Magical mechanism.
“If possible, I would like to capture other individuals for dissection.”
“I’m looking for them, but I can’t find them~”
“I don’t think I’ll find them unless I go further inland~”
It would be quick if the flying boat (Albatross) could be used for the search, but it is currently being used to its full potential for ore deposit detection and topographic map creation, so it cannot be used for low-priority Worm detection.
“Can’t we fly an electric Drone? If the radius of action is about several hundred kilometers, can’t we operate it with a rechargeable battery?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That’s right, the power consumption increases when loading the detection equipment, but even so, it seems that it can be used for about 100 to 200 km. Let’s investigate with small Drones until the Microwave Power Supply System is operational.”
“Commander (Onee-chan), I want to make a Drone.”
“Oh…”
As a result, instead of diverting existing Drones, Utsugi, Erika, and Olive will develop one exclusively for Worm exploration.
The three of them have never teamed up before, so it may be a good stimulus. Commander (Eve) and ＜Ringo＞ will monitor the amount of materials that can be used, and the three sisters will start designing freely (as they please).