“Ooooh! Oil!”
“Yes, Ma’am. It appears to be an oil slick.”
Displayed on the monitor was a whitish oil slick covering the surface of the sea.
“Crude oil…! Is it crude oil…?”
“It is believed to be crude oil. It appears white because it is thinly spread, but spectral analysis has determined with an 88% probability that it is crude oil.”
The Solar-Powered Reconnaissance Aircraft (Swift) patrolling the sea had discovered this oil slick.
Since it was not equipped with analytical instruments, ＜Ringo＞ immediately loaded a spectral analyzer and component analyzer onto the Flying Boat SR-1 (Albatross) and launched it.
“We will land shortly to collect samples. The oil slick is spread over a fairly wide area, so it will be difficult to find the source immediately.”
“We also need to measure the ocean currents. If it’s leaking from the seabed, there should be a starting point, but I wonder.”
“Yes, Ma’am. A Tropical Storm (Typhoon) has just passed through. It is also possible that it flowed out from the land.”
“…I see. It could have been washed away by the storm. Let’s see, the location of the oil slick is…”
＜Ringo＞ immediately displays a map and the location of the oil slick. The exact location and scale have already been determined by Swift’s aerial photography. All that remains is to investigate the ocean currents and calculate the source.
“Hmm. It’s flowing from here to here, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Three hours and 42 minutes have passed since the discovery, and the oil slick has spread like this in the meantime. From this, it is estimated that the ocean current is flowing like this.”
The displayed ocean current and the spread oil slick are displayed superimposed.
“Hmm. The starting point is not here… right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. There is a leading edge of the oil slick that seems to be the starting point, but it is moving with time. Therefore, it is more natural to think that a certain amount has flowed from the land along this river than to think that it leaked from the sea.”
What ＜Ringo＞ pointed out was a huge river flowing as if to divide the desert area. Incidentally, this river forms the eastern border of the Forest Country (Lebresta), and there is a port town upstream.
“Crude oil is buried somewhere upstream. If it’s flowing out, could it be, maybe, gushing out?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That possibility is quite conceivable. Even if there is not enough pressure to gush out, it must be accumulating in a place where it will collapse even in heavy rain at the very least. Also, if it is now, it may be possible to find it from the sky.”
Previously, there was an incident in which an arrow message was shot into Swift. For this reason, all Swift dispatches to Lebresta airspace had been cancelled, but in this case, a forced reconnaissance may need to be considered.
“A large dispatch of Swifts would be fine, but let’s send out a Supersonic Aircraft here.”
“Ah. Come to think of it, the development was finished, wasn’t it?”
She had been developing a Supersonic High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft before, and it seemed to have been successfully completed.
“The experimental aircraft has already been flight-tested. Three pre-production models are being manufactured and will be rolled out in 8 hours. After the operation test, it is scheduled to be able to take off in 14 hours.”
＜Ringo＞ says so easily, but in reality, it is quite a reckless schedule. Normally, it is hard to imagine that an aircraft immediately after manufacture will operate without any problems.
It takes dozens of hours to test, carefully repeat flight tests, and finally be able to say that it can fly without problems. She is boasting that she will finish it in 6 hours after the completion of manufacturing.
However, Commander (Eve) is not aware of this abnormality. Originally, she was thrown into this world with the game settings carried over, so she thinks that the simplified manufacturing process due to the game is normal.
No, to be precise, she knows that the normal manufacturing process is very complicated, but ＜Ringo＞ says it so naturally that she mistakenly believes it is a game specification.
In reality, ＜Ringo＞ is using its computational resources to perfectly control the manufacturing process from corner to corner, accurately reproducing even the molecular arrangement, to achieve this productivity.
That’s why.
“It takes quite a while, doesn’t it?”
That’s what she says.
“Yes, Ma’am. Since the aircraft accelerates to Mach 3 or more, even a slight unevenness could lead to the disintegration of the aircraft. Precise observation and fine adjustment of the entire aircraft are necessary.”
“Haa, I see. Yeah, I mean, Mach 3?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The maximum speed of the experimental aircraft is 4221.1km/h, recording Mach 3.5, the speed of sound. We are aiming for Mach 4 in the end, but at this point, flying at Mach 3 is realistic.”
Mach 3, about 3600km/h. A speed of 1,000m in just 1 second. It is unlikely that an object moving at this speed can be sniped.
Also, even if it is shot down, it is assumed that it will be shattered into pieces by the wind pressure, so the confidentiality is perfect.
“Just in case, thermite incendiary agents are placed near important sections, and if it becomes uncontrollable, the aircraft can be incinerated. Small parts may leak out, but the core functions can be completely destroyed.”
“Thermite? Isn’t it dangerous to load something like that?”
“Yes, Ma’am. By setting the particle size relatively large, the ignition temperature can be controlled. It will not ignite unless the aircraft is in a burning state.”
“Hmm… I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t suddenly self-destruct…”
With such a security mechanism installed, ＜The Tree’s＞ first attack aircraft since the transfer was born.
SR-1 (Albatross) is treated more like a cargo plane, and is excluded because it is not equipped with fixed armaments.
“So, 14 hours later, huh?… That’s 11 p.m.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I am sorry, but please wait for today.”
“Hmm… no, that’s fine. No, is it fine…? Should I take a nap?”
Partly because she is being urged by ＜Ringo＞, she has been living a very regular life for the past year. 11 p.m. is usually the time she is already in bed.
“Akane and Ichigo will control Fortress Two, and Utsugi, Erika, and Olive will also be present. The Brain Unit forced awakening function can also be used, but it is a heavy burden, so I do not recommend using it during normal times.”
“Well, that’s true. Then, should we all take a break after lunch today?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Then, I will plan accordingly.”
◇◇◇◇
“Final check complete, all green.”
“Confirmation complete. Surrounding airspace clear. By order of the Fortress Commander, permission to take off.”
“Takeoff permission accepted, confirmed. The control AI has started the takeoff sequence.”
“Sequence start, confirmed. Catapult position fixed. Voltage increase, started. Reached the specified voltage. Rocket motor ignition, catapult lock released, LRF-1 (Vulture) Unit 1, takeoff.”
The Supersonic High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft LRF-1 (Vulture) Unit 1, displayed on the screen, was launched into the sky with a roar.
It gains altitude at once due to acceleration by the Electromagnetic Catapult and auxiliary acceleration by the Solid Fuel Booster.
“Combustion temperature, within specified range. Acceleration, within specified range. Aircraft vibration, within specified range. Reached 600km/h.”
“Next, LRF-1 (Vulture) Unit 2 launch preparation. By order of the Fortress Commander, permission to take off.”
“Control AI, started the takeoff sequence.”
“Catapult position fixed, specified voltage reached. Rocket motor ignition, catapult lock released, LRF-1 (Vulture) Unit 2, takeoff.”
Following Unit 1, Unit 2 is launched in the same way.
This time, these two aircraft will form a buddy and enter the airspace over the Forest Country (Lebresta).
Entering from the Afrasia United Kingdom side could lead to unnecessary speculation, so they will fly over the sea south of Fortress Two, detour, and enter from the east side.
“Unit 1, reached an altitude of 25 kilometers, transitioning to horizontal flight. Next, Unit 2, reached 23, 24, 25 kilometers. Transitioning to horizontal flight. Unit 1, rocket motor combustion finished. Rocket motor separation, successful. Ramjet engine ignition. Ignition successful. Unit 2, rocket motor combustion finished.”
In this way, the Supersonic High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft LRF-1 (Vulture) was unleashed at an altitude of 25,000 meters.
After this, the two aircraft will fly over the sea while performing operation tests of the mounted sensors, and then enter the Forest Country (Lebresta).