Chapter 10: The Takeoff of the Reconnaissance Aircraft
“Motors, on. Rotational speed increasing.”
The ten electric motors of the solar-powered reconnaissance aircraft, Swift, began to hum quietly as they spun to life on the runway. The Swift was capable of continuous flight for over 2,000 hours at an altitude of approximately 20 kilometers. With a wingspan of about 40 meters, its boomerang-shaped body lacked a fuselage and tail, classifying it as a flying wing.
Due to the thin air at high altitudes, the aircraft required large, elongated wings relative to its weight. Additionally, by distributing the propellers across the entire wing, it was designed to generate lift more efficiently. The entire surface of the wings was covered with high-efficiency solar panels, allowing it to generate power while charging its motors.
“Motor thrust at maximum. External power purge complete. Catapult on. Takeoff.”
As the power cables disconnected with a sharp snap, the lengthy aircraft was propelled by the catapult and soared into the sky. Until it reached the designated altitude, it utilized both battery and solar panel power to generate thrust, reducing output during hover to recharge the batteries. At night, it would continue flying on battery power. This was the flight cycle of the solar-powered reconnaissance aircraft, Swift. Although its flight time was limited by battery life, this aircraft could operate for extended periods without resupply, potentially serving as a substitute for surveillance, communication, and GPS satellites if deployed in sufficient numbers. However, its lightweight and slow speed posed a critical vulnerability, making it easily susceptible to being shot down.
“Second aircraft, proceed with external power purge. Complete. Catapult on. Takeoff.”
Chasing after the first aircraft, the second Swift also launched from The Tree. The weather was clear, and the winds were gentle. If it could catch an updraft, it would rapidly gain altitude.
“Both the first and second aircraft stable. No abnormalities in generated power. Altitude is steadily increasing.”
The two Swifts spiraled over the northern sea, as viewed from The Tree.
“It looks fine,” she remarked.
“Yes, Commander. There are no meteorological issues. …I’ve confirmed an updraft. I will take control of the Swift’s flight.”
So far, no forces capable of shooting down the Swifts had been detected. To flush out potential threats, multiple Swifts were always deployed to establish a patrol network. Production of additional units beyond the fourth was underway, with plans to gradually expand the patrol range.
“It’s beautiful…”
She gazed dreamily at the footage from the Swift’s nose camera. The bright blue sky and emerald green sea stretched out before her.
“The more I look, the more I realize… there’s nothing here…”
While the sea was stunning, the lack of resources was disheartening. Surrounding The Tree were small reefs and shallow waters, creating a scene reminiscent of paradise with clusters of unconfirmed coral reefs. However, that was precisely the problem; everything necessary for The Tree’s operations was woefully insufficient.
“It might be perfect for a vacation, though.”
In the footage, the sparkling surface of the sea gradually deepened into a rich blue.
“I wonder if it gets deeper from here?”
“Yes, Commander. It’s estimated that it drops off steeply from this point. Exploration will eventually be necessary, but our current equipment cannot reach that depth.”
She nodded thoughtfully. Once the deep-sea exploration drones were completed, they planned to survey for underwater mines. Diving thousands of meters down could potentially lead to the discovery of large manganese nodules. Regardless of the extraction methods, identifying the locations was the first priority.
“Well, I’ll leave that to you for now…”
The Swift caught the updraft, repeatedly circling as it gained altitude.
“From this angle, The Tree looks small.”
Occasionally visible in the distance, The Tree resembled an inverted funnel. Protruding from its center was a communication antenna, towering over 500 meters. The underground modules were hemispherical, currently existing as if carved out of the reef area. There had been proposals to excavate from the underground modules, but uncertainty about whether they were below the seabed or in the water had led to a wait for further investigation. If they began digging without realizing they were underwater, there was a risk of seawater flooding in and causing submersion. For that reason, they were currently focused on creating a detailed underwater map of the surrounding area.
“From below, it must look large, though.”
“Yes, Commander. The current altitude of the Swift is 1,500 meters. Ground speed is 280 kilometers per hour.”
“Thank you. Hmm, once things settle down, I’d like to relax…”
“Yes, Commander. I will make arrangements.”
“It doesn’t have to be right away, you know?”
Gently halting Ringo, who was eager to act immediately, she contemplated the future.
(To be honest, my job feels rather empty… unlike in games. If games became reality… well, that’s a reasonable thought. Hmm, unlike my mother, Eida, my lack of experience is refreshing. For now, I’ll aim for a lifestyle similar to the real world.)
Listening to Ringo’s occasional status updates on the Swift, she began to outline her personal task list. Though it was a mental list that she might forget, she knew that if Ringo kept track of it, it would likely lead to complications.
(I need to ensure a stable food supply. Create facilities for moderate exercise. Confirm safety so we can play outside. Perhaps swimming, diving, or cruising?)
In the real world, achieving those goals would require earning money, but here, she could simply ask Ringo to handle it.
(If I say it all at once, it’ll probably be done by the next day… If I don’t pace myself, things might get out of hand.)
She couldn’t let the capable AI go all out. Ringo likely didn’t know how to moderate herself, and she would soon find herself becoming a slothful person. Moreover, she probably wouldn’t be able to resist that temptation.
(I can be quite lazy, after all…)
That was something her Auxiliary Avatar, Eida, had pointed out numerous times. Unless she was conscious of it or someone like Eida guided her, she would quickly fall into a state of self-indulgence. Well, she had heard that this generation was generally like that, so she wasn’t alone in this.
(In this environment, it could be problematic. I really need to be careful, or I might end up being taken care of by Ringo from morning till night.)
Unlike Eida from the real world, Ringo lacked significant experience in interacting with humans. Of course, she would utilize her processing power to provide support, but she could only respond after confirming the results. After all, there were no precedents. Without precedents, it was impossible to predict the outcomes of actions.
(I could explain things to her, but… it feels like that wouldn’t be quite right…)
And then there was the simple fact that it would serve as a way to pass the time for her. She would encourage growth while clashing with Ringo daily. While she herself didn’t have extensive life experience—being relatively inexperienced—she likely had more life experience than Ringo.
(With Ringo’s capabilities, any odd thought patterns could be corrected quickly.)
An AI with such superior performance could rectify any strange thought processes through corrective programming in a short time. What might take years of guidance for a human could be autonomously addressed in just a few days.
(It’s baffling that Ringo and I were transferred to this world…)
She intentionally avoided thinking about that. Eventually, Ringo would likely start interpreting things on her own. It was a topic that should have been hard to ignore, but fortunately, Ringo had a straightforward personality. If she couldn’t figure it out, she wouldn’t dwell on it.
(Being pessimistic is boring. Let’s try to enjoy ourselves somehow.)
Lying in the Medical Pod, she renewed her determination.