Chapter 103: Ringo Recommends Researching the Destroyer Tech Tree
“Let’s develop high-speed combat ships.”
“What’s with the sudden suggestion?”
Commander (Eve) was gazing at the Tech Tree as usual when ＜Ringo＞ proposed this.
“The Alpha-Class, currently the mainstay of our naval forces, is designed with fuel efficiency and cruising speed in mind. We are currently in the final stages of outfitting a prototype Cruiser to bring it into service, but frankly, the new Cruiser can achieve far greater speeds.”
“…I see. So the escorting Destroyers are slower?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We have a considerable surplus of resources now, so I believe we can advance the Tech Tree at once. Also, we can now supply power directly from the Cruiser via microwave transmission, making it possible to increase the output of the propulsion system. We should also conduct fleet operation tests centered around a power supply ship.”
The Alpha-Class Destroyer series is responsible for escorting cargo ships and patrolling the surrounding sea areas.
Initially, they were powered by turbine engines using jet fuel, but now they have all been converted to hydrogen gas turbines.
However, compared to jet fuel or light oil, the output is inevitably lower. As a result, the cruising speed of the Alpha-Class is only about 40 km/h, which is frankly slow.
“The current configuration is cargo ships and their escorts, so speed hasn’t been an issue.”
“That’s true. Cargo ships are inevitably slow. Still, modifying the Alpha-Class would reduce the number of Escort Ships… A new build?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Ultimately. For now, we will use one Alpha-Class ship as an experimental vessel. There are several things we need to verify, such as modifying the propulsion system and installing microwave power receiving equipment.”
“Okay. Let’s do that then. Once we have a certain number, I wonder if we should dispatch them to that peninsula. I want a more efficient iron mine. They seem to be building quite a few ships there, so they might have a good mine.”
The peninsula she was referring to was the peninsular nation that destroyed the Northern Islands about a month after the transfer. Its name is the Repuytari Kingdom.
At one time, they apparently traded with Telek Port City, but as the production of Burnstone decreased, the trade seems to have died out naturally.
The Afrasia United Kingdom is truly a country without resources or industry.
“In one week, we will conduct a forced reconnaissance of the southern region of the Northern Continent. We should be able to estimate their national power to some extent based on the reconnaissance results. If we repeat the reconnaissance several times while observing their reaction, we can gather quite accurate information.”
“The LRF-1 (Vulture), huh? Aren’t we doing anything with the Forest Country (Lebresta)?”
“No, Ma’am. We will forgo it this time. It would be uninteresting to give them unnecessary stimulation and have them discover an oil field.”
In reality, she would like to infiltrate Insect Bots and conduct intelligence activities, but as it is called the Forest Country (Lebresta), the people live in the forests, making it difficult to install a mother ship.
Even if she tried to have them infiltrate from the border of the Afrasia United Kingdom, they would run out of battery power before reaching their destination because they would be outside the power supply range. If she carelessly approached the border with a power supply Drone, there was a possibility that the airspace violation incident would be linked to ＜Paraiso＞, so she had to respond cautiously.
Also, she cannot approach from the sea because there is a desert area in between.
Even if she infiltrated a submarine into the river, the riverbed is not very deep, so it would be easily discovered. And small submarines could not be dispatched due to battery issues.
As a result, contact with the ambassador was the only means of gathering information on Lebresta.
“I wonder if other countries have anti-air capabilities… Somehow, I have this image of elves being master archers.”
“Unknown, Ma’am. A forced reconnaissance by the Vulture is effective in confirming that. We have a surplus of resources, so we can take bold measures. We can advance with the expectation of losses.”
“I see… If there’s a country with a developed steel industry, we could ask about imports…”
“Shall we occupy a promising iron mine?”
“I won’t! I’m already so nervous about the desert oil, I wouldn’t have enough hearts to steal the resources of a core industry!”
“Yes, Ma’am. I was just saying. It’s a witty joke.”
“It’s not witty, and it’s not funny even as a joke! …Well, the distribution survey of seabed mineral deposits is progressing, and we have enough methane hydrate. It’s enough for the shipbuilding plan for the next five years, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We expect to secure three times the amount of resources we estimated. We can allocate enough to research and development.”
The construction of offshore platforms is progressing rapidly due to the ability to manufacture petroleum-derived resins.
Rust is a problem with iron alone, but plastic can alleviate it to some extent.
The strength is not as good as steel, but the ability to replace parts that do not require that much strength with resin has saved iron, which is produced in small quantities.
The plan is to recover methane hydrate, which is distributed on the seabed at a depth of several hundred meters, by installing simple structures with resin as the main building material in the necessary locations, disassembling them after the surrounding mining is completed, and installing them in another location.
If this were steel, the movement would be troublesome due to the weight. By using lightweight resin structures, the cost of disassembly and movement can be reduced.
“It was getting difficult to secure Cellulose, so it was the best timing.”
The Cellulose that ＜The Tree＞ had been mass-producing for some time was made from Seaweed that grew in the surrounding sea areas.
Currently, the surrounding Seaweed has been almost completely harvested.
For the time being, various measures are being taken to regenerate resources, but it will take years to recover that amount of resources. While selecting candidate sites for the next location, an oil field was discovered, so it was a timely rescue.
“Cellulose itself has different characteristics from resin, so I would like to continue production. We are considering selecting fast-growing Seaweed or plants and establishing a mass production system.”
“That’s right. It seems to be more resistant to ultraviolet rays than resin, so we should consider that.”
Well, ultraviolet degradation can be suppressed to some extent by various means, and resin can also be used.
In the first place, cellulose also undergoes ultraviolet degradation. In the end, it is dangerous to rely on one type of raw material, so she wants to secure several production bases while there is still room.
“For Seaweed, let’s build a large-scale offshore plant. By using a floating structure, we can cope with storms to some extent. Mass production is expected to cause drastic changes in the surrounding environment, so a completely closed type is desirable.”
“Huh, is it better to close it off?”
“Yes, Ma’am. If the ecosystem in the surrounding sea area changes significantly, there is a high possibility that unexpected problems will occur. In particular, we need to be wary of Monster attacks in this world.”
“…I see? For example, if this area becomes eutrophic and the biota becomes richer, there is a possibility that large species that feed on it will come… I see.”
“It is believed that the impact of ＜The Tree＞’s appearance on this reef has already spread to various places. The Seaweed colony area has also been cut down, so the distribution of organisms has changed significantly. Further environmental changes are undesirable.”
“I see. We have more resources now, so we can allocate resources to environmental maintenance. And this Tree was added…”
The newly added Tree is Environmental Technology Development. As you advance the Tree, you will be able to manufacture closed-environment cultivation facilities and build a biotope alongside ＜The Tree＞.
“A biotope, huh…”
Come to think of it, there isn’t a single ornamental plant inside ＜The Tree＞. When was the last time she touched a plant?
“…I don’t remember?”
Before transferring to this world, even when she went back to her original world and remembered, she had no memory of touching plants or animals. At the time, she didn’t have any particular questions about it.
“I wonder if it’s unhealthy. Mentally speaking.”
“…Ma’am?”
“Ah, no. I was just thinking that I don’t have any memories of interacting with plants or animals.”
She thought that it might not be bad to build a biotope and play with the five Humanoid Machine (Android) sisters, and she issued a series of instructions to ＜Ringo＞.