“Finally, we can send Titan back to the skies…”
Titan, the 1st ship of the Titan-class Aerial Escort Ships.
It had sustained critical damage in a deadly battle with Wyverns and had been undergoing repairs for a long time, but those repairs were finally complete.
“I almost thought it would have been faster to rebuild it, but it’s the 1st ship after all.”
“Yes, Ma’am. We were also able to gather valuable information, such as experience in repairing the hull, so there are no problems.”
Battered and bruised, Titan somehow managed to land on the runway at the Flattala City Outskirts Base. However, the Flattala City Outskirts Base was a supply base, and although it had maintenance equipment, it did not yet have equipment capable of full-scale repairs.
Therefore, it was necessary to start by constructing repair facilities.
The easiest thing to do would have been to dismantle it on the spot, recycle it, and build a new hull.
However, it seemed a shame to do that, so they carried out a large-scale repair involving an overhaul.
They conducted a detailed survey of the structure, making necessary reinforcements and replacements.
They conducted a detailed investigation into where and what kind of forces were applied during flight and combat maneuvers, or due to damage, and whether any malfunctions occurred.
By the way, Gigantia, Oceanus, and Coeus continue to fly in the air as they are.
There was also a plan to overhaul them and investigate them like Titan, but they prioritized collecting operational data during continuous flight.
The Gigantia Squad is circling over the Afrasia United Kingdom with the radar output lowered so as not to stimulate Wyverns or other Threat Creatures.
Because the search capability is reduced, this was covered by surveillance by reconnaissance aircraft and satellites.
“Titan, commencing takeoff.”
Wedelia, the U-Class AI installed in Titan, begins reporting.
Wedelia is a Tactical AI newly created based on Utsugi. Strategic AIs are mainly responsible for setting basic policies and analyzing information, but Tactical AIs focus on executing given instructions.
It is possible to handle multiple Tactical AIs as a Strategic AI, but it is generally preferable to treat them as separate entities.
In particular, they are often installed and operated in tactical-class weapons, and the performance of functions corresponding to the motor cortex in humans tends to be high.
In other words, they can fully handle the machines or weapons they are equipped with.
“Fusion Reactor output within normal range. Each engine output, increasing. No abnormalities in any part of the aircraft. Takeoff sequence, proceeding normally.”
Utsugi, who had achieved particularly good results in machine operation, had her neural network (neuro-pattern) used for Tactical-class AIs.
The first of these is this Tactical AI ＜Wedelia＞.
“Engine output reached specified value. Booster ignition. Aircraft lock released. Titan, commencing takeoff.”
Until now, the control of such huge structures had relied on external operations, and was managed by a large-capacity AI system installed at the base.
In the future, the policy is to transfer control to the AIs installed in each device.
This is aimed at improving the response speed delay associated with remote control. If a sufficiently high-performance AI can be installed, there is no merit in performing remote control.
Naturally, the Brain Unit of the AI to be installed is strictly protected.
“300km/h… 400km/h… 500km/h. Taking off.”
Titan, accelerating on the runway, slowly gains altitude with the help of the boosters.
Once a certain flight speed and altitude were secured, the takeoff rocket boosters were jettisoned.
“Boosters, jettison complete. Flight speed reached 700km/h. Aircraft stable. All parts checked, no abnormalities. Fusion Reactor output within normal range. Energy supply, no abnormalities.”
Titan, operated by Wedelia, completed its takeoff without any danger.
Although the simulation had shown good results, it is performing control without any particular problems even in the real thing.
“Alright, it’s going well. Wedelia, well done. I’m going to have you continue flying solo for about another week, but if there are no problems, we’ll install it in Oceanus and Coeus as well. Do your best.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you. I will do my best.”
In the future, the Gigantia will also be equipped with the E-Class AI, Elemulus.
Since there is plenty of space in the aircraft, the replacement will be carried out while continuing to fly. To be precise, it will be operated in parallel with the current Strategic AI, and if there are no problems, it will be integrated into Elemulus.
“So, this will be ＜The Tree’s＞ first completely independent unit. If there seems to be no problem with the operation, let’s also install Independent AIs in the naval fleet.”
“Yes, Ma’am. That is the plan.”
At a minimum, preparations for communication satellites have also been completed.
A communication bandwidth that allows real-time control has not been secured, but with control by an Independent AI, flexible responses can be expected even if communication is interrupted.
“Until now, it felt like we were just trying to survive, but it’s about time we put some effort into gathering information as well.”
The same goes for space exploration.
At a minimum, we are continuing operations for communication and aerial photography, but we should either increase the number of operational units or introduce a high-performance platform.
“The amount of resources collected is increasing, but the amount of consumption is also increasing due to the expansion of the controlled area. Let’s maintain the status quo for a while and strive to expand domestic affairs.”
“That’s right. It’s been a while since I heard about domestic affairs…”
In real-time strategy games, the word “domestic affairs” is often used in comparison to expanding military power.
Now that you mention it, the stage from now on will be expanding domestic affairs.
The controlled area has been expanded, and lodes have been secured.
From now on, it’s the turn to turn the secured lodes into resources.
“Titan has reached the specified altitude. Transitioning to cruising speed.”
On the three-dimensional radar, it can be confirmed that Titan has reached an altitude of approximately 10,000m. Titan’s cruising speed is around 800km/h.
At this speed, unnecessary air resistance does not occur, and sufficient buoyancy can be secured.
“Entering operational verification of each piece of equipment. 3 hours scheduled until verification is complete. After that, we will transition to the set route.”
“Okay. It’s going well, Wedelia. Keep up the good work.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
◇◇◇◇
The Gigantia Squad goes through the sky.
Currently, no specific targets have been set, so they continue to fly on a circular route.
However, it would be a waste to just fly around.
Currently, a wide range of escort aircraft are deployed around them, forming a single column in the order of Oceanus, Gigantia, and Coeus.
Looking at the whole, it may be a circular formation.
And behind Coeus, a flight unit specializing in data collection was deployed.
They are exploring the ground and underground with radar.
The territory of the Afrasia United Kingdom is vast.
If we were to explore on the ground each time, it would take years to finish.
Therefore, we first estimate the terrain to some extent from satellite images, and then conduct exploration from the sky based on that information.
It is difficult, but not impossible, to observe underground with electromagnetic waves.
However, using too strong Electromagnetic Waves may attract Threat Creatures.
For now, the data collection unit is recording components exposed on the ground.
It would be great if exposed lodes could be found, but metal components sometimes accumulate on the ground mixed with groundwater.
By detecting such traces over a wide area and performing calculations, underground lodes are predicted.
That’s why the Gigantia Squad has been sighted in various places.
Naturally, it had been confirmed not only in the Afrasia United Kingdom, but also in countries beyond the border.
Among these countries, the one that showed the most excessive reaction was the Forest Country (Lebresta), which still only continues to have small-scale exchanges.
The information that the ＜Paraiso＞ forces had taken control of the Afrasia United Kingdom had already been communicated through the Embassy in East Gate City.
However, due to the situation, the Forest Country (Lebresta) side had not been able to collect any further information. Since their appearances are also different, it would have been difficult to send out spies.
Under such circumstances, if a huge machine is flying in the sky, it will stand out whether they like it or not.
The western countries of the Afrasia United Kingdom have been figured out to some extent.
Now, we should turn our attention to the east as well.