Episode 321: Report Meeting and Social Gathering
“So, the establishment of the border was completed without any issues, correct?”
“Yes, Sister. We successfully agreed to use the forest managed by the Forest Country (Lebresta) as the boundary. We’ve set the current edge of the forest as the provisional border, with a buffer zone of about 10 kilometers from there. On the Afrasia United Kingdom side, we are constructing a protective fence using metal wire and a patrol line for security automatons.”
Fragaria Zero answered Eve’s question. At the same time, she projected a map and footage from the on-site construction machines into the air.
“We confirmed with the Forest Country (Lebresta) that there are basically no animals or monsters that travel between the forest and the wasteland, so we are sealing the border with metal wire. This metal wire can detect strong pressure or damage. We plan to quickly dispatch security automatons to the location where an alarm is triggered, and we have deployed both flying drones and large, rail-mounted automatons.”
“Hoh. I see, rail transport offers superior mobility, doesn’t it?”
Normally, rail-based weaponry isn’t particularly welcome. Due to the nature of being restricted to a fixed route, they are vulnerable to ambushes and long-range attacks.
However, while wheeled vehicles have high mobility, they inevitably generate friction with the ground, resulting in poor power efficiency, and are prone to breakdowns and damage depending on the ground conditions.
In that regard, rail transport minimizes power loss and is limited to movement along a prepared route, making unexpected breakdowns and damage less likely.
For border security, where the patrol route is fixed and sabotage from neighboring countries is unlikely, there are no obstacles to operating rail-based large automatons.
“It makes sense when I hear the reasoning, but from an outsider’s perspective, it’s a romantic weapon…”
Armored trains, which are easy targets from aircraft, are often depicted as highly vulnerable weapons, despite their high firepower.
After all, they can only move along the same route. Moreover, they are stranded if the rails are destroyed.
“We are treating it as a means of transportation to the site, and in the worst case, we can release the mounted weapons and have them move independently. If we consider it as a fixed artillery emplacement, providing supporting fire from the rear, we have determined that it is sufficiently practical.”
“To supplement that, the railway itself is installed about 1 kilometer inside the country from the border’s metal wire. We believe it is unlikely to become a direct target for attack.”
“That’s based on the premise that there won’t be any border disputes, huh? If you guys have determined it’s useful, then there’s no problem. …Even so, the amount of resources we can produce without being fazed by building this much railway… It’s deeply moving…”
Eve muttered as she gazed at the displayed resource consumption.
The Tree had constantly struggled with resource shortages since being transferred to this world. Especially the iron resources, which were needed in large quantities, and the energy resources that were the source of its activities.
The massive increase in production of these resources is now progressing smoothly.
Iron ore veins are being discovered one after another in various locations, and the development of oil fields is also going well.
The operation of the deuterium production plant is also on track, and the stock of rare elements is steadily increasing along with mining.
“Hmm, resource production doesn’t seem to be a concern for the time being… which means…”
Eve pulled the technology tree, which Ringo had thoughtfully displayed, closer to her.
“The mining of natural elements is on track. And if this is anything to go by, we should be able to produce most of the molecular structures that can be synthesized on the ground, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is about time to advance the technology tree by one level.”
It has become possible to gather the molecular structures available on the planet without difficulty.
The next step is the artificial synthesis of useful molecular structures.
“For the immediate future, I suppose it’ll be zero-gravity alloy…”
“Yes, Ma’am. With our current orbital deployment capabilities, we should be able to operate a small-scale general-purpose plant. Considering the danger level of the threat organisms, it will be a stealth facility. We will inevitably have to sacrifice scale.”
Eve tapped on the technology tree, which had leveled up one stage.
In plants built on planets, gravity is a shackle on various manufacturing activities.
In particular, the constant pull of gravity has a significant impact on the production of delicate materials such as alloys.
For example, if you try to mix materials with different specific gravities, they will separate due to gravity.
By performing this in a zero-gravity environment, they can be evenly dispersed.
Of course, launching equipment such as blast furnaces into orbit requires considerable cost.
There is also the troublesome process of transporting raw materials into orbit and returning the produced materials to the ground.
Overall, it means that it will be an ultra-high-cost material.
“Hmm. If we’re just using it for core components, I guess it’s doable…?”
When preparing such a plant, it is more efficient to gather energy and material transport in the same location.
However, if a large-scale plant is floated in satellite orbit, it will inevitably be visible from the ground.
In addition, the consumption of energy associated with production activities generates a large amount of electromagnetic waves.
This could provoke attacks by dangerous threat organisms such as the sniper plants.
Of course, electromagnetic wave shielding facilities can also be built, but the facility will become larger as a result.
“It’s ridiculous that we have to be more careful in orbit.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I recognize that this is an issue that should be resolved as soon as possible, but this is just how it is…”
Ringo replied to Eve’s grumbling with a dejected air.
To develop outer space, it is necessary to secure a safe space. However, at least one species of organism has been found that can cause fatal attacks in orbit. Therefore, it cannot be used carelessly.
“Well, that’s fine. Let’s proceed with it gradually. Olive is in charge? Yes, she’ll be fine.”
Eve gave the OK to launch the orbital equipment and turned back to Fragaria Zero.
“Sorry, I got sidetracked. Is there anything else to report?”
“That is all I had prepared to report.”
“Oh, is that so? Thank you. Hmm… is there anything else you’re personally concerned about?”
At Eve’s question, the fox-eared girl in front of her tilted her head.
Fragaria Zero uses a high-performance AI chassis to which multiple brain units are assigned.
Even so, it does not have the processing power to analyze everything and make accurate predictions.
Therefore, she basically acts according to the plans presented by Ringo.
But because of that, there are times when she does something because Ringo is right, even though she doesn’t understand it.
And there was a risk that such awareness would accumulate as small dissatisfaction and stress.
To alleviate this as much as possible, she periodically vents by reporting to Eve in this way.
“Not particularly at the moment. Ringo discloses all the background reasons for the action instructions, and Akane-oneesama and Ichigo-oneesama share their interpretations of any unclear points.”
Eve nodded at Fragaria Zero’s answer. It seemed that the sisters were providing good support.
A system has been established so that things can run smoothly even without Eve’s direction, who is imperfect and slow to think.
The current situation, where the AIs can complement each other, has reduced Eve’s mental burden considerably, which she is grateful for, as she had been struggling with various directions.
Well, if things really start to slip out of Eve’s hands, that will become a source of worry in itself.
“I see. That’s very good. I trust you too, Fragaria Zero.”
And so.
Once the report meeting is over, the next is the social gathering.
Today, the Class I brain units are gathering for a barbecue on the artificial beach.
The initial five sisters are probably working hard to set it up.
“Now, let’s go. If I remember correctly, you like sweets from the Forest Country (Lebresta). There aren’t many sweets today, but there’s plenty of meat. In this body, I can’t settle down unless I eat meat… I think you probably have the same desire. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”
And so, Eve continued to run around appeasing the AIs today as well.
The sound of zero-gravity alloy is nice, isn’t it?
We are so used to living in a gravitational environment that we don’t feel any strangeness, but separation due to specific gravity is also an interesting phenomenon.
★I’ve posted the cover of Volume 3 in the recent updates section, so please check it out if you’d like!