The warhead, launched at high speed from high altitude, reached the set depth.
The high-performance explosives it carried detonated with a time difference.
“We’ve confirmed the generation of seismic waves as planned. Starting analysis.”
“The analysis AI is already adjusted, Iris-san!”
The shockwaves generated by the eight massive bombs amplified each other’s vibrations as they spread outwards.
Sensors deployed in various locations recorded this information in detail, but the vast amount of data could not be transferred instantly. Data cleansed by the simple analyzers in each sensor was aggregated as preliminary values.
“Receiving primary analysis data.”
“Doesn’t seem to be any strange strata. The seismic waves are transmitting well!”
“No faults detected within the sensor range. Stable geology.”
As they analyzed the complex vibrations and reflected waves, Asahi and Iris seemed to be exchanging opinions while looking at the constantly updating information.
“…＜Ringo＞, any anomalies?”
“None, Ma’am,” ＜Ringo＞ replied.
＜Ringo＞ was monitoring the overall situation, and at least, there didn’t seem to be any massive Threat Creatures moving around and disturbing the environment.
“The data transfer speed isn’t great.”
“Since we’re suppressing wireless communications, it’s unavoidable. We’d need to use wireless communication with higher frequencies and more convergent wavelengths of Electromagnetic Waves than microwaves, or establish a means other than Electromagnetic Waves.”
“Other than wireless… hmm, Quantum Communication? But I doubt we can get it small enough to mount on the frontline automatons.”
Currently, highly directional communication was strictly limited as a countermeasure against Threat Creatures. Therefore, the communication routes were limited, causing a problem with the collection of information from the many sensors scattered over a wide area such as the front lines.
If they could dispatch communication drones into the sky, they could perform large-capacity communication while maintaining secrecy, but that was difficult in the Demon Forest.
Electromagnetic Waves with high straightness, such as visible light, would be fine, but they also had the characteristic of being easily blocked by obstacles, making it a headache.
Incidentally, Quantum Communication using Quantum Teleportation was a technology that could transmit information faster than the speed of light, but it required pairs of entangled particles on both sides. Since the paired particles were consumed each time communication occurred, the communication particles had to be continuously supplied.
Furthermore, the particle observation device was large, so it could not be mounted on small automatons.
Quantum Communication itself was a very secure form of communication because it did not require a physical connection between the two parties.
Of course, the miniaturization of communication devices was possible by advancing the Tech Tree.
“There’s nothing manufacturable at the moment. It can be realized for inter-base communication, but it has no advantage compared to wired communication.”
Quantum Communication was a technology used for communication between bases separated by light-years. It was clearly overkill for doing anything on the ground.
And while they were having such idle chatter, the underground analysis was steadily progressing.
“Onee-sama, I’m starting to understand the underground situation. A large object, presumed to be ＜The Reflector＞, has been detected at a depth of about 400m.”
“There seems to be an object with a different reflectivity! It exists at the end of ＜The Reflector＞’s underground movement path, so unless a decoy has been created, it’s probably the main body!”
By analyzing the seismic waves and their reflected waves, as well as the arrival times of vibrations between each sensor, they were able to roughly estimate the underground distribution.
Information on strata and bedrock was added to the three-dimensional underground map displayed on the projection display.
And in the cylindrical shadow that continued about 400m from the surface, there was a black object sitting at the tip.
The analysis result was that ＜The Reflector＞ had dug underground and reached that point.
“This rod-like shadow is probably caused by ＜The Reflector＞’s excavation, which has turned the ground into sand or clay. We believe it was detected as a shadow because the seismic waves were partially absorbed.”
“It probably crushed the bedrock with magic or something! I think it sank this far by its own weight, like sinking in water!”
“Like water…”
And at the tip of that passage.
There, an object with a different reflectivity from the surrounding bedrock existed.
Because of the vibrations caused by the explosion of the bombs, the accuracy was poor, and the detailed shape could not be detected.
However, the size of the object was almost the same as ＜The Reflector＞, according to the results.
“Well, it’s good news that we know its location… Does this state mean it’s not moving?”
“Yes, Onee-sama. The presumed ＜The Reflector＞ is remaining silent.”
“I’ve scrubbed the data from before the artificial earthquake, but I haven’t picked up any strange sounds or vibrations! I don’t think it’s dead, so maybe it’s staying still to heal its wounds or something!”
For now.
It seemed that the worst-case scenario, in which ＜The Reflector＞, which had disappeared underground, was advancing through the ground, had not occurred.
However, if it was trying to heal its wounds, it was still unknown what actions it would take after it healed.
It might continue to move underground as it was.
“If it moves at a dangerous speed at a depth of 400m, even ＜Gladiolus＞ might have a hard time, right?”
“The underground defense functions are designed for small Monsters, or at most giant Worms. It doesn’t have the function to defend against such a powerful Threat Creature.”
“If it starts moving at a dangerous speed, retreat is the only option! It’s okay, I’m prepared, so I can take out all of the Magic Stones and Barrier generation structures in 4 hours!”
“Oh… that’s reassuring, or something…”
It was good that they were well-prepared, but the premise of retreating was… well, it couldn’t be helped.
With a subtle look on her face, Eve stroked Iris’s and Asahi’s heads.
She had to reward them properly for their work.
“But, 400m underground, huh? It’s difficult to get a direct attack through!”
“Existing weapons can’t reach 400m. Even earth-penetrating bombs are limited to 200m. Besides, if we used a bomb that could blow away that much earth and sand, the amount of dust released into the atmosphere could exceed the allowable amount.”
The most powerful bomb they had on hand was probably a hydrogen bomb that used nuclear fusion.
However, even if this was detonated on the surface, it would only create a crater a few dozen meters deep at best.
It was also possible to use ballistic missiles to fire ultra-high-speed warheads from outer space, but the kinetic energy required to reach a depth of 400m would be enormous.
And it was easy to imagine that a terrible disaster would occur if a warhead with such energy collided with the ground.
At worst, the starlight could be blocked by the dust that was kicked up for weeks or months.
The same was true even if a nuclear warhead was used for an earth-penetrating bomb.
In the first place, it was unlikely that ＜The Reflector＞ would be affected by the heat of a nuclear explosion, and a large amount of dust would still be blown into the atmosphere.
The problem unique to this planet, that the more severe the damage to the environment, the more likely it was to attract other Threat Creatures, stood in their way.
Of course, Eve had the judgment to decide to use it in the worst case scenario.
At least, now was not the time.
“…Waiting, huh…”
“Onee-sama, I think it can’t be helped! If we stimulate it from here, it might dive even further underground!”
They couldn’t take effective offensive measures.
Iris would probably have a stomach ache for a while.
Eve decided in her heart to take good care of her.
It also touches on why The Tree doesn’t use nuclear weapons.
It’s the story of how effective it is against Threat Creatures.
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