Chapter 52: Confirm the Resource Map
Currently, Commander Eve and Ringo were examining the resource situation around Iron Town.
“Here is the resource map for the area surrounding Iron Town,” Ringo stated.
“Hmm… It seems there’s quite a bit, doesn’t it?” Eve replied, her curiosity piqued.
The map displayed reactions indicative of iron ore, suggesting a wide distribution around Iron Town.
“Yes, Commander. I conducted a detailed survey, and this area, primarily within the Afrasia United Kingdom, has revealed some interesting findings,” Ringo continued.
Confirming Eve’s nod, Ringo overlaid a geological map and elaborated further.
“It appears that this entire region is covered by lava rock, with a thickness estimated to be several dozen meters.”
“Oh… lava, huh?” Eve mused.
“Yes, Commander. The Afrasia United Kingdom is likely situated atop a massive lava flow. Since lava rock does not contain nitrogen, it is unsuitable for plant growth.”
If the entire territory is covered in lava rock, it makes sense that agriculture has not developed. After all, nothing would grow even if they tried planting.
“However, the lava itself can be seen as a promising ore deposit. In fact, the veins of iron in Iron Town are believed to have been exposed due to geological changes, revealing iron deposits at the surface.”
Indeed, Iron Town was located at the foot of a small hill, with a mine entrance opening halfway up the slope. It seemed they had fortuitously discovered iron veins that had surfaced.
“So, does that mean if we dig, we might find various resources?” Eve asked.
“Yes, Commander. The likelihood is very high. However, the top several meters are covered in low-metal-content lava rock, so we will need to dig quite deep to ascertain the details.”
“Test drilling, huh… Well, it can’t be helped,” Eve sighed.
“The iron ore obtained from Iron Town has a low content, but it is likely that we have only scratched the surface of what can be mined. In certain locations, we could potentially extract high-quality ore.”
As lava cools, heavier metals settle at the bottom while lighter metals rise to the top. Metal deposits form in areas where lava accumulates and cools slowly, resembling a basin.
“Well, that area definitely requires further investigation. I have high hopes for the Albatross,” Eve said.
“Yes, Commander. We will continue our survey by expanding the measurement range.”
However, she pondered the implications of the lava-derived deposits. If that were the case, they might also discover metal deposits of platinum, titanium, chromium, copper, nickel, and vanadium. An increase in available metal resources would be a welcome development, as rare metals directly contribute to the enhancement of various products.
“But with this, it feels like we finally have a glimpse of our metal resources…” Eve mused.
“Yes, Commander. For now, at least. While the exact reserves remain unknown, we can expect to secure a steady supply of iron resources by developing Iron Town.”
They had been relying on low-grade iron ore imports from hand-dug mines while struggling to expand their insufficient facilities. They had constructed large docks, improved their power reactors, and produced various defense and reconnaissance machines.
“The construction of the port is also on track. We will proceed with fortification works while ensuring safety. Once safety measures are complete, we will be able to produce large-scale machinery,” Ringo reported.
“That’s the one we checked recently. If we can mass-produce it, the development will progress rapidly,” Eve replied.
“Yes, Commander. The demonstration of the microwave power transmission system is also going smoothly. The design for a dedicated high-altitude platform has been completed, allowing us to significantly expand our operational radius.”
“Hmm, that sounds promising! …Though we still haven’t reached our target iron quantity,” Eve noted.
“We’re counting on Iron Town. The paving will be completed soon, and we will then move on to laying the railway, which should dramatically increase both mining and transportation capacities.”
The transformation of Terek Port Town and Iron Town was progressing as planned. Once the paving was finished, the next step would be the horse-drawn railway. They had considered running railway vehicles, but calculations showed that fuel for internal combustion engines like diesel was insufficient, and there would be a shortage of copper for the electric motors.
While the iron ore being mined did contain some copper as an impurity, the quantity was simply not enough. It was becoming increasingly necessary to search for copper veins in earnest.
“The update of the energy reactors is also coming into view… We need to find either surface deposits or develop seabed resources… The atomic conversion reactor is fundamentally energy-deficient,” Eve reflected.
“Operational use of the atomic conversion reactor requires over 5,000 times the current energy output. It is likely that a Superior Reactor will be necessary, and as it stands, we lack sufficient construction materials,” Ringo explained.
“Hmm… For now, I suppose we should focus on nuclear fusion… We have no issues with the stable supply of deuterium, right?” Eve asked.
“Yes, Commander. We have established a reliable extraction method from seawater. The remaining issue is construction materials, but if the supply of iron ore progresses as expected, we should be able to complete the port in time.”
With the deployment of the Alpha-class destroyer and the SR-1 Albatross, the consumption of stored oil was increasing at an accelerating rate. At the current pace, they could operate for about a year, but conversely, that meant they would be running low after that time. It was imperative to address this issue promptly.
To that end, Ringo was formulating a plan to establish a base on the continent and construct large-scale facilities.
“Methane hydrate is also an excellent resource, but we currently lack recovery methods,” Ringo noted.
“Yes, Commander. Based on our calculations, constructing a nuclear fusion reactor using deuterium is the most feasible option for rapid operational capability. By establishing a microwave power transmission system and conducting large-scale mining operations, we can utilize our operational capacity at maximum efficiency.”
Battery-powered operations made long-term activities difficult. Even if they prepared charging facilities, they would still need to lay power lines to reach them. Thus, it was deemed more efficient to concentrate resources on activating the microwave power transmission system. Once they secured a sufficient amount of resources, they could also invest in ocean development.
“If we can extract natural gas or methane hydrate, we could seriously embark on space development. We are also developing rocket engines that use methane as fuel,” Ringo added.
“That’s true. I was thinking that in the worst-case scenario, we might have to bet everything on satellite exploration, but I’m glad we have a prospect of finding deposits on the continent…” Eve replied.
While they had been exploring various means, one plan involved hastily constructing a launch platform and concentrating resources on satellite development. However, due to a complete lack of information regarding the surrounding space of this planet, it was a rather risky proposition.
Yet, if they could not find resources, they would need to explore even farther, which would mean that even the Solar-powered Scout Aircraft (SWIFT) would lack the necessary operational radius. It was indeed a stroke of luck that they had found immediate mining prospects around Iron Town.
“Oh, by the way. Ichigo, once the fortress base on the Northern Continent is completed, I plan to assign you to it,” Eve mentioned.
“Eh, oh, yes!” Ichigo jumped slightly, startled by the sudden address.
“For the time being, it will be remote operation. However, once the dedicated high-altitude platform is operational, the communication lag should be significantly reduced,” Eve reassured her.
“I-I understand! I’ll do my best…!” Ichigo replied, determination shining in her eyes.
Among the five sisters, the second daughter, Ichigo, had the highest inclination towards independence. With the construction of the fortress, Eve considered a position that would further enhance her capabilities. Akane would be a suitable deputy commander. Utsugi and Erika still worried her, while Olive had focused too much on production activities.
“In about six months, both Akane and Ichigo’s Brain Units will be applicable to the Backbone. Once we can mass-produce Standalone Androids, the hurdles for base expansion will be lowered,” Eve noted.
“That’s true. While it would be fine to have Ringo oversee everything, there are issues with diversity, and they are too vulnerable to communication disruptions,” Ringo acknowledged.
“Yes, Commander.”
However, while a single Android could only house one Brain Unit, Ringo had a staggering 380,000 units at her disposal. Such a violent number of units could easily create diversity, but still, there were limitations.
Moreover, the communication disruptions she worried about were not easily solvable. They were currently establishing a communication network using the SWIFT, but if anything went wrong, they could easily lose communication. Therefore, Eve wanted to prepare a sufficiently capable AI for large-scale bases to ensure they could operate independently.
“Speaking of which, if we are to add more bases, we will also need concrete…” Eve mused.
For the time being, they planned to use quarried stone to cover any shortages. However, considering versatility, they preferred to use concrete. This would also require mining exploration.
“Yes, Commander. We will proceed step by step,” Ringo confirmed.