Episode 92: The Watchful Commander (Unemployed)
To facilitate rapid transport of supplies and deployment of troops, a runway was to be constructed at the Oil Port.
Originally, the plan to build a runway at the Oil Port had been shelved due to defense concerns. However, the occupation proceeded more smoothly than expected, and the time it took to sortie from Fortress Two was still too long. Thus, it was decided to equip the Oil Port with an airfield function, along with defensive installations.
Constructing a runway was not an efficient task for Multi-legged Heavy Machines. Therefore, wheeled and tracked vehicles had to be transported from Fortress Two.
If operations could begin quickly, cargo planes could take off and land, so various equipment would be airdropped instead of transported by ship.
Cargo ships would take too long, and the ships currently en route were not scheduled to return to Fortress Two for another three days.
And so, cargo planes fully loaded with supplies and escort fighters took off from the runway at Fortress Two once again.
“Eventually, I want to replace these with jet engines. Propellers are cool, but they’re not fast enough.”
“Yes, Ma’am. If the Oil Port and mining plant operate as planned, we can do so immediately. The deployment speed of jet aircraft is certainly appealing.”
While turboprop engines could allow propeller planes to reach subsonic speeds, jet engines were still essential for supersonic flight.
If a stable supply of oil could be secured, aircraft would be replaced aggressively.
Currently, the Multi-legged Machine Group that had arrived at the oil field was collecting detailed information about the subsurface. Gazing at the gradually expanding explored area, Eve sighed.
“I want to do something, but there’s nothing for me to do.”
“I am very sorry, Ma’am. This is for the growth of your sisters, so there’s nothing we can do about it…”
＜Ringo＞ bowed her head, looking genuinely apologetic, so Eve smiled and patted her head.
“I know, I know. It’s just that I can’t bring myself to do anything completely unrelated in this situation… Hmm…”
She continued to watch over the Five Sisters’ work from her Command Room.
Taking this opportunity, she had separated her bedroom from her sisters’, so she only saw them during meals and breaks. Even then, it wasn’t for long, so skinship had decreased considerably.
Well, considering the original raison d’être of the sisters, this should be the correct way.
And so, while her sisters worked, she was restless, unable to do anything.
She could just decide to do something completely different, but her worrying nature prevented her from doing so.
Monitoring Commander (Eve)’s condition, ＜Ringo＞ considered whether any treatment was necessary. Despite everything, her appetite hadn’t decreased, nor was she unable to sleep at night.
As far as she could tell from her heart rate and brainwave information, her stress levels weren’t particularly high, so she decided to maintain the status quo for the time being.
“Ma’am. Then, let’s think about the menus for meals and snacks for your sisters. I think they would be happy if you said it was a menu devised by you, Ma’am.”
And so, during the operation, the dining table at ＜The Tree＞ was filled with meal menus devised by Commander (Eve).
Through this, her repertoire of meal requests increased, and the burden on ＜Ringo＞’s daily menu planning tasks decreased, or perhaps it didn’t.
“Erika, what’s the unloading situation?”
“Reporting in! The stern opening is 80% complete, and the side opening is 50% complete. Estimated completion time is on schedule!”
“Okay.”
“Utsugi, what’s the construction status of the runway?”
“Reporting in! Excavation is 60% complete, and crushed stone production is on schedule. Backfilling will probably start after 17:00 (second shift)!”
Currently, Utsugi and Erika were stationed at the Continental Oil Field Development Headquarters (named by Ichigo) Command Room. The 24 hours of a day (based on this planet’s standard) were divided into three shifts, and a rotation was set up so that someone was always on duty.
Most of the time, it was one person, but Utsugi and Erika were assigned to manage the Oil Port as a pair, so they often worked together.
“The ground improvement materials have also been placed. Smooth sailing today!”
The runway was being constructed by excavating 2,000 meters, laying crushed stone in soft areas, and filling in ground improvement materials to ensure the strength of the foundation.
With ＜Ringo＞’s specially made quick-drying coagulant, which ensured rock-like strength, they were trying to prepare a runway with sufficient structural strength and length in just seven days, despite the rush construction.
And the plan was proceeding smoothly.
“Let’s see, in terms of the schedule… construction of the control tower starts tomorrow.”
“Oh. The materials are ready. Good, good, the command AI is doing its job properly.”
Utsugi and Erika’s job was to provide the local Strategic AI with the process chart and manage its progress. No matter how well a schedule was planned, the schedule would gradually shift due to minor events.
Of course, a certain amount of margin was secured, but when problems arose, a judgment was needed by an AI with a Brain Unit like the ones they had, which was capable of flexible thinking.
“Today’s event was just the additional reinforcement of that big rock mass, right?”
The problem that occurred within Utsugi’s area of responsibility was the response to cracks and insufficient strength caused by the cross-section of the structure, which was discovered when the underground rock mass was scanned in detail.
The cause was being analyzed, but it was a defect that could not be detected by prior acoustic or electromagnetic wave detection.
It was speculated that the cracks were accidentally overlooked due to the action of ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic waves that were complexly reflected within the rock.
Since they couldn’t build on top of it with insufficient strength, additional work was required to drill through the rock and pour in core materials and reinforcing materials.
“There were no events on my end. Peace is a good thing!”
“Peace is the best!”
While continuing such conversations, they processed various information via radio communication.
They called them “events,” but a large number of problems below the level of “events” were occurring.
These included breakdowns of heavy machinery, geological information that differed from prior information, and deformation of materials due to sunlight in the desert area.
Originally, it was standard practice to have the local Strategic AI handle these minor matters, but the AI installed at the Oil Port was using a brand-new Brain Unit that had been created for this operation.
It would have been better to have a Brain Unit with sufficient experience, but Fortress Two was also under construction, so they couldn’t pull one from there.
In a little while, the local AI should be able to make these fine adjustments as well.
However, until then, the sisters needed to properly correct its course.
◇◇◇◇
Startled by their sudden appearance, many creatures fled the area.
They surged in and occupied the area in the blink of an eye. The creatures, who moved day and night, terrified them, and they fled as quickly as they could.
Fortunately, they did not chase after those who fled.
However, their impact was certainly spreading to the surrounding area.
It was just after a torrential rainstorm that accompanied a storm.
The rainwater itself had disappeared due to the scorching sun and the dry land that could not retain water, but the sprouting greenery grew as if not to miss this opportunity, providing shelter and food for many creatures.
Those who had been driven out of their territory spread around without having to worry about food, drastically changing the biota.
And then.
As the sun set and the temperature began to drop, monsters began to move in search of food.
The monsters gleefully preyed on their suddenly increased prey.
If there was a lot of prey, carnivorous creatures would gather from the surrounding area in search of it. Creatures flowed in from further outside into the areas that had become vacant due to the migration.
The desert’s anomaly was certainly spreading to the surrounding area.