Chapter 986 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 986: The Space Graveyard The production at Base 100 was in full swing. Not only were there 300,000 "Cross Spider" engineering robots laboring at the site, but nearly 3,000 workers and engineers were also hard at work. They were among the most elite industrial talents in the entire federation. Some came from the distant Ideal City, others from the Evernight Harbor in the southern hemisphere, or from refuges in the vast deserts, as well as wanderers from Camp 101 who had learned advanced knowledge. In the face of the threat of apocalypse, the industrial center of Dawn City, drawing on the strengths of many, once again demonstrated its astonishing production capacity to the various survivor factions in the wastelands. As soon as the "Cross Spider" from the southern industrial park stepped off the assembly line, it was immediately fitted with a battery and loaded onto a truck, heading straight to the casting well at Base 100. From welding machinery to screws in the casting well, every unit on the production line, be it human or machine, operated at full capacity. The overwhelming industrial throughput even strained the transportation resources of Fallen Leaf City, a railway hub. Such a situation, where transport capacity could not keep up with production, had not occurred even during the fiercest battles with the Southern Legion. In the office of the Alliance Building's manager, Minister of Industry Song Xuelin reported the recent progress to Chu Guang. "...Currently, all production units of our 'Base 100 Vertical Casting Well' are operational. The first near-orbit defense platform is in production, with an estimated construction period of three months. If all goes well, it could be delivered by early June!" The near-orbit defense platform was a defensive strategy jointly discussed by professionals from the federation, academy, and various industries at a meeting, tentatively named the "Trench" plan. This involved deploying defense platforms equipped with railguns and high-power laser weapons in several low Earth orbit tracks. These defense platforms were seen as replacements for orbital debris. They could act like sampan boats floating on the perimeter of a harbor, using electromagnetically accelerated mass projectiles to ward off long-range strategic weapon strikes. Although Chu Guang knew the production speed was already impressive, he couldn't help but furrow his brows given the current pressing situation. "One every three months?" Song Xuelin replied with a bitter smile. "This is a colossal systemic project, and achieving one every three months is thanks to the assistance from the academy and enterprises... This pace is actually quite rapid." He paused before continuing. "The related industrial chain is still in the integration phase, and the technicians on the production line are also still gaining familiarity. The first one might be slower, but once it's completed, the pace should pick up." Chu Guang nodded, refraining from pressing further on this matter. Some things simply couldn't be rushed. Especially strategic materials. He knew that any pressure he imposed would ultimately get transmitted downwards, amplifying at each level. Should there be a rush due to his pressure, the end result could be compromised quality. That's the last thing he wanted to see. Relieved that Chu Guang did not continue to press on the timeline, Song Xuelin resumed his report, flipping through the documents in his hands. "Additionally, there's the logistics issue... The railway network in the central River Valley province is currently operating at full capacity. Though we have numerous mines and steel plants in controlled areas outside River Valley, the transport capacity in the Dawn City region has already become strained." "Running out of transport capacity?" Chu Guang looked at him in surprise, straightening from his chair. "Wasn't there a surplus of over 30% before?" Railways are the lifeblood of the federation's industry. Since the Bone Chewing Crisis, he had been focused on developing the federation's railways, even planning Fallen Leaf City specifically to facilitate material exchange in all directions. Thanks to his initiative, the federation later gained the potential to extend its influence to Sunset Province, Jin Chuan Province, and even the farther Sea Edge Province. After all, no matter how far players traveled on foot, the federation's equipment and logistics would be meaningless if they couldn't support them. A lot of time would be wasted waiting for respawns in that case. Chu Guang had even anticipated the possibility of a shortage in Dawn City's fusion reactor capacity, but he hadn't considered that the dense railway lines would face a shortage of transport capacity. Not able to bring in production outputs? Could such a situation actually arise in the wastelands? Seeing the surprised expression on Chu Guang's face, Song Xuelin, sweating on his forehead, responded. "This... is indeed our oversight. Initially, we assumed that the growth speed of production capacity would match the expansion of our railway network, but the actual capacity of the Base 100 casting well exceeded our expectations. Its industrial throughput is almost equivalent to the entire Dawn City industrial district, naturally occupying a similar level of transport capacity..." The back can't catch up to the front, huh? Chu Guang found himself at a loss whether to laugh or sigh upon hearing the Minister of Industry's response. However, Song Xuelin was correct about one thing: not considering this was indeed an oversight of the industrial department. "These matters must be prepared in advance, rather than scrambling for solutions post-problem. Conduct the necessary reviews, but for now, let's focus on addressing this issue." Song Xuelin nodded, drenched in sweat. "Understood..." Chu Guang didn't press further on the mishap that had already occurred. He tapped his forefinger lightly on the armrest, pondering for a moment before speaking. "The Base 100 casting well can't be moved, so we'll have to find solutions elsewhere... What if we shift part of the production capacity to the coastal region of Death Coast in Sea Edge Province? I've been considering this." Song Xuelin cautiously replied. "I had similar thoughts, but considering the settlements there are in early stages of development, I'm concerned that the region might not withstand such a massive industrial influx..." "No need to worry about that," Chu Guang replied with a smile, noticing the hesitant look on the Minister of Industry's face. "Dawn City was also built from scratch in a dire situation. Although the current scenario is severe, it's much better than it was in the early days!" "Moreover, I've personally visited Death Coast. The survivors there, although from diverse backgrounds, are no less capable than those from Dawn City or Radiant City. In fact, they're even more insightful and vibrant. I believe they're capable and confident in fulfilling the mission that this era demands of them." "If you're this confident in them, then I have no further objections," Song Xuelin responded with a smile. "I'll convene an industry meeting shortly to devise a detailed plan as soon as possible." Chu Guang nodded with a smile. "Go ahead." For the federation, the southward move of industry was inevitable, and preparations had been underway for some time. Container transport inherently offers more advantages than rail, and industries like aerospace naturally benefit from proximity to the space elevator. The primary role of Base 100 is to serve as an incubation hub for the federation's aerospace industry, much like the seed factory in the northern suburbs of Clear Spring City. Chu Guang's ambitions for it extend far beyond merely producing a few near-orbit defense platforms. It's a seed capable of nurturing an entire forest. ... In the heart of the Great Desert, amidst the remnants of the old world, dunes swallowed vast cityscapes, leaving only shattered remnants to bear witness to past glories. Beneath rust-tinged steel behemoths, a battle-scarred off-road vehicle sped across the sand dunes. After navigating through fragments of space elevators, the vehicle finally halted in front of a deserted skyscraper. As it came to a stop, about twenty soldiers clad in exoskeletons emerged from the shadows of nearby ruins, encircling the off-road vehicle. The vehicle door swung open, and a damaged power armor suit stepped out, raising both hands to show it meant no harm. The helmet's visor lifted, revealing the familiar face of Malik, leader of the "Desert Scorpions." "Don't be alarmed, I'm one of you." Seeing Malik's face, the leading soldier did not lower his guard. Instead, he raised a clenched fist in alert. Instantly, rifles were trained on the "Malik" by the off-road vehicle, ready to fire at a command. Hidden in the trunk, the Medical Miracle caught a glimpse of the situation outside through a crack and couldn't help but mutter a startled expletive. Could they have been exposed?! Facing the dark barrels aimed at him, "Malik" remained unflustered, focusing his gaze intently on the leading soldier. "I need an explanation." The soldier sneered, pointing his rifle squarely between Malik's eyes. "Explain? It's you who need to explain, Lieutenant Malik. You'd better account for your whereabouts over the past week." Upon hearing this, Zhuang Lan felt a sense of relief rather than panic. She continued with a calm expression. "I was on a mission in the southern desert when I was ambushed by the Alliance. I've been evading their pursuit for the past week. I'll naturally report the specifics to my Army Operations Division... Though I didn’t expect that after barely escaping with my life, I'd have to face my own people's guns." These words seemed to have some effect, as the surrounding soldiers exchanged glances. Although their gun muzzles remained trained on him, the killing intent visibly waned. The soldier in charge did the same. He scrutinized Malik with skepticism, slowly lowering his weapon. "You didn't defect?" "Have you ever seen a deserter voluntarily return?" Malik retorted grimly, maintaining eye contact. "I screwed up, no doubt, but not entirely my fault. Who would've thought we’d run into a fully armed regular army instead of those Watcher rodents upon reaching our destination?" "We were utterly unprepared. Valen died on the spot, along with several squads under my command, and I nearly didn't make it out alive! Damn it... I even suspect the signal was a trap set by the Alliance from the start. The intelligence division should take at least half the blame!" There was an earnest indignation in his tone, as if genuinely betrayed by his own side. Hidden in the trunk, the Medical Miracle couldn’t help but marvel at the scene, feeling like a true captive even before his eventual role came into play. The lead soldier focused intently on Malik, the scales of trust ultimately tilting toward belief. He gestured, and two soldiers in exosuits moved to inspect the off-road vehicle, opening the trunk to reveal the tightly bound and wriggling prisoner. "And who is this?" "An Alliance operative," Malik replied with a sinister grin, his voice icy with derision. "I captured this unlucky bastard during my escape. Unfortunately, with the pursuers on my heels, I had no chance to extract anything from him." The soldier on duty seemed convinced at last. He waved off the soldier by the vehicle, indicating they should escort the captive away, then turned back to Malik. "I just contacted the Internal Affairs department. They're surprised you made it back alive and probably have a lot of questions waiting for you." Malik chuckled bitterly. "Seems like they’d written me off as dead." "Don't take it too hard, brother," the soldier sympathized, glancing at Malik's raised hands. "You can lower those, welcome home." Malik lowered his hands and shook the soldier's extended hand. As he released it, the soldier unexpectedly pulled out a gun-like scanner, sweeping it over Malik's eyes. Anyone unfamiliar with the Enclave might mistake it for a pistol and react rashly, exposing oneself. But Malik knew these protocols too well, finding this test more amusing than concerning. "Convinced yet?" Malik taunted, watching the soldier with the iris scanner. "Just procedure," the soldier replied with a casual smile, putting the iris scanner away. "Please follow me, Lieutenant Malik." Malik glanced at the taken prisoner, asking offhandedly. "What about the captive?" The soldier smiled. "You don't need to worry about him, just leave him to us." "Make sure to extract information from him," Malik instructed. The soldier grinned wickedly. "Don't worry, we won't make it easy for him." Seeing the soldier's malevolent grin, Zhuang Lan felt a twinge of unease but refrained from intervening. Saying anything now would be redundant, helping neither the Alliance ally nor the mission, potentially dooming the entire plan. Now, she was Lieutenant Malik, a disciple of the Enclave, an active officer of the "Neo-Union," and leader of the Desert Scorpions. Without a word, she donned Malik's mask confidently and followed the guide like a defeated warrior still brimming with pride, approaching the legendary entrance of Bunker 13. Meanwhile, in deep space 36,000 kilometers from Earth, a silvery-grey research vessel glided through an asteroid belt of space station debris. Fragments of split alloy stood silent and solemn like uninscribed tombstones amid the cosmic graveyard. In stark contrast to the grand structures, the academy's research vessel resembled a child's toy. Seated in the cockpit, Jiang Xuezhou's face was etched with tension. The deflector shield could ward off space debris, but larger chunks still posed a threat. Their luck was faltering. Just as they neared their destination, they encountered a "debris field" cutting through geosynchronous orbit. However, they couldn’t afford the waiting time for the debris to drift away, and so pressed forward with steely resolve. Unlike Jiang Xuezhou, who navigated the perimeters of massive structures with trepidation, the co-pilot Ye Shi gazed in awe, slack-jawed at the spectacle beyond the cockpit. The sight defied his preconception of space debris, far grander than imagined, akin to a lunar fragment thrust at his very face. This hyperbolic description depicted space station remnants notably larger than imagined. Large as a carrier or two, these relics dwarfed Earth's most advanced spacecraft, rendering them mere specks, and reducing the "Eye of Mankind" insignificantly below sizeable debris. A marvel! Faced with this spectacle, "marvel" was the only word thee night could muster. "Wow..." Jiang Xuezhou caught his expression, a trace of amusement curling her lips, watching him there on the cockpit's edge. A visage of someone entranced by novelty was what she admired in him most. "Dream City." Ye Shi blinked in confusion. "What?" "Dream City, a miracle of the Prosperity Epoch," Jiang Xuezhou instructed, maneuvering the ship as she pointed out. "Legend claims it was a permanent space station, boasting artificial gravity and a cycle of day and night..., at least that's what the promotional materials claimed." Ye Shi scratched his helmet. "Sounds oddly like Ideal City." Jiang Xuezhou chuckled. "Perhaps Ideal City took inspiration from Prosperity Epoch history." Such instances weren't uncommon. For example, Avent City. According to the Waylanders’ history, this settlement was named for a soldier who conquered it, but that doesn’t account for its prior naming. Academy's historical surveys suggest they reused a pre-war neighborhood name for convenience; any "special" meanings were later emendations by Waylanders. As a major survivor faction, Waylander culture continues influencing Neo-Union dialects. Ye Shi blankly regarded Jiang Xuezhou. "...Really?" "Just a theory, take it with a grain of salt," she shrugged. "I've heard Horizon had investors buying presale units in Dream City..., as its business plan included regular Earth-Horizon cruise circuits." Ye Shi couldn't help but marvel. "...That's insane." Jiang Xuezhou nodded in agreement, her gaze returning to the depths beyond the cockpit. "It is. Yet considering the era’s context, it’s not outrageous. By then, graviton technology had major breakthroughs; warp engine cargo capacity and spacecraft cruise range were steadily increasing... It wasn't strange for people to dream up such things. Back then, people dreamt of colonizing Mars with chemical rockets...and they nearly succeeded. Nothing ludicrous there." "Heh," Ye Shi awkwardly chuckled, feeling inadvertently targeted by her words. Oblivious to his unease, Jiang Xuezhou inhaled deeply, steadied her voice, and said: "Alert your team... We're almost there." To be continued...