TtOW! - Chapter 165 - Assimilation Successful (Patreon)

Once Ateia and Taog had finished packing, NSLICE-00P gathered all of her monsters back to their hangars, and then opened the entrance to the new world. Inside was an expanded stone platform, as NSLICE-00P had increased its size. Off to the side on the added land, Melion bounced around, surrounded by drones and golems in various states of construction and disassembly, along with multiple ingots and ores of various types. Melion was bouncing as they read over the Grimoire of Arofinas Leolar, particularly the sections on warship construction and the related enchantments.

But NSLICE-00P was already up to date on Melion’s drone-golem research and development, and so just stepped through without distracting them.

They arrived back in the Otter Burrow and linked up with Uscfrea, explaining their plans.

“Query: Is NSLICE-Uscfrea currently aware of the locations of friendlies Agedia and Estrith?”

Uscfrea nodded.

“Estrith’s touring the Imperial settlement above, I’ll retrieve her for you. Agedia…that was the snake girl, right? She headed out towards the Imperial lands a while back, hasn’t returned yet as far as I’m aware. Speaking of which, the Imperials requested you to stop by, if you’re available, My Queen.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered. She was aware that Agedia had left for Castra Turannia, now that she had confirmed Agedia was still there it did make sense for NSLICE-00P to retrieve her, so that they could return through the new world.

As for visiting the Imperial authorities there, NSLICE-00P conducted another analysis. On the one hand, she was now wary of all diplomatic interactions, which also had little potential benefit for her primary directive. But on the other hand, the Empire as a whole was not hostile to her as of yet, and both she, Ateia, and Taog still possessed ranks within it. Agedia had been specifically introduced to them by Magister Tiberius, and Governor Aemilia’s family had assisted her after she terminated the cult base in Corvanus. As such, NSLICE-00P predicted that Turannia’s authorities were likely unrelated to the Heralds of the New Dawn, and unlikely to conduct any hostile actions towards her or her friendlies. As such, it would be beneficial to contact them, as they could potentially provide intel on the current status of the Empire and the Heralds of the New Dawn.

“Acknowledged. Statement: This unit has calculated that diplomatic contact with Turannia’s provincial authorities provides potential benefits at acceptable risks, and so is acceptable to this unit. This unit will do so upon retrieval of friendly Agedia.”

Uscfrea nodded.

“I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye began to flicker as Uscfrea brought her attention to communications with the Empire.

“Query: Does NSLICE-Uscfrea have access to mana-based long-range communications technology?”

Uscfrea rubbed his chin for a second.

“Um, you mean the communication artifact? Yes, we got some from the rebels.”

“Statement: This unit would like to scan the artifact’s construction, as well as the maritime vessels and any other mana-based technology in NSLICE-Uscfrea’s possession.”

Uscfrea grinned at that.

“Let me get the angry Dux. I’ll make her show you all the toys they brought.”

***

NSLICE-00P scanned the Imperial communication artifact and some of the vessels the rebels had stolen from the Northern Fleet, as well as a number of other artifacts the rebels had brought with them, and sent the data over to Melion. Long-range communications had been somewhat of a bottleneck for their drone project, seeing as they lacked the infrastructure for electronic networks of any significant distance. Due to the lack of both technical knowledge on how to construct said devices and the lack of industrial infrastructure to manufacture the necessary components, NSLICE-00P predicted a mana-based or hybrid mana-electronic solution would be more efficient to pursue.

And it turned out the Empire already had a mana-based long-range communication network established. Melion was working on recreating the device and brainstorming how to integrate it with her drones. NSLICE-00P predicted there was a reasonable probability she could deploy military-grade drones for scouting and observation in the near future.

And the construction of said drones might be even easier. With the theoretical knowledge and blueprints from the Grimoire of Arofinas Leolar and a full scan of working vessels based on those fundamental designs, NSLICE-00P had full confidence they could replicate an Imperial warship. With that knowledge as a base, she and Melion could then use her data from the Empire’s airships and her own summoned drones to iterate on the designs. She had reasonable confidence they could come up with suitable mana-based aero frames for the new drones.

And the combination of golem and AI technologies could handle the programming with ease.

Given the estimated time frame on the research and development, NSLICE-00P would need to begin investigating how to set up supply chains and production lines, in order to enable mass production. Of course, if the new drones appeared in the Aesdes’s dungeon system as a potential summon, she could bypass the issue to some extent, but making individual purchases with her own mana was not the most scalable solution. A separate production line would still be beneficial.

So she began investigating solutions…and found that the Aesdes had significantly expanded her menu for the new world.

[World Menu -> Create World Features -> Geological Features]

• [Add Ore Vein: Add a vein of a chosen mineral that replenishes over time. Mana cost and upkeep will depend on vein size, minerals chosen, and desired speed of replenishment.]
• [Add Fertile Soil: Add soil with the nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth. Nutrients may be replenished over time for mana upkeep. Cost and upkeep depends on field size, soil fertility, and desired nutrients.]
• [Add Water Spring: Add a spring that will continuously create water. Cost and upkeep depends on size and rate of replenishment.]

She could now add some geological features to her world beyond just the basic rocky platform, including the ability to create natural resources without waiting for the long geological processes required for such things to form naturally. Which made sense, given her world was a platform floating in the void and devoid of all the features of a planetary body required for said processes in the first place. The fact that there was breathable air and functional gravity was already a purely mana-driven process, so it was only logical there would be mana-based solutions for other such features.

In any case though, NSLICE-00P was not a research unit, so she put such scientific concerns aside. The only thing that concerned NSLICE-00P at the moment was the fact that she could now create raw inputs in the new world at will. Ores for inorganic materials, fertile soil for anything agricultural, water as necessary for both processes. She would not need to source raw materials before beginning mass production.

She did not do so right at this moment. She decided she would wait for Melion to finish developing prototypes first, and then to determine the process by which they would mass-produce the finalized units. At that stage, she would have a clear list of materials necessary, and so could calculate which features to add and what the ideal locations would be for efficient gathering, transportation, and processing of materials.

Around that time, Uscfrea returned with Estrith. Estrith saluted to NSLICE-00P before nodding to Ateia and Taog. She blinked at Taog’s cybernetic components before turning back to NSLICE-00P.

“My Queen, what is your command?”

“Response: This unit is planning subordinate upgrade routines for all subordinates in preparation for the upcoming conflict. Will friendly Estrith rejoin this unit’s subordinates for the upgrade routines? This unit calculates friendly Estrith would require additional combat capabilities to face the observed hostiles.”

Estrith glanced at Uscfrea, looking pensive for a moment. But then she shook her head, faced NSLICE-00P, and saluted.

“I…feel that my place is with you, My Queen, so long as our enemies still hunt us. I would be honored to fight at your side, My Queen.”

“Affirmative. Query: Would friendly Estrith like to undergo cybernetic upgrades and integrate into the NSLICE network?”

Both Estrith and Uscfrea froze at that. Uscfrea spoke first.

“Wait, My Queen…you have a method to add this armor to other Dobhar?”

“Affirmative Response: This unit recently received the capability.”

Taog crossed his arms and smiled.

“Yep, can confirm.”

Estrith turned back to observe Taog more properly, her eyes widening. Then she glanced to Uscfrea…then Ateia…then Taog…then NSLICE-00P. Back and forth she glanced between each of the cyborgs. Uscfrea chuckled as her eyes settled on him. He nodded at her.

“Do as you wish, Estrith Edilddaughter, personal guard of Our Queen.”

Estrith blinked and started to tremble.

“Wait…My Queen…if I remember correctly…that armor…let you send messages to others with the same armor…including Steward Uscfrea…correct?”

“Clarification: Long range communications between this unit and NSLICE-Uscfrea were conducted via the foreign system connection. However, this unit has some solutions in research and development to enable broader communications between geographically dispersed units.”

Estrith’s eyes went narrow and her gaze locked onto NSLICE-00P.

“I’ll do it. Right away.”

“Affirmative.”

Uscfrea shook his head and chuckled. But well, he also wouldn’t mind remaining in contact with Estrith as she escorted Their Queen. And…Uscfrea turned to Ateia and Taog, rubbing his chin.

“My Queen…it appears that process is not limited by species, correct?”

“Affirmative.”

He nodded at that.

“If I may make a request, would you be willing to grant said armor to some of our other subordinates here?”

“Affirmative Response: Integrating additional units into the network is desirable. Clarification: Conditions to suitable subjects apply, including full consent of the subject to be upgraded and reasonable confidence in the subject’s loyalty and lack of external affiliations, as said subject will gain access to classified data and expanded capabilities as a result of the upgrade.”

Uscfrea grinned as he nodded.

“That won’t be a problem.”

Author’s Note:

Time to initiate assimilation protocols! Maybe I should call it assimilate the other world now?

Colleöne would be sweating...if she wasn't sweating from hard work at the moment! Anualë is sweating in her place but he also personally approved the creation of the cyborg upgrade room, so he can't say anything. A legion of cyborgs is preferable to Seero accidentally creating more Aesdes...right?

Anyways!

Will NSLICE-00P and Melion introduce Aelea to drone warfare? Will Uscfrea find some suitable candidates for network integration? Did Anualë make the right choice here? Tune in next time, to find out!