As soon as the ‘quest’ was issued, the World Management tab opened and through it I was able to confirm that indeed the question marks were replaced by actual numerical values.
Realizing that the importance of this first mission was quite high, I focused on the interface in front of my eyes and carefully read the details.
Temperature Current: 218.028mK Growth: +525mK/day Goal: 287.000mK
“Eh? Mia, why is the temperature increasing so fast? That’s fast isn't it?”
[Yes master, it is! Due to Midgard not having an atmosphere, the planet can’t control the rise of the temperature on its own. The atmosphere acts like a filter and due to the external influence of the Sun’s radiations, the core temperature is also steadily increasing. If nothing is done, within 5 days, the magma core will erupt with a chance of 85%, resulting in the future improbability of sustainable life for a very long period of time.](Mia)
“…that was way more detailed than I hoped and expected for a 'yes or no' answer…”
[Don’t look at me… I might be the earliest God to appear, but I didn’t see the Earth being created.](E)
“…Mia, do you have any suggestions? How can I cool off the planet? Never really thought I’d actually say that…”
[Yes master! According to the thermophysics, heat always moves from a place of high temperature to of one of low temperature. In this case, the outer space will cool off the planet on its own in due time. However, the problem is the ever-increasing activity of the planet’s core and the lack of external gases to form an atmosphere. The best solution to the current problem would be to have the accumulated pressure released, following which the core’s temperature will also stabilize on its own.](Mia)
“The pressure you said?”
[Yes master!](Mia)
“And if gases were released from the core for example, what’s stopping them from flowing out in the outer space?”
[The planet has already formed its own gravity due to the uneven distribution of mass. For that reason, the amount of escaping gases will be minimized, master.](Mia)
[Oh! I also know that one. One of Osiris favorite children Albert-something said that. Should’ve seen Osiris at that point… he was basically a peacock in full bloom…](E)
“Albert-something!? …Einstein!? Is that the case Mia?”
[Yes master.](Mia)
“Then, I have an idea! If what you said is true, this planet is like a pot full of boiling water which is covered by a lid. If this keeps up, the pot itself will suffer in the process…”
[Meaning that the planet will explode?](E)
“Absolutely not! What do you think this is? A Michael Bay movie? Please stop saying such scary things... Anyway, we can prevent the pot getting damaged by moving the lid a bit to the side and letting the steam out.”
[So… your plan is to bore holes in the planet all the way to the core? Won’t that go bad starting with the very first one? All that pressure at once will surely mess up a huge patch of the world…](E)
“Yeah… so the question is, Mia, how many volcanoes are required to be simultaneously created in order to avoid… a possible explosion of the planet and also stabilize the temperature of the core?”
[Acknowledged, master! Calculating… simulating…](Mia)
Volcanoes! That was the master stroke I came up with just now due to something I saw earlier. When I first played with the holographic projection of the planet and peeled it off layer by layer, I found something interesting: pockets of gas.
Basically, deep in the planet’s ground were these large empty chambers which were connected to the core. Those were probably filled with gases resulted from the melting ‘rocks’ in the ocean of magma. Now, according to what Mia said, an atmosphere is required to maintain the temperature at a stable level and the said atmosphere is made of different gases, some of which we might find in the pocket-mines.
I may not know anything else about them, but at least I have someone who does!
[… The answer is 4786 small sized volcanoes, or 473 super-volcanoes.](Mia)
“Thank you Mia! Now, can you take a look at this and tell me what those are?”
Bring up the holographic globe in front of her and having it split apart once more, I pointed out to the regions where I found the pocket-mines previously. Not only did Eternity look curious, even Mia’s eyes shone upon seeing this. These two girls… uhm… Goddess and AI… were rather interested in any new findings that could keep them entertained.
[Yes master! Those are pocket mines filled with carbon dioxide, water vapors and ammonia.](Mia)
“Water vapors? Interesting… Mia, could we use the pocket mines across Midgard as starting points for the volcanoes? And if yes, would that change anything?”
[Scanning for the mentioned locations… Analyzing the new data… Simulating… 823 regular sized volcanoes, out of which 217 can be placed on top of the pocket mines will suffice for the previously mentioned changes to occur. The result would instantly stabilize the temperature around the mission’s goal with an error range of +-22mK. The loss of temperature will also stabilize due to the gas emission being sufficient to replace the hydrogen and helium combination of the current primordial atmosphere and create a starting point for the first layer of a functional one.](Mia)
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“Great! How do I make that happen then?”
[Wait, wait! Aren’t you jumping the gun here? I understand the logic behind it, but don’t forget you’re the God of Chaos! Every action you take has more than the usual number of possible ramifications...](E)
“I know and that’s exactly why! When I first found the pocket-mines something just clicked. I didn’t know exactly why until just now, when Mia mentioned the pressure building up in the core. And then, when I thought of a boiling pot, the image of the same pocket-mines resurfaced in my head. I can’t really explain it, but I am sure this is the correct choice to make! Mia, how? “
[Yes master! Requesting permission to make the specified adjustments.](Mia)
“Granted!”
[Oh boy! Here we go…](E)
Leaving aside Eternity which was oddly pessimistic given that she’s an actual God of Fate, Mia turned her body to the World Management interface. With a wave of her small right hand, the holographic projection of the world instantly flattened into a map, rectangular shaped.
Using her fingers, she pointed out some locations which were instantly marked with a yellow flag on the map and a counter showing 217 appeared above the projection. Obviously, those were the pocket-mines.
Next, she restarted the same process, only that this time she used red flags and the second counter stopped at 823, representing the number of volcanoes and their locations. Looking carefully, they weren’t clumped together, but rather widely spread out throughout the world.
Then, with a movement of her left hand, she pushed the red sticks which randomly appeared out of thin air (or rather, saying ‘out of thin void’ feels more appropriate) and replaced the red flags, thoroughly stabbing them in the map.
The changes were immediately visible on the actual real brownish black planet behind the projection. A muffled roar shook the entire divine domain, as 823 volcanoes erupted simultaneously. The only thing that kept my anxious mind distracted, was the fact that literal mushroom shaped clouds appeared across the entire planet, threatening to cover the entire domain in dust. Well, it was that and the face of Eternity which was gleeful at the almost explosion that occurred.
When thinking about the future? I was ecstatic! Focusing on those clouds which were currently brewing with thunder, I could see in them the elixir of life!
[Adjustment was successfully in proportion of 180%!](Mia)
[180%!? How come?](E)
[…](Mia)
[Why are you ignoring me!?](E)
[…](Mia)
Leaving aside how cute Eternity looked while stomping her foot on the inexistent floor made out of nothingness under us, it appears that Mia responds only to me. That or she doesn’t like Eternity…
“Mia, explain please.”
[Yes master! Original calculations happened as predicted, however due to the sudden exposure to magma, the hydrogen ignited and underwent a chemical reaction when couple with the carbon dioxide and ammonia…](Mia)
“Uhm… sorry to interrupt you Mia, but I’m not nowhere as smart as you are, so I don’t get what that means. Can you put in in simpler terms?”
[Yes master!](Mia)
The suddenly energetic girl re-expanded the map of Midgard into the previous globe and presented it to me. The difference was, that exactly like in the case of its real counterpart, there was now a carpet of clouds and fumes above the ground, making it almost impossible to see anything really.
Mission Update!
Temperature Current: 304.728mK Growth: +29mK/day Goal: 287.000mK
Eternity had this gloating look on her face while looking at me, with an ‘I told you so!’ implied. However, seeing Mia so confident and happy, I didn’t panic as I thought I would. If an AI which was created based on the entire knowledge accumulated on Earth since its beginning was certain this was an absolute success, then it surely was.
What I was curious about, was the reason for which she considered it 80% better than her expectations. That implied that the original calculations were correct, but something extra happened. Also that something extra was really good for us as well!
“Mia, this is?”
[Yes master! This is the live feed of what’s currently happening on Midgard’s atmosphere.](Mia)
I watched shocked at the screen which showed how lightning violently slithered between the newly created gray sky and the ground, stupefied at the sudden presentation. Just when I thought that this was an interesting choice for entertainment coming from an all-knowing AI, she suddenly zoomed in on the middle of a cloud.
A droplet of water squeezed out of it and entered free fall. All three of us watched the entire thing without blinking, not wanting to miss the first drop of rain ever (at least on this new planet) crash against the dirt. After a barely audible ‘plop!’ sound, both myself and Eternity looked at Mia with a strange expression on our faces.
“Rain?”
[Salt water to be precise, master. According to my new calculations, the continuous chemical reaction should last for an additional 49 days, 20 hours and 52 minutes.](Mia)
“Does that mean that oceans and seas will appear on Midgard?”
Seeing my excited and expectant reaction, Mia rolled her eyes at me (which by the way, didn’t know that she could or would ever do) and patiently explained the implications.
[No master. Due to the high current temperature, 98% of it will evaporate back into the atmosphere, while the remaining water would at best be forming small lakes of concentrated seawater.](Mia)
“Ahem! A…and is that a good thing Mia?”
[Yes master! The rain will cool off the temperature of the world faster and also stabilize it. Not to mention that, with the addition of oxygen, an atmosphere strong enough to filter and block radiation will be created. There’s also the possibility that after cooling down, the rain will contain potable water that can gather and spread out on Midgard in the form of rivers, ponds or lakes.](Mia)
“That’s good, that’s good! Anyway, now we need to wait those almost 50 days for the temperature to stabilize?”
[No master. The temperature goal will be reached in 259 days…](Mia)
Now that was shocking! What should I do for almost a year? I mean, yeah, one room and two beautiful girls as company sounds good in theory. But with one of them being the oldest God in history and the other being an AI child based on the previous Goddess appearances… I can’t really say that I look forward to that. I don’t have sufficient lives to handle such a thing!
[It’s only 259 days you know… It will pass in a heartbeat!](E)
“Maybe for the Goddess of Time! I’m still a regular human at my core, remember!?”
[Master, requesting permission to fast forward!](Mia)
“Do what now!?”