Day 57
In most RTS games, players typically start by constructing low-tier units and gradually expanding outward. This strategy had been my go-to approach in the past, but I no longer subscribed to that outdated ideal.
That wasn't to say I disparaged my former self - far from it. I firmly believed in evolution, and what kind of gamer would I be if I didn't fully exploit my current circumstances?
My mining drones had been rugged, dependable, and cheap. They could operate in almost any environment and were generally smart enough to avoid marching off a sheer cliff like mindless sheep.
So why replace them, one might ask? The answer was simple: I needed something better. My economy was in shambles, and there was no time like the present to invest in R&D.
Deep within the dark depths of my ruined island, the concept for the ORE Procurer took shape. Its sleek, hydrodynamic form, crafted from advanced composite materials, provided both immense strength and flexibility to withstand the crushing pressures of the ocean's depths. Measuring over 300 meters from bow to stern, it dwarfed any other submarine in existence.
The ORE Procurer boasted an array of sophisticated sensor arrays and sonar systems capable of scanning the ocean floor with remarkable detail. These systems could detect mineral deposits and map out the seabed's geological features, providing crucial data for mining operations.
However, this was not its most impressive feature, nor would it justify the exorbitant cost to produce one of these monstrosities. A single ORE Procurer cost over a hundred thousand times more than my drones.
I wouldn't have been able to afford one if not for the salvaged parts from the broken drones scattered throughout the labyrinth.
The ORE Procurer's true marvel lay in its mining laser. Mounted on a retractable arm beneath the submarine's hull, the upgraded laser could slice through dozens of meters of solid rock within seconds. It far surpassed the capabilities of my drones, and its immense storage capacity of 100,000 tons dwarfed their meager holds.
Such a powerful tool required more than mere rocks for fuel. To address this, I incorporated a nuclear reactor into the blueprints. Fortunately, my drones had already processed the raw yellowcake into its refined form, streamlining the process.
It felt like cheating, really.
With a shake of my head, I refocused on the ship gestating in the spawn pools. The journey to the seventh floor was lengthy, but the added security made the trek worthwhile. Apart from my bunker, this room was the most fortified in the entire fortress.
"Come on, hurry up and finish cooking so I can see the results of my hard work," I grumbled, my foot tapping an impatient rhythm against the ground.
Beside me, Siren waited in silence. Gneisenau and the other members of battle group Leviathan were occupied elsewhere, unable to witness the birth of their new sister. Unlike my previous civilian creations, this one possessed sapience like the true abyssals in my fleet.
As time stretched on, the tempo of my anxious tapping increased. Siren shifted restlessly, her nervous energy palpable. I imagined she, too, wondered what manner of creature would soon emerge into the world.
Day 58
Our waiting finally paid off when an arm broke the surface of the tar-like spawn pool liquid. My newest creation burst into the world with a gasp. Reaching down, I offered her a helping hand.
She grasped my hand and heaved herself up. As she centered herself, I studied the honey-eyed woman. Her black uniform, trimmed with white fur, was complemented by a fedora framing her blonde hair. She reminded me of those chic winter models from Nordic countries.
"Sup." The newcomer's casual greeting caught me off guard.
"Hi?" I replied, brows creasing. This was the most informal subordinate I had encountered so far. Gneisenau was an exception, being a friend. I pondered how to handle this.
Siren stepped forward, her hard eyes fixed on the newcomer. "You dare address the Princess so casually?" Her voice was sharp as a blade. "I should scrap you here and now."
The woman blanched. Before the situation could escalate, I placed a hand between the two abyssals. "No fighting."
Siren snapped to attention, offering a crisp salute. "Understood, Princess."
Sighing, I turned back to the new girl. Time was short, and I had lingered in these depths long enough. She needed a name and a purpose.
"You will explore the unknown in search of riches for me. I expect great things from the one who will replace my drone force." I met her gaze steadily. "I name you Raleigh. Now, fulfill your purpose and make me rich."
Raleigh responded with a lazy salute. "Got ya, Chief." She turned and sauntered away, much to Siren's visible frustration. The sound of grinding teeth echoed in the chamber. Yikes.
"Let's return to the surface." I stood, brushing off my clothes. A day in these earthen depths felt like an eternity, and the thought of returning within the year made my skin crawl.
We emerged into the open sky, sounds of creation gracing our ears. A group of construction drones carried a long steel support beam past us. These things were truly my most useful creation.
"Wow." Raleigh looked at the construction drones in wonder.
I sensed a chance to flex my accomplishments with the new girl and pounced.
"A marvel of engineering," I bragged.
"Way cool, Boss Lady!"
I laughed at her corny reply and led the process to the beach.
We waded into the ocean, waves lapping against our bodies. Siren remained above, her hull ill-suited for the crushing pressures below. A pity she couldn't witness Raleigh's capabilities firsthand.
The ORE Procurer surged forward, a sleek silhouette against the azure depths. Raleigh's arms waved with enthusiasm, directing the vessel's laser attachment. The beam devoured rock and sand, carving a path of destruction through the seabed. Curiously, a vibrant coral reef remained untouched, the living organisms unaffected by the mining onslaught.
I watched, entranced. "Impressive."
Raleigh flashed a grin. "Thanks, Chief!"
She angled the laser towards a glimmering patch of mineral deposits. In mere seconds, the beam consumed forty meters of precious material, leaving behind a gaping chasm.
Greed ignited within me, a hunger for the wealth waiting to be claimed. The scent of untapped resources filled my senses, intoxicating and irresistible. Those outdated drones were relics of the past. From this moment forward, the ORE Procurer would be my key to boundless riches.
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As Raleigh continued her mining demonstration, I marveled at the ORE Procurer's efficiency. She moved with grace and precision, her advanced sensors guiding her towards the most valuable mineral veins. The green mining laser pulsed rhythmically, a mesmerizing dance of destruction and acquisition.
I couldn't help but imagine the possibilities that lay ahead. With a fleet of these submarines at my command, I could tap into the ocean's hidden treasures, fueling my fledgling kingdom's growth and securing my existence in this world. The outdated drones would be relegated to mere support roles, their limited capabilities overshadowed by the ORE Procurer's sheer power.
Raleigh's voice crackled through the communication channel, interrupting my reverie. "Chief, I've detected a massive deposit of rare earth elements just ahead. Should I proceed with extraction?"
A smile tugged at my lips. "Absolutely. Show me your limits."
Raleigh surged forward, her laser cutting through the rock like a hot knife through butter. Chunks of valuable minerals floated up from broken rock, glittering in the filtered sunlight, before being sucked into the green beam sweeping through the water. Raleigh worked with focused intensity, her hands dancing across the length of a football field as she orchestrated the mining operation.
With each passing moment, my excitement grew. The ORE Procurer was exceeding my wildest expectations, and I knew that this was just the beginning. As the submarine filled its cavernous storage holds with precious resources, I couldn't help but laugh with delight.
Siren watched from above, her expression a mix of awe and envy. I knew she longed to experience the thrill of the hunt firsthand, but her role was crucial in ensuring our safety. Together, we would usher in a new era of prosperity, with the ORE Procurer leading the charge.
Raleigh was truly the golden goose that continued giving!
Day 59
News of the incident arrived on an unremarkable day. I sat in my new office on the first floor of the recently constructed fortress, the incessant drone of construction echoing in my ears. Just as I began drifting off to sleep, a ping from the south jolted me awake. The Wild Hunt? What could they want?
Patching them through, I saw Mana standing on the open ocean, facing an unknown group of Abyssals. Tension coursed through my body as alarms blared throughout the base, my forces ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. Without realizing it, I had manifested my tail, its menacing shadow looming overhead. Though not a combat tool, its familiar prescence soothed my frayed nerves.
Mana faced off against seven Abyssals, her arms crossed and a mysterious smile playing on her lips as if privy to a secret they had yet to discover. Morrigan, Nephthys, and Corone formed a protective formation around her, their rigging still stowed, indicating hostilities had not yet commenced.
A cold-looking Ta-class spoke first. "You are intruding on the territory of the Solomon Islands Princess."
Mana's smile never wavered. "Stranger, from where I stand, it is you who intrudes. I suggest you return to your princess and inform her that this area falls under the authority of Princess Ciriel."
The Ta-class narrowed her eyes. "Never heard of her."
"She is a new princess. I wouldn't expect you to know."
Annoyance flashed across the Ta-class's face. "Is that so? I will relay this to my princess. Starting conflicts with another princess goes against standing orders."
"Thank you for seeing reason," Mana replied.
The Ta-class snorted. "Don't thank me. Abyssal-on-Abyssal violence has reached an all-time high since the Kanmusu who patrolled these waters met their demise."
The Kanmusu were dead? How had that happened? Mana, sharing my curiosity, voiced the question aloud.
"Well, the strange thing is, the Americans and Japs all got up and left to fight someone before a meteor wiped them out."
Mana's eyebrows shot up. "You're kidding."
I, too, found the notion far-fetched. The coincidence of a huge enemy force appearing just in time to be obliterated by the meteor I may have accidentally invoked via divine retribution bordered on the absurd.
The stoic Ta-class shook her head. "Serious as the day I came out of the shipyard. No one knows who they intended to destroy or why they needed that much firepower. All I know is they headed off in this direction before everything in a hundred miles got wiped off the maps. Must have lost four hundred Kanmusu from what the scouts reported."
I stared at my hands, thoughts racing. This news carried immense weight. My reluctance to expand outward had hinged on understanding the Kanmusu and humans' potential response, but their current crippled state altered the equation entirely.
A part of me grieved, knowing I bore indirect responsibility for so many deaths. Yet another voice within whispered that they deserved their fate, and resurrection awaited them regardless.
In this area, I stood as the sole target worthy of such an assault. The realization that they had aimed to end my existence, despite my innocence, struck like a physical blow.
Disgust welled up inside me. Where was their humanity? Acceptance was all I craved.
As I wrestled with my turbulent emotions, I maintained a watchful ear on Mana's conversation. She probed the Ta-class for insights into human-abyssal relations, recent historical events, and the current global landscape. Much was learned from this.
A daring plan began forming in my mind as they went over the state of the world, a dangerous and bold plan. Nothing gained without risk, or so they say. I won't back down now, not ever. That disaster might have been a blessing in disguise. Not that I'll ever admit it where the ROB can hear me.
With their discussion concluded, the Ta-class bid Mana farewell, departing to inform her princess of our territorial boundaries. I summoned all patrolling units to convene in the throne room for an assembly.
Wearing a solemn expression, I observed the faces trickling in until the chamber reached capacity. Chatter filled the air, no doubt fueled by curiosity over the meeting's haste on the heels of our last gathering. Gneisenau took her place at my side, her icy gaze sweeping over the assembled abyssals.
Under her piercing scrutiny, the room fell silent.
"I'm pleased everyone could gather here so promptly," I said, steepling my fingers and smiling at the assembled crowd. "Our meeting three days ago should have provided a glimpse of what to expect today. I wish to cover the current state of the world and our plans moving forward. Any questions?"
Silence blanketed the room.
"Well then, let me begin. We are currently located somewhere between the Solomon Islands and Hawaii. Less than a year ago, the Central Princess fell, and Hawaii was retaken by a joint task force of American and Japanese forces. Following that victory, abyssal presence in the Pacific Ocean dwindled to near nonexistence."
Cries of despair and anger erupted from the gathered abyssals. I raised my hands, attempting to calm the agitated crowd.
"I understand your disheartened reactions. However, circumstances have changed. The humans rashly sent their entire fleet to destroy us. How fitting that they met their demise by a meteor, undone by their own folly."
"Serves them right!" a voice called out.
Shouts of agreement reverberated through the room. I tried to regain control, but my words were lost in the cacophony of chatter.
"Silence!" I roared.
The room fell deathly still. I fixed the gaggle of idiots with a piercing glare. Beside me, Gneisenau methodically sharpened her knife, her smile sending chills down the spines of the noisy abyssals.
"The next interruption will earn the offender punishment detail with Gneisenau," I declared, taking in the horrified faces dotting the crowd. "Now, as I was saying, this presents an opportunity for us. The Kanmusu's absence has left a void, one I intend to fill."
Gneisenau stepped forward. "Fraulein Ciriel speaks the truth. When Blood Week struck seven years ago, nautical shipping lanes collapsed. Only a handful of strategic routes remain, all requiring Kanmusu escorts to safely reach their destinations. Without the Kanmusu, several nations face economic ruin."
"Some island nations, like Japan, heavily depend on imports such as liquefied natural gas," I added. "If those imports cease, the nation will swiftly crumble."
Gneisenau's laughter echoed in the wake of my words.
Gneisenau's words cut through the silence. "She's right. The humans are in dire straits, with a mere skeleton force to defend against an ocean of abyssals. Their mainland teeters on the brink of being overrun." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd. "The only reason it hasn't happened is the lack of an abyssal princess to organize an attack in the wake of Central's demise."
A murmur rippled through the room as the implications sank in. Gneisenau raised a hand, quelling the whispers. "You might wonder where I'm going with this, ja?" A smile played at the corners of her lips. "The goal is simple. Fraulein Ciriel desires peace, and as her loyal friend and confidant, how could I possibly deny her that?"
She began to pace, her footsteps echoing in the hushed chamber. "I live by a motto: if you want peace, prepare for war. The humans will never leave us be so long as they have their Kanmusu to rely on." Gneisenau's eyes gleamed with determination. "So we must make them dependent on us instead."
The abyssals leaned forward, hanging on her every word. "We will offer our services to the humans, protecting their precious cargo ships from other abyssals. In their hour of need, they will turn to us." Gneisenau's voice rose, filled with conviction. "And when other nations witness this, they will understand our true intentions: peace, not harm."
I stepped forward, a victorious grin spreading across my face. "And then, at long last, we will have our peace."
The room erupted in cheers, a cacophony of voices united in purpose. As I basked in the moment, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Together, we would forge a new path, one that led to a brighter future for my people.