Chapter 43
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TIME:
1 WEEK LATER
(15 DAYS AFTER RETURNING)
LOCATION:
BETA CHARON
LOW ORBIT OF BETA CHARON 3
INNER PLANETARY SYSTEM
FTL
ASTRO DAWN
POV:
Lilith Runethari
"Will we always have to land with the Astro Dawn? It feels like we're leaving it too vulnerable and a shuttle could help prevent possible attacks," I state as I sit down waiting to drop out of FTL. I waited but I never got a response which didn't do much to help resolve my worries.
A few minutes later I was alerted that we had finished the descent to the polar surface of Beta Charon 3, or as I have chosen to name it 'Limbo.' The boring grey featureless terrain certainly brings to mind the realm those ancient myths of an afterlife in human history.
Stepping out of the CIC I began walking to the personnel airlock, the cargo bay was a flurry of activity at the moment and I'd hate to slow down things as they are. We only have about 2 weeks to spend here, after that I'll have to return to the listening post and spend time with the thralls unless the withdrawals grow severe.
I didn't want to bring them because they had things that needed to be done like Adalyn's training and Liza's... what has Liza even been doing on the listening post. I eventually push away the thought and start reluctantly putting on the shameful eva suit.
Today I would just be walking the site as the robots check the ground to make sure it doesn't require anything special to begin digging. Standing in the air lock I tap my foot as it takes its sweet time to make sure everything is in order before opening.
"Lilith, I would recommend not leaving the ship yet, the robots haven't yet completed clearing the site of dust. I would ask that you give me at least an hour before leaving, it lets me save time on maintenance and cleaning." Mom suddenly speaks through the speaker in the airlock, her voice sounding pleading. I could only nod my head and leave the preparations to Mother.
It was annoying, but planetary dust especially if it doesn't have a functional atmosphere is a danger to air filters and lungs. It was charged thankfully so magnets could usually filter it out but you had to clean them.
I took a seat at a bench that was inside the changing room and just decided I would watch through the eyes of a robot. After taking off the eva suit and reflexively checking for tears or punctures I rushed off to my room.
Grabbing my tablet I quickly input the commands to look through one of the wandering bot's eyes. I don't know what I expected but it sadly was nothing extraordinary or exciting, just grey dust and grey rock. It was at that moment I realized I would be stuck on this planet for two weeks, I could almost feel my previous excitement dissipating with a sigh.
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TIME:
3 DAYS LATER
LOCATION:
BETA CHARON
SOUTH POLE OF LIMBO
ICE PROCUREMENT SITE 1
It was surprising how quickly things had progressed. I didn't check on anything after first looking through the eyes of the worker robot. I mean why would I if all I would be seeing would be a grey wasteland with the occasional large rock. But now I really regret not doing so.
It was a strange scene, with tall gravel mounds having suddenly formed. Occasionally a robot would collect metric tons of the material before driving off to load into a large machine I don't remember buying. Then using reflective bags rapidly begins filling them before another robot takes the meter long bag down into a ramp leading underground.
"Hey Mom, what are you loading those bags with some form of cement? Also what was that machine, I don't remember buying something like that."
I continue to silently watch the scene from the multiple cameras of a random regolith mining drone. It was slow and ponderous with its movements which made it easy to actually see what other things were doing. Currently it has eaten through 1,800 cubic meters of soil, but out of that only roughly 7.5% of it was actually useful metals. Thankfully the drone can filter through what's just silica and other useless materials and what is actually useful.
"That machine is indeed making a type of waterless cement. The reason you don't remember buying it is because you didn't fully read the list of things I had you purchase." I felt some heat reach my face as I realized I was found out. Now I am sure she will have me read every list we get until she deems I've learned my lesson. "This is just a warning Lilith but next time won't be easily forgiven. Regardless, cement is being used to reinforce the walls. I'm hoping to also use it to construct a pair of warehouses on the surface."
Taking my eyes off my tablet I ask the obvious question, "Wouldn't building large warehouses on the surface be far too risky? I mean as it is the system may officially belong to me, but pirates have begun infesting it. I would rather not provide them with a target to attack and pillage or simply fuck me over."
My eyebrows furrow as I'm confused at the whole plan.
"It wouldn't matter if they take over and destroy everything in this facility Lilith. What does this place extract, ice, which can be found everywhere in this system? The warehouses are only meant to store the hydrogen and oxygen somewhere far away from the tunnels," Mother explains.
I nod my head but I can't help but think that we are being too cavalier with our approach. I know I come off as arrogant towards humans at least in their eyes I do, but I know better than to equate them to mindless beasts; savages yes I agree completely, mindless animals no not at all. They can have their moments of cunning. How else would they have survived the war for existence, if they weren't at least a little intelligent.
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TIME:
7 DAYS LATER
(25 DAYS AFTER RETURNING)
I take a break from the eBook I am reading and look through a file I just got sent by Mom. Upon opening it I found half a dozen names with short one or two word descriptors.
- MB High Durability Regolith Extractor: Industrial:Part
- MB Bulk Ice Electrolysis Machine: Industrial:Extraction
- MB Helium-3 Filter and Collector: Industrial:Extraction
- DC Fusion Reactor Maintenance Parts: Power:Parts
- DC Direct Energy Converter: Power
- MB Portable Helium-3 Fusion Reactor: Power
"Um Mother, why did you make plans for a portable fusion reactor? What's the point in this?" I was so confused by both the timing and contents my head tilted subconsciously. "The first 3 are things I would like to implement at this extraction base. The final three are developments that I would like to carry with us next time we visit. I wanted you to know that I have been doing my share of research and development and would like to reveal some of my results." Mom revealed her words slightly quicker so she was probably excited.
"Okay thank you for sharing that, but why did you include data crystal designs among them?" Mom remained quiet for a moment, I assumed she had something come up and looked back at my tablet. A few seconds afterwards she suddenly began speaking though with a more regular calm pace, "Those were critical pieces of the reactor and have future use as possible void ship reactors. Those were the only two that weren't also related to weapons or armor designs I found among the eighteen crystals you recovered."
I just nod my head and decide to take a peek at what one of the rock excavators that was busy churning through the underground. It was constantly having to stop and unload debris. I was left wondering how we were going to get any progress on digging to the ice, it was around 10 to 30 meters underground. It didn't help that this was eating through precious liquid methane.
'You brought 3 tons of Liquid methane for just this possibility, you even had to convince Mother the risk was worth it. Also you bought over twenty 1 ton canisters of Methane that are currently taking a good portion of Midnight Nostalgia's available spare cryogenic stores.' Mara suddenly prompted.
'I guess you're right, we should expand our storage space for cryogenics. That was a major oversight, since it's used for emergency cooling. Mara can you forward my concern to Mom.'
'Yes Lilith, should I also suggest we have the MAT print a way to power their batteries using the ship's generator?'
"Wait, we weren't doing that?! Of course! Actually I want that printed as a top priority when we return!"
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TIME:
4 DAYS LATER
"So, who is the asshole that is forcing us to stop development because they wish to take a cruise through my system?" I ask with more hostility than I initially intended.
"A ship belonging to one of the many minor pirate gangs. Likely doing patrol work for some bigger group in return for parts or supplies." Mom's monotonous voice states even the slightest hint of emotion is gone.
I take a deep breath and let out a groan of pure frustration.
"Why, why are there so many damn pirates setting up shop in my damn system! This is fucking ridiculous! How many did YAGA say she detected, close to a hundred?!" I scream my frustrations and grievances but all I get back is an uncaring reply. "They were likely brought out to cause trouble in your system. Though the timing implies it was before the court martialing so it was merely a case of bad luck."
"Great! That's just fucking great, so there might be even more skipping there asses over here! Fuck this isn't good." I drag my hand down my face just utterly tired of hearing and saying the word pirate. "I can't afford to possibly have a worm come along and cause problems here at any time, let alone now. When we begin work on project Cairn Zorv I want to station at least two company's worth of our best security automaton designs. I don't want to deal with sabotage and other problems."
"That will significantly slow down the rate we could build the automated assembly lines. We would also have to expand every part of it to accommodate the increased security. If we want to keep on time we would have to leave robots to work constantly. The power infrastructure would demand a heavy fusion reactor at the least. How would you suggest we source one?" Mom sounds like she is genuinely concerned about how my plan will ruin the timetable.
I coldly smile, it might not be soon but this idea was scaling up to be wonderful, "Simple Mother, we steal it from someone else! Any void ship the size of a light cruiser would have what we'd require. We just need to tow it somewhere private through FTL and scavenge it. We could even use it for building the security automatons. So, can you do that without sending us to god knows when?"
Despite Moms avatar now standing at the side of my bed she refused to speak. "I believe it can be done, but I'll need time to select a ship with YAGA that I feel comfortable towing." I nod my head in agreement we had time 3 months at the latest hopefully half that. "Yes yes, I know the risks, just find the ideal target and I'll help get us that reactor. Now, how long are we planning to stay here? I believe I remember that severe withdrawals begin after about 16 days without contact?"
"We can leave once the pirates finish checking for any obvious targets. The process should be finished within an hour, but I need to finish up the sintering on one of the tunnels. We will leave in 5 hours."
I nodded, deciding I would go and take a tour of the tunnels before we left. It won't be very interesting, especially since lights haven't been installed, but it would pass the time at least.