Vol 2. Chapter 11: The Worm Observation Squad
It has been a week since we began observing the creature believed to be a Ground Worm.
“No movement at all, huh...”
The surrounding area has been largely surveyed. Within a 2 km radius, including the planned fortress construction site, numerous underground cavities believed to be created by the worms have been discovered.
Beyond a certain boundary, however, the number of cavities decreases sharply. To the west of the planned construction site, cavities are nearly nonexistent just 100 meters beyond the surveyed area.
“Well, it feels like we just got unlucky with this spot.”
“Yes, Commander. Shifting the construction site to this new location seems like a good idea. Since yesterday, we’ve focused our surveys here, and so far, the geology doesn’t appear problematic.”
“Alright, let’s relocate to that spot if it looks viable. This way, we can still use the existing pier as is.”
Although little is known about the worms, time is of the essence. A worm-free site has been identified nearby, so the decision was made to move the construction plans to that area.
Incidentally, the pier was completed four days ago. While a temporary bridge now connects it to the shore, it is not yet being used for material transport. At most, the multi-legged walker has been making trips across it, leaving the structure mostly idle.
“Yes, Commander. We’ll deploy additional WP1 prototypes to accelerate the survey process.”
The WP1 has proven surprisingly useful due to its high terrain adaptability. Unlike wheeled or tracked vehicles, it is less prone to breakdowns such as punctured tires, making it ideal for traversing uneven terrain.
This capability is especially valuable in the rugged volcanic landscape of the Afrazia United Kingdom, where the multi-legged design truly shines.