Manufacturing

"With our current rare metal reserves, we can build sixteen rescue craft. Let's wish them luck."

Although they were called rescue craft, their equipment was exceptionally lavish. Their surfaces used the latest absorptive coating, which reduced the reflection of electromagnetic waves and light.

In other words, they were first-generation stealth fighters. Their required technology and range fully qualified them as space fighters.

They were equipped with updated electromagnetic cannons and first-generation ion thrusters, with nozzles covering every direction to provide thrust for acceleration and deceleration.

The craft's sensor radar had a detection range of two hundred thousand kilometers.

Sending sixteen rescue craft into space.

Was like scattering sixteen beans into the ocean to find two others.

It was actually fairly easy, though, since they had distress signals to cheat with.

The orbital search-and-rescue plan officially began. Luo Qi broke down the blueprints and distributed them to the factories to start producing components, then mobilized the base's stockpiles to supply the construction program.

If the nuclear fusion equipment had not been so large, or time so tight, Luo Qi would have wanted to build an experimental nuclear fusion spacecraft.

Three specialized assembly lines were allocated to Factories 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the new industrial district.

These factories would specialize in assembling various small fighters. Once the rescue mission was complete, Luo Qi planned to have these rescue craft carry and deploy satellites. Everything had been neatly arranged.

Ever since its construction, the component factory's interior had been maintained at zero degrees in an oxygen-free environment.

Inside the dark factory, every production line was surrounded by robotic arms mounted on the foundations and ceiling. Mobile ceiling mounts carried metal components steadily forward along their tracks.

For now, they still used conventional processing methods. Several robotic arms on the floor moved in, rapidly installing the components they carried.

The research centers could produce enough technology to handle emergencies entirely because Luo Qi routinely poured resources into them without worrying about losses.

These technologies might not be useful now, but that did not mean they would be useless in the future.

Luo Qi also encouraged the researcher Replicas to establish new research centers and expand into new projects.

Unlike humanity's penny-pinching leadership, however, he spared no effort when it came to scientific research.

The Metal Smelter began manufacturing the rescue craft's overall frame, with metal zero to be used on both its inner and outer surfaces.

Metal zero was an alloy designed for the harsh conditions of space with future space development in mind.

Its exceptional hardness was 0.91 times that of diamond. Its impact resistance and toughness also far exceeded those of metals on Earth, and its melting point was 6,800 degrees Celsius.

Across a temperature variation of 220 degrees, metal zero expanded or contracted by less than one ten-thousandth, making it exceptionally suitable for warship hulls.

However, processing ten cubic meters of the alloy consumed half an industrial park's total electricity usage. To meet the base's future needs, Luo Qi was therefore building a second and third nuclear fusion power station.

"Prime, I think metal zero might become obsolete again."

"Or rather, the processing methods are about to be rewritten!"

A researcher Replica uploaded a new research theory to Luo Qi. Did he still remember the first time they had released a magnetic field?

They had used it to polish component surfaces and burned straight through the floor. What the duplicate gave Luo Qi now was data for an advanced version involving magnetic field oscillation.

Drawing on magnetic field data from the Electromagnetic Furnace, which had been upgraded through numerous generations, the equipment could release high-energy magnetic fields to subject metallic substances to energy impacts.

It could instantly melt alloy steel into molten iron, and could also instantly melt the raw metals they mined.

This came from high-energy magnetic fields inducing oscillations between the molecules of matter. Only after Controllable Nuclear Fusion had become available had they possessed enough energy to conduct these experiments.

Further research into magnetic field oscillation could allow different metals to be welded seamlessly, and could also lead to weaponization.

"In short... I'd like to establish an Electromagnetic Oscillation Research Center."

"I'll also need some staff and a dedicated nuclear fusion power station."

"Otherwise, the base could lose power at any moment."

The Replica shrugged at Luo Qi with a helpless expression. Staff, space, resources—and now controlled nuclear fusion too!

Luo Qi felt a twinge in his liver. Fortunately, it was only a feeling; he did not actually have one.

"Approved!"

He canceled the construction of one rescue craft. He was absolutely serious about research!

The Replica excitedly closed the video call.

Meanwhile, although the launched rockets had dispersed the satellites, those satellites had all suffered collision damage.

This made Luo Qi resolve to use the security system's high-energy laser turrets whenever they faced away from Water Blue Star, accelerating the clearance of meteorite debris from the planet's outer orbits.

Six days passed in a flash.

Day 98!

During that time, the Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research Center released an upgraded version, and two Stardust 2nd-Generation Nuclear Fusion Power Stations entered service.

They were more stable, with temperatures at the magnetic confinement core reaching three hundred million degrees Celsius and an energy input-to-output ratio of 1:240.

The Electromagnetic Oscillation Research Center successfully developed Molecular Penetration Technology, using electromagnetic field oscillations to make two different metals interpenetrate at the molecular level.

This was seamless welding technology. They also upgraded the Electromagnetic Furnace, significantly increasing the speed at which it smelted all metals, though its energy consumption remained ferocious.

In applied technology, the Electromagnetic Force Research Center continued delving deeper into its knowledge of [intermediate electromagnetic force].

They produced new techniques for using electromagnetism, along with a proposal for ultra-long-range communications, and applied to establish two independent new research centers.

The Controllable Magnetic Field Research Center branched out in a new direction: refining magnetic field control to capture photons, molecules, and atoms—to capture and manipulate everything.

This could bring the Chip Research Center's photon computer theory to life, control atomic nuclei, or even enable the production of the droplets from The Three-Body Problem.

It could also directly use magnetic fields to shape molten metal, ushering Orange Star's productivity into a new era.

Meanwhile, the Electromagnetic Shield Research Center stated that powerful electrical energy could be transformed into dense magnetic fields.

These could deflect or absorb particle weapons, protecting a warship's tough hull from high-energy damage.

Shields were extremely important. Whether during interstellar travel or combat, they could provide warships with vital protection.

But how did that saying on Earth go again? Those PowerPoint presentations were downright devilishly tempting.

Yet when Luo Qi looked at the materials lists, these two newly established research centers were asking for the moon as well.

First, a Controllable Nuclear Fusion power station, followed by the research equipment and materials they would need later.

This would completely drain the base's production capacity, never mind that the base had other research projects too.

The Metal Materials Laboratory and the Superconducting Wire Laboratory, for instance.

All those small laboratories needed supplies. Although Orange Star Base had no economic system, research materials did not simply fall from the sky!

"Approved..."

Luo Qi could only expand the production of metal and silicon mining vehicles. A base with mineral deposits was a good base, so the high-precision equipment factory resumed producing prospecting satellites.

The plan was to send them up along with the rescue craft when those launched.

Day 104.

The security system was upgraded with new radar, and two more Stardust 2.5-Version Controlled Nuclear Fusion installations entered service.

The energy input-to-output ratio was 1:300.

The Controllable Magnetic Field Research Center did not let Luo Qi down. It began testing its first-generation equipment, and its Controllable Magnetic Field Device achieved precise magnetic field control. It could turn steel directly into molten iron and lift liquid metal out of a furnace.

It could shape that metal into simple rectangular prisms, cubes, and cylinders!

This meant that in the future, metal furnaces would no longer be necessary, nor would complex mold-casting factories. Component production would no longer need to follow complicated processes.

Meanwhile, the Electromagnetic Shield Research Center dragged its feet and produced no results, merely saying that it was already working toward magnetic field distortion.

Even so, Luo Qi continued supplying materials for research. No one could reach the heavens in a single step.

Molecular Penetration Technology began entering service. Seamless welding technology could make manufactured equipment more stable and sturdy.

Meanwhile, the Electromagnetic Force Research Center quietly collected models of these electromagnetic applications. They would use them as the basis for further deductions, continuing to strengthen the foundations of this technological empire.