NoveLight ™
Chapter 29: The Destroyer Construction Begins
A few days earlier, the Commander had been enthusiastically designing a combat ship equipped with a charged particle cannon. However, for now, practical necessity dictated the deployment of smaller destroyer-class ships.
“Commander Ma’am. We will proceed with constructing Level 1 destroyers. The initial batch will consist of two ships. Once additional iron resources are collected, we will add four more. With a total of three large transport ships, we’ll organize three trade fleets, each comprising one transport ship and two destroyers.”
“Understood. We’ll use humanoid machine communicators as the crew… but should I consider taking some of the others along as well?” the Commander mused.
“Yes, Commander Ma’am. External missions could be highly beneficial. However, given the current challenges in ensuring safety, we plan to limit operations to humanoid machine communicators for now.”
“Fair enough. At the very least, we’ll need to mass-produce defensive guard bots first.”
The defensive guard bots were a series of autonomous combat machines designed for VIP protection. In World of Space, there had been quests involving such escorts, but the Commander—who had always played solo—had never engaged with them. As a result, The Tree Fortress had no inventory of combat machines available for deployment.
“While mass production is possible, stabilizing trade routes remains the top priority,” Ringo explained.
“Not to mention, this technology is far too advanced to reveal publicly. We’re already attracting more attention than intended—I can’t afford to add more fuel to the fire.”
Reports from bots infiltrating Telek Harbor confirmed that the trade fleet, Paraiso, had become the talk of the town. With its sleek design, powerful weaponry, and strikingly beautiful crew, Paraiso had captured the region’s imagination. The goods it delivered were top-tier, and the exchange rate—iron in return—seemed almost absurdly favorable. Speculation about Paraiso’s origins ranged from isolated island tribes to major nations, though the latter theory gained more traction due to the ship’s evident technological superiority.
“The large transport ship we’re introducing will also attract significant attention,” Ringo noted.
“Better that than flying humanoid robots causing a stir, don’t you think?” the Commander replied.
“Yes, Commander Ma’am. I agree.”
The timeline for constructing the destroyers was set. Each ship would take about two weeks to build, with an additional acclimation period, meaning the first two ships would be ready in roughly a month. The plan was to launch them into trade operations immediately upon completion.
The Level 1 destroyers were named simply Alpha and Bravo, with minimal creativity. As these ships were likely to be dismantled for resources in the future, elaborate names felt unnecessary. Subsequent ships would follow the phonetic alphabet: Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot.
Destroyer Specifications:
The destroyer’s weaponry was deemed overwhelmingly powerful relative to the region’s current technological state. Even a single main cannon could dominate most harbor towns. Ships of the line could be sunk from beyond their effective range, and reinforced castle walls could be breached by specialized ammunition. If pursued, the destroyers could easily evade threats with their screw motor. Even if boarded, the humanoid machine communicators' combat abilities far outclassed any likely adversaries.
“That said, the peninsula nation is a problem… I still don’t even know its name, but their military power is more of a threat than I anticipated,” the Commander noted grimly.
The peninsula nation had previously conducted military invasions in the northern archipelago.
“We can investigate through Telek Harbor during our next voyage. Despite the distance, port towns often hold relevant information,” Ringo suggested.
“Good idea. Ideally, we could establish trade relations with them,” the Commander replied.
Trading with a stable nation rather than a precarious town like Telek Harbor was naturally more desirable. While Telek Harbor was the most stable settlement in the region, its surrounding area was rife with chaos. In contrast, the peninsula nation offered a stark contrast in security and resources.
“With six destroyers and a mock capital ship, we might have a chance at meaningful dialogue,” Ringo theorized.
“That’ll take some time, though. And while these ships are in operation, trade routes will be disrupted… I wonder how long Telek Harbor will remain viable.”
Escalating Instability
Reports gathered by bots in Telek Harbor and images from Swift solar-powered reconnaissance planes painted a grim picture. The region was a powder keg, and the fuse had been lit. Local lords’ armies had begun to mobilize, with open conflict seemingly imminent.
“Hostilities are already brewing among what appear to be feudal armies. While Telek Harbor is distant enough to avoid direct involvement, the indirect impacts could be severe,” Ringo reported.
“Could this affect our iron imports?” the Commander asked.
“Yes, Commander Ma’am. The town with the mines is likely to become embroiled in conflict. While iron is bulky and less likely to be looted, the miners will probably flee, halting production.”
“That would cut off our supply…” the Commander muttered.
The inland mine was their sole source of iron, but The Tree Fortress lacked the current military capacity to intervene. Airpower could potentially destroy key command structures, but deploying it was far beyond their reach for now.
“Ugh… Just when I’ve gotten destroyer production on track, this happens…”
The initial batch of six destroyers would likely be completed without issue. However, the Commander anticipated a gradual decline in iron supplies afterward.
While The Tree Fortress could theoretically defend the mines, maintaining a continuous defensive presence during extraction was unrealistic. Worse, such an act could be interpreted as an invasion, potentially escalating into full-scale war.
“Iron mines remain elusive… This is proving to be quite the challenge,” she sighed.
“Yes, Commander Ma’am. Progress remains limited.”
The Commander contemplated alternative strategies. One potential approach was to provide Telek Harbor with information, enabling them to defend themselves without The Tree Fortress directly intervening. It wouldn’t solve the core issue but might extend their ability to trade for iron.
“Perhaps we could just equip them for self-defense?” she proposed.
“Self-defense, Commander Ma’am?” Ringo asked curiously.
“Yes. Strange as it sounds, we provide them with the information they need to survive. We won’t intervene directly but ensure they can protect themselves—at least for a while. It’s not a permanent solution, but we’ll extract as much iron as possible before their inevitable collapse.”
The Commander’s suggestion was ruthless but pragmatic. In reality, few options remained.
“Understood, Commander Ma’am. I will revise our plans accordingly.”
After all, there was no obligation to consider Telek Harbor’s long-term well-being. The Tree Fortress needed resources, and it would take them however it could.