Free Web NovelThe warheads that had plunged in from high altitude at high speed reached their preset depth.
The high-performance explosives they carried detonated with staggered timing.
“Generation of seismic waves according to plan confirmed. Beginning analysis.”
“The analysis AI has been adjusted, <Iris>!”
The shockwaves generated by the eight enormous bombs spread outward, amplifying one another’s vibrations as they went.
The sensors deployed across the area recorded that information in detail, but such a vast amount of data could not be transferred instantly. Data cleansed by the simple analyzers built into each sensor was gathered as preliminary values.
“Receiving primary analysis data.”
“There don’t seem to be any strange strata. The seismic waves are transmitting well!”
“No faults confirmed within sensor range. Stable geology.”
While running the complex vibrations and reflected waves through analysis, Asahi and <Iris> seemed to be exchanging opinions as they watched the information update one piece after another.
“...<Ringo>. Any abnormalities?”
“None, Commander Ma’am.”
<Ringo> had taken over support for overall monitoring, and at the very least, there did not seem to be any gigantic threat organisms moving around while ravaging the environment.
“The data transfer speed really isn’t great.”
“We are suppressing wireless communications, so it is unavoidable. We will likely need to establish either wireless communications using electromagnetic waves at a frequency higher than microwaves, with a wavelength that has a high convergence rate, or a means other than electromagnetic waves.”
“If we’re talking something other than wireless... hmm, quantum communication? But I suppose anything small enough to install in front-line automated machines is impossible.”
At present, as a countermeasure against threat organisms, anything other than highly directional communications was strictly restricted. As a result, communication routes were limited, creating a problem where information collection from large numbers of sensors spread across wide areas such as the front line was delayed.
If they could dispatch communication drones into the sky, it would be possible to conduct high-capacity communications while maintaining secrecy, but that too was difficult in the <Demon Forest>.
Visible light and other highly directional electromagnetic waves would be suitable, but since they were easily blocked by obstacles, it was quite the headache.
Incidentally, quantum communication using quantum teleportation was a technology capable of transmitting information faster than light, but both sides required paired particles in a state of quantum entanglement. The paired particles were consumed with each communication, so communication particles had to be continuously supplied.
Furthermore, the particle observation devices were large, making them impossible to mount on small automated machines.
Quantum communication itself was an extremely secure method of communication, since it required no physical connection between the two parties. freewebnoveℓ.com
Of course, miniaturizing the communication devices would be possible by advancing along the technology tree.
“There is nothing we can manufacture at present. It could be realized for inter-base communications, but compared to wired communications, it offers no advantage.”
Quantum communication was a technology meant for exchanges between bases separated by light-year-scale distances. For use on the ground, it was obviously overkill.
And while they were talking nonsense like that, the underground analysis steadily progressed beside them.
“Big Sister. We are beginning to understand the underground situation. A large object presumed to be <The Reflector> has been detected at a depth of approximately four hundred meters underground.”
“It looks like there’s an object with a different reflectance! Since it exists at the end of <The Reflector>’s underground movement route, unless it created some kind of decoy, it should be the main body!”
By analyzing the seismic waves, their reflected waves, and the arrival time of vibrations between each sensor, it seemed they had roughly estimated the underground distribution.
Information on strata and bedrock was added to the three-dimensional underground map shown on the projected display.
And there, in a tube-shaped shadow extending roughly four hundred meters below the surface, sat a black object at the tip.
The analysis results indicated that <The Reflector> had dug through the ground and reached that point.
“This rod-like shadow is likely where the ground has changed into a sand-like or clay-like state due to <The Reflector>’s excavation. Because the seismic waves behave as if they are partially absorbed, we believe it was detected as a shadow.”
“It probably pulverized the bedrock with magic or something! I think it sank this far under its own weight, like it was sinking in water!”
“Like water, huh...”
And at the tip of that passage.
There existed ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ an object with a reflectance different from that of the surrounding bedrock.
Because of the vibrations produced by the bomb explosions, the precision was poor, and they had not been able to detect the detailed shape.
However, the result indicated that the object’s size was almost identical to <The Reflector>.
“Well, knowing its location is good news... If it’s in this state, does that mean it isn’t moving?”
“Yes, Big Sister. The presumed <The Reflector> remains silent.”
“I combed through the data from before the artificial earthquake, but we didn’t pick up any strange sounds or vibrations either! I don’t think it’s likely to be dead, so maybe it’s staying still to heal its injuries or something along those lines!”
For the time being.
It seemed the worst-case scenario, in which <The Reflector> vanished underground and then advanced beneath the earth to invade them, had not occurred.
That said, if it was trying to heal its wounds, they still had no idea what actions it would take afterward.
It might start moving through the ground as it was.
“If it moves around four hundred meters underground like this, wouldn’t even <Gladiolus> have a hard time dealing with it?”
“The underground defense functions assume small magical beasts or, at most, giant earthworms. They do not have the ability to stop a threat organism this powerful.”
“If it starts moving at a dangerous speed, retreat is the only option! It’s all right, we’ve prepared for that, so with four hours, we can carry out that <Magic Stone> and all the barrier-generating structures!”
“Oh... I’m not sure whether to call that reassuring or what...”
It was good that they had prepared properly, but assuming retreat from the start was... well, unavoidable.
With a complicated expression, Eve stroked <Iris> and Asahi on the head.
She had to properly reward them for their work.
“Still, four hundred meters underground, is it. Direct attacks would be difficult at that depth!”
“Existing weapons cannot reach four hundred meters. Even with earth-penetrating rounds, two hundred meters is the limit. In addition, if we used a bomb capable of blasting away that much earth and sand, the dust released into the atmosphere may exceed allowable limits.”
The most powerful bomb they had on hand was probably a hydrogen bomb using nuclear fusion.
However, even if they detonated it on the surface, it would merely create a crater several dozen meters deep at best.
They could also use ballistic missiles to fire ultra-high-speed warheads from space, but the kinetic energy required to reach a depth of four hundred meters would be enormous. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
And it was easy to imagine that tremendous damage would occur if a warhead with that much energy struck the surface.
In the worst case, the dust thrown into the air could block stellar light for several weeks to several months.
The same applied even if they used a nuclear device as the warhead of an earth-penetrating round.
In the first place, it was unlikely that heat on the level of a nuclear weapon could do anything to <The Reflector>, and enormous amounts of dust would still be blasted into the atmosphere.
The more severe the environmental damage, the greater the risk of drawing in another threat organism. That problem unique to this planet stood in their way.
Of course, Eve had enough judgment to decide to use such a weapon if the worst came to worst.
At the very least, now was not that time.
“...So we wait, huh...”
“I think it can’t be helped, Big Sister! If we provoke it from here, it might even burrow deeper underground!”
They had no effective means of attack.
Most likely, <Iris> would be dealing with stomach-churning stress for some time to come.
Eve silently decided that she would take proper care of her.
