Story Reader / Main Story / 27 Aeon Reforged / Story
"Project Acadia Transfer" will be the largest strategic relocation effort in human history and will be implemented in three phases.
Phase One
Mobilizing global transport forces to move a total of 1.5 million engineers, technicians, raw materials, and essential equipment to the spaceport elevated at an orbital height of 10,000 kilometers.
Hurry up, the next batch of transport ships will be here soon.
The gravity field shifted by 2.6°. Send someone to adjust the gravity simulation segment.
Exhaust gas backflow occurred in compartment DA13. Responsible personnel, please respond immediately.
I repeat...
Busy figures move through every part of the space station. Everyone is busy doing their part since this is the focal point of the first phase of the project.
How's everything looking?
We expect to clear the DH series compartments by 6 PM GMT to make room for the next group of personnel.
Thank you.
How's the safety protocol?
Punishing detection devices now cover the entire spaceport, and high-energy explosives are installed at each compartment connection for emergency detachment if necessary.
That's not enough... Rearrange the escape pod locations. They're too concentrated right now.
Roger that!
Phase Two
Over 20 years, 20 out of 30 starships will be converted into small colony ships to accommodate a larger population.
At the same time, half of the spaceport's compartments will be upgraded for military-industrial use to meet production targets.
"Tall Guy", help me lift this up.
The tall soldier takes the box.
(Puzzled)
You want to know what the commotion was about?
It was mainly about starship modifications. The plans aren't decided, and the deadline is approaching, so a few supervisors almost started fighting.
Hey, the next meeting is about to start, hurry up!
When was it announced? I didn't get a notice.
Just a minute ago. I'm heading there now!
Wait for me!
(Speechless)
Phase Three
The 20 modified colony ships will shuttle the remaining population on Earth between other planets in the solar system to collect resources and continuously supply raw materials to the spaceport's industrial base.
Thus forming a 380,000-kilometer depth with the spaceport, Starship Fleet, International Space Station, colony ships, and the lunar base as strategic points.
Humanity will launch a counterattack by relying on the entire solar system.
Hmm... All procedures are complete. Congratulations, you're discharged.
After confirming the signature, the person returns Watanabe's personal terminal.
Thanks for taking care of me during this time.
We're just doing our job... But you adapted surprisingly fast despite the emergency modifications.
Didn't expect you to be the first to be discharged. Even the director is surprised.
I can't stay in bed forever. This body will rust if I keep lying around.
Uh... I know you're trying to be funny, but Tantalum polymers are actually quite resistant to rust.
...
Speaking of your body, are you going to replace that mismatched eye?
Watanabe waves his hand as he walks toward the door.
Don't worry about me. Besides, I don't mind the color of this eye.
After leaving the medical consortium, Watanabe finds Ballard already standing next to an off-road vehicle.
All done?
Yeah.
Ballard opens the car door.
Get in. We've got a job.
Gestalt central core?
Watanabe flips through his terminal which is filled mostly by an image of a spherical machine.
Yeah, let me explain while you do that.
After the Great Transfer was confirmed, the first thing we did was order the existing important equipment.
Superconducting crystal processing equipment, full-space ecological cycle systems, fusion material refiners... They're all on the list.
But there's one piece of equipment that's surely the most important.
He points to what looks like the eye of the spherical machine.
The pinnacle of human achievement—Gestalt.
The population relocation, resource allocation, and space management involved in the Great Transfer require immense computing power.
Without Gestalt's help, this project would take twice as long to complete.
Also...
Moreover, if Gestalt gets infected, the damage that its computing power can cause would be unimaginable.
So we must ensure that it's under human control at all costs.
Right, sounds like your hospital stay didn't do your brain damage.
My injury wasn't on my brain.
But why me?
I just completed my adaptive training. Surely, you can find others to take on such an important mission?
...
There are still some dangerous areas. I've sent all my trusted subordinates to handle those.
Dangerous as in?
There are conspiracy theories that the World Government is abandoning the masses. Others try to reap benefits from the project through bribery. Some are taking advantage of the information blackout to deceive the public into participating in illegal experiments that have already been halted...
He lets out a rare snort of disdain.
Article 1092 of the "Law on the Advancement and Protection of Science and Technology"? Humph, nonsense.
Even at a time like this, you still...
In the eyes of some, disaster and misfortune are not bad news but opportunities for gaining power.
Fortunately, there aren't too many of these scavenging jackals. Unfortunately, the more they take, the longer they live.
Eradicating them won't be easy. We need to prepare for a long-term battle.
But after dealing with Gestalt, I'll have plenty of time to deal with them.
You know, people like you might not have a good ending.
Watanabe shows a wry smile but doesn't try to dissuade Ballard because he knows Ballard won't compromise or back down on this matter.
This persistence has evolved into stubbornness and, in a sense, aggression. Ballard sees compromise as helping those people.
Watanabe remembers his father talking to Ballard about this many times, but neither side ever convinced the other.
Why should we let them reap huge profits from the gamble and leave unscathed?
Ballard shakes his head.
No, someone needs to drag them back to the table and make them pay back with interest.
Forget it... let's not talk about this.
Faced with stubbornness, Watanabe decisively chooses to give up, just like his father would have.
I see that besides the military, the Science Council and... Norman Group are all involved in this operation?
Yes, their assistance is crucial for this mission. You'll meet them soon.
But before the mission starts...
Ballard hands over another terminal to Watanabe.
You can leave a message for someone. Headquarters will deliver it to them.
We don't have many satellites and wires now. Long-distance communication is mostly reserved for military and government use, so don't waste this rare opportunity.
You haven't contacted Shin since the outbreak of the Punishing Virus, right?
Yeah... it's been a long time...
For a moment, he thought about taking the terminal but pushed it back in the end.
Some things need to be said in person.
Like understanding his mother's choice, fulfilling his comrades' last wishes, or his own regrets and relief...
There are too many things to say. How can a simple message be enough?
It feels like writing a will, and I'd rather not.
You're right. Some things need to be said face-to-face.
Ballard takes back the terminal.
By the way, did you write one?
Do you even need to ask that?
The two share a knowing smile.
Gestalt Retrieval Operation Temporary Command Post
The scarred off-road vehicle drifts over, leaving charred brake marks on the ground. It comes to a steady stop by the roadside.
You didn't mention we had to cross a battlefield.
It saves time.
The two get out of the car and a soldier immediately runs over.
Captain Ballard! And... Watanabe?
Greenhead?
So you are the one Captain Ballard was picking up.
Did you join the Purifying Force?
But Watanabe quickly dismisses the thought because the soldier isn't a Construct but a human.
No, I belong to the Ground Force.
People from various units were gathered for this operation. I'm just the temporary captain in charge of on-site command.
Is everyone else here?
They're already here, waiting.
Good, take me to them.
Roger that!
Behind the tent flap, the crowd inside is clearly divided into three groups.
Soldiers with firearms, technicians in work clothes with the Norman Mining logo, and a lone woman sitting in the corner.
She looks like she is lost in thought.
Only one person from the Science Council?
Aside from the late Mr. Landau, no one knows Gestalt better than I do. Maintaining Gestalt is my daily duty.
No support or backup?
Those not already in space joined the team in shutting down Reactor One.
I'm... the only one left behind.
Sorry, I underestimated you.
Let me reiterate the operation plan.
First phase: Norman Mining will use heavy-duty cutters to open a path to the Gestalt deep well. You were the contractors for the entire underground area, right?
No problem, but I must remind you, that the underground space where Gestalt is located is complex. It's easy to get lost there even with a map. Please be careful.
We'll be careful.
Second phase: Our assault team will open a path to Gestalt's central core.
Watanabe, you lead the team. I'll fend off the Corrupted that are drawn in.
Roger that!
Always monitor your infection rate. If it approaches the threshold, leave immediately. You haven't installed the Inver-Device yet so can't stay in a Punishing environment for long.
Inver-Device?
It's the first line of defense for Constructs against the Punishing Virus. You can think of it as a firewall for now.
Finally, a representative from the Science Council will enter the central core to check for infection.
If there's no infection, they'll restart it to unlock the surrounding safety locks. That will allow Norman's team to take away the core.
Even if it's too late, we can't let the enemy have it. We'll use the explosives we brought to destroy the core.
Any other questions?
Why not just blow up the safety locks?
Gestalt was designed to withstand all extreme scenarios.
While the core's reinforcement is limited, we've used every possible measure to reinforce the safety locks. The locks will remain intact even at an epicenter of a magnitude nine earthquake.
Of course, we could use stronger explosives, but that would obliterate the core, defeating the purpose.
I have another question. Wouldn't it be more efficient if I joined the assault team?
No, your safety is second only to Gestalt. Only you can restart Gestalt, so you can't take any risk.
Nithart falls silent.
Then I declare...
Operation start!
With a sharp cutting sound and bright sparks, the two-meter-thick safety door is pulled aside by a heavy-duty crane.
We'll leave the rest up to you.
Thank you.
He looks into the deep passage and takes the first step.
Move out!
