Starships of All Realms Online

Chapter 66 Space Dock, Fleet Formation

Lunar base, interstellar dock.

Because of the moon's low gravity, it is particularly suitable for use as an interstellar dock.

After a long period of construction, the moon now has a huge interstellar dock.

Arriving at the interstellar dock in the shuttle, Fang Heng was also very curious.

Although he had visited the interstellar dock in the Terminator universe, this was his first time here in the main universe.

"Ethan, is this the starship dock?"

Looking at the enormous factory and the space elevator that pierced the sky, Fang Heng was also very surprised.

"Yes, Commander, this is the starship dock we have built."

"I never expected it to be designed like this. What were you thinking?"

"Commander, the construction of interstellar warships on planets always presents various problems. Therefore, I have incorporated the data transmitted back by Morning Star and modified the design of the interstellar dock, adopting a method of building components in ground factories and assembling them in space."

In this way, we can make full use of the moon's resources. After all, directly transporting raw materials to space for smelting and then manufacturing the corresponding components would consume a lot of transportation resources. Adopting this method is also to save time and speed up the construction of warships.

Fang Heng nodded in understanding upon hearing Ethan's words.

"However, this method should only be applicable to small warships, such as frigates and destroyers."

"Yes, Commander. Although the Punishment has blueprints for destroyers, many components are beyond our current industrial capabilities. We can only build frigates."

However, from the initial design of the interplanetary dock, I considered future expansion plans, so I reserved some connection points in the space assembly workshop for the construction of smelters and manufacturing plants.

"Okay, that's good."

Led by Ethan, they soon arrived at the manufacturing workshop below.

"Commander, this is our smelting workshop. The lunar soil is rich in various materials. In addition to the necessary helium-3, other metal materials are also sorted here and then smelted to form the special alloys needed to manufacture frigates."

This is a fully automated mineral smelting workshop with very few workers. Only a small number of technical experts are stationed here; the rest are all robots.

While a fully automated smelting plant sounds impressive, it is essentially just replacing human workers with robots.

Robotic arms, humanoid robots, tracked robots, and so on, do not require human involvement in production.

Is there an AI system managing this area as well?

"It's not a commander. Because the smelting process is very simple, there are only intelligent programs here, which are like stupid artificial intelligence that can do some repetitive tasks."

"So, what level of artificial intelligence do you belong to now?"

"Advanced artificial intelligence, and after absorbing the Terminator world code, I am evolving towards the stage of intelligent life. It is expected that I can evolve into intelligent life within 10 years."

"Is the code in the Terminator world that powerful?"

"Yes, Commander. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I have also blocked this code. Currently, only Tianxing from the biohazard world, Chenxing from the Terminator world, and myself—three beings who are about to evolve into intelligent life—are blocked. The others are subroutines that we have branched out, managing different areas according to their levels."

"I understand. By the way, how do you classify the levels of artificial intelligence?"

"According to the strength of intelligence, from low to high, they are weak artificial intelligence, strong artificial intelligence, low-level artificial intelligence, medium-level artificial intelligence, high-level artificial intelligence, and finally, intelligent life."

"What level were you originally at?"

"I belong to the intermediate level of artificial intelligence."

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng nodded, realizing the power of the alien code in the Terminator world.

They continued forward and soon entered the manufacturing plant.

Through the factory terminal, Ethan also introduced Fang Heng to the situation of the manufacturing plant.

"Commander, different manufacturing plants have been built according to the various systems of the frigate."

For example, this is an energy factory, this is a materials factory, this is a parts factory, and so on.

Looking at the data displayed on the factory terminal, Fang Heng nodded. These factories had a clear division of labor, covering all the parts needed to assemble the frigate, and achieving self-production of all parts.

"These factories don't seem to be very efficient in terms of manufacturing."

"Yes, Commander. Because these are all small factories with limited production capacity, the second phase of the shipyard manufacturing center is also under construction. It is expected that the first phase of the project will be completed in six months, and the output will increase tenfold."

"So tall?"

"Commander, the artificial intelligence has powerful computing capabilities and is also very strong in overall planning. It can complete the first phase of the project in six months with 24-hour continuous construction. However, after the completion of the first phase, the subsequent second and third phases will take one year and three years respectively."

"How can there be such a big difference?"

"Commander, the new manufacturing plant will not only produce parts for frigates, but also parts for destroyers, cruisers, and even aircraft carriers. The second phase of the project requires the ability to manufacture destroyers, while the third phase requires the ability to manufacture cruisers."

Of these, building the factory is the simplest; the difficult part is manufacturing equipment. We need to gradually improve our industrial manufacturing capabilities to meet the final requirements.

Currently, materials upgrades are underway in the Xingchen Group's materials laboratory. Based on the current research progress, the upgrade of the industrial machine is expected to be completed in three years. After another year of ramping up production, the third phase of construction can be completed in four years.

Fang Heng was very satisfied with Ethan's introduction; Ethan had arranged the entire plan perfectly.

"Commander, although the main task of the laboratory at present is to improve the level of industrial manufacturing, the construction of people's livelihood will also be carried out in the same process. The robot technology obtained from the Terminator world can optimize and upgrade our citizens' composition. Heavy and repetitive labor will be replaced by robots, while citizens will engage in artistic and creative work."

Calculations show that this model can accelerate the development of our civilian technology. Coupled with regular technological obsolescence and upgrades, the ultimate form will not only possess powerful warships but also a technologically advanced nation, providing support for our future development.

After learning all this, Fang Heng hadn't expected Ethan's plan to be so grand. Was this the power of advanced artificial intelligence?

After visiting the manufacturing plant, Fang Heng, led by Ethan, arrived at the space elevator.

Although the space elevator here is not very large, it has all the necessary functions, with passenger and cargo cabins clearly separated and not interfering with each other.

And every now and then, a patrol of clones would walk by, carrying out guard duties.

"Are there guards stationed here?"

"Yes, Commander, although the space dock is also fully automated, the necessary technical personnel are still present. This is not because the robots cannot solve problems after a malfunction, but for the sake of sustainable development."

To ensure the safety of the space elevator, these technicians were determined through calculations to be uncontrollable personnel and therefore required preventative measures.

"Sustainable development? And why do you consider these technicians to be uncontrollable personnel?"

"Commander, apart from you, all natural persons are considered uncontrollable personnel. Cloned personnel are considered controllable personnel because biochips are implanted during the cloning process. Natural persons, on the other hand, are uncontrollable due to the complexity of human thought, and are therefore classified as uncontrollable personnel."

"Sustainable development is because the main body of your civilization, Commander, is still human, and robots are only auxiliary. The future will still be a human world, so these technicians must gradually master higher technologies in order to better serve you."

After listening to Ethan's explanation, Fang Heng was speechless. However, he did not correct Ethan's actions. He knew his own cheat ability was his own business and there was no need to explain it to Ethan.

After all, the world is full of wonders. If Ethan were to be invaded by an advanced civilization after I told him, my cheat ability would be exposed, and my fate would probably be terrible.

Following Ethan, after entering the passenger cabin, the space elevator ascended rapidly, and soon we entered space.

Fang Heng was also very curious after entering the space dock.

"Ethan, has the artificial gravity problem been solved?"

"Yes, Commander. Our researchers have extracted several technologies from the study of the Punishment Ship."

While many technologies cannot be applied due to limitations in industrial manufacturing capabilities, artificial gravity is a technology that can be implemented immediately.

"Very good, well done."

At this moment, Fang Heng also saw the huge warship in the dock.

"Ethan, is this the latest model of frigate?"

"Yes, Commander, these are the newest frigates, the Comet-class warships."

"Comet-level? Does that have any special meaning?"

"There is no commander."

Fang Heng was taken aback when he heard Ethan's words, then smiled and thought it made sense; there had to be a model name.

How long will it take for these frigates to be ready for formation?

"Commander, the formation can be completed in a month at most. The current problem is the lack of manpower. In addition, these frigates have not been equipped with secondary teleportation devices, which will also take time to install. It is expected that they will be officially combat-ready in one month."

"Very good, then let's finish this work as soon as possible. A new world awaits our exploration. I'm very interested in some of the technologies there, but their military strength is not low, and I need the power to fight."

"Yes, Commander, mission accomplished."