Alex sat in the glow of his PDA screen, the soft hum of machinery in the background. His operation was expanding steadily, yet each new development brought its own challenges. While his initial projects had been ambitious, he now faced the reality of ensuring their secrecy and efficiency. His junkyard and underground base were secure for now, but the need for greater sophistication in his operations weighed on his mind.
Consolidating Security
The God's Eye program was the linchpin of Alex's security measures. A sprawling network of AI-driven tools, it allowed him to monitor activity near his operations and beyond. Using the "blackboxing" techniques he had developed, Alex had fortified the system to ensure that even if someone managed to steal fragments of his code, they would be useless without his full oversight.
The AIs that powered God's Eye had grown more sophisticated over time. "Watcher," the system's AI core, seamlessly integrated data from his surveillance feeds, Scanner Room modules, and even local public networks. This integration was key to maintaining real-time awareness without drawing attention to his activities. By leveraging blackboxing, Alex had also ensured that no part of the system could be reverse-engineered or tampered with, a lesson learned from the many technologically advanced factions in this world.
Despite these precautions, Alex kept his paranoia in check. "Paranoia is good," he reminded himself, "but overdoing it just wastes time." His focus remained on ensuring operational secrecy while expanding his capabilities in sustainable ways.
Automating Mining Operations
Alex's next step was automating the mining operations. The PRAWN suits he had built were invaluable for harvesting resources, but manually controlling them or relying on human oversight was inefficient. To solve this, Alex upgraded his Scanner Room with hidden modules, an advanced feature he had reverse-engineered from Alterra's blueprints. These modules vastly improved the room's ability to pinpoint resource nodes and transmitted real-time data directly to his networked PRAWN suits.
The PRAWN suits themselves received a series of upgrades to enable autonomous operation. Instead of relying solely on manual control, Alex programmed an AI he called "Foreman" to manage their tasks. Foreman coordinated the suits' movements, optimizing their routes and ensuring efficient resource collection. These hidden upgrades kept the suits' capabilities below the radar while making them indispensable for his expanding operation.
Alex also added safety protocols to ensure the suits wouldn't malfunction or attract unwanted attention. By combining Scanner Room data with Watcher's oversight, he created a system where the PRAWN suits could harvest resources unnoticed, even in high-risk areas.
Constructing the Underwater Base
While the underground warehouse provided a secure location for his resources, Alex knew he needed a fallback location—a base hidden so well that even the most determined adversaries would struggle to find it. Using the terraformer, he began excavating a massive underwater cave system beneath a secluded section of coastline. The cave was narrow at its entrance, allowing only small vehicles like the Seamoth to pass through, but it expanded into a vast hidden chamber that provided ample space for construction.
The cave's natural features served as its primary defense. The entrance was concealed by rock formations and shielded from radar detection by layers of sediment and mineral deposits. Inside, Alex used his Habitat Builder to construct a modular base, starting with a Moonpool for docking vehicles and multipurpose rooms for fabrication and storage. To power the base, he installed solar panels on the ocean floor and a compact nuclear reactor deep within the base's secure core.
Unlike his main base, the underwater facility wasn't cloaked in invisibility—instead, it relied on radar-invisibility modules based on Alterra's stealth technology. These modules masked the base from sonar and other detection methods, ensuring that even advanced factions like SHIELD or Atlantis would struggle to locate it.
Expanding Automation
With the underwater base operational, Alex began scaling up his automation efforts. The PRAWN suits were already proving invaluable, but he needed to increase their numbers and improve their efficiency. Using resources gathered by the initial suits, Alex fabricated additional units, each equipped with hidden upgrades and linked to the Foreman AI.
To further streamline operations, Alex developed an underground warehouse system beneath the junkyard. Conveyor belts and automated sorting systems transported materials from the PRAWN suits to dedicated storage bays. Robotic arms, controlled by another AI subroutine named "Custodian," managed inventory and ensured that materials were processed and stored efficiently.
As the operation expanded, Alex began considering ways to create redundancy and minimize risks. The underwater base became a testing ground for new systems, including a prototype fabrication unit capable of constructing additional PRAWN suits and modules autonomously. This self-sustaining setup ensured that even if his primary base were compromised, the underwater facility could continue functioning independently.
Perfecting the System
While his infrastructure grew, Alex turned his attention to refining the AIs that controlled his operations. Using blackboxing techniques, he ensured that each AI was secure and isolated, preventing any potential vulnerabilities from spreading across the network. Watcher remained the central hub, coordinating data from God's Eye, the Scanner Room, and the Foreman AI.
During this time, Alex felt the familiar hum of the Celestial Forge. The Forge's random rolls had given him incredible tools in the past, but several recent rolls had been just out of his reach, leaving him with an unspent pool of points. Finally, he had accumulated enough for something significant.
[ARTIFICER (PREY) (200CP)
Any monkey with a wrench can look up the technical manual and do a repair. Well, maybe not any monkey, but you're certainly a cut above the rest. Any technology you come across that you understand the principles behind can be drastically improved. Either simplifying it to make it easier to fabricate or improving its durability or power output. Weapons, turrets, tools and vehicles can all be improved beyond their base specs.]
Successfully purchased.
0 CP remaining.
The knowledge surged into his mind, bringing with it a profound understanding of engineering and technology. Artificer was a game-changer. It allowed Alex to drastically improve any technology he understood, enhancing its efficiency, durability, and functionality. With this perk, even his most advanced creations could be taken to the next level.
"Finally," Alex said, grinning as ideas began flooding his mind. "Time to make some upgrades."
Taking It Further
The first application of Artificer was improving the PRAWN suits and Scanner Room modules. Using his enhanced understanding of engineering principles, Alex streamlined the suits' designs, reducing their energy consumption and increasing their operational range. He also upgraded the Scanner Room's hidden modules, boosting their accuracy and range while minimizing power requirements.
Next, Alex applied the perk to the AI systems that controlled his operations. By refining their algorithms and hardware, he made them faster, more efficient, and even harder to detect. Watcher and Foreman became almost seamless in their execution, coordinating the entire network with precision.
Finally, Alex turned his attention to the underwater base. He reinforced its structural integrity, ensuring it could withstand even the most extreme conditions. The fabrication unit received similar upgrades, allowing it to produce advanced components and vehicles with greater speed and reliability.
Looking Ahead
By the time Alex finished his latest round of upgrades, his operation had reached a new level of sophistication. The automated mining network, hidden Scanner Room modules, and underwater base provided a secure and efficient foundation for his projects. With Artificer now enhancing his capabilities, Alex felt confident in tackling even greater challenges.
As he stood in the control room of his underwater base, Alex allowed himself a moment of reflection. His paranoia had driven much of his progress, but he now felt a sense of control he hadn't experienced since arriving in this world. The Forge had given him the tools, but it was his determination and ingenuity that had turned them into a growing empire.
"This is just the beginning," Alex muttered, his eyes glinting with resolve. "Let's see what the future holds."
Building a Frontline
Alex leaned back in his chair, studying the documents scattered across his desk. Despite his technological empire quietly growing in the shadows, he knew that keeping everything hidden forever wasn't sustainable. To fund his ambitions and gather resources without raising suspicion, he needed a legitimate front—a company that could operate in the public eye while subtly supporting his grander designs.
The first step was simple: credentials. While Alex's engineering expertise now far surpassed anything formal education could offer, a degree would provide the legitimacy he needed to navigate the corporate world without unnecessary scrutiny. Drawing from his ample financial resources, he made a few discreet inquiries and leveraged his black market contacts to fast-track the process. A few well-placed bribes and favors ensured his enrollment at a respected technical institute specializing in mechanical engineering.
Accelerated Education
Alex's time at the institute was both a formality and a strategic move. He completed the coursework at record speed, his Forge-enhanced cognitive abilities allowing him to grasp and master the material almost effortlessly. To maintain appearances, he balanced his academic achievements with modest participation in student projects and campus life. By the end of the program, he had not only earned his degree but also cultivated a small network of contacts among professors and fellow students—connections that might prove useful later.
With the degree in hand, Alex wasted no time moving to the next phase of his plan: establishing a legitimate company.
The Birth of Nexus Industries
The name "Nexus Industries" was chosen because of its deep significance, representing the central point where all of his plans would converge in the light. It symbolized the company's role as the connecting force behind his broader vision. He registered the business under the guise of an engineering and technology firm, presenting it as a start-up focused on cutting-edge mechanical and energy solutions.
The initial setup was straightforward. Alex rented a modest office space in New York and hired a small administrative team to handle day-to-day operations. To keep things running smoothly, he used blackboxed software tools to automate most processes, ensuring efficiency and security. While Nexus Industries appeared to be a small, ambitious start-up from the outside, its true purpose was to prepare for the eventual production and release of Alex's revolutionary battery technology.
Opportunity in Crisis
Alex spent weeks researching struggling companies that owned factories suited to his needs. After careful consideration, he identified a small manufacturing firm, Vector Dynamics, that was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. The company's primary factory, located in New Jersey, was still functional but outdated. Its machinery was decades old, and its workforce had been cut to a skeleton crew. For Alex, it was the perfect target.
Using Nexus Industries as the purchasing entity, Alex negotiated a deal to acquire Vector Dynamics at a fraction of its market value. The negotiations were surprisingly easy; the owners were desperate to offload the failing business and avoid further losses. Within a month, the acquisition was complete, and Nexus Industries now owned a fully operational, if dilapidated, factory.
Breathing New Life into the Factory
The first order of business was upgrading the factory's infrastructure. Alex prioritized installing new automated systems and retrofitting the production lines with cutting-edge machinery. Using a combination of publicly available technology and secret enhancements derived from the Forge, he transformed the facility into a modern manufacturing hub capable of producing his new battery designs.
He also implemented blackboxing techniques to safeguard the core technologies used in the upgrades. The key components of the manufacturing process—the advanced energy modules, precision tooling, and proprietary software—were encrypted and obfuscated, ensuring that even if someone attempted industrial espionage, they would be unable to replicate or reverse-engineer the most critical elements. However, non-core systems and public-facing processes were left open to inspection to avoid arousing suspicion.
Additionally, Alex installed discreet surveillance and security systems throughout the factory, all controlled by Watcher, his omnipresent AI. These measures ensured that he could monitor the facility remotely and respond quickly to any potential breaches or issues.
While the physical upgrades were underway, Alex also restructured the factory's workforce. He retained the most skilled workers from Vector Dynamics and brought in new talent—engineers and technicians he had met during his time at the technical institute. By blending experience with fresh perspectives, he created a team capable of executing his vision.
A Revolutionary Battery
With the factory operational, Alex turned his attention to developing a new product—a revolutionary battery system that would surpass anything currently available on the market. Drawing on his Artificer perk, Alex designed the battery to be smaller, lighter, and far more efficient than existing models. The core of the design featured a modular architecture, allowing users to scale the battery's capacity based on their needs. Its advanced chemistry ensured unparalleled energy density and lifespan, while built-in safety features made it immune to overheating or catastrophic failure.
Despite the breakthrough nature of the battery, Alex decided against releasing it immediately. "Timing is everything," he reminded himself. Instead, he focused on perfecting the manufacturing process and producing a limited batch of prototypes for further testing. The goal was to ensure that the battery's production could be scaled up seamlessly when the time came to introduce it to the world.
Positioning for the Future
Alex knew that the factory and Nexus Industries had to build a reputation for reliability and innovation before unveiling the new battery. To that end, the company began accepting smaller contracts for custom engineering projects and energy solutions. These public-facing operations provided a steady revenue stream and established Nexus Industries as a credible player in the industry, while also allowing Alex to test and refine his manufacturing capabilities.
As Alex stood in the factory's control room, watching the upgraded production lines hum to life, he allowed himself a small smile. The groundwork was in place, and the pieces were coming together. While the world saw a young entrepreneur trying to make a name for himself, Alex knew the truth: this was just the beginning of something far greater.
The Forge Stirs
As Alex finalized the prototypes for the revolutionary battery, he felt the familiar hum of the Celestial Forge. The energy coursed through him, subtle yet transformative, and a new grant materialized in his mind:
[Costumer (Terraria – Journey's End) (100CP)
Many objects, especially with regards to armor, place function over form. Now, you don't have to settle for armor that is good but an eyesore. You can take any item you possess and 'overlay' it on top of a similar item, changing the second item's appearance to match the first, while maintaining all of its functionality, protective qualities, etc.]
Successfully purchased.
0 CP remaining.
The knowledge slipped seamlessly into Alex's mind, opening up new possibilities. He immediately thought of ways to use the ability's covert applications to further secure his operations. Aesthetics weren't the focus; instead, the perk could make his equipment harder to detect, analyze, or even identify as unique.
Working in the Shadows
Alex's first experiment with the Costumer ability was simple but effective. He overlaid the external casings of several key components of his manufacturing equipment with nondescript industrial designs. The upgrades disguised their advanced nature, making them appear as off-the-shelf machinery. To an outside observer, the factory's production lines looked entirely ordinary, even under close inspection.
He then turned his attention to the surveillance systems. Using the Costumer ability, Alex altered the appearance of his custom security cameras, blending them seamlessly into the factory's infrastructure. This ensured that any potential intruder would overlook the devices entirely, allowing Watcher to operate undetected.
Finally, Alex applied the ability to his personal equipment. The tools and devices he carried were critical to his operations but could easily draw attention if discovered. By overlaying them with common designs, he ensured that even if someone found them, they would see nothing more than unremarkable tools.
As he worked under the cover of night, Alex felt a sense of satisfaction. The Costumer perk wasn't flashy, but its potential for stealth and subterfuge made it invaluable. By layering his creations in plain sight, he added another layer of protection to his growing empire.
With the prototypes perfected, the factory prepared, and his tools secured, Alex was ready for the next phase of his plan. The world might not be ready for his revolutionary battery yet, but when the time came, he would be.