Soon, the first drone stepped out from the glowing chamber. It was massive—built to scale the way ants can carry many times their body weight. Its exoskeleton, reinforced with a mix of high-tensile alloys, gleamed in the sunlight. The Formica Type I stood on six powerful legs, each equipped with gripping claws, allowing it to traverse rough or vertical surfaces with ease.
With hydraulic actuators mimicking the strength of an ant's mandibles, they could carry heavy construction materials or even dismantle buildings with precision. Efficiency was their defining trait, and with their decentralized swarm communication, they could coordinate tasks without any bottlenecks.
I watched as the first stretched its limbs, testing the environment. Then, more followed, each stepping out of the chamber and immediately getting to work. Their antennae, equipped with an array of sensors, began scanning the terrain, making calculations.
These were my heavy lifters, my ground crew, the ones that would move the mountains—literally if needed.
"Looking good," I mused. "Performance test?"
Nyx's voice chimed in. "The first units are performing nominally. They will begin excavation and land stabilization as soon as you give the command."
"Wonderful." I couldn't help but smile. "And now for the flyers."
Next came the bees, or rather, what looked like bees on serious steroids. The Apis V 1.0 was slightly smaller than the Formica Type I, but it wasn't any less impressive. Their sleek bodies were designed for speed, with four sets of wings beating so fast they almost blurred. Like bees, these drones were all about modular efficiency.
They were light, nimble, and fast—ideal for assembling complex structures in record time. Their multi-purpose manipulators could handle precision tasks like wiring, welding, and laying down beams. They were to work in perfect harmony, buzzing through the air and communicating with each other to share real-time data. Their swarming intelligence, when combined with the Formica Type I's, would allow them to adapt to changes in the environment instantly.
"Performance is nominal, sir. Shall I proceed and print them en masse?" Nyx inquired, wanting to begin immediately.
Giving the confirmation, the CUBE hummed to life once again, this time printing multiple drones simultaneously. The CUBE could print out 10 drones simultaneously, and complete that set once every 10 minutes, given it has enough raw matter.
Batch after batch, the Formica Type I's and the Apis V 1.0 drone buzzed into action, hovering above the clearing and circling the area to get a sense of the layout.
With a wave of my hand, I gave another instruction to Nyx signalling them to action, and the drones moved in perfect synchrony. The Formica Type I units began clearing the area, carefully dismantling boulders and transporting the logs. The Apis Constructor drones followed, laying down the framework for the new base—hexagonal lattice patterns, of course, because why not take a page from nature's best architects?
The work progressed rapidly. Within minutes, the field had transformed from a simple clearing into an active construction zone. The Formica Type I drones were digging deep into the earth, excavating the foundation for what would become a vast underground complex. The Apis Constructor drones worked overhead, assembling the upper structures with meticulous precision.
As I watched the drones operate, I marvelled at the seamless coordination. Each drone had its role, its task, but together, they functioned like a well-oiled machine—a hive mind with a singular purpose. I could practically feel the future taking shape around me.
"Nyx," I called out. "Set the excavation parameters. I want the main chamber to go at least a mile deep, with secondary chambers branching out in a circular pattern."
"Understood," Nyx replied. "Excavation parameters set. New parameters issued."
I watched as the drones shifted their focus, the FTI drones adjusted their angles and excavation speed. The Type-Bs followed close behind, reinforcing the walls of the excavation with durable materials to ensure structural stability.
As the hours passed, the base began to take shape, layer by layer. The sound of the drones—steady, rhythmic, efficient—filled the air. It was almost hypnotic, watching them work. There was no wasted movement, no inefficiency. Every action had a purpose, every drone knew its role.
I leaned back against a boulder, letting out a slow breath. This was it. This was the future I had envisioned—one where the old world's inefficiencies were swept away, replaced by something better, something stronger. A world where machines and nature worked together, where progress wasn't a slow, lumbering process, but a swift, decisive act of creation.
"Looks like we're ahead of schedule," I said, crossing my arms.
"Indeed," Nyx responded. "The efficiency of the drones exceeds initial projections. At this rate, the first phase of construction will be completed within 36 hours."
I couldn't help but smile. "Perfect."
"Any word from Mwamba on the three?" I asked.
"Not yet," Nyx replied. "They are still en route. However, all individuals have confirmed receipt of their packages."
I nodded, satisfied. Sora Nakamura, Etienne Beaumont, and Sofia Mansouri were handpicked for their skills, but also for their integrity. They were people who could be trusted to carry out my vision without succumbing to the same temptations that had brought this country to its knees.
I turned back to the clearing, where the ground was already beginning to disappear under the foundation the drones had laid. Within hours, the base would be complete at surface level, but that was just the beginning. The real work would happen underground.
I strode over to the edge of the clearing, where a group of drones had begun tunnelling into the earth. The ground here was soft, and the drones made quick work of the initial excavation, moving dirt and rock with the same efficiency they had shown above ground.
The hole was large, roughly about 120m in diameter. Within minutes, the entrance to the underground facility had begun to take shape—a wide, vertical tunnel that spiralled downward into the depths of the earth.
The drone's tunnelling abilities were impressive. Unlike traditional digging methods, which could cause instability in the surrounding area, these drones used a combination of mechanical digging and particle manipulation to remove material with minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment.
Then storing the raw material in their abdomen, which for those who don't know, is located on the rear side of an ant, at least based on the design of the honeypot ant. The result was a perfectly smooth tunnel, free of debris and reinforced by the same materials the drones used to construct the base above ground.
I watched as the tunnel grew deeper, the drones working tirelessly to expand the underground facility. Every inch of the base was meticulously planned—each level serving a different function. The top levels would house living quarters, research labs, and manufacturing facilities.
Below that, storage areas for resources and raw materials. And deeper still, a vast network of tunnels that could potentially connect to other parts of the country, creating a subterranean infrastructure that would rival anything on the surface.
"Nyx," I said, my voice steady, "what's our material count? Are we on track with supplies?"
"We are currently utilizing 37% of available raw materials," Nyx responded. By that, she meant we were using 37% the surrounding elements as we dug, as the barrels of previously atomized matter were being used for construction of the Apis and Formica drones.
"Additional resources will be required to complete the deeper levels. However, I have detected a significant deposit of an unclassified mineral approximately five miles below the current excavation point, along with a plethora of other materials."
"Unclassified?" I raised an eyebrow. "What are we talking about here?"
"Possible unknown element," Nyx clarified. "I am unable to provide a detailed analysis from this distance. However, the energy signatures suggest properties unlike any known materials currently cataloged."
Now that got my attention.
"Dig deeper," I said, already imagining the possibilities. If this unclassified mineral deposit had unique properties, it could be a game-changer.
As soon as I gave the order, the drones adjusted their tasks with seamless efficiency. The underground excavation was no longer just about building the base — it was about discovery. My curiosity piqued as I thought of the unknown minerals beneath us. Something Nyx couldn't fully analyze at a distance? That was something worth digging for.
"Nyx, keep me updated on the progress. Prioritize extraction and analysis of those unknown elements. I want a full report as soon as the first sample is retrieved," I said, watching the swarm of Formica drones descend deeper into the Earth.
Their segmented bodies shimmered under the dim light of the excavation tunnel, moving like a synchronized army of workers. The honeybee drones hovered above them, reinforcing the tunnel's structural integrity with hexagonal frameworks of nano-material that was strong but flexible enough to endure seismic pressure.
"Understood," Nyx replied in its usual calm, analytical tone. "The drones will reach the mineral deposit in approximately three hours. Extraction and analysis will take additional time depending on the composition and atomic complexity of the element."
I nodded, glancing around the rapidly expanding underground structure. Now we wait.