Two days later, Qin Mo raised his hands to craft the sixth set of powered armor, simultaneously using telekinesis to manipulate a spoon that scooped food from a container and fed it to his mouth. He realized that his earlier prejudice against this food was unwarranted, as being hungry for two days was unnecessary; the food was far more delectable and palatable than he had imagined.
As he savored the meal, Qin Mo also gleaned insights into how this sustenance was produced. It began, of course, with the biological remains found on the battlefield or the corpses of terrifying creatures from the ruins of the Bottom Nest, such as giant spiders. The logistics machines, under the command of the main control AI responsible for food supply, purified the remains, extracting and combining the nutrients and biological tissues.
Initially tasteless, these foods were enhanced by the logistics machines, which were taught by the main control AI to synthesize flavor compounds using harmless chemicals, creating delicious tastes that were added to the food.
"According to statistics compiled by three logistics machines, this food has achieved a satisfaction rate of one hundred percent, with over seventy percent of soldiers reporting increased strength or faster recovery from wounds after consumption," the AI reported in Qin Mo's earpiece. "This data has been integrated into the core database to inform future optimizations of the food supply process."
This was a routine report; although Qin Mo preferred to allow the AI creative freedom, he still needed to be informed of its actions.
"How is the intelligence work progressing?" Qin Mo inquired.
"The drones that have been manufactured have been deployed. As of this moment, we have confirmed the existence of forty-two strongholds, of which eighteen are under heavy assault by the insurgents, and three are on the verge of collapse. Including the garrison at your location, a total of 357,231 individuals are still alive."
"If you wish to provide support to these strongholds, I can calculate the optimal support plan for you."
Qin Mo was astonished to hear that over 350,000 individuals were still alive. Based on the information he had received from Klein before the crisis, only 50,000 troops had been allocated to establish the defense line prior to the dire situation. Where had these additional 300,000 individuals come from?
"There is a settlement in the Bottom Nest called Kato," the AI disclosed.
"Oh, that explains it," Qin Mo remarked, donning the powered armor helmet. "Calculate the best rescue plan for me."
Immediately, a three-dimensional map appeared on the HUD within the helmet, visually displaying all existing strongholds, each marked in different colors according to their conditions. Green indicated relatively stable situations, orange signified critical conditions but with a considerable number of survivors able to hold out for a while, while red marked those strongholds facing dire straits with few remaining defenders.
The AI plotted a route between the red strongholds, ensuring rapid assistance to each. "Two of the red strongholds can be relieved by firepower drones; only the Kato settlement, located a thousand kilometers directly west, requires your personal assistance," it explained. "I need you to authorize the call for firepower drones if you agree."
"I agree," Qin Mo nodded.
He then witnessed four firepower drones launch from the 47th regiment's position, swiftly heading toward the two red strongholds, excluding the Kato settlement.
"I should also set off," Qin Mo declared, rising and gazing at the sixth set of powered armor he had just completed, feeling an unexpected void; in his eyes, this armor no longer appeared to be the perfect masterpiece he had envisioned.
During his recent studies and production efforts, Qin Mo discovered that his work was not merely compelled by faith or necessity but stemmed from a genuine passion for creation. The joy and fulfillment he felt when overcoming technological challenges that ordinary individuals might spend a lifetime tackling, or when bringing forth creations that advanced engineering could not produce, was profoundly satisfying.
However, as technological barriers were shattered and production became as effortless as eating and drinking, that joy began to wane. Qin Mo yearned to forge even more advanced and powerful creations, a desire that helped him understand that the power he wielded emanated from a deity enamored with the act of creation.
"There are more pressing matters at hand," Qin Mo suppressed his cravings for innovation and knowledge, directing his commands through the communicator to Gray: "Bring Tor over; his powered armor is ready."
"Are we going out to fight?" Gray queried.
"Indeed," Qin Mo affirmed, "we must urgently head to a settlement called Kato."
...
Kato was a small city within the Bottom Nest. In this city, bounty hunters scoured remote areas for ancient relics, gang members constructed "factories" to produce weapons or other illicit goods, while civilians offered services to the former two in exchange for money and food.
Qin Mo had heard a bit about this settlement; he had assumed it had long since fallen. However, upon reaching the city's main thoroughfare, where the fighting was most intense, he found two thousand soldiers from the planetary defense forces fully deployed along the road.
"Friendlies!" The soldiers recognized Qin Mo's double-headed eagle staff and immediately understood he had come to assist.
"Hold the line," Qin Mo commanded the other soldiers, then turned to an officer in a nearby trench. "As I understand, you have two thousand men, yet almost all are stationed on the main thoroughfare. Who is fighting in other areas of the city?"
The officer promptly replied, "It's—"
Just as he began to speak, a vehicle roared into view from the rear of their position, capturing Qin Mo's attention.
Turning to look, he saw it was a pickup-like vehicle, its cargo bed covered with a black tarp. When the vehicle halted, five civilians emerged. It was a family—a husband and wife accompanied by three children.
"What brings you here to the front lines?" Qin Mo inquired.
"We're here to support these useless soldiers," the man sneered, glancing at the soldiers before jumping into the cargo bed to unveil the black tarp.
Beneath the tarp lay a quadruple-barreled heavy lumber gun.
The man began to adjust the gun's firing angle, aiming it at the insurgents in the distance along the main thoroughfare, while his wife and children adeptly retrieved ammunition boxes, skillfully loading the gun with belts of rounds.
Once ready, the man immediately opened fire, while his wife and children rushed back to the vehicle to grab laser rifles equipped with scopes to join the fray.
The youngest girl, only slightly taller than her rifle, skillfully sniped the enemies with precision.
"As you can see," a soldier lamented, "most of the fighting in the city is being handled by the militia."
"The people of the Bottom Nest indeed possess a simple virtue, as the saying goes," Qin Mo thought, now understanding why this city had not fallen. Those who were powerless in the Bottom Nest had long since been filtered out by the harsh environment.