A few days later, as Gray and his companions were deploying water purifiers and enlisting soldiers in the lower nest, drones were conducting a thorough search in hopes of locating Grott's sister.
While everything was progressing steadily, Qin Mo began scouting for a suitable site to construct the orbital dock. The knowledgeable Andreda and Klein were summoned back to the lower nest to assist him with this vital task.
"There's been no sign of the insurgents lately; it seems they've vanished without a trace," Klein remarked.
"Of course, they've likely been eliminated by insecticides," Gray replied.
"Alas, it seems trouble never ceases to come in waves," Klein sighed.
The three conversed casually as they sat in the transport craft. The unmanned aerial vehicle had been programmed to land after flying a thousand kilometers and release a terrain-sensing pulse. The scanning results would be displayed on the craft's screen, with the central intelligence automatically filtering the data for suitable locations and cataloging it in its database.
"By the way, is the plan to construct the orbital dock feasible?" Klein asked, glancing at Qin Mo with a hint of concern. "Docks are colossal structures. Can we really transport one into orbit?"
"Have no fear; if I say it can be done, it can be accomplished," Qin Mo assured him with a nod.
"Great. Do we have any blueprints?" Klein inquired further.
"Not yet," Qin Mo replied, before sharing his vision.
Indeed, the construction of an orbital dock is intricate, but with material printing technology, it becomes much simpler. It entails a shell and numerous large-scale material printing devices; the battleship is created by inputting materials and printing the ship. Naturally, the design of the battleship itself would need to be drafted separately, but for Qin Mo, this posed no difficulty.
"That's astounding," Klein murmured, awed. "It's akin to sorcery."
Qin Mo didn't hear this remark, as he was lost in thought. He had come to understand why his ascent up the technological ladder was so swift. The Star Gods themselves are deities of the material universe, embodiments of physical laws. Merging with the Star Gods gave him the insight to explore technology as instinctively as one knows how to satiate hunger.
However, this ability came with limitations; his energy was finite, leading to an uneven pace of technological advancement. For instance, dimensional technology was an area that the entire human empire and most of the galactic powers did not comprehend. Yet, when it came to basic construction techniques, even the architectural families within the Tyron Nest would outshine him, unless he dedicated time to research.
"Beep! The optimal location for constructing the orbital dock has been detected!"
The alert from the central intelligence jolted Qin Mo back to reality. The transport craft had landed. Klein and Andreda had already disembarked to assess the area. This location, situated beneath the lower nest, exuded a sense of vastness and flatness. Any species residing there would perceive it as an entire world.
The lower nest was initially a colossal factory for manufacturing ancient war machines, and this site resembled a giant basin excavated from the factory floor—though this basin was smooth and square rather than naturally formed. Both this location and the entire lower nest ignited curiosity about what had been manufactured here before its transformation into a nest.
"These obstacles are manageable; we can dismantle them during the dock's construction. However, we require terrain that isn't excessively flat," Klein explained, walking alongside Qin Mo and gesturing towards the open space. "The gravity beyond the atmosphere differs from that on the ground. When constructing the dock in the lower nest, we must consider the material's load-bearing capacity."
"Not a problem; I know how to utilize the metals from the surface of the lower nest to create a stronger alloy," Qin Mo replied.
As he spoke, Qin Mo crouched down, extending his hand towards the ground, and retrieved a chunk of metal as if scooping sand. This wasn't the first time Andreda and Klein had witnessed Qin Mo manipulate physical laws, and each time, they were left in awe. Though he had merely lifted a piece of metal, they understood that this act involved numerous alterations of physical principles, imparting the hard metal surface with the pliability of sand from various angles.
Suddenly, a thought struck Qin Mo. He turned to Klein and asked, "I heard your family crest was confiscated. Would you like me to craft a new one using this metal?"
Klein lowered his head, remaining silent. To Qin Mo and Andreda, it seemed Klein was reluctant to discuss the matter, but in truth, he didn't regard the confiscation of his crest as significant. He was simply reminded of a recent rumor: that a group calling themselves the Devotees had begun to worship Qin Mo as a god.
In retrospect, the emergence of the Devotees made perfect sense.
"Are you having a fit?" Qin Mo playfully patted Klein's back.
"Ah... no, I was just reflecting on some family matters," Klein replied, shaking his head and then scrutinizing the terrain around them.
Having examined the ground, he shifted his gaze upwards. Since this area seemed excavated for the construction of a colossal factory, it lacked a ceiling, indicating that its base was further from the highest point than most regions of the lower nest.
"Quite promising, indeed," Klein nodded repeatedly.
"I brought you here primarily for your experience. Having seen a true orbital dock, do you believe constructing one in the lower nest is feasible?" Qin Mo inquired.
Klein pondered seriously for a moment before nodding, "Absolutely. If gravity and material strength aren't issues, then it is entirely feasible."
"I concur with Captain Klein's assessment," Andreda echoed.
With both men convinced of the plan's viability, Qin Mo felt reassured. Yet, there remained a question beyond the construction of the orbital dock: "I have two plans—one to upgrade our existing armaments and another to construct the dock. Which do you think we should prioritize?"
"What do you believe?" Andreda countered.
"Building the dock," Qin Mo decided. "Although I've nearly made up my mind, I value the opinions of others; diverse perspectives lead to clarity."
Upon hearing this, Andreda nodded in agreement, while Klein remarked, "I personally advocate for constructing the dock. Although I lack concrete intelligence, I feel the tension in the air is escalating."
Qin Mo wholeheartedly endorsed Klein's intuition. Coming from an aristocratic background, Klein possessed a keen sense of awareness; while he might not be suited to command, he was undoubtedly an excellent strategist.
"If conflict arises, enemies within the nest are one thing, but if the Stellar Legion and the Astartes come for us, then we must... be prepared with a ship for a tactical withdrawal," Klein continued.
"The orbital dock is not intended for retreat; it is designed for constructing warships," Qin Mo declared, fixing his serious gaze on Klein. "Regardless of the adversaries we face, we must safeguard all that we have painstakingly built, no matter the cost."
Upon hearing this, Andreda nodded resolutely. He had witnessed Qin Mo's journey from prisoner to revered leader, and the current state of affairs must not be seized by anyone.
"Let us return. I will begin researching alloys and fabricating the dock's exterior immediately. Soon, we shall possess our own warship," Qin Mo stated as he turned to head back to the transport craft.