As soon as Ethan initiated the fabrication process, the Star Forge's power generators roared to life, supplying the massive energy required to begin production. The main shipyard's super-fabricator, known as the Star Printer, activated in tandem, its internal mechanisms humming as it prepared to execute the intricate designs of the Victor-Class Frigate.
The vast reserves of alloys stored in the Star Forge's storage compartments were immediately tapped into, with materials being consumed at an astonishing rate. A total of 26 million tons—potentially reduced to 22 million tons through material optimization—were necessary to construct the frigate's inner and outer hull, as well as its critical structural components.
The process started with the inner hull, the structural backbone of the frigate. The Star Printer began materializing smaller sections of the hull layer by layer, utilizing precise atomic-scale fabrication to ensure durability and integrity. The engineering drones and powered, AI-controlled arms stationed across the shipyard activated to guide these freshly printed parts to their designated positions.
The drones operated with military precision, welding and securing components into place while cross-checking alignment and structural integrity in real-time. With the seamless coordination between the Star Printer and the support systems, progress was steady, but even at this rate, it would take over a month to complete the inner hull.
However, this timeline excluded the vital components, such as:
The antimatter power generators
The Tz-Series Light Speed Engines
Other high-tech systems
Ethan was well aware of these exclusions, as they required specialized assembly beyond the capabilities of the primary Star Printer. To address this, he had activated an additional construction bay, specifically designed for crafting advanced components. With Aurora's assistance, the secondary Star Printer station in the construction bay came online, calibrated to handle the intricate requirements of the antimatter generators and the Tz-Series engines.
Antimatter Power Generators: The secondary printer began assembling the delicate frameworks required to stabilize and contain antimatter reactions. These parts demanded absolute precision and would take up to two weeks to fabricate completely.
Tz-Series Light Speed Engines: The components for these engines, including energy conduits and core modules, were fabricated simultaneously, ensuring no delays in the assembly process.
Once the antimatter power generators and Tz-Series engines were completed in the secondary construction bay, they would be carefully transported to the main shipyard. The engineering drones and powered arms would then install and secure these components within the hull. This process was scheduled to align perfectly with the completion of the inner hull, ensuring no idle time during assembly.
By the end of the month, the inner hull would be fully constructed, with vital components installed and secured. Following this, the outer hull, weapon systems, and final outfitting would begin.
Ethan monitored the entire process from the Star Forge's control room, his holographic interface displaying live updates of every stage. The seamless efficiency of the automated systems was mesmerizing, yet he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
"This is just the beginning," he thought, watching the progress on the Star Printer.
"Every part of this ship reflects my vision, from the hull to the engines. It's not just a frigate—it's a testament to what's possible when design, technology, and innovation come together."
With Aurora's simulations already proving the frigate's capabilities, Ethan knew the Victor-Class Frigate would soon be a reality—one that would not only fulfill his mission but set a new standard for Tier-2 starships.
Ethan watched as the fabrication work progressed with precision and efficiency. The Victor-Class Frigate was taking shape piece by piece, its inner hull nearing completion. But for Ethan, this was only part of the process. He knew that the ship's true strength wouldn't just lie in its design or materials—it would depend on the intelligence guiding it.
Shifting his focus, Ethan turned his attention to developing the control system in his main lab. This wasn't just any control system; it would be the brain of the ship itself, a B-Class AI capable of revolutionizing how the frigate operated.
The B-Class AI Ethan envisioned would not merely assist the ship's occupants with basic navigation and operation—it would make the ship a self-sufficient entity. The AI would excel in critical areas, including:
Automated Operations:
The AI would enable the ship to operate autonomously, from navigation to routine maintenance tasks, reducing the crew's workload.
Sophisticated Calculations:
FTL Travel: Faster-than-light travel required precise and extensive calculations to ensure safety and accuracy. The AI would handle these calculations faster and more reliably than any human or standard computer system.
Battle Tactics: In combat scenarios, the AI could simulate multiple strategies, analyzing probabilities and optimizing responses within milliseconds.
Advanced Decision-Making:
The AI would be capable of processing data from various sensors and external inputs, making real-time decisions to adapt to changing circumstances.
It could devise efficient tactics and operational plans by simulating thousands of scenarios and presenting the most viable options to the crew.
To support such an advanced AI, Ethan had already designed an improved computational framework for the ship. This system featured:
Enhanced Processing Power: Leveraging cutting-edge processors and quantum computing techniques, the system provided the AI with unparalleled computational capability.
Energy Efficiency: The AI's operations were optimized to minimize power consumption, ensuring the ship's overall energy usage remained balanced.
High-Speed Data Transfer: The ship's internal networks were upgraded with ultra-fast data channels to prevent bottlenecks, ensuring seamless communication between the AI and all ship systems.
A Month of Relentless Work
Ethan immersed himself in the project, fine-tuning every aspect of the AI and its supporting systems. He spent hours in his main lab perfecting the control systems and ensuring the AI could integrate smoothly with the ship's design. Simultaneously, he kept a close eye on the fabrication process.
Whenever he needed a break or additional insights, Ethan turned to the VR Library, continuing his relentless pursuit of knowledge. He delved deeper into advanced topics like:
Weapon Systems
FTL Drive Mechanics
Ship Electronics
Tactical Algorithms
His efforts weren't limited to the ship's systems alone. Ethan also worked on improving his understanding of starship operations as a whole, studying historical battles, engineering breakthroughs, and the strategic doctrines of various galactic factions.
Weeks turned into a month. The fabrication of the ship's inner hull neared completion, while critical components like the Tz-Series Light Speed Engines and antimatter power generators were assembled in the secondary construction bay. Aurora ran thousands of simulated tests on the ship in various scenarios, from high-temperature environments to intense fleet battles and even solo duels against larger ships.
When Ethan reviewed the data Aurora provided, he was left speechless. The Victor-Class Frigate had exceeded all expectations. Its performance in the simulations was so extraordinary that comparing it to a small-scale battleship didn't seem unreasonable.
But what truly set this ship apart was the AI system Ethan was building. As the frigate neared completion, Ethan knew this B-Class AI would be the heart of the ship, elevating it far beyond the capabilities of any other Tier-2 frigate in existence.
With everything falling into place, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "This isn't just a ship—it's a masterpiece.