New Weaponry (2)
The construction site echoed with the rhythmic whine of hydraulics. Thud-thud-thud. "All right~ All right~" Whoosh! A high-pitched hum followed as the pistons rose under pressure. This was the new military airfield under construction.
Under Controller Lim Hyuk-soo's directive that rotary-wing aircraft alone could no longer contend with the monsters, the airfield was being built to deploy proper aerial armaments. Over a thousand workers operated heavy machinery, laying the foundation.
Rumble!Grind-grind...
I stood on the surface for the first time in ages, wearing a gas mask as I surveyed the site. It lacked military-grade protection, but the unobstructed view made supervising the work effortless.
"Huff... huff..." Breathing felt stifling. Even simple respiration was hindered by layers of filters, as though I might slowly suffocate. Soldiers fought monsters wearing far more restrictive masks. They were truly resilient. For me, merely breathing was already the limit, yet they ran, shouted, cleared debris, and endured countless deaths.
"Your Excellency. Are you all right?"
"Ah. I'm fine."
An administrative officer approached as I observed the airfield from higher ground.
"First, regarding progress: as you can see, the runway is still being prepared. We must account for cargo aircraft operations, so we cannot rush. Next is the terminal. Frankly, that is also lagging. The outer walls are straightforward, but none of us know what an air force terminal requires. The gunship pilots are all former army aviation, so this is beyond them..."
"I see... That is the issue."
I had not considered it. An airfield was not merely a runway. It needed the full array of supporting facilities, or it would remain nothing more than a strip of concrete incapable of functioning as an airfield, let alone a proper airport.
"Understood. I will check the mainframe for relevant data and contact you."
"Ah, yes sir."
"Anything else to report?"
"Ah... also, the perimeter wall construction has exceeded fifty percent. All gates north, south, east, and west are fitted with opening mechanisms, and the pillboxes for the guards are complete. Unless flying monsters appear, the creatures will not approach easily."
"Good. We have preserved the advantage of unilateral firepower projection."
In open terrain, a fully equipped soldier facing a large-type monster had only a thirty percent chance of victory. Infantry firepower could not easily subdue large-types. Yet from the safety of a pillbox, heavy machine guns and anti-tank rockets could be poured down without mercy; no amount of armor on a large-type could withstand that.
Other minor reports followed, but few required my direct involvement. I gave the bureaucrat several points for improvement and returned to the Ark's office.
Searching related materials.
Back in the office, I ordered the AI to prepare all data on the military airfield. It began retrieving every relevant file stored in the mainframe, allocating a portion of its processing power. While the AI worked, I ran a hand through my hair and handled other tasks. Reports of anomalies in the aquaponics facility could not be ignored. After organizing dozens of minor reports and directives over the next several minutes, the AI emitted a series of beeps and transmitted a large collection of files to the terminal.
"Filter the data to retain only information on airfield operations, construction, maintenance, and air traffic control."
Computation initiated.
Watching the massive files decompose and reclassify before my eyes was impressive. It felt like the satisfaction of watching dominoes fall in sequence. Dozens of folders appeared and vanished; file extensions and sizes shifted in real time. It was a spectacle born of modern technology. Roughly four minutes later, neatly organized files appeared. I forwarded them to the Administration Bureau with a message. A prompt confirmation arrived.
I then examined the preliminary designs for attack helicopters and aerial refueling aircraft that the AI had sent.
The attack helicopter resembled a leaner gunship. Unlike the bulky original, its slimmed-down profile on both sides looked distinctly alien. Was this the aerodynamically superior design they spoke of? The aerial refueling aircraft was more conventional—a modified civilian transport fitted for mid-air refueling, its four large engines providing the only notable accent to its otherwise plain appearance.
Do improvements need to be made?
When the AI inquired, I answered without hesitation.
"What are those clamps on the attack helicopter?"
"They are for transporting heavy equipment."
"Remove them. The attack helicopter does not need cargo capacity; it needs ordnance. Replace the tiltrotor with conventional main and tail rotors. While tiltrotors aid acceleration, they hinder rapid aerial maneuvering. Also, modify the fuel tanks to accommodate the new compressed fuel."
Understood.
"As for the aerial refueling aircraft... four engines are too fast for the helicopters to keep pace. Reduce it to two engines. Modify the fuel tanks for compressed fuel as well."
Understood.
"Also... is there a light aircraft model?"
"There is."
"Then remove the refueling equipment from that model and install radar and control systems instead. Introducing an airborne early warning and control aircraft would not be a bad idea."
An airborne early warning and control aircraft remained aloft to provide early warning and issue commands simultaneously. The role sounded vague, yet that was precisely its function. In English, it was called AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM. If this aircraft performed its duties properly, Ark No. 17 would possess an exceptionally reliable insurance policy.
The idea had arisen while modifying the aerial refueling aircraft, but we decided to call this flash of insight "inspiration."
"Have you applied everything I mentioned?"
The AI displayed holographic models of the improved attack helicopter, aerial refueling aircraft, and airborne early warning and control aircraft. It had understood.
"Good. Transmit the data to the Defense Bureau and the Administration Bureau."
Data transmission initiated.
Upon receiving the data, the Administration Bureau promptly forwarded it to the engineers at the airfield construction site. The sooner the airfield was completed, the more people could be saved.
"Hmm. So these facilities are required."
The engineers scrolled through the files, studying what was necessary to turn a runway into a true airfield. Numerous technicians had been dispatched to the surface construction site to resolve technical challenges beyond the capabilities of heavy equipment operators and laborers. They determined where power lines should connect, where computers belonged—without their expertise, the control computers might have ended up in maintenance warehouses.
One month had passed since construction began. The groundwork for laying the runway was finally nearing completion. The once-dull plain overgrown with dead weeds had transformed into a vast gray expanse thickly coated in concrete. Despite twenty-second-century technology, progress had been slow because, while an airfield could be built, no one had known what facilities it required inside.
Yet the Ark's mainframe contained all knowledge necessary for rebuilding civilization, including the means to realize humanity's primal desire to take to the skies. Using that knowledge, the engineers installed ceilings on the empty outer walls, erected control towers, fitted interior support facilities, routed power, and began constructing massive hangars for aircraft maintenance.
Several months later—roughly one year after humanity had taken refuge in the Arks—Ark No. 17 had become the only human force on Earth operating an airfield once more. Inside its hangars, the aerial refueling aircraft and airborne early warning and control aircraft—painstakingly assembled by engineers in walkers—stood in silent, majestic readiness for takeoff.