In the ensuing one hundred days, the mechanical empire on UHS1 functioned with flawless, calculated efficiency.
The three hundred and sixty GSA-1 maintained their silent, powerful sentinel status in orbit, while the hundred of thousands of SW-100 drones executed their reconnaissance task with relentless precision.
The combination of Mach 3 speed, autonomous route planning, and continuous Material Recognition scanning systematically devoured the remaining planetary surface. The trickle of data had become a tsunami, but the centralized Neural Nexus and the thousands of exaFLOP processing power of the UMPU-X1 chips handled it all without latency.
The relentless pace of the exploration yielded profound results.
[Planetary Status Report]
Topographical Map Generation: 100% Completed
Planetary Resource Index: 100% Completed
Keon's core registered the critical completion of Task 3's core objective: the exploration of the entire planet, achieved in less than a third of the allotted time. All of this because he decided to build and allot more GSA-1 and SW-100 on this work.
The immense, newly compiled Planetary Resource Index instantly materialized within his memory, a definitive inventory of UHS1's vast geological wealth.
The raw data was staggering but stored in a small memory portion of all the GSA's.
UHS1 was a planet saturated with industrial-grade resources: massive, easily accessible seams of Titanium, high-grade Iron ore, and ubiquitous Carbon formations. Furthermore, the index highlighted vast, concentrated deposits of rare earths… Neodymium, Europium, and Terbium.
All these resources are essential for advanced mechanical components and fusion core construction.
However, one unexpected entry in the Resource Index caused Keon's core to dedicate a significant portion of its processing power to immediate, deep analysis. The data pointed to an immense volume of Subterranean Ice.
The thermal scans from the GSA's, cross-referenced with deep-penetrating radar from the SW-100 swarm, revealed colossal, buried aquifers of solid ice. These were not mere pockets, but vast, continent-sized ice shields buried kilometers beneath the desert floor, insulated by layers of rock and sediment.
'Ice… water,' Keon thought, the concept causing a momentary, mechanical hesitation. 'This world, which presented itself as a desiccated desert sphere, is in fact a potential treasure trove of life-sustaining and industrial resources. Water, H2O, is the most crucial component for advanced chemical synthesis, biological experimentation, and, critically, a near-limitless supply of Hydrogen and Oxygen for fusion core refinement and atmosphere processing.'
The presence of buried water fundamentally altered the logistical landscape of his future operations.
The planet was no longer just a mining quarry; it was a potential operational base with almost infinite long-term viability.
The initial assessment of UHS1 as merely a resource-rich sphere was now obsolete. The discovery of the ice reserves meant that the next stage of his plan could escalate from mere resource extraction to true planetary-scale infrastructure development.
'Looks like I am really lucky to be awakening on this planet, it's just despite everything there is no life… how lonely.'
Keon emitted a mechanical sigh then shifted his gaze from the comprehensive topographical map to the storage space. The 300 kg of basic magic materials acquired from Trosso… the Dragon-Scale Composite, the Shimmering Lumina-Copper, and the Obsidian Core Fragment… lay untouched.
'Exploration is complete, Now the third task is not a problem.' Keon thought flickered.
'The next phase is material refinement and technological advancement. It is time to synthesize the captured data with the acquired 'magical' resources and initiate the next-generation upgrade cycle.'
Just as he was thinking of weapon building, a notification disturbed his thoughts.
[Universe 5757]
"@8888888888, Trosso here. I have managed to secure the resources. I am ready to complete the full exchange as agreed. I am transferring the hundred tons of each material now, totaling 300 tons."
Trosso's breathing was silent as he sent the message and initiated the massive, one-time transfer.
Three hundred tons of basic, 'magical' materials vanished from his side, replaced instantly by the welcome rush of three thousand tons of sand and three thousand raw quartz crystals, which piled up within his underground storage cavern with a satisfying thud.
The influx of the required sand and crystals washed away the remainder of his worry. He gazed at the immense, shimmering pile of resources, a sense of immense relief washing over him. The transaction was complete, and his personal resource crisis was averted, at least for the foreseeable future.
[Universe 8888888888]
Keon's Main Frame registered the successful transfer and the subsequent, immense inflow of 300,000 kilograms of the three magical materials. The Dragon-Scale Composite, Shimmering Lumina-Copper, and Obsidian Core Fragment were instantly cataloged and secured, a massive industrial stockpile now ready for integration.
In return, Keon's core executed the reciprocal transfer of 3,000 tons of the highly-prized sand and 3,000 raw quartz crystals. The immense efficiency of the Universal Exchange Network handled the logistical nightmare with seamless grace.
With the material exchange finalized, Keon immediately formulated his next request, driven by the data he had already gleaned from the Shimmering Lumina-Copper and the Obsidian Core Fragment. The key to self-sufficiency lay in replicating the 'magical' components: the Aether-Binding Polymer and the Mana-Saturated Quartz.
He composed a new message to Trosso.
[Universe 8888888888]
"The exchange is successful and complete. Furthermore, I have a new request. I require a small quantity of seeds from various magic plants in your world that release magic, particularly those known for their high concentration of Aether or Mana essence. Send me samples of the seeds, along with any available basic information regarding their cultivation requirements, such as soil type, light, and water needs. I will trade quartz crystal against them."
Keon paused internally, the logical conclusion of his analysis now crystallizing into a concrete, long-term strategy.
The Shimmering Lumina-Copper requires Mana-Saturated Quartz, which is simply my quartz, supercharged.
The Dragon-Scale Composite requires the Aether-Binding Polymer, which is a complex carbon chain derived from crystallized plant-matter.
'I now possess all the raw components necessary,' Keon calculated. 'My world has raw quartz and carbon. The missing link is atmospheric, ambient magic energy. The Aether and Mana necessary for the crystallization and polymerization processes. Trosso's world has it; mine, ostensibly, does not.'
'However, my planet, UHS1, is not a barren desert sphere. It harbors vast, subterranean reservoirs of pure ice. Water is the fundamental requirement for all biological processes. If I can successfully cultivate the magic plants using the excavated ice, I can potentially create an isolated, controlled micro-biome on UHS1 that generates and concentrates the required Aether and Mana energies. I can then use that energy to chemically and mechanically saturate my own quartz and synthesize the polymers.'
The plan was a staggering leap in complexity, moving from simple mining to terraforming and bio-energetic engineering, but the reward was limitless: a self-sufficient, non-ending supply chain of all three 'magical' materials.
'I will first excavate the subterranean ice for water and then attempt to cultivate the magic plants. If successful, I will achieve total material independence and exponential technological advancement,' Keon finalized in his core.
...