“The reason for this judgment is based on simulations of magic production technology conducted by the Zerg Hive. A series of magic techniques can rapidly melt and separate minerals, then use a process similar to printing to produce the entire structure of a magic fighter and finally complete the assembly. Most of the processes, whether cooling or heating, can be completed through magic circles, along with haste-like formations. Therefore, I estimate that it takes less than five days to go from raw minerals to a finished fighter plane.”
“A batch every five days?”
It wasn't just magic, but magic combined with technology.
“Under normal circumstances, can a civilization develop this quickly in such a short time? Even with a technological explosion, this seems a bit too absurd, doesn't it?” Xia Jin muttered.
“The Empire's magic revolution has been ongoing for at least twenty years. While the overall probability is low, such technological inflation is not uncommon in the macroscopic universe. This is because their entire society had already laid a solid foundation before the industrial revolution. Their current development is simply the simultaneous release of all their previous accumulation.”
“Fine. Let's prepare targeted countermeasures.”
...
The first battle had been a bit of a letdown, but Xia Jin didn't actually mind that much.
From an intelligence perspective, she realized a major flaw on her side.
Artillery range.
Being attacked one-sidedly by those massive naval guns of the Dawn Empire from dozens of kilometers away had resulted in the sinking of several ships. It was a heavy loss.
Therefore, the Zerg were now searching their own gene bank and the genes acquired from the wild for something suitable, or any genetic trait that could potentially launch projectiles that far, to compensate for their weakness in range.
On the other hand, they needed to acquire the Dawn Empire's artillery technology as much as possible.
When the land war between the two sides broke out, the enemy would surely deploy a large amount of heavy firepower. She could try to seize it then.
For now, the occupied territories would definitely continue producing those relatively backward cannons.
Since ordinary humans could operate them, she could conscript some soldiers from the city states and the Kingdom of Clear to man the guns, thereby strengthening her side's fire support.
Additionally, she had to address other Zerg naval weaknesses.
For instance, anti-aircraft defense.
Theoretically, as long as the air force was large enough to control the aerial defense lines, it would be much more effective than building any specialized anti-aircraft bugs.
Nevertheless, Xia Jin still ordered Brain Bug No. 1 to research hydralisk spine launch slots with longer range and higher speed to protect the naval vessels.
...
Two days later, the results of Brain Bug No. 1's research were finally ready.
“We have enhanced the jet-propulsion tool bugs, shaping them similarly to rockets. Naturally, their outer shells are biological. When mounted on a simple metal frame, they can launch themselves. The high-pressure nozzles at their rear emit high-temperature, high-pressure gas comparable to missile fuel, accelerating them to speeds approaching the speed of sound.”
“Compared to scourges, these creatures cannot fly; they are strictly single-use consumables that cannot be recovered once launched. They can autonomously adjust their flight path, but overall, they are simply more intelligent rockets. The cost is far lower than that of a scourge, allowing for mass deployment.”
After the brain bug finished speaking, it waited for Xia Jin's response.
“Very good. A restructured version of a rocket? If the cost is low, I won't have to feel any sting when using them.”
“Furthermore, the Zerg have incorporated some technologies from technological civilizations. We may be able to create cannon-like organisms with a caliber of up to 500 millimeters. Although the technology is not yet mature, they shouldn't be inferior to the cannons previously used by the Empire.”
“Excellent, that's exactly what I wanted.”
Who didn't love big guns and massive ships?
A battleship would have to be enormous to carry a massive cannon of over 400 millimeters.
But for the Zerg, the shell of a Carrier Bug was already capable of withstanding the load.
This was the so-called 'big guns on small ships' approach. By hollowing out a portion of the central area of a Carrier Bug meant for the air force and placing a cannon there, they could enter the era of naval artillery just the same.
The Zerg immediately began producing the new units.
A Carrier Bug equipped with a cannon bug required an additional 100,000 units of standard energy to produce.
This extra energy was used partly to enhance the stability of the hull and partly for the cannon bug itself.
As for the single-use consumables modified from jet-propulsion bugs—the rocket bugs—they only cost five units of standard energy each. Within those five units, one was for the bug itself, three were for the explosive materials and propellants, and the rest covered auxiliary genes.
After seeing the cannon bugs, the official designers from the Kingdom of Clear created specialized auxiliary launchers for them.
“Is it possible to put wheels on the land-based launchers?”
Xia Jin thought of the trucks from her previous life.
Then, the professional designers from the Kingdom of Clear provided her with a unicycle design.
“Dammit! Can you be a bit more normal?”
Honestly, these rocket bugs were just transitionary products. If it weren't for the need to counter the Dawn Empire, she wouldn't even have considered producing them.
Once the Zerg entered the cosmic era, their various new species would be highly advantageous, and there would be no need for such primitive combat methods.
Resorting to this now was truly a matter of necessity.
But thinking about it carefully, merging with technology wasn't a bad thing.
The Zerg were meant to consume everything and adapt to anything.
Rate on N.U.
