Industrial Cthulhu doesn't believe in the end times.

Chapter 17: How come it has all kinds of reserves?

Countdown – 28 days.

September 18, 2*30.

The weather is overcast.

Su Xun's post-apocalyptic survival manual has been completed in its first draft. Meanwhile, based on his previous requirements, a box specifically designed to hold this survival manual has been successfully designed and put into production.

Someone brought the sample to the office, and Su Xun went over to take a look at it himself.

"It's actually a very simple structure."

The office staff member in charge of this matter explained to Su Xun: "We believe that the spiritual energy impact mentioned by Consultant Su is a kind of large-scale, high-intensity pulse radiation, which is somewhat similar to EMP electromagnetic pulse."

"As long as the box remains closed under normal conditions, and the locking structure fails and opens automatically after being damaged by high-intensity radiation, we can ensure that the contents of the box will only be taken by someone after the cataclysm."

Su Xun nodded, acknowledging the other party's line of thinking.

However, understanding spiritual energy impact as electromagnetic pulse is somewhat problematic. Its impact on electronic products is not that significant; its main concern is the huge interference it causes to the existing electromagnetic environment.

Only more sophisticated electronic products are at risk of being damaged—mainly chips; most other things can survive.

This idea is feasible, but the method may need to be adjusted.

"In this way, we add a communication module to it, and we use the communication equipment of the base across the country to send a signal to this box. If the signal is interrupted, the box will open."

The distribution of subsequent manuals certainly cannot rely entirely on this box; other methods may be needed. However, using it allows us to confidently distribute these materials to a wider range of grassroots communities in advance.

"Alas, it's a pity that airdrops are difficult to carry out after the cataclysm, otherwise it would save a lot of effort."

"Advisor Su, I believe that if we equip the survival base with some helicopters with minimal avionics modifications, it would be possible to provide radiation coverage to the surrounding areas."

Some people offered their opinions.

"No, the problem with the aircraft is not just the damage to the avionics and flight control systems and the effects of the strong winds at high altitudes. Another problem is that human-made aircraft have a hard time fighting against mutated animals. Although these mutated beasts may die if they crash into the aircraft, the pilots certainly won't survive either."

The person who offered the suggestion seemed thoughtful, and after a while, clapped his hands: "Advisor Su, what do you think about using unmanned airships?"

"airship?"

"Yes, it has a simple structure, a large load capacity, and low cost. We can launch it before the cataclysm and install a structure similar to the one on this box. Once the cataclysm begins, it will automatically airdrop supplies downwards!"

As he spoke, the man's eyes grew brighter and brighter: "Even if the relevant structures fail, it's okay. When the airship ascends to the gale layer, it won't disintegrate like an airplane. Its buoyancy structure will be destroyed first, and the gondola below will fall. We just need to make sure that the supplies inside can be ejected when it falls!"

"If we follow this line of thinking, we don't even need a real airship; we can do it with a hot air balloon!"

Su Xun was a little dumbfounded. His colleagues were all incredibly talented, coming up with a solution in a short time to resolve the problem that had been bothering him.

"Airships and hot air balloons must be quite complex to manufacture, right?"

"It's nothing." The man waved his hand dismissively. "Airships haven't been used much these days, but we've always had technological reserves. As for hot air balloons, ASEAN is an expert in producing them."

"This thing isn't complicated. With just a few simple modifications, it can be put into production immediately. If Consultant Su thinks this plan is feasible, I'll compile it and submit it to the production team right away. Once it's approved, we can put it into production as soon as possible!"

"I'm fine." Su Xun nodded, watching the other person's departing figure, and sighed inwardly. This is the power of the collective. An individual's ability has its limits. If Su Xun were to face the apocalypse alone, he probably wouldn't be able to save many people even if he tried his best.

Now? A problem arises, and soon a new idea is proposed. In the blink of an eye, this idea is implemented, and within two hours at the latest, the relevant drawings will appear in the production workshop.

With the full support of this massive industrial nation, the Kuafu Project was successfully advanced. The apocalypse was an insurmountable wall standing in front of all mankind, but the wheels of history were about to smash a gap in this wall, creating a path to survival.

Plans like this are being proposed almost constantly. That afternoon, someone brought another item to the Sun Chasing Project office.

"This is... a communication device made based on a room-temperature superconductor? How can it be so big?"

What came into view was a machine about the size of a computer case, which looked a bit like an old-fashioned radio, with knobs and a small bowl-shaped antenna—it didn't look like something from 2003 at all; it was more likely from 1930.

The person who brought it was a round-faced girl in a white lab coat, who looked a little younger than Jiang Yi. She patted the bulky machine and explained, "Although according to the data, superconductors can solve the problem of spiritual interference, we don't have the conditions to verify it right now, so no one can guarantee that it won't have any problems."

"In addition, this is the first time we have used this material to manufacture communication equipment. All the designs were done from scratch. While trying to avoid using chips as much as possible, we used some rather special technologies."

The girl took out a screwdriver and skillfully disassembled the machine in front of her, leaving many people in the office bewildered by its internal structure.

The device did not use a common circuit board—or rather, it was a circuit board, but in an ancient form.

It was a product of countless metal wires woven together in a dense pattern. It didn't look like an electronic product at all, but rather like a piece of knitted fabric.

"...Where did you find this technology?"

"This is part of our design institute's technological reserves!" the round-faced girl said with considerable pride, as she closed the lid.

"This thing is guaranteed to be reliable. As long as the internal structure is not forcibly destroyed, it can last for one or two hundred years without any problems."

"All superconducting wires have an insulating coating, so they are not afraid of fire, water, or dust. Our prototype was buried in the ground with the cover open during the experiment. After it was dug out, it was boiled in water for two hours and it still worked normally—it works normally in water."

Good heavens, what a mess this machine has made... It really shouldn't have a shelf life of two hundred years. By then, psionic communication would have already come out long ago.

"You guys really have all sorts of technical expertise..."

"of course!"

The little girl patted her chest proudly, and then said, "This thing will be mass-produced in the future. Due to the limited production capacity of superconducting materials, it can only be mainly distributed to newly built shelters in various cities at present, and cannot be widely distributed to the general public."

"In addition, based on the parameters you provided, we believe that its range for sending and receiving information in a post-apocalyptic environment will be relatively limited. We will continue to try to improve this aspect."

"As for high-power transceiver equipment suitable for large bases, it is still under design, but it will be completed by the end of this month at the latest."

"Okay." These teammates were exceptionally easy for him to manage, so Su Xun didn't have much to say.

Rather than saying they're too easygoing, they're pushing every metric to its limits. It has to be said that this is the style of doing things in ASEAN.

Watching the girl leave with her machine, Jiang Yi handed her a cup of hot water.

Su Xun took a sip and heard the other party open the schedule and say, "Advisor Su, tomorrow you need to go to the three pilot shelter projects in Binhai City to inspect and guide them. If there are no problems with these projects, they will be used as a template to promote them nationwide."

Su Xun nodded in agreement, entrusting the other party to help him pack the items he needed to take with him when he went out, and to coordinate with the security department to prepare for defense.

(End of this chapter)