BXBX NOVEL Chapter 168: | 168 | Construction Yard Inspection
Hearing him, the radio operator nodded and the communications between the installation and the battleship was now handled by the highest authority of the United Navy. Abraham took a deep breath and then spoke to the other side.
"I am Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd of the United Navy."
"You must be curious as to why your island have been transported into an entirely foreign sea." For almost every summoned individual from the system, they would always have memories of the former world. So, it was the usual to explain the situation to them.
*Yes, but while I am curious with our circumstance. Your safety has to be confirmed, Fleet Admiral. I am glad that you are safe. Vulcan will be under your command, following your orders regardless of their difficulties.* It seems that the lieutenant commander in the other side was a loyal one.
Probably much more fanatically loyal than the lieutenant commander of the Port of Dawn, Morgen. Though, Abraham didn\'t mean to create comparisons, so he continued on with his thoughts.
"I appreciate your worries, Lieutenant Commander Ruman. My intelligence officers will be sending our current intelligence to your data base. Be sure to read it carefully to understand this foreign world. Meanwhile, my frigates will need the assistance of your Construction Yard."
"The naval battle they have fought in the northern seas had been nothing short of dangerous. It was fortunate for them to not have sunk in its treacherous and cold waters." Abraham shortly explained the reason why he had promptly visited the installation.
*I see... The Construction Yard is in its full operational capabilities. The port personnel handling repairs will be awaiting in the southern docks.* Lieutenant Commander Ruman affirmed, making the fleet admiral gaze at the communication operators.
"Contact the frigates and send them to the southern docks. We, on the other hand, will maintain our route and dock through the west." Abraham gave a few following orders to the communication operators, who swiftly nodded and relayed it to the frigates behind them.
He gazed through the windows and saw Vulcan getting nearer to them. It was gigantic, to say the least. To think that an entire island would be converted into a Construction Yard. But that would be what he would expect from a Level 3 Naval Asset.
While the UNS Trinity of Solace sailed towards the western docks of Vulcan. The frigates behind rerouted themselves to the south, intending to enter the southern docks as per the orders of the fleet admiral.
After a few minutes, the UNS Trinity of Solace docked onto the west port riddled with various cranes and docks, along with several giant warehouses where materials for the warships would be stored. It was quite a sight as it appeared more advanced than the docks of the Port of Dawn.
Especially with the whole autonomous drivers of various cranes, efficiently transporting logistics to their intended destination.
Abraham went through the metallic hallways of the battleship and finally arrived at the decks where his jet-black hair was met with the breeze of sea wind. It rustled with care as he immediately got off the battleship, wanting to know more about the Construction Yard.
Waiting for him on the docks was lieutenant commander Ruman along with his men. The lieutenant commander was a middle-aged man like himself, though unexpectedly Ruman had a crimson-red hair along with a reddish beard.
"Welcome, Fleet Admiral Abraham. It is a great honor for us of the Construction Yard." Lieutenant Commander Ruman lightly bowed and soon saluted to the highest authority of the United Navy. His subordinates followed suite, giving their respects to the fleet admiral.
"It is an honor for me too. This Construction Yard is an important asset of the United Navy. With it around, it would give us versatility never to be seen before." Abraham responded with a politician\'s smile. Though, what he had said wasn\'t far from the truth.
The Construction Yard was of great importance to the naval organization. The growth of the United Navy, while relies on population, also attaches significance to its ability to increase its warships. After all, the population needs weapons it could use.
Hearing the words of the fleet admiral, Ruman lightly chuckled and led him to the rail station of Vulcan. They passed through several warehouses with tons of workers working on maintaining and properly managing them.
The workers who saw them immediately saluted, holding deep admiration to the fleet admiral of the United Navy. Abraham nodded at them with a smile on his face, but also realized that Vulcan had its own population independent from the Port of Dawn.
\'I wonder how many personnel live in this island. It must be a lot since the Construction Yard requires a lot of workers to fully be operated.\' Abraham quietly thought to himself while walking through the fairly large expanse in between the warehouses.
It didn\'t take too long for them to arrive before the rail station of the western Vulcan sector. Lieutenant Commander Ruman gazed at the fleet admiral and proudly announced one of his most prided work in Vulcan.
"This is the western rail network, connected to the Rail Network Apparatus of Vulcan. This apparatus connects every port of Vulcan to one another, increasing the efficiency of our logistics. I\'ll explain more on the way to the central network."
Because of the island\'s fairly large size, and the ports scattered throughout it. The creation of a rail network was prioritized, and its construction brought the greater advancement of Vulcan. The connection between each ports made sure that not a single one would be substandard.
Abraham nodded in understanding and entered the railcar along with the lieutenant commander, heading to the central sector of the Construction Yard. The railcar started slow at first, but soon picked up speed. It was at this moment, Ruman began reporting their status to the fleet admiral.
"I shall begin the status report of Installation 02 Vulcan, Fleet Admiral." Lieutenant Commander Ruman uttered and continued. "Let us start with the island, which is a more or less circular island brimming with channels connecting several ports from each cardinal direction to one another."
"It has an estimated diameter of 500 kilometers, and houses a dozen of port, three in each direction. Each port has facilities for repair, resupply, and most importantly, warship construction. With our current capabilities, building the United Navy five warships a month is possible."
"Though, it all depends in what kind of warships the fleet admiral wants us to construct. We can easily build five frigates in accordance to what is available in our fleet. Three destroyers, two Amphibious Transport Docks, a single America-Class Landing Helicopter Assault, and one nuclear attack submarine."
Lieutenant Commander Rumen explained the most important part of the Construction Yard, which was its ability to build ships. Abraham hearing his explanation was pleasantly surprised. He didn\'t think that Vulcan could easily build three destroyers in a single month.
But this realization also brought out Abraham\'s long forgotten dream. After summoning his first destroyer, the UNS Light Bringer. He had realized the expensiveness of his warships. Now that he had the construction yard in his side, he might be able to build more destroyers than ever before.
This would significantly increase the firepower of the United Navy and might assist them in facing against threats beyond the sea region of Terra. Before Abraham could continue with his thoughts, Rumen\'s following report caught his attention.
"Our population from the lowest to the highest ranking personnel should be 20,000. Constructing a warship is not an easy task, and we also need to manage over a dozen port under our island\'s coastlines. So, despite our fairly large population, it is an understandable amount."
"That should be all, Fleet Admiral. Would you like to build a warship for the United Navy?" Ruman calmly asked since other than repairing severely-damaged warships, the other purpose of the fleet admiral in visiting Vulcan would be the construction of warships.
"What kind of warships is your supplies able to handle?" Abraham questioned the lieutenant commander, who thought about it for a short second. It didn\'t take long before he responded. "Frigates, destroyers, and amphibious ships are within our capabilities, Fleet Admiral."
"You can order them now, and we can immediately start building the warships." Although it was disappointing that the Lightning Carrier wasn\'t included, it was understandable. The America-Class needed aircrafts to operate, which wasn\'t within the jurisdiction of the Construction Yard.
This was another problem that Abraham needed to take care of.
Nonetheless, the current construction capability of Vulcan was already far from enough. Though, he couldn\'t keep his thoughts attended to it since the railcar they were on was about to arrive to the central sector of Vulcan.
He gazed through the window and saw a vast industrial sector in the air. It was akin to a metallic city shrouded with machinery. Surrounding massive industries were defenses and fortifications, riddling the sector with every defensive armament that could be possibly deployed.
There were only two words he could describe it.
"Steel Fortress..."