It has been some time since the Infactorium settled here. Well, a week. But to Tungsten it almost felt like months. There was absolutely no time to rest: Even after all the basic repairs were done, practically none of the factories were operating at previous levels, and everyone was hard at work ensuring that they can work their way back to normal levels. Tungsten himself has been hard at work processing materials, delivering them to different factories, and managing his Cyber Skeletons. The Cyber Skeletons were especially important. Without any of the BIGs to provide high industry labor, he needed to restock as a vast majority of them had been destroyed during the sudden arrival. Fortunately, he was able to get close to 500 Cyber Skeletons created once Tungsten was able to get a small surplus of spare materials to make them. He is once more grateful to AlphaQ: she knew what she was doing making the Cyber Skeletons so low cost, so low maintenance.
Nearly about 80% of production done in the Big Scrap Alley was done through Cyber Skeletons. While they had managed to restore power to one of the Auxiliary Generators, they were struggling to get the materials for the second. They were also pushing the limits of power the lone generator could put out: at it's max it can dismantle materials at 80% efficiency, but Tungsten could already see the problems that would hit Big Scrap Alley if this were to continue. Worse of all, they had no spare materials to do any further repairs without cannibalizing from what remained of his own facilities: He would have to destroy one of the generators just to repair the second one, and that itself would only delay the enviable, not to mention doing so would mean he would need raw materials to create a new auxiliary generator, which was entirely out of the question.
Thus a majority of the Cyber Skeletons needed to work in order to reduce the energy costs for the lone generator. This did not please Tungsten's sense of efficiency: in the previous world he would only need 10% of his Cyber Skletons manning the factory floor, while the other 90% could be delegated to guild or gathering duties. His total output was a mere 5% of what he once could do before, and that 5% was barely sustaining his factory. He basically could not spare any resources to the other factories unless they brought it to him, which infuriates the construct. He felt weak. Pathetic.
But he had a plan. Part of the reason he had constructed so many Cyber Skeletons as a priority wasn't just to alleviate pressure on the generator. He needed to send scouts into the world to continue and look for more material deposited in the world. The Bauxite from the mountain was a boon: being able to gain raw material itself meant that the Big Scrap Alley did not need to recycle materials into Bauxite, and instead it can be transformed into other materials that they are lacking. If the cyber skeletons can find other resources, and Tungsten can continue producing more Cyber Skeletons, he could send them out to strip mine the resources, deliver them back to the guild, and rebuild his factory until it was back to optimal levels.
There was also another glimpse of good news. As they were on a mountainside, there was a geothermal deposit below them. It was much deeper than Tungsten would like, but if he could gather enough materials he could construct an excavator BIG that can dig to that Geothermal deposit, and they can begin construction to siphon energy from it. That would solve most of Big Scrap Alley's energy issues, and would rocket their efficiency to 140% without generators. If they continue to gain a steady source of materials, that total could increase exponentially, and eventually, in what Tungsten projects to be within a year, they could be back to full operation once more.
All easier said than done of course. It's not as if Tungsten has not seen some issues already. These were unknown lands with unknown threats. While so far none of his Cyber Skeletons have encountered hard resistance, they still do not know the lands or it's customs. More often than not they have to retreat into the wilds to avoid locals. It's not that Tungsten fears they may threaten his skeletons, but he cannot afford to let their presence be known. Thus many of his minions were only slowly spreading out from the guild, looking for material deposits, while doing everything within their ability to avoid detection. There's also still the matter of other factories in need of materials and repairs. Tungsten could only afford to create more Cyber Skeletons because of their extremely cheap costs. Bigger projects like making a BIG would be impossible until other factories are in a state sufficient enough that he can afford to divert materials into his own projects. And while he could certainly do that now, no doubt other Factory members will notice a lack of resources coming from his factory, and this would create strife.
Speaking of strife, Tungsten was one of the Factory leaders who was hesitant of letting Faetalis go into the world. It was unknown to her, and she was their leader. There were many other Factory Leaders, or even their minions, who could disguise themselves, infiltrate the outside world, and even if they are discovered they are far more disposable than their leader. But ultimately she made the decision and Tungsten would not go against her wishes, as much as he wants her to reconsider. The worse part was that Tungsten had no way to track her: she was far beyond his or Io's scanner distance and he lacks the facilities and means to do long-range reconnaissance. And he dare not send any of his own Cyber Skeletons to follow her, less she be angered by his interference or worse, his actions may interfere with her own. So the best Tungesten could do was simply remain up to date whenever she reported in. That, and take care of her when she's here.
Cracklings of laser energy could be heard as Tungsten moved to a section of the Big Scrap Alley that was frankly, a new edition. Little more than an open ware house with some crude stone structures created from spare resources. Here Tungsten oversaw the training of new Cyber Skeletons. While nearly all of them were preprogrammed with basic combat ability, Tungsten felt the need to ensure each one was gathering experience in this new environment. Previously, under AlphaQ's command, the Cyber Skeletons were little more than mobile turrets, as their numbers were so vast that thousands could die and that would barely affect the productivity or effectiveness of the Cyber Skeletons. But now Tungsten had far fewer, and thus he needed them to be more tactical. Which was difficult to do when nearly all of them are mindless.
The Boneyard wasn't just the facility that ensured a constant stream of Cyber Skeletons for labor. It also served as the central intelligence processing unit for all of the Cyber Skeletons. Before it's destruction, the Cyber Skeletons could emulate intelligence, even personalities. Sure most of it was AI generated but with guidance they could truly become a clever creature with time and experience. Which makes the destruction of the Boneyard all the more tragic. None of the current generation of Cyber Skeletons had that communal memory: each one had only factory level operations. Tungsten would need to train them from the ground up, instead of simply accumulating and choosing optimal memories out of thousands of skeletons, and then putting them all into the ones currently active. Still... He did enjoy seeing them learn.
Though Tungsten cannot love in the sense that most other biological creatures do, he does have a certain level of kinship and concern over the Cyber Skeletons. While he has no concern for ones that are destroyed or abused, be nonetheless desires to see them work hard, succeed in life, and become stronger. The Boneyard was a bustling place where Tungsten could relax without feeling the need to truly live up to his factory title. A place where he could mentally shut down and simply be one with the thousands of machines in this facility. Sure he was the Factory Master, but he was just another cog in the machine, and he felt like his place was among his kin, his fellow Cyber Skeletons. Now that they have been so hurt, Tungsten simply wishes to see them well again. And watching them maneuver through obstacle courses, hitting targets and avoiding traps, it makes Tungsten think that maybe one day he can bring back the Boneyard, and all the memories that were lost.
As he oversaw the training he looked down at a few Cyber Skeletons who were currently constructing and organizing the weapons. Despite the destruction that had shook the guild to it's very foundations, Big Scrap Alley did not suffer too much when the Cyber Skeleton armory was hit. That was in large part thanks to the sheer surplus of cheap weapons the place had. Even after 90% of the armory was destroyed, they still had 1000 units of AC02 rifles, 3000 crates of Zap Knives, and over 5000 crates of weapon accessories. They also had 200 units of Cerberus pistols, though no Cyber Skeleton that survived used one and Tungsten has no need for one. Perhaps he should give them away to the other factory leaders. He did not wish to recycle them as he knows AlphaQ created the ostentatious weapon as a reward for distinguished Cyber Skeletons, but perhaps Tungsten could make it into some sort of luxury whenever he's dealing with natives. Did the natives use guns?
Finally, Tungsten returned to the factory floor. It was business as usual, even if Tungsten wished business was better. There was a shipment of knives and kitchenware that was just synthesized: The Gorging Trough was always in need of new equipment, to replace the ones used or destroyed. So many in fact that it would take at least four cyber skeletons to push the cart to deliver the materials. Tungsten stepped in: he was more than strong enough to do it himself. He commanded the skeletons to continue working in the Big Scrap Alley while he would personally deliver these supplies to Mae herself. Mostly just because Tungsten wanted to visit the other factory leaders, get a sense of how the guild was feeling right now in their lull. Holding onto the handles, Tungsten pushed the cart out of the Big Scrap Alley and head towards Mae's monstrous kitchen.
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