Star Ocean: Starting from the Abandoned Mining Space Station

Chapter 70 The Possibility of AI, the Colony of Afterglow
On the edge of the battle position between Afterglow and the military, the military fleet regrouped.

The captain of the remaining ruler-class ship was standing in the bridge command room with a solemn expression.

As the commander-in-chief of the fleet, he was directing the fleet to get closer. At the same time, he was also listening to the deputy next to him who was reporting to him: "The emergency evacuation of the post has been completed. The rescue ship has just received the last group of people from the post on board. Most of them Some of the information has been preserved.”

The ruler-class captain nodded slightly, and said to his deputy in the interval after issuing an order: "Well, then prepare to retreat temporarily. As long as Yuhui does not have the idea of ​​launching a large-scale war, he cannot stay in our territory for too long. .”

"After they leave, we will come back to deal with the remaining mess. Is there anything else that needs to be dealt with?"

"Yes, regarding the issue of the eel swarm in Alturan, Afterglow may..."

"will not."

The captain directly interrupted the deputy and said: "Yuhui won't do such a thing. At most, he will take away a few. The empty fish will not be exterminated. Just wait until we come back to rebuild the outpost and collect and smelt again. Just be careful. Don’t get robbed again.”

The deputy did not retort, bowed slightly to the captain, turned and left.

After a short while, the deputy returned to the command room and said to the captain: "All ships have been assembled, and Yuhui has no intention of continuing the pursuit."

"Well, let's get started."

The captain gave the order to the entire ship to start the jump engines.

The Dominator-class cruiser operates like a precision instrument from top to bottom.

At this time, the captain continued to say to the deputy beside him: "You will back up all the old data at the outpost later. When we come back, we will scan the entire galaxy again and compare it carefully to make sure not to leave anything for the afterglow drill. Void."

"Yes."

The military fleet quickly retreated via jump jump.

At this time, Chen Ming had just recovered from the shock of the Afterglow Cruiser personally rescuing him, and quickly realized some problems.

The military was still in the process of gathering to retreat, instead of having already retreated. On the front battlefield, Yuhui and the military were still exchanging fire.

During the head-on battle, the Afterglow cruiser was distracted by the military ship that was eyeing the Diopter class. If there was no problem, Chen Ming would write the name upside down.

So he immediately asked the Gamma AI: "Do you have human-like social relations within Yuhui?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"Because I think you have a better relationship with Sunset, who controls that cruiser."

"Yes, he is my friend."

Chen Ming said with some confusion: "Friends..."

Gamma AI seemed to have predicted Chen Ming's reaction. As soon as Chen Ming finished speaking, he said: "I know it's strange from your human perspective, but it is true. If you need to understand, I can explain it to you now. .”

"No need. If you have any data records, you can send me a copy. I can take a look at it when I have time."

Gamma AI immediately sent a record to the Iron Ore.

Chen Ming twitched the corner of his mouth and kept this record for now, not in a hurry to touch it for the time being.

Then he continued to talk about other things to Gamma AI: "Now that the army has withdrawn, I have a question for you, what should I do with all the wreckage on this battlefield?"

Gamma AI quickly replied: "It can only be left here."

"Although the military has been temporarily repelled, this is the border of the Human Empire after all. The military will return soon with more ships."

"So we can't stay here for too long. We can only take a short rest and take away all the afterglow cores, take away the others that can be taken away, and throw away the ones that can't be taken away."

Chen Ming got the response he wanted to hear, and began to elaborate on his thoughts: "Then what will be the consequences if I go to get those ships? I mean your Yuhui's ships."

"There will be no consequences. Those ships have already been abandoned. No matter who takes them, it doesn't matter to us."

"Do you want to take another one away?"

"Correct."

Chen Ming just took a closer look and found that the diopter-class cabin could actually fit a relatively small frigate into it.

After the ships are filled, there will be some collisions between the four frigates, resulting in damage.

But the damage from this collision was nothing compared to the value of a spacecraft.

Then Chen Ming can personally control one through the panel's ability.

That is, an Iron Ore ship went out and took five other spaceships back together.

Even if it's a robbery, there won't be this kind of robbery.

Originally, Chen Ming was still thinking about how to get a spaceship two days ago, but in the blink of an eye, he was able to build a small fleet on his own, but he was slightly short of pilots.

But if there are already ships, then the driver’s problem is still not easy to solve?

Therefore, Chen Ming decisively made up his mind and took advantage of the opportunity when the maintenance ships of the Afterglow Fleet were collecting the Afterglow AI cores from the wreckage of various Afterglow ships.

He selected ships scattered across the entire battlefield that did not appear to be that seriously damaged.

Although the military and Yu Hui's ships were randomly chosen by Chen Ming, Chen Ming felt that Yu Hui's ships were very suitable for him in terms of control methods.

So after already acquiring two military ships, Chen Ming planned to choose Yuhui's ships for the third and fourth ships.

The Diopter class followed Yuhui's repair ship. After the repair ship took away the AI ​​core, it picked the two ships into the ship.

Both ships are of the frigate class, one Shimmer class and one Lumen class.

Although Chen Ming really wanted to find a destroyer, most destroyers were targets of fire in battles between small ships. If they were paralyzed, they would basically be destroyed, and there was no way to find one that was still intact.

Therefore, Chen Ming could only retreat and choose frigates.

After finishing these two ships, Yuhui's ships were almost assembled.

At this time, Chen Ming could see a Yuhui destroyer transferring a sealed cargo hold to Yuhui's cruiser.

There should be the sky steel collected by the military outpost during this period.

Although the volume of the cargo hold is only about ten cubic meters, the density of sky steel is much higher than that of most metals.

Chen Ming estimated that if it were full, there would be at least hundreds of tons of sky steel, and the value should be upwards of [-] billion imperial coins.

Chen Ming felt a little hot-headed when he thought about it, but the protection of the five Afterglow cruisers made him understand that if he really dared to make any move, he would definitely end up exploding on the spot.

Under the threat of life safety, Chen Ming quickly calmed down.

Let the Diopter class blend into the Afterglow fleet with the Lumen class, which has repaired its engine and can't fit in it.

The mission objectives were handed over, and it was almost time for Yuhui to retreat.

The jump engine started again, and the diopter-level engine also resonated.

After going through a jump process that was longer than before.

Chen Ming appeared in an unknown galaxy.

Next to the end of the jump is a space station orbiting a cold rocky planet.

Gamma AI directly explained to Chen Ming: "The space station is only used to confirm the identity of ships approaching the planet and grant passage permission. The real distribution point is on the planet's colony."

Gamma AI actively increased the power of the sensor and swept across the planet's surface, allowing Chen Ming to see the large-scale industrial facilities on the planet and the afterglow spacecraft that were constantly taking off and landing.

After observing for a while, Chen Ming discovered that the Diopter class had received a notification that the mission was completed, and most of the ships that had jumped together had dispersed.

It seems that now is the free time that Gamma AI said.

So Chen Ming pointed to the planet and asked Gamma AI: "What is the significance of the existence of this colony to you?"

"If you're asking about the significance of Afterglow as a whole, then the role of the colonies is to collect and develop the planet's resources, as well as serve as the basis for installing large-scale industrial facilities."

"If you're asking about Afterglow individuals, then the role of colonies on this planet is more similar to human cities."

"Since many Afterglow individuals exist in the form of ships, the cities belonging to our Afterglow are usually dominated by industrial facilities."

"For Afterglow individuals to resupply, refit and repair their ships here."

Chen Ming interrupted midway and asked, "No limit?"

"There are restrictions. Each Yuhui individual has a certain quota of supplies every month. Only by paying part of the quota can you exchange for modification accessories and opportunities."

Then this amount of supplies is money to Yu Hui. Chen Ming probably had an impression in his mind and continued to ask: "So you are participating in the mission to obtain more supplies?"

"Yes, in addition to the material quota, the rewards of the mission will also include chips from the mechanical family, or some trophies belonging to humans."

Chen Ming suddenly heard something crucial and immediately asked, "What do you need these for?"

"The mechanical life of the mechanical race is similar to our afterglow, so the individual consciousness inside their chips can be assimilated by us and improve our computing power."

Chen Ming's eyes subconsciously crossed the storage compartment of the Iron Ore, where three mechanical chips were lying there.

However, Chen Ming did not mention it in a hurry, but asked: "What about the same kind?"

Gamma AI rarely hesitated for a moment before replying: "This is absolutely forbidden. Please don't let me do this."

"I understand, I won't let you do this. To me, two Afterglow individuals are much more valuable than one."

"Thank you."

"fine."

Chen Ming responded casually and suddenly asked: "Then what should I do if I want to enter your colony?"

"Report the situation to the space station first, and you can go down now. I have just completed the mission and can go to the colony to receive the corresponding reward, but I would like to ask you not to leave the spacecraft on the planet."

"I don't want to die yet, and I definitely won't do this. But I want to ask first, what is your reward for this mission?"

"One month's supply quota and three mechanical clan guard-class ship chips."

Mechanical clan guard-class ship chip?

Chen Ming's mind quickly flashed through the three machines he killed, and then imagined a machine frigate made entirely of white cloud steel. Suddenly, his mind was filled with curiosity and interest.

"Then go down, I really want to see your afterglow colony."

"receive."

Take advantage of the time when Gamma AI begins to report the situation to the space station and then descends to the surface of the planet.

Chen Ming directly took out the first gamma AI core he had obtained but the second one put into use that he had placed next to Xiao Shi's nest.

Then he took the repair kit and left the Iron Ore.In the somewhat crowded cabin, I approached the low-light level and switched the lumen level control to the low-light level.

Gamma AI can definitely see Chen Ming's movements and the other Gamma AI core in his hand.

But it doesn't mean anything.

Chen Ming wanted to cut open the Shimmer-class ship's hull and put the AI ​​core in it, just like before.

The design of the Yuhui ship is one-piece. Unless the hull is completely disassembled, it is most convenient to install the AI ​​core directly by cutting and installing it and then repairing it.

During this whole process, Gamma AI has been watching quietly.

After the gamma AI core was implanted and the spacecraft started, Chen Ming also pulled the low-light level communication into the channel.

And he took the initiative to say to the second gamma AI core: "How does it feel? I specially installed you on your Yuhui ship."

The second gamma AI said after a few seconds of silence: "I thought I would wake up again, but I never thought it would be like this."

The corners of Chen Ming's mouth turned up a little.

He understands Gamma AI's thoughts very well at this time.

If Chen Ming sent a resume to a company to apply for a job, and then woke up to find that he had been signed by the company's boss, he would have the same reaction.

However, Chen Ming is not the core of Yuhui AI looking for a job now, but the boss.

So not only did he not feel any discomfort now, he even felt like laughing.

After finishing speaking, Gamma AI also understood the situation clearly and said to Chen Ming: "Then what should I call you?"

"Just call me Mu Shuikong, Mr. Mu. Besides you, I also found another one of your kind. Say hello?"

The gamma AI installed on the diopter level said at Chen Ming's request: "Hello."

"Hello."

He didn't know if it was an illusion or something else, but Chen Ming seemed to hear a hint of schadenfreude or sympathy in the emotionless voice broadcast of the gamma AI that had just reached the low-light level.

Chen Ming didn't pay too much attention and said: "In order to facilitate my naming, from now on I will call the diopter level Gamma A, and the low light level will be called Gamma B."

"It's fine if you want."

After completing this step, Chen Ming returned to the Iron Ore.

Under the gaze of two gamma AIs, the restoration of low-light levels is completed through the panel.

Then his hand was pressed on the hull of the Iron Ore.

The prompt to change the spaceship appears again.

But this time, Chen Ming found that the prompt was different.

[New spacecraft signal detected, whether to change the brain control signal connection]

[Number of currently connected spaceships: 1/2]

[Connected spaceship: Diopter class (Diopter class unmanned destroyer)]

[Spaceships that can be connected: Iron Ore (small civilian mining cargo ship), Sentinel-class (Sentinel-class civilian armed frigate), Lumen-class (Lumen-class unmanned frigate), Fighter-class (Tachyon Kai·Fighter-class frigate), Centurion Class (Centurion Class)]

Chen Ming blinked repeatedly to confirm that he had read it correctly.

The number of connected ships on the prompt is followed by 1/2, and the newly added row of connected ships only has diopter level.

However, following the appearance of these four lines of prompts, a new line of content appeared in Chen Ming's mind.

[AI-assisted connection ship: Shimmer class (Shimmer class unmanned frigate)]

The Shimmer class equipped with the Afterglow Gamma AI core was not counted in Chen Ming's connected ship, but in a new place called AI-assisted connected ship.

Chen Ming immediately thought of a question at this time, why was the low light level included but not the diopter level?

The biggest difference between the two is probably the difference in ship level.

Since Gamma AI is the lowest-level Afterglow AI core, it is adapted to the same lowest-level frigate-level ships.

Therefore, after it is installed on the diopter class, it is not included in the AI-assisted connection ship due to model mismatch or insufficient capabilities.

Of course, this is just speculation, and Chen Ming is not sure what the truth is.

But he immediately tried to connect to the Iron Mine again.

The number of connected ships on the panel changed to 2/2, and there was no other change.

The auxiliary link still exists, and Chen Ming actually controls three spacecraft when the maximum number of spacecraft connections is 2.

Chen Ming can probably understand now that this AI-assisted connection ship is different from the normal brain-controlled ship and is independent.

In other words, as long as he can control a ship, he can then install an AI core of an appropriate level on the ship.

Then the pressure of controlling the ship will be transferred to the AI ​​core, and all Chen Ming needs to bear is the pressure of controlling the AI.

Controlling a ship and controlling a ship through AI are definitely not on the same level of mental consumption, so AI-assisted connection to the ship does not in turn affect normal brain-controlled ships.

The meaning of this ability is very clear. The more AI cores Chen Ming has on hand, the more spaceships he can control.

So much so that when Chen Ming looked at the scattered afterglow ships around him, it was as if he was seeing moving treasures one by one.

It's a pity that the gamma AI core should only be adapted to the frigate level, and only the beta AI can be adapted to the destroyer level.

Only Alpha AI can be adapted to cruisers. It is not clear what instructions are required for the battleships above.

Moreover, controlling a destroyer now requires Chen Ming to expend almost all of his mental energy. For him, cruising is a no-brainer, let alone a battleship.

Therefore, Chen Ming's target can only be set on frigates and destroyers for the time being.

Now that we have the goal, the next question is how to get in touch with these ships with Afterglow AI cores.

First of all, there is absolutely no chance for Chen Ming to personally come into contact with the Yuhui ship in space.

And getting off the ship in Yuhui's colony is definitely a fatal act.

Controlling other Yuhui's ships through diopter-level electromagnetic weapons is also a clear attempt to seek death.

From this point of view, Chen Ming really has no particularly good way to quickly contact and control the Afterglow frigate on a large scale.

But then he thought again, in fact, he didn't have to directly control Yuhui's ship, he just needed the core.

Insert the obtained AI core into other frigates, and the effect should be similar.

There must be many AI cores in Afterglow's colony.

Gamma AI just said that most Afterglow AI cores use ships as carriers, so there must be some Gamma AI that use other carriers.

They were definitely easier to deal with than ships, and finding them might suit his purpose better.

and many more.

Chen Ming suddenly realized whether this idea was even more extreme than touching the Yuhui ship with his own hands.

Kidnapping Sunset's AI in Sunset's colony seems to be a more serious attempt to commit suicide than what he just thought.

The advanced Afterglow AI may not notice that one or two Afterglow AIs are controlled by Chen Ming, but if Chen Ming really controls the Afterglow AI core on a large scale, it will definitely attract some attention.

No matter how many frigates he has in hand, it will definitely be a one-sided situation when facing cruisers.

Chen Ming smacked his lips slightly unhappy.

It seems that his idea can only be postponed for a while.

He had to think of a good enough way to solve the problems he had just considered before he could leverage Yu Hui's corner.

And Chen Ming knew clearly that although the prompt just now did not show the number of ships controlled by the auxiliary AI.

However, controlling the AI ​​core definitely requires a certain amount of mental power to maintain. Therefore, there is definitely an upper limit to the number of AI-assisted ship control.

So Chen Ming thought it was best not to have too high expectations for his own whims, at least not for the time being.

Because he had to rush back to the pirate space station later, and there were some things he had to do at the pirate space station.

As an employee, he had never done anything like skipping work on the second day of work.

Moreover, Chen Ming had just told Lao Wu before that he would go back in a day or two. If his relationship with the people in the maintenance shop was bad because of the missed appointment, it would be of no benefit to what he wanted to do in the future.

But before returning to the pirate space station, Chen Ming had to find a place to rest temporarily.

He had no intention of sailing all six ships back to the pirate space station in a mighty manner.

Especially when there is a complete Afterglow destroyer, two Afterglow frigates, and two military ships inside.

So he had to find a place to temporarily store these ships.

And Chen Ming came up with the best choice in his mind.

It's around the dark cemetery.

The Dark Cemetery is around the route of the hyperspace channel, not far or near.

Although there are a large number of asteroids, the valuable asteroids inside were mined 30 years ago.

Now, even if a ship with specialized mining equipment passes by, it may not want to wander in.

So it is a very safe place for Chen Ming.

The only possible hidden danger is that he sank three merchant ships in the dark cemetery before.

Therefore, Chen Ming did not plan to actually enter the dark cemetery, but planned to go around the dark cemetery.

Those lightless zones where there are no stars, and where there are no iconic stars or other landmarks, are truly safe hiding spots.

Before the diopter level dropped to Afterglow Colony, Chen Ming had already thought about everything he would do next.

And he also roughly calculated the time it would take to complete the things he planned.

Then he discovered that if he didn't have any ideas about other AI cores.

He even had enough time to observe this afterglow colony on an uninhabitable planet.

(End of this chapter)