Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 843 - 72

"So, are the Flying Battleships to cooperate with the Flying Airship for an armed patrol?" Perfikot listened to Empress Annie’s plan and instantly thought of the Navy Department’s shipbuilding plan that she had vetoed.

"Yes, although the generals of the Navy Department suggested conducting a large-scale armed patrol, deploying twelve large Flying Battleships, the Empire currently does not have the financial means to support an armed patrol with twelve large Flying Battleships." Empress Annie nodded and casually complained, "The Empire doesn’t even have the money to build twelve large Flying Battleships. These guys from the Navy Department really have nothing but warships on their minds!"

"Isn’t that just how the Military Department is, whether it’s the Navy or the Army, they only consider one issue." Perfikot was not surprised by this, she had already assessed these fellows thoroughly: "So are you planning to let the Floating City patrol this time?"

"Yes, compared to Flying Battleships, isn’t a Floating City more capable of intimidating the colonies? We could even sail the Floating City back to the Empire’s mainland and the Old World, for a show of force in the Old World." Empress Annie had learned to look at issues from a queen’s perspective, her overall strategy was correct, even if some details might still need discussion.

Perfikot nodded in agreement with this.

Then she shook her head and said, "This matter requires careful planning. Simply letting the Floating City accompany the fleet for a patrol is not difficult, but to achieve the effect of military intimidation requires more thorough preparation.

Especially with regard to the Old World, the gods are now there, so any of our actions must be cautiously considered. Otherwise, if we prematurely trigger a war before preparation for war is complete, the Empire won’t be able to withstand it."

The main purpose of Perfikot’s creation of the Floating City was to prepare for the gods’ offensive, as foretold by Ellie.

If provocations are made before all preparations are complete, or an attack posture is adopted, it could prematurely triggerwar, even making gods who were not originally planning to intervene decide to step in, leading to an uncontrollable situation.

Therefore, while Perfikot was proactively preparing, she was extraordinarily cautious about this matter.

After all, a single decision from her could result in the possible survival or extinction of humanity, this was not something she could take lightly.

She may not need to personally worry, considering the considerable recruitment by the gods toward her, even up to today, some gods are still thinking of pulling her into their ranks, but Perfikot must consider ordinary people.

"Nonetheless, if the Empire can regain control over its various colonies, gathering the resources from these colonies, it should also assist with your plans, right?" Empress Annie said slowly as she looked at Perfikot.

To this, Perfikot expressed her agreement.

Ultimately, if resources from various colonies could be gathered together, it would make a substantial sum, not only could one Floating City module be constructed, but she could also build all the Floating City modules designed in her blueprints, piecing together the Floating City she envisioned.

However, gathering resources from various colonies is not simply a matter of military intimidation.

"Easier said than done, military intimidation only ensures obedience from the colonies, but gathering resources is not easy." Perfikot slightly shook her head, sighing: "Whether it’s resource extraction or material transport, it requires a substantial amount of initial investment.

Although many components are ready-made, the issue of transportation is very challenging for us to solve. The Flying Airship is not a freighter, large-scale transport is difficult.

Even the Flying Battleship struggles with large-scale resource transport, necessitating the design of a specialized transportation ship, which would significantly raise costs.

Flying transport is not like sea transport, its cost escalation is quite severe."

To Perfikot, this is akin to traditional air transport versus sea transport, where sea transport carries bulk goods, while air transport is suitable for high-value small shipments; after all, nobody uses an airplane to carry copper ore, right?

Although the costs for Flying Battleships and Flying Airships do not reach the expense of traditional air transport, it is still not cheap.

Ignoring the construction cost of Flying Battleships and Flying Airships, these machines also require fuel consumption to fly, and unlike in the past, with frozen oceans, mines and railways severely affected, routes are cut off, aerial navigation must be accompanied by supply ships carrying adequate fuel to complete long-range travel, or there will be nowhere to refuel mid-travel.

Though hovering by buoyancy is possible, the speed would be too slow.

"What about the Floating City? Could it be modified into a module specifically for cargo transport?" Empress Annie wasn’t without research, she had considered this matter.

Upon hearing Empress Annie say this, Perfikot gently furrowed her brow, thought for a while and said, "It is possible, but the initial investment would be extraordinarily large, it’s a city after all, not a ship or anything else!

The expenditure of building a Floating City is already equivalent to two-thirds of the Northern Territory’s fiscal revenue and industrial output for a year, and this is based on my expansion of Northern Territory’s industrial capacity.

Attempting this would require massive initial investment, at least three years’ worth of future Empire fiscal revenue would need to be invested, yet we might not have more than three years, perhaps not even one."

Perfikot presented a somewhat awkward reality.

Or rather, a somewhat brutal truth.

Humanity’s future might not have even a year left, as gods may launch an attack at any time, Perfikot must channel all available resources to confront this event.

Although she also understands that more resources from the colonies, if used effectively, could better prepare for the upcoming war, time does not allow for such a course.

"This is truly a stifling situation where one can’t help but laugh!" Empress Annie couldn’t help but exclaim, feeling the frustration of having strength but no avenue to wield it.

Perfikot exhaled helplessly, but still said to Empress Annie, "Perhaps there might be another way, I’ll go back and think, maybe there is a solution to this problem."

"Then I leave it to you! If there’s anything you need, the Royal Family and the Empire will fully support you." Empress Annie made the greatest promise she could.

Perfikot nodded, without further comment.

If possible, she also hoped for a better resolution to this, since it would greatly increase the chance of victory in a war with the gods.