29: Spark Fusion Reactor

The Crushing Chamber began its work, pulverizing the metal plates into uniform granules. These were then sorted by a Separator, which separated particles of different compositions. High-purity metal granules were sent to the adjacent Primary Furnace, where they were melted under high temperatures into standard metal ingot blanks. These blanks were then conveyed out via a transport belt and temporarily stacked in a reserved storage area beside the MDMP-1 Platform. The slag and low-value materials produced during smelting were collected into a dedicated container, awaiting subsequent processing or disposal.

The entire process, though somewhat clunky and not particularly fast (limited by the prototype's power and efficiency), was indeed steadily and continuously 'gnawing' resources from within the M-3 wreckage without requiring constant human operation!

[Automated Collection Activated. Current Collection Efficiency: Approximately 15 standard metal resource units per hour (equivalent to 150 Resource Points), with a small amount of rare elements. Energy Consumption: Medium. Operation: Stable.]

150 Resource Points per hour! That's 3600 points per day! And this is just the beginning; efficiency may increase as collection deepens and exploration of internal heat source areas progresses!

More importantly, the SCVs were liberated! They now only needed to periodically collect the smelted metal ingots from the MDMP-1 Platform, transport them back to the refining core for final purification and point conversion, or perform necessary maintenance.

Watching the orderly operation of the collection station on the monitor and the continuous stream of resource production data transmitted by sensors, Han Zhe let out a long sigh of relief. The supply of basic resources had finally entered a stable, automated track.

Now, he could free up his hands to address another core bottleneck—Energy.

Although the system's Energy was maintained at an acceptable level by the 'sun ray' array and sporadic supplements, it was absolutely insufficient to support more ambitious blueprints (such as a true Fusion Reactor, large-scale manufacturing facilities, more powerful defense systems, or even a fleet). He needed a powerful, stable, and sustainable Energy core.

And within the technology tree unlocked by the stc fragment, there just happened to be what he needed most—though only in the form of incomplete theories and partial blueprints.

"System, call up all the information we possess regarding fusion Energy, especially blueprint fragments related to 'Miniaturized Fusion Reactors.' Combine this with the physical reference and residual fuel potentially provided by the damaged reactor we just discovered in M-3, and design a 'Fusion Reactor (Experimental Type)' plan that we are currently capable of building. Objective: The output power must at least meet the demands for future base expansion, high-Energy-consumption facility operation (such as the Material Reclamation Station, Advanced Manufacturing Plant), and powering potential new units (like more powerful SCVs or defense platforms) for a period to come."

[Command Confirmed. Integrating 'Fusion Reactor' related blueprint fragments from database (completeness: approx. 42%), analyzing M-3 wreck reactor scan data... Performing adaptive design...]

[Plan Generated: 'Spark' Fusion Reactor (Experimental Type / Base Use).]

[Technical Route: Magnetic Confinement Fusion (Simplified Stellarator). Fuel: Deuterium-Tritium mixture (can be extracted/synthesized from space hydrogen clouds and certain hydrogen-rich wrecks; M-3 reactor wreck may provide some initial fuel or catalyst).]

[Designated Output Power: Steady-state 5 Megawatts, peak 8 Megawatts. (For comparison: Current total power from 'sun ray' + 'sunflower' + sporadic collection is approximately 0.1 Megawatts.)]

[Construction Requirements: Extremely High.

· Resource Points: 3500 points.

· Special Materials: Superconducting Coils (requires synthesis), High-Strength Confinement Magnetic Field Generator Core (requires synthesis, needs 'information turbulence crystal' level precision manufacturing process), Reaction Chamber Inner Wall Material resistant to extreme temperatures/radiation (requires synthesis).

· Energy: Requires at least 20 standard units for initial startup and system calibration.

· Time Required: Estimated 18-24 standard hours (requires SCVs' full-time high-precision cooperation, refining core operating beyond capacity).

· Risks: Experimental design, operational stability unknown, risks of runaway or leakage exist (requires construction of high-specification protective shell and emergency cooling/shutdown systems).]

3500 Resource Points! 20 units of startup Energy! Plus a whole bunch of special materials needing synthesis! Nearly a day of time! Enormous risks!

It was practically a gold-devouring monster and a risk aggregator!

But its output was equally enticing—stable Energy output fifty times the current total power! With it, 'ark one' could become a brightly lit Fortress, the refining core could operate at full power without interruption, new manufacturing facilities could rise from the ground, and even upgrading defense systems with Energy weapons could be considered... Han Zhe looked at the staggering list of requirements, then at the monitoring screen showing the steadily producing collection station, and the interface where Resource Points had quietly climbed back to 1800 points thanks to the dual contributions of the collection station and SCVs.

To gamble or not?

He glanced out the window at the silent Omnidirectional Shielding Generator. With it there, at least the massive Energy fluctuations and radiation potentially generated by the Energy core's operation could be hidden to the greatest extent.

He also recalled the possibly leaked pulse from before and the reality that this star sector was not peaceful. Without powerful Energy, there would be no rapid development; without rapid development, they might forever be passively beaten.

"Let's do it!" Determination flashed in Han Zhe's eyes. "System, immediately begin synthesizing all special materials required for the 'Spark' reactor! Provide a detailed synthesis sequence and resource/Energy consumption; we'll execute in stages! 'Pioneer' squad, adjust tasks: While ensuring basic maintenance of the collection station and resource transport, concentrate efforts to begin reactor foundation construction and the transport/prefabrication of basic components according to system guidance! Resource Points are prioritized for the reactor project!"

[Highest Priority Change Confirmed. Initiating 'Spark' Fusion Reactor (Experimental Type) Construction Plan.]

[Phase One: Special Material Synthesis. Sequence Initiated: Superconducting Coil Matrix Synthesis (requires 500 Resource Points, 3 Energy units, time: 2 hours)...]

The massive construction plan unfolded instantly, like a precise war mobilization.

The refining core entered a state of extreme operation once again, its faint blue glow almost illuminating the entire interior of 'ark one.' One after another, special materials that only appeared in STC blueprints—requiring complex processes and precise Energy control to synthesize—began to 'gestate' within it.

The three SCVs temporarily set aside exploration of new mineral points and other scattered tasks, devoting themselves entirely to the reactor's infrastructure. They cordoned off a restricted area at the other end of the platform (maintaining a safe distance from the living quarters and the shielding field generator), began leveling the ground, laying deep, solid foundations, and transporting and assembling prefabricated components for the reactor's outer protective shell.

Resource Points poured out like floodgates opened. The 1800 points were soon depleted, but the Automated Collection station and the SCVs' routine collection continued to replenish them, maintaining a fragile balance between consumption and replenishment, slowly but steadily approaching the 3500-point target.

The Energy consumption was even more terrifying. Synthesizing special materials, driving SCVs for high-precision work, maintaining the refining core's overloaded operation... The system's Energy pool dropped at a visible rate. Even with the 'sun ray' array supplementing at full capacity, it soon fell below the safety line.

[Warning: System Energy Level below 10%. Some non-critical functions have been automatically downgraded. Continuing at the current consumption rate will reach the critical point in 4 standard hours, causing construction tasks to be interrupted.]

"Activate all backup Energy! 'sunflower' charging stations at full load! SCVs, during work intervals, search nearby for any wreckage that might contain Energy, even the tiniest bit, and bring it back to me!" Han Zhe was practically shouting. He couldn't stop; stopping meant all previous efforts wasted, meant a huge waste of resources.

The entire base operated like a tightly wound machine, running frantically amid Energy shortage alarms. Every bit of Energy was squeezed dry. The SCVs, like tireless worker bees, shuttled through the wreckage belt, searching for potential Energy-containing 'snacks.'

Time passed under extreme strain. Six hours later, when the final composite ceramic-metal material for the reaction chamber inner wall—capable of withstanding hundreds of millions of degrees—was synthesized, the system's Energy pool was completely depleted. The refining core even issued an overload alarm due to unstable Energy supply and was forced to temporarily shut down for cooling.

But the special materials were all ready!