1.34 Pilots Are Expensive

Back to the Sanctuary, Day 9.

The first rays of dawn bathe the City of Shards. Reconnaissance armored warriors Kikuko Kuki and Linda, support armored warriors Perry and Anna, assault armored warriors Kotal Vithris, Rose, and Angie, and heavy armored warriors Pami, Mona, and Jaz are all fully armed. They are organized into squads A, B, C, and D based on their armor models.

This is the combat force Wu Chen relies on most at this stage. Based on the overall base combat strength of Baili Yan and the player couple, Wu Chen should be more than capable of protecting himself during the Cleansing Day.

The "Biochemical Robot Laboratory" and "Virtual Reality Training Hall," constructed on the sub-deck of the Arc-Type III, are completed simultaneously. They are managed by Dr. Sarah and Dr. Lerr.

The Motorcycle Terminator Transformation Armored Squad has fully assembled. They have all entered the virtual reality training hall for simulated battlefield specialized training.

Everything is put to its proper use. The three bonus card sets—Martian Mutant Prostitute Mary, Memory Code Company Secretary Tiffany, and News Anchor Paula—cannot be idle either. After scientific calculations, the AI brain Ai provided a suggestion: build another functional structure, a "Multimedia Communication Tower," and have the three of them be responsible for its operation.

A communication tower is a type of signal transmission tower. Its main functions include supporting wireless network signal transmission and satellite positioning.

The communication tower designed by AI Ai includes not only signal transmission, network connectivity, and GPS, but also numerous derivative functions such as electronic warfare and cyber warfare. Secretary Tiffany serves as the signal officer, News Anchor Paula as the communications officer, and Martian Mutant Mary as the dedicated liaison. The thirteen sets of nano-combat suits obtained from the two previous upgrades have all been used up. The three women in the communication tower cannot be equipped yet. That will be rectified after the third upgrade.

"Very good," Wu Chen readily agreed to the AI's suggestion.

Consequently, above the second-floor living area of the main base, the drone swarm began the construction of the "Multimedia Communication Tower."

News Anchor Paula also offered a suggestion: "Master, we need an 'interview vehicle'."

AI Ai corrected her: "An information acquisition vehicle, also known as an 'intelligence reconnaissance vehicle,' used for battlefield information gathering and intelligence collection. It is similar to a small mobile base station."

"Does the camp have any for sale?" Wu Chen asked casually.

"No information found," the AI answered quickly. "Buying an intelligence reconnaissance vehicle separately does not seem very cost-effective."

"What do you suggest?" Wu Chen asked with a smile.

"Why doesn't the Master purchase an exclusive aircraft for the Motorcycle Terminator Transformation Armored Squad to carry personnel and vehicles for battlefield transport?"

"A transport plane." Wu Chen understood. This was indeed a good suggestion.

"Yes," the AI replied, still learning from Wu Chen how to turn complex terminology into simple, colloquial language.

"Search for transport planes compatible with the Motorcycle Terminators," Wu Chen ordered immediately.

"The HK-Viper (Hunter-Killer Viper)," the AI retrieved the result in an instant. "An improved version of Skynet's twin-engine HK-VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing). The Viper is an agile aerial hunter, capable of ground-air support with two onboard plasma cannons; its armor is composed of T-888 series endoskeletons. However, its twin engines are its greatest weakness, vulnerable to shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, plasma weapons, and anti-materiel rifles."

"Most vulnerable when taking off or landing vertically," Wu Chen could already imagine.

"Yes, Master."

"Install a small defensive drone swarm on the engine housings," Wu Chen pointed at the massive twin engines of the HK-Viper. "Similar to decoy flares, to defend against surface-to-air missiles, plasma weapons, and anti-materiel rifles."

"Or switch to electromagnetic reactive armor." Inspired by Wu Chen, the AI proposed a more suitable protective technology. Wrapping an additional layer of reactive armor outside the engine housings, activated by electromagnetic effects, would form an armored shield around the engines. To attack the engines, one would first have to destroy the shield, giving the HK-Viper sufficient time to counterattack or take off and land.

The process is not complex.

The cheapest HK-Viper online costs only 50 coins. The seller's note reads: "Flash failure, it's a brick."

This means the system reinstallation failed, the Viper is completely dead, and it cannot be started. However, if converted to manual operation and all electronic equipment is removed, it can barely fly. Without its AI, the HK-Viper is no different from an antique transport plane. Aside from its sturdy armor, it is useless. That is why it has been listed online for a long time without any interest. After all, this is a gathering place for Grade B sci-fi players. Creations resembling the real world are almost extinct in the Traveler's Camp. Whether it's a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, there isn't a single one. If the cheapest HK-Viper costs only 50 coins, how much could a Ferrari or Lamborghini be worth? For players, they are far less practical than an old car from a Grade B sci-fi fragment that can travel through the sky and earth.

"Message the player, buy it for 25 coins," Wu Chen laughed.

"The seller has agreed." The AI was quite impressed by Wu Chen's bargaining skills.

After arranging the delivery time, Wu Chen had the AI immediately modify the "Multimedia Communication Tower" currently under construction above the second-floor living area. By combining it with a VTOL landing pad, it was transformed into a "Flight Control Center." Similar to the Allied Air Force Command Headquarters in *Red Alert*, it is a vital facility used to produce, park, and maintain combat aircraft. The Air Force Command comes with a landing pad, radar, and communication devices. The radar can guide aircraft to the theater of war, the communication devices are used to command aircraft on missions, and the landing pad can reload ammunition and repair aircraft; in addition, the Air Force Command also provides paratrooper support and other features. It is extremely powerful.

After lunch, the delivery drone arrived at Base 0326 with the "bricked" HK-Viper as scheduled.

By this time, the main structure of the third-floor Flight Control Center had been completed, though the retractable dome had not yet been installed. The delivery drone lowered the HK-Viper steadily onto the landing pad.

The modifications were carried out simultaneously.

Most creations from the *Terminator* story world were manufactured by Skynet and are naturally hostile to humans. To be used by players, the core code must be modified. The most important of these is the "Friend or Foe Identification" system. This is also one of the core main programs of the onboard AI. To prevent human tampering, Skynet set up strict protection codes. Any slight carelessness would trigger an alarm, and the program would immediately lock up. This is what the seller meant by "flash failure, it became a big brick."

Before AI Ai, all code problems were easily solved.

The AI's super-AI attributes provide a natural exemption. Its access method, unique to digital life, is also fundamentally different from that of humans. A backdoor was opened, and the backup system was activated. Then, the alarm code was disabled, and the priority was reset. The main program was activated first while temporarily shielding application systems like information transmission and weapon control. Utilizing administrator privileges, it launched self-repair and system upgrade programs. It wrote a new system disguised as an upgrade module, taking the opportunity to modify the core code and completely overwrite the old system.

"Master, we need at least one captain and two pilots to fly the HK-Viper," the AI suggested again.

"Search the talent repository." This is one of the privileges Wu Chen enjoys as a VIP employer in the talent market.

"Master, pilots are very expensive." After searching, Ai concluded. Wu Chen looked through them one by one; they were generally 2.5-star, 3-star, or even 3.5-star. The cost was too high, far exceeding the 25 coins Wu Chen paid for the "brick" HK-Viper.

Good steel should be used on the blade. Wu Chen had a better use for his remaining 1583 coins. Spending them just to buy three pilots had a very low cost-effectiveness. After a moment of contemplation, Wu Chen asked, "Is there an alternative?"

The AI quickly retrieved a matching entry: "Yes, there is."

"If you have a problem, ask Ai" has gradually become the trendiest catchphrase at Base 0326.

Wu Chen felt quite at ease.