Warhammer: Rebuilding the Golden Age Starting with Farming

Chapter 43 You want to build a starship?!

The Abyss Walker submarine sailed smoothly through the dark underground river.

The low-frequency vibrations from the pump-jet propulsion system were transmitted through the hull, making the narrow cabin feel somewhat stuffy.

Sisyphus sat in the driver's seat, his hands gripping the control lever tightly, his knuckles white from the excessive force.

He was still feeling lingering fear.

If he had run a moment later, he would be a pile of fertilizer in Nurgle Garden by now.

Andy sat in the passenger seat, one hand on the heavy safe, the other fumbling with the submarine's instrument panel.

His fingertips traced the smooth buttons and the perfectly fitted edges of the display screen.

"It's really quite good."

Andy pointed to the pressure-resistant casing above his head.

"Look at this one-piece titanium alloy keel, and the dynamic balance of the pump-jet propulsion blades."

"This is definitely not something you could knock out from the muddy bottom of the nest."

"Even the prototype of Helios can maintain this level of watertightness after your modifications, which means the people working for you have real equipment."

Sisyphus's expression softened slightly when he heard Andy praise his ship.

As the biggest smuggling boss in the area, this ship is his last shred of dignity and his only remaining trump card.

"Of course."

Sisyphus sat up a little straighter and began to recount his family's wealth.

"When we were refitting the boat, I had the keel custom-made by 'Iron Hammer Beer' from Zhongchao."

"The propulsion blades were salvaged from scrapped aircraft engine blades at Shangchao's junkyard, and then re-polished at a shady factory called 'Gear Heart'."

"The cost of this modification alone was equivalent to three boxes of high-purity antibiotics."

Andy's electronic eye flashed.

Zhongchao.

To Andy, this word sounded more pleasant than any gold bar or antibiotic.

The Bottom Nest is a garbage dump, a graveyard for mutants and the forgotten.

The level of industry here is limited to collecting garbage, tinkering and fixing it until it's barely usable.

Even an Iron Man like Andy, who has the STC cheat code, often feels like he's going bald because of the lack of basic high-grade materials and precision machining equipment.

For example, the rocket launcher project suffered several barrel explosions due to substandard nozzle materials.

But Zhongchao is different.

That's the real industrial zone, the heart of the planet Forge VII.

"You mean that 'heart of the gear'?"

Andy grasped the key point.

"Can they manufacture parts with micron-level precision?"

"Micrometer level?" Sisyphus scoffed. "They'll take on nanometer level projects if the money's right."

While adjusting the course, Sisyphus started talking, seemingly to prove his worth to Andy and also to ease the tension.

"Andy, you may not be aware of the current situation in Zhongchao."

"Since decades ago, when the empire's administrative inefficiency led to a decrease in regular trading ships, Zhongchao has been in complete chaos."

"With the regular orders gone, what will the factory owners do? They can't just let their machines rust, can they?"

"As a result, everyone was engaged in illegal large-scale production, and everyone was involved in smuggling."

"Countless illegal factory owners poisoned and assassinated each other in their fight for orders."

"Tens of thousands of proletarian workers fought in the streets with wrenches for a job."

"And the most crucial thing is..."

Sisyphus lowered his voice, his tone tinged with a hint of reverence:

"There are orthodox mechanical priests there."

"They are completely different from the kind of stuff you see in the bottom nest."

"Those priests in Zhongchao, although they also worship the God of Myriad Machines and perform those mystical rituals."

"But they are truly technically proficient."

"The owner of 'Gearheart' is a high-ranking priest of the Cult of Mechanics. He employs hundreds of high-level mech servants, who he doesn't know where they came from, and he even dares to take outsourcing orders from the Helios Group."

Andy nodded, a piece of the puzzle in his mind now complete.

It seems that the previous judgment was wrong.

He had always thought that the mechanical cult on this planet was like Gamma-9, a bunch of half-baked people who only knew how to apply oil and chant scriptures, treating machine repair as a ritual.

The Gamma-9 was relegated to a backwater like the Dead Nest because its technology was too poor or it made some mistake.

In Zhongchao, those priests who still control the core means of production are truly capable.

Although they are likely superstitious and may burn incense and pray in front of machine tools.

But after they finished praying, they really knew how to write the CNC program and what grade of coolant to use.

This is the difference.

Zizai thought about it: if this planet were all at the level of Gamma-9, it would have been blown up long ago.

"So, you have a lot of influence in Zhongchao?"

Andy turned his head and looked at Sisyphus.

Sisyphus's hand trembled slightly.

He immediately understood the meaning behind Andy's words.

Now that Dr. Birdbeak's lair is gone, his men are either dead or have become fertilizer for Nurgle.

Sisyphus is now all alone.

If he can't prove he's still of use, then once the submarine docks, given this yellow-skinned guy's character, Andy might just rob him of his money and kick him to the curb.

After all, in this cruel world, those who have no value to others don't even qualify to be slaves.

"Andy."

Sisyphus took a deep breath, his tone becoming urgent.

Don't look at me like this now.

"My people are gone, but my network remains."

"The reason why Dr. Bird's Beak's business has grown so large is not just because I have medicine."

"More importantly, because I have the connections!"

Sisyphus began to frantically demonstrate his value.

"In Zhongchao, besides that shipyard, I also know the owners of several large chemical plants."

"They have tons of industrial acids, organic solvents, and even controlled military propellants."

"They'll sell anything as long as they have the goods."

"I also have a few stable sales channels in Shangchao."

"Those noble lords outwardly look down on the things of Dichao, but in private they are more extravagant than anyone else."

"They need hallucinogens specific to the bottom nest, they need those prohibited biological specimens, and they even need certain special 'pets'."

"Only I know how to connect these wires."

"Of course, there's also the distribution network. Although it's chaotic there, I have a map showing the locations of hundreds of distribution points. As long as the supply of goods is restored, I can immediately rebuild the distribution network."

"besides……"

Sisyphus spoke for two minutes straight, barely daring to catch his breath.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Andy nervously.

Andy didn't speak, he just listened quietly.

To be honest, this information is really...very valuable.

Although the shelter can now produce and sell its own products, it is only limited to the small area of ​​the bottom nest.

To achieve further development and reach higher levels of technology, we must break through geographical limitations and extend our reach to the middle and even upper parts of the nest.

In particular, Andy urgently needs access to precision machining and special raw materials.

"very good."

Andy finally spoke.

"It seems you're still a competent partner."

"After this ship docks, you will come back to the shelter with me."

"I will give you a new office and a new assistant."

"You only have one task."

"Reconnect these broken wires for me."

Hearing this, Sisyphus finally felt relieved.

He saved his life and his position.

As long as he sticks close to Andy, this technical powerhouse, Sisyphus will eventually make a comeback, and might even do better than before.

But Andy's next words almost caused him to steer the submarine into a ditch.

"Since you know people at the shipyard."

Andy looked at the dark river ahead, his tone as calm as if he were asking what to eat for dinner.

"Do you have any connections to build a ship that can fly out of the atmosphere?"

"Sizzle—!!!"

Sisyphus slammed his foot on the reverse pedal.

The submarine decelerated violently in the water, emitting a sickening metallic groan.

The inertia nearly caused the safe in Andy's hand to fly off and smash into the windshield.

"What...what did you say??"

Sisyphus stared wide-eyed at Andy.

"Flying out of the atmosphere?"

"You mean... a large shuttle?"

"No," Andy shook his head. "The shuttle is too small; it can't hold much."

I was talking about starships.

"The kind that can perform subspace jumps, the kind that can traverse star sectors."

Sisyphus's mouth gaped open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

He looked at Andy as if he were looking at a madman who had just escaped from an asylum.

"Andy, are you crazy?"

"You want to build a starship??"

Do you know what that means?

"Even the lightest Cobra-class destroyer requires the entire Forge VII industrial system to operate at full capacity for three years!"

"That would require an orbital dock, millions of skilled workers, and the personal supervision of a mechanical sage!"

"We're the bottom-dwelling garbage collectors! We're a gang, smugglers!"

"We struggle to even build a submarine, and you're telling me you want to build a starship?!"

Sisyphus felt the world was absurd.

He originally thought Andy was just a somewhat ambitious tech fanatic who wanted to become a warlord in the bottom nest or expand his business to the middle nest.

But this guy started talking about the stars and the sea as soon as he opened his mouth!

Andy ignored Sisyphus's shock.

He certainly knew how difficult it was to build a starship.

The STC database contains blueprints for thousands of starships, ranging from short-range transport ships a few hundred meters long to large battleships tens of kilometers long.

But blueprints are just blueprints.

Turning blueprints into physical objects requires astronomical amounts of resources.

But Andy had no choice.

He had to build it, and he had to do it quickly.

Because his current system time is displayed as M41.940.

For the natives in the Warhammer universe, it was just an ordinary year; life went on as usual, and wars continued as usual.

But for Andy, a time traveler, this number represents a countdown to death.

Furnace 7 is located in the Hazy Starfield, in the northern part of the Milky Way.

Further north, there is the infamous, perpetually drafty, subspace chasm—the Eye of Terror.

That was the lair of the Chaos Space Marines, the starting point for Abaddon, the armless Chaos Warmaster, every time he launched the Black Crusade.

At this point in time, Abaddon was already preparing for his thirteenth Black Crusade.

That would be a catastrophe that would sweep across the entire star system.

The world of the supposedly invincible Cardia Fortress will be destroyed in this expedition.

With the fall of Kadia, a massive subspace rift spanning the Milky Way—the Great Rift—will unfold.

At that time, half of the Milky Way will be plunged into darkness, and subspace storms will devour countless planets.

Although Forge No. 7 is not in the meat grinder of Cadia, it is also in the Misty Starfield.

Once the Great Rift opens, all subspace routes here will be severed, and monsters and demons will roam freely.

And that's not even the worst part.

Most critically, the Tyranid Leviathan hive fleet is opening its bloody maw beneath the Milky Way.

Although their main force is still locked in a fierce battle with the Holy Blood Angels at Baal's place.

But Terran has countless branch fleets.

These omnivorous cosmic locusts prefer densely populated, biomass-rich nest worlds like Forge 7.

The Flying Mining Alliance incident has shown that staying here will only lead to two outcomes.

They'll either be sacrificed by the Chaos Demons or devoured by Tyrion.

Andy doesn't want to die.

I've been given a second chance at life, and even though I'm made of iron, I still have a life.

He didn't want to be some kind of underworld king on this doomed planet.

His goal was clear from the beginning.

Farming, accumulating resources, advancing technology, building ships.

Then, before the end of the world arrives, with his people and his STC, Run!

Even if Run goes to Vision Enclave to hang out with Titanium, it's better than waiting to die here.

"I'm not crazy."

Andy's voice remained calm.

"I didn't say I wanted to build those battleships that are several kilometers long."

"All I need is a small boat that can jump, a frigate-class vessel will do, or even a civilian-class colony exploration ship will suffice."

"But this requires a shipyard, a keel, a Geller force field generator, and a subspace engine."

Andy looked at Sisyphus.

"I know this is difficult, that's why I'm asking you."

"Since the Zhongchao group has such extensive connections, do they have any way of obtaining abandoned starship wreckage? Or some kind of decommissioned small spaceship?"

"Even if it's just a shell, as long as the keel isn't broken, I can fix it."

Sisyphus looked at Andy's unwavering electronic eyes.

He realized that the yellow-skinned man was serious.

He really wanted to fly to the heavens.

Sisyphus swallowed hard, tried to calm himself down, and gripped the joystick tightly again.

"Andy, if you're talking about wreckage..."

Sisyphus hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing whether or not to reveal this information.

"What? Do you have connections?" Andy pressed.

"have……"

Sisyphus lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing the ghosts at the bottom of the river.

"In Zone 9 of Zhongchao, there is a huge abandoned rail elevator base."

"That used to be a cargo route that led directly to the outer space docks."

"It is said that a ship is buried under there."

"A ship is buried?" Andy became interested.

"right."

Sisyphus nodded.

"It was probably a few hundred years ago. A merchant ronin's armed transport ship was damaged by the orbital defense system while smuggling contraband."

"It failed to fly out and instead made an emergency landing in the industrial area of ​​Zhongchao."

"It seems to have caused a lot of damage at the time, collapsing half a city block."

"Later, the Mechanics went there and sealed off that area."

"But strangely, instead of dismantling and recycling the ship, they simply covered it with a large lid and sealed it away."

"Some people say that the ship's mechanical spirit was too fierce to dismantle."

"Some people say that it contains some kind of cursed cargo."

"Anyway, that place became a restricted area after that."

"But recently..."

Sisyphus paused.

"What's wrong with you lately?"

"I recently overheard the owner of 'Gear Heart' bragging over drinks that the Helios Group is secretly moving things into that restricted area."

"Large quantities of lead plates, and heavy construction machinery."

"It seems they want to dig that ship out."

After Andy listened, the processor started running at high speed.

Armed transport ships of wandering merchants.

This is really good stuff!

Merchants are a privileged class within the Empire, possessing privateering licenses issued by the Empire that allow them to freely explore, trade, and even do business with aliens at the edge of the galaxy.

Their boats are usually highly modified masterpieces.

It's fast, powerful, and has a large interior space with all sorts of random equipment.

Most importantly, these ships are typically equipped with high-quality subspace engines and Gellér force fields.

Because they spend most of their time traveling in unknown star systems, their survival gear must be top-of-the-line.

If there really is a merchant ship that made an emergency landing there, even if it has been lying there for hundreds of years.

For Andy, who possesses the STC repair capabilities, that's a ready-made starship prototype!

This is a million times easier than starting from scratch and making it by hand!

As for the Helios Group wanting to poach it?

That's even better!

Some people helped with the hard labor, clearing away the dirt and repairing the road.

Andy just needs to wait until the time comes to pick up the goods.

Anyway, he's already made enemies with the Helios Group, so robbing one of their factories is robbing them, and robbing another ship is robbing them too.

Having a lot of debt is not a burden.

"This intelligence is very useful."

Andy patted Sisyphus on the shoulder, making a crisp metallic clang.

"Once we return to the shelter, you must immediately begin investigating the exact location of this restricted area in District 9, as well as Helios's movements."

"I need to know how far they've dug."

Sisyphus gave a wry smile.

"Andy, you're trying to snatch food from a tiger's mouth."

"Helios's power in the middle nest is much greater than in the bottom nest, which is their home ground."

"I know."

……

……

P.S.: I originally wanted to break it up into smaller chapters, but it didn't read as well, and I wasn't satisfied with how I broke it up, so I decided to post it all at once.

Including future chapter breaks, I will prioritize the reading experience and ensure that the amount of information is sufficient.