I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary Chapter 356: Technical Discussions Between Scientists and En

After confirming the sphere’s reaction to the ntal wave amplification materials, we decided to settle down, organize, and exchange the information we managed to glean so far. In any case, deciding on our action policy from here on out will lead to more efficient progress regarding the investigation and research.

“For the ti being, we’ve basically confird that the spheres exchange information telepathically and that they are extrely interested in ntal wave amplification materials.”

“Right. That stuff really got their attention. But what exactly were they gonna do with em? Eat em or sothin’?”

“Can that stuff really be eaten though……?”

The chanic sisters tilted their heads as they mulled things over. I was curious about that too. I couldn’t spot anything equivalent to eyes or any kind of external sensory organ on their bodies, and it didn’t seem like they had mouths either. Well, they were originally tallic spheres after all, so those organs might just be tucked away inside them or sothing.

“Forgive for changing the topic, but what exactly is gonna be the policy for dealing with those things now? More importantly, what’s gonna be the research direction? If the purpose of the research is simply to use their carapace for military purposes, it would be fine if you guys just researched their body composition and whatnot. But now that Kugi confird that they actually are capable of communication, will there be changes?”

“We have been trying to establish communication with them even before we invited Kugi-san here. We originally worked under the assumption that they are so kind of combat weapon made by an unknown alien civilization after all. If they’re indeed weapons, then there must be so sort of protocol in order to gain access to them.”

Mr. Wells who got grilled by Lt. Robbitson earlier shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly after responding. By the way, Lt. Robbitson had already returned to his original duties.

“But to think they actually had psionic abilities. I’m not very knowledgeable regarding that field. How about you, Dr. Shouko?”

“It is a bit related to my specialization, so I do have so knowledge about the subject. However, I still specialize in genetic and nanomachine engineering. I have so knowledge pertaining to materials engineering, but I have no idea regarding chanical engineering. It’s impossible for to analyze or build chanical equipnt, okay?”

“I also mostly specialize in materials engineering as well. You ladies are chanical engineers, right? Are you able to design and build equipnt from scratch?”

“It depends on the type of equipnt. I think we can manage as long as we have a direction to work with.”

“I’ve researched ntal wave amplification equipnt to so extent, so making one should be possible. However, it’s gonna be tricky if you want us to create a communication protocol using ntal waves from scratch.”

“I think we can manage if we work together. Nanomachine engineering can supplent that aspect.”

The researchers and engineers were having a technical discussion with each other. However, I and Kugi, who have no knowledge in those areas, were completely out of the loop.

“The tea here is very delicious, isn’t it, My Lord?”

“The food made by the auto-cookers installed in imperial military ships generally don’t taste that good, but apparently, the tea alone is stellar. I think the soldiers who ca aboard our ship back then said sothing to that effect. Or was it actually Colonel Serena?”

“I see. I have heard that people of this empire really do value tea.”

“Really……? Co to think of it, that really might be the case.”

I haven’t really taken note of it till now, but it’s true that Mimi and Elma tended to take tea breaks every now and then. Tina and Wiska weren’t really big on tea, but maybe it’s just cultural differences due to their race.

“Telepathy huh…… I can’t really pick up their thought waves or whatever though. Will I be able to do so as well with so training?”

“In your case My Lord, your power is just too strong, so you have to learn to control it first. Unless the other party can unleash powerful ntal waves as well, it is impossible for another to reach out to you telepathically, My Lord.”

“Uh, does that an the power overflowing from is so strong that it can even bounce off telepathy?”

“That is the case. Conversely, I believe you will have an easy ti learning how to convey your thoughts to another, My Lord. However, if you do not control your output, your thoughts will be broadcasted within a wide range and not just to a single person due to how powerful your ntal waves are……”

“So, it’s basically the sa as shouting from the top of my lungs huh…… That doesn’t sound too convenient.”

“Nothing cos easily, as they say.”

When I displayed a bitter smile, Kugi giggled in amusent.

“I will help you in your training as much as I can. I am an official shrine maiden of the Ministry of Divinities after all. I am fully qualified to teach this subject.”

After saying so, Kugi patted her chest proudly. Her animal ears stood up cutely. I’ve just gotten to know it recently, but it seed that Kugi also had a playful and innocent side to her. It’s just that she doesn’t break her attitude as a devoted attendant in front of all that often.

“Right. I do think it’s a waste not to use what you’ve been given with in the first place…… It’s just… It’s just that it kinda feels like I’m gradually becoming sothing other than human.”

Because I’ve been told that I would be able to blow away an entire mountain with my own power, I was reluctant to train my psionic ability. If I went that far, I won’t just be a Je*i knight. I’d be a Dra*onball character. Uh, but I do think being able to freely use psychokinesis is pretty convenient and cool. Maybe I can even unleash lightning from my hands. Uh, but that’s just like a S*th lord huh.

“I see…… Please tell whenever you want to start training, alright?”

“Yeah, once I feel like it.”

When I saw Kugi’s ears drooping down, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She was so easy to read.

“Can we have your attention for a bit, you two?”

“Oh, okay.”

Dr. Shouko called out to us, so I turned my gaze toward her.

“I’d like to hear your opinions. Can those spheres actually be considered as intelligent creatures? Also, what will you classify them under? Biological weapons or naturally occurring organisms? Well?”

“I have no idea. It’s your call, Kugi.”

After all, I wasn’t capable of picking up their ntal waves. From my personal point of view, they just seed like dangerous killing machines.

“Well, um…… I cannot say for sure, but I think their ntal waves more closely resemble those of an animal. I have never encountered a biological weapon before, so I am not clear regarding that matter. However……”

“However?”

“The ntal waves emitted by those『creatures』have almost the sa wavelength, which is quite unusual. Normally, even if they are the sa kind of creature, wavelengths vary between each individual.”

“I see…… And?”

“Um, the other point I am curious about is that they are constantly『connected』 to one another via ntal waves. Furthermore, they seem to be attempting to link with『sothing else』as well…… However, it appears like they have lost sight of that ‘sothing’…… I am sorry. I cannot explain it well. Um, in other words, maybe they are just a part of an even larger whole.”

“””???”””

Dr. Shouko and the others tilted their heads to the side after hearing Kugi’s words. I also tilted my head. I think she just said sothing really important, but my understanding hasn’t caught up yet. An even larger whole……?

“They are part of a large-scale network using the sa communications protocol? In other words…… they are a collective similar to an AI network?”

“It’s within the realm of possibility. It might be similar to the artificial intelligence network that’s active in the empire. Kugi-kun, what is the range of the ntal waves they are emitting? Can the waves travel between star systems?”

“ntal waves can jump over ti-space under the right conditions, but that requires considerable power. Given the intensity of the ntal waves they are emitting, they can probably cover this star system but will not be able to reach out any further.”

“I see…… If that’s the case, I suppose it would be best to find a way to sohow prevent their ntal waves from leaking out before this ship goes to explore the star system where they found the spheres. After all, it would potentially be quite troubleso if that so-called『large network』activates all at once the mont we step into that star system after picking up the ntal waves. We have to report this to the Colonel.”

The thought of simply destroying them all so they won’t be able to send out any more ntal waves crossed my mind, but I guess that’s no good. Well, I think it’s better to proceed carefully when it cos to stuff like this. After all, less-than-ideal first encounters eventually leading to full-scale war was a common developnt in movies and TV shows. Anyway, it’s better to just leave this kind of stuff to Col. Serena.