Chapter 119: Chapter 119 - ASR

The railgun design was intricate, requiring the Goliath to deploy stabilizing legs and anchor itself firmly to the ground before firing. The weapon operated by using electromagnetic coils to accelerate a solid metal projectile to hypersonic speeds. When the railgun was activated, high-capacity capacitors released a burst of energy through a series of conductive rails, generating the electromagnetic force needed to launch the projectile. The result was a kinetic strike capable of piercing through even the toughest armor or structures.

“Now for the endurance problem,” Zack muttered as he studied the thermal output from test models. The energy required to fire the railgun generated immense heat, enough to warp lesser materials or compromise the weapon’s integrity. The solution came in the form of ceramic heat sinks and an advanced liquid-metal cooling system. The heat sinks would rapidly absorb thermal energy from the firing mechanism, while the cooling system would pump liquid metal through the rails, dissipating heat into dedicated reservoirs to maintain operational stability.

Ego chimed in, “The stabilizers and cooling systems will ensure the railgun operates at optimal efficiency. However, firing the weapon requires substantial energy. The Goliath’s fusion core will need to divert power to the railgun during use, limiting its ability to operate other systems simultaneously.”

Zack smirked as he added the final touches to the blueprint. The railgun would fold neatly onto the Goliath’s back when not in use, reducing its profile and maintaining mobility. “That should do it…” Zack said with a satisfied grin. “Build five Goliaths for now. The cost is astronomical, but we need them.”

Even with his satisfaction, Zack couldn’t help but shake his head. The sheer expense of his projects was staggering. Between the aerial drones, the Titans, and the regular maintenance of his mechanical army, the resources of NYC were being pushed to their limits. “If I go ahead with the global strike system too…” Zack trailed off, grimacing. “I’ll burn through everything this city has to offer.”

Ego chimed in, breaking his train of thought. “Sir, I must remind you that according to your current plan, we need more manufacturing bugs. The existing units can’t keep up.”

“How many do we have now?” Zack asked. He knew the number fluctuated daily as new bugs were produced and old ones were recycled, but he had never paid close attention to the exact figures.

“There are currently 124 manufacturing bugs,” Ego reported, listing the types:

Make-1 Micro Mechanical Bugs: 21 units

MK-2 Medium-Sized Bugs: 75 units

MK-3 Large Bugs: 14 units

MK-4 Space Work Bugs: 4 units

MK-5 Nanometer Bugs: 10 units

“That’s not enough,” Zack said flatly. “We’ll need to ramp up production for everything coming down the pipeline. Start manufacturing additional bugs immediately.”

Zack leaned back in his chair, staring at the holographic projections surrounding him. The industrial zone served as the primary source of raw materials, but Zack’s true core productivity came from the hundred-plus mechanical bugs under his control. Their efficiency determined the success of his ambitious plans. “So,” Zack said thoughtfully, “we’ll need to optimize their production process. First, redesign the manufacturing steps for the bugs. Create an assembly line to mass-produce the main components, then assemble the parts afterward. This should speed things up.”

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He glanced at Ego’s holographic interface. “Contact Charles. Tell him to clear out an empty factory building to focus exclusively on mechanical bug production.”

The foundation of every plan hinged on the manufacturing bugs. Without enough of them, Zack’s grand ideas would remain just that—ideas. “While you’re at it, design a batch of larger, heavy-duty manufacturing bugs,” he added, a sudden thought striking him. “They need to be at least five meters tall.”

These larger bugs were essential for the next step of his plan: a mobile base. His blueprint wasn’t just for a machine—it was for a flying fortress, a behemoth that would be both a production hub and a war platform. “When this thing is built,” Zack said to himself, grinning as he looked at the massive design on the holographic projection, “there won’t be a single place on Earth I can’t reach. Maybe…” He trailed off, chuckling. “Maybe I really could rule the world like some movie Mansionin.”

“Or,” Ego interjected, “you could lead humanity out of the apocalypse, like a hero saving the world.”

Zack scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “Hero, Mansionin—it’s all the same. In the end, I’ll be the one in charge. Ruling is just another way of saving.” He smirked, but his eyes glinted with cold determination. “Enough philosophizing. Right now, I only have one goal for this global strike system: to eliminate my enemies. Quickly. Accurately. Completely.”

His tone hardened as he barked his next command: “Call Lilian. It’s time to uncover everything about the Vanguard organization.”

Not long after, Lilian entered the basement, her black-and-white combat armor gleaming under the dim lights. The translucent visor added an ethereal quality to her presence. “You called for me, Master?” she said calmly.

Zack didn’t look up. “Have you seen Sophia?”

“From a distance,” Lilian replied. Her tone remained level, but there was a trace of something beneath the surface—concern, perhaps even guilt. “She looked haggard. She didn’t recognize me.”

Zack’s eyes flicked toward her. “Do you know why I called you here?”

“Vanguard organization,” she answered without hesitation, her sharp intuition cutting to the heart of the matter.

“Correct,” Zack said, shutting off the holographic display and lighting the stack of finished blueprints on the table. The faint smell of burning paper filled the room as he turned his full attention to her. “Tell me everything you know.”

Lilian nodded. “Before the apocalypse, the Vanguard organization operated under a different name: the Frontier Scientific Research and Experimental Group. It was called ASR for short.”

Zack tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “ASR?”

“Yes. Before the end, I had some dealings with them,” she explained, her tone steady. “They were incredibly secretive, but I learned enough to know they were involved in cutting-edge work across multiple fields: machinery, medicine, aviation, biology, energy, and even arms manufacturing.”

Zack’s eyes narrowed. “Hold on,” he said, turning to Ego. “Search the downloaded data. Do we have anything on this ASR?”

After a moment, Ego responded, “Yes, Sir. I found some information in the files retrieved before the network went down.”

Zack leaned forward as the details appeared on a new holographic display:

Frontier Scientific Research and Experimental Group (ASR):

Brought together top talents from various industries worldwide.

Operated in machinery, medicine, aviation, biology, energy, automotive, arms, and other sectors.

The summary was brief but staggering in its implications.

“How have I never heard of them before?” Zack muttered, frowning.

“They operate with extreme discretion,” Ego explained. “They avoid any public exposure or media attention.”