Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

The judicial central command quickly provided further analysis results a few days later.

At the time, the vector was still processing documents at the temporary contact point on Earth when BICk0's information popped up with the highest level of security flag.

The integrity of the data subject has reached the verifiable standard.

The core formula, purification process, stable parameters, and large-scale production model are all available.

The safety of the actual product cannot be confirmed at this time.

I read through the vector line by line, and then gave a desperate tactical lean back.

As Jiuqi passed by, she could tell from her reaction that this was definitely not good news: "The complete formula?"

"It seems so."

Nine-Seven also fell silent, both machines staring at the screen. After a few seconds, Vector raised his hand to cover his forehead armor: "...This is a huge problem."

Cybertron has been lacking energy for countless years, and now that a potentially complete artificial energy manufacturing system has suddenly been unearthed, most people's first reaction is to celebrate.

But if you think a little further ahead, you can't laugh at all.

Jiuqi leaned against the table: "What are you going to do?"

"Go back to Cybertron. This kind of thing must be discussed in person, and it can't be delayed."

-

She did not notify the Autobots or Decepticons when she returned to Cybertron; public records only show that the Chief Judge returned to the judicial center to handle top-secret internal affairs.

As for the specifics, those without the necessary permissions can't even see the file titles.

The first formal meeting of the artificial energy body project was arranged in a secluded conference room deep within the judicial center, with four layers of identity verification at the entrance.

When the vector entered, BICk0 was sitting there with a large stack of documents in front of him. Crystal Prism was connected through Crystal City's highest encryption line, while the other machines only displayed their function numbers: Energy Engineering, Materials, Medical, and Infrastructure.

As soon as BICk0 saw her, he pushed a document over: "None of the machines with access privileges have slept much these past two days."

Vector: "My fault?" "It's the jar's fault."

"Then talk to it." "But it won't reply."

The vector sat down: "Let's begin."

The first report came from the energy group: "The formula structure is basically complete, ancient units of measurement can be converted, and there are still many old names for raw materials that cannot be confirmed, but high-probability corresponding items have been found. According to the existing model, the theoretical production capacity is far higher than the refining efficiency of traditional ore veins."

There was no talking in the meeting room.

The vector asked, "What about the cost?" "Unknown."

"Raw material reserves?" "Still being calculated."

"Equipment?" "Ancient production models exist, but they need to be redesigned for modern replication."

"In other words, we only have theory now." "We now have highly complete theoretical and engineering data."

"Then there's still nothing."

The energy group did not refute this, but the materials group continued, "Even if it is successfully manufactured, its long-term stability cannot be confirmed."

The medical team was even more direct: "Whether it's even edible is still a question. Moreover, stable energy output doesn't mean the seed and brain module can withstand it in the long term, and different body structures may have different compatibility, so we are not considering live testing."

Vector: "Very good. Let's do a pure simulation first, then an artificial energy cycle. If we can't even get past these two steps, there's no point in talking about anything else."

The meeting room fell silent again; the real trouble was yet to come.

Crystal Prism spoke first: "Technically, we can proceed according to the research process for now. But politically, if it succeeds, the existing city-state resource relationships will change."

Why do cities with natural energy deposits have more leverage in postwar negotiations? Because other places need energy.

Why are some trade routes important? Because they transport energy.

Even in cities located in mining areas where infrastructure is in dire need of repair, it must be prioritized for restoration. This is still due to energy concerns.

However, if energy bodies can be artificially manufactured in the future, these things will not immediately lose their meaning, but they will definitely change gradually.

In the past, whoever had a mine under their feet had resources.

In the future, it may become a matter of who controls the production equipment, formulas, raw materials, and industrial capacity, and whoever has the resources.

Power never disappears, it just changes form, and that's the most troublesome part.

BICk0 flipped through another document: "The rationing system is also a problem. People accept energy quotas now because there's a real shortage. But as soon as the news is made public, even if we can only produce one small canister a day, there will definitely be questions: if we can produce it, why limit it?"

He leaned back in his chair, his headache worsening.

BICk0 continued his relentless barrage of attacks:

"Why did Crystal City come first? Why was the medical system prioritized? Why did this city-state receive more than the other? Why does the military still have reserves of natural energy? Why does the judicial center possess the formula?"

"Stop! Stop!"

BICk0 shut his mouth and rubbed the fins with his vector.

The infrastructure group then added, "The mining system cannot be adjusted immediately."

"Of course not." The vector did not hesitate on this point.

We haven't even created a single drop of artificial energy yet. If we were to prematurely abandon the natural energy extraction, transportation, and refining system just because we saw an ancient recipe, that wouldn't be considered a technological transformation at all.

"The existing natural energy system will remain unchanged," the vector said. "Adjustments will be made after industrial-scale verification is completed. Even if large-scale production is confirmed in the future, natural energy sources cannot be cut off all at once."

Crystalline: "Yes, it will take at least a long time for the dual-track system to operate, and the mining city-states, transportation system and related employment will all need to be given a buffer."

The vector felt its brain module starting to heat up; this was only for civilian use, but if you factored in military applications...

She looked up abruptly: "The Autobots and Decepticons absolutely cannot know this."

No one objected; in fact, they all nodded in agreement.

For military groups, the ability to artificially manufacture and stably store energy means that supply lines, fleet endurance, strategic reserves, and long-term combat capabilities are all subject to recalculation.

Even if the two factions no longer bomb each other's bases as frequently as they did during the height of the civil war, this technology should not be used to gamble on the rationality of either side.

Moreover, even a partial leak of information is enough to arouse suspicion.

Did you get the formula? Is it already being manufactured? Did the judicial authorities secretly pass it on to the other side?

In the end, even without war, one could predict an arms race.

The vector's expression oscillated between painful contortion and complete facial paralysis.

-

The meeting lasted for more than a quarter of an hour, but the number of problems on the table kept piling up, eventually leading to a point where no one could avoid them.

Crystal Prism asked, "If successful, who will own the technology?"

The vector was briefly unable to answer, BICk0 rubbed his head in frustration, and the other researchers also fell silent.

The ancient data storage jars were discovered on Earth, located in the Judicial Center, where they were found, sealed, and analyzed. Crystal City provided research resources.

If successful in the future, a large number of modern scientific researchers will verify and improve it, and then establish a production line.

So to whom does it actually belong?

After several seconds, Yin Xiang covered his head and said, "I don't know, but one thing is certain: we cannot assume it belongs to the judicial center."

This time, several researchers immediately turned to look at her.

"The judicial center is currently responsible for supervision, has the power to temporarily seal archives, and controls research authority. But if it can really be mass-produced in the future, the judicial center cannot hold a bunch of powers, or problems will arise sooner or later."

Crystalline: "Then what should we do?"

Looking at the blank interface that had just been created, Yin Vector sighed: "When we build an independent system in the future, we'll build it first and confirm its safety."

So everyone got busy again.

-

In the end, they only managed to build a very basic framework.

[Project Classification: Top Secret]

[Participating Institutions: Judicial Central Bureau, Crystal City.]

[Military organization: Intervention prohibited.]

[Live animal experiments: Prohibited.]

[Release date: Undetermined.]

[Phase 1 objectives: Formulation validation, raw material matching, laboratory-level manufacturing, and safety assessment.]

After the lead vector signed the last item, the crystal prism also completed the confirmation, and BICk0 sealed all meeting minutes.

"Is it finally over?" Yin Zong slumped back in his chair.

"The first round is over, but there's still a lot to come, such as how prices will be determined after industrialization?"

The vector suddenly opened the optical lens, and BICk0 immediately raised his hands: "I just asked casually."

"I'm going to shut you up!"

BICk0 smiled and stopped asking those questions.

-

After the meeting ended, everyone left or hung up, and the meeting room finally quieted down.

The vector was also preparing to return to Earth. It walked all the way to the space bridge area and stood in front of the bridge, ready to input Earth coordinates.

Something inside the brain module suddenly jumped slightly, causing the vector motion to stop.

Something, from a great distance, seemed to hook onto a zipper deep within the brain module and give it a gentle tug.

She slowly lowered her hands from the space bridge.

This feeling... it's so familiar. It's so similar to the feeling when she first came into contact with the Ultimate Key, when ancient information suddenly bypassed the normal reading method and entered her consciousness directly.

...No way!

Deep within the brain module, the dormant parts offer a vague sense of direction.

The traction vector tentatively turns to the left, increasing the traction slightly, then weakens when it turns back.

She gritted her teeth, cursing as she switched to a radio channel: "Damn it."

【BICk0.】

The other end replied instantly: 【Didn't you go back to Earth?】

【not yet.】

What's wrong with you now?

The vector description briefly outlined the abnormal brain module situation that had just occurred, and BICk0 remained silent for a long time.

What are you planning to do?

The vector looked in that direction, and it could say she didn't have to go; it wasn't forcing her to go. But since it already existed, she would feel uneasy if she didn't go.

Go take a look.

BICk0 immediately replied: 【With device.】

Not for now. I don't know if other devices will trigger other problems, but I'm letting you know this first.

She proactively enabled her real-time location sharing.

[I will send you my location and transmit it every five minutes. If I detect any abnormalities in the brain module, space, or communication, I will immediately exit.]

BICk0 replied after a while: [Three minutes.]

Vector: ... lines.

Okay, if it exceeds three minutes, the disconnection procedure will be activated.

BICk0 then fell silent for a while.

The space bridge application to close the traction vector and return to Earth is applied; the traction direction is determined by feeling.

The sensory connection, which had no specific coordinates, pointed to a certain place. The closer she got to a certain area, the more active the pull became, until it took her several game hours to finally reach the specific city—Kalon.

Vector resignedly reported to his secretary: "The destination is Karon."