Chapter 30: Push Forward
Under Tom’s control, over a thousand Clones who had just completed firearm development, along with approximately 500 Clones forcibly transferred from other locations, totaling over 1500 individuals, quickly supplemented the various metal foundries and processing plants.
Thus, while still undertaking their original production tasks, these processing plants, operated by the newly supplemented 1500-plus Clones, began to produce other customized equipment.
After about two days of busy work, several hundred pieces of various equipment were completed.
Some of this equipment resembled large, square boxes, some had multiple drill bits, there were specialized stamping equipment, forging equipment, conveyor devices, acid baths, and so on.
These pieces of equipment were collectively moved by the Clones to an empty factory building nearby, then systematically installed and debugged simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the smelting factory, following Tom’s previous instructions, completed the production and transportation of various standard alloy steels, copper, tin, and other metal materials to this location.
The chemical factory, on the other hand, produced a large quantity of gunpowder, which was then transported here under strict fire prevention measures.
The machinery and equipment were installed, power lines connected, and raw materials prepared.
This newly constructed firearms factory immediately went into production.
The numerous pieces of equipment were assembled by the Clones into a total of 26 production lines.
Except for one main assembly line, the remaining 25 lines were all for producing firearm components.
There was a dedicated production line for bullets, where alloy steel, copper, tin, and other metals were processed and cast into standard bullet casings, then assembled with primers and filled with gunpowder, completing the production of a single bullet.
They ultimately flowed out like a stream along the conveyor belt.
At the end of the conveyor belt, two Clones used mechanical equipment to assemble every 80 bullets together, using a special plastic material to solidify them into plates.
This way, when the Clones loaded the magazines, they wouldn’t need to press in one bullet at a time; they could simply pick up a plate of bullets and press it in, completing the task in a few seconds.
There was also a dedicated production line for magazines.
Various metal materials were first processed into small parts here, then further assembled and welded through several processes, under the busy operation of dozens of Clones, producing one standard magazine after another.
The dimensions of a standard magazine perfectly matched the dimensions of a plate of bullets, allowing it to hold exactly one plate. At the same time, it was compatible with the gun body interface, meaning any magazine could be easily attached to any firearm.
In addition, there were production lines for gun barrels, springs, triggers, and so on.
Dozens of production lines collaborated efficiently and systematically.
Finally, all these components underwent numerous processes—quenching, acid immersion, painting, stamping, casting, and assembly—and after finalization, they all converged on the last production line.
From various conveyor belts, like tributaries flowing into a great river, different components were continuously transported over.
The Clone at the first position on the production line completed the first assembly, then placed the semi-finished product on the conveyor belt to be transported to the second Clone.
A tributary also converged at the second Clone’s position. He took a component from it, assembled it with the already partially assembled gun body, and then placed it back on the conveyor belt.
The third, fourth, and all subsequent Clones did the same.
Thus, these scattered components were finally assembled into a firearm, and after inspection by the Clone at the final checkpoint, they were placed into large boxes nearby.
The first day of production was spent on various installations, debugging, and trial production.
But even though today was only trial production, 100 firearms, 300 magazines, and 80,000 bullets were still produced.
A small truck rushed over at high speed, quickly decelerating. Before it could even stop, the large box filled with a day’s production was directly placed onto it by the Clones.
Without any communication, or even eye contact, as if two parts of a precise machine had docked, the small truck executed a sharp U-turn and accelerated again, rushing towards the front line.
At the front line reserve base, 100 Clones had already stood up and were waiting.
At this moment, another 100 Clones had already died in battle on the front line. But Tom did not immediately dispatch Clones to replenish them.
He was waiting for this very moment.
This time, the replenishment would no longer be cold weapon Clones, but hot weapon Clones!
The large box was quickly transported, and the packaging opened. 100 Clones lined up, each skillfully and naturally taking a firearm and 3 pre-loaded magazines, then stood to one side.
In just a few minutes, all 100 Clones had completed their equipment change.
They held their firearms, muzzles pointed diagonally forward, and jogged in neat formations towards the front line.
They looked extremely skilled and natural, like veteran soldiers who had trained thousands of times. But in reality, this was their first time touching a firearm.
But it didn’t matter; the firearm shooting experience gained from previous firing range tests had now been synchronized into their minds by Tom.
Under the massive searchlights, the brutal battle continued to unfold on the front line.
Huge, grotesque Monster Birds, fully armored, wielding long blades and spears, and warriors fighting with no regard for their lives.
Clones were constantly snatched by the Monster Birds, and in a few bites, they were torn apart. Large quantities of blood were spilled, forming a layer of blood-ice on the battlefield.
But even with the Clones fighting with no regard for their lives, they could only temporarily hold back the Monster Birds, preventing them from advancing. As for repelling them, that was simply impossible.
But it didn’t matter; now, the guns had arrived!
100 Clones quickly rushed to the battlefield, finding a spot where the defense was most strained and casualties were most severe, and took over.
The cold weapon Clones quickly retreated.
A large swarm of Monster Birds, sensing a gap in the defense, swarmed forward.
But, before they could even charge close, 100 Clones, 100 firearms, opened fire simultaneously.
Silent flames bloomed on the dark, cold Loshen Star ground. Accompanied by the tongues of fire spewing from the muzzles, 100 firearms fired an average of 400 rounds per second.
The Monster Birds, which the Clones could only make small cuts on their skin by fighting to the death, and whose defenses could only be pierced by several Clones working together, now rapidly developed cup-sized holes in their bodies under the impact of this torrent of bullets.
The bullets penetrated their defenses and went deep into their bodies.
The first few Monster Birds to be hit instantly collapsed.