"The Alliance is blockading the continent."

  It was the second year of the war.

  The Coalition had lost the trench lines to a surprise attack by the Alliance. Using a new tactic of deploying massive infantry waves via airships, they had breached the defenses.

  The Alliance declared a blockade on Trusen’s shipping lanes, cutting off supply lines to the Coalition. Soon after, the mass seizure of Trusen merchant vessels began.

  "Due to the Alliance blockade, the inflow of food and materials has ceased. The capital's reserves will last only three months. At this rate, the Hemolysis Point cities will collapse on their own."

  The Chief Economic Advisor concluded his report with specific figures detailing the blockade's impact.

  Chancellor Rolf Vansk’s concerns deepened. He had tried to maintain isolationism, to stay out of continental affairs, but the Alliance was forcing him to choose a side. His policy of non-intervention, even as a member of the Coalition, had become a poison. Showing weakness now would endanger not just his reelection, but the very survival of the nation.

  "Review the wartime system protocols. And schedule meetings with the leaders of each party to persuade the parliament."

  Rolf decided: if they were to enter this war, they had to win. He ordered the documents brought yesterday by the Science Advisory Board to be retrieved. It was the progress report on the disc interpretation.

  "Summon the Scientific Advisor, the Chief of Military Engineers, and the Director of DARPA."

  After the meeting, Rolf made the request to his secretary. Then, he read the report again.

  It contained the decoding process of the disc and two mathematical formulas found within. One was a mass-energy equivalence formula; the other was a unified electromagnetic field equation.

  While linguistic and grammatical interpretation was still hitting walls, the mathematical sections were largely decipherable. The problem—and the opportunity—lay at the very end of the report.

  If the mass-energy equivalence formula is utilized, mass production of Steam without Hemolysis Points is possible.

  For the first time since entering politics, Rolf felt his heart race.

  Rilke, General Ernst (Chief of Military Engineers), and Director Hazinru (DARPA) took their seats.

  "First, can this formula be proven?"

  "It is just a formula. Mathematically, it is derived perfectly, but whether it can be physically demonstrated is unknown," Rilke answered Rolf’s question.

  "Even if we decode the disc?"

  "There has been much debate regarding the nature of the disc. The Disc-Senders... that is, those who sent this object, clearly possess technology far superior to ours. The consensus among researchers is that a message from such beings is likely not intended to teach us."

  "But didn't you say there were sections explaining mathematical formulas?" Rolf pressed.

  "That... seems to be a clue, because just writing the result would make it indecipherable. In short, it’s like a business card. A demonstration of how much they know."

  Rilke took a breath and continued.

  "Scientists and mathematicians believe that the laws of physics and mathematics are constant everywhere. Therefore, the formula is likely correct."

  "But you said you don't know if it can be proven?" Rolf questioned again.

  "That is a different matter. It might be easy with their technology, but we don't know yet. To put it bluntly, there might be a very simple method for them to read the disc, but we are spending months on massive calculations just to convert it. That’s not a language or translation issue; it’s a conversion efficiency issue."

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Rolf read the end of the report again.

  "Mass production of Steam without Hemolysis Points... What does the Director of High Research think about this?"

  "If this is possible, Trusen's industrial structure changes completely."

  Hazinru nodded.

  "Currently, our industry relies on Hemolysis Points. Areas without them cannot be developed, and areas with them are overcrowded. But if this formula works..."

  "Does it mean we can create Steam anywhere?"

  "Theoretically, yes."

  General Ernst interjected.

  "Militarily, it is a revolution. If Fluid Computer speeds can be maintained uniformly regardless of location, firing solution calculations will become consistent. Furthermore, if Steam vehicle stops and track selection become easier, supply speeds will exceed imagination. No, we might not even need Steam resupply at all. We could just mount a massive heat source and produce our own Steam."

  "Sounds like a dream."

  Rolf’s eyes shone.

  "Then this isn't just a weapon. It changes the foundation of civilization..."

  "But Chancellor," Rilke interrupted. "This is all just possibility. Whether we can actually implement it is..."

  "That is why I am asking."

  Rolf looked Rilke straight in the eye.

  "Is an empirical experiment possible?"

  Rilke fell silent for a moment.

  "It is possible. But..."

  "But?"

  "We don't know what to use."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The formula is clear. Mass converts to energy. But it doesn't say which material to use or how."

  Hazinru opened a file.

  "Based on our estimates, heavy elements are required. The larger the nucleus, the more favorable it seems."

  "Candidates?"

  "Thorium, Uranium, Protactinium... about twenty."

  "Twenty?"

  "And each element has... Cognate Elements."

  "Cognate Elements? According to our knowledge, aren't all elements the same?" Rolf expressed doubt.

  "Based on data from the disc, the structure of an atom is different from what we know. It suggests there are protons and neutrons inside the nucleus," Rilke explained calmly, like the scholar he was. "Even for the same element, if the number of neutrons differs, the physical properties are subtly different."

  "Fine. The details are the realm of science, so let's leave it at that. How many experiments do we need?"

  Rilke calculated. "Over fifty."

  "You mean we have to test all fifty?"

  "That is the minimum," Rilke said. "Each combination requires an enrichment process. The problem is, we don't know how much or how to compress it."

  "What do we need?"

  "First, large-scale centrifuges. Since Cognate Elements are chemically inseparable, we need to separate them using the minute mass difference caused by the neutrons," the Chief of Engineers answered.

  Rolf glared out the window, beyond the blockaded sea.

  "Knowledge fallen from the sky is testing us. To see if we are worthy of handling that fire."

  He turned back to Rilke. His eyes gleamed strangely.

  "Burn them all. Fifty, five hundred, it doesn't matter. Before we freeze to death, we will drag that sun from the disc down to the earth. Let's begin."

  "Chancellor."

  Rilke stood up.

  "This could be extremely dangerous. We don't know what this will create... or if it can even be controlled."

  "Humans probably thought the same when they first made gunpowder. But if fear conquers the will to challenge, nothing can be achieved."

  Rolf replied firmly.

  "General, select the optimal site and report back. Assign this project top priority in the military budget. Dismissed."

  Rolf sent everyone away.