Is Perfikot in need of large self-sustaining machinery? This question disappeared once she returned to the Northern Territory with Andrew.
Because another snowstorm swept across the entire Northern Territory, and this time the snow depth exceeded one meter.
Looking at the chest-high snow cleared from the roads, Andrew felt a chilling sense of awe.
Despite his tall stature, encountering snow this deep made him realize he might find it hard to take even a single step.
The northern cities of the New Continent colony also face snowstorms during winter, but even when it can be called a snow disaster, the snow depth has never reached this level.
This opened Andrew’s eyes and deeply shocked him, leading him to sigh, "Is this the Northern Territory’s winter? The snow is too heavy! No wonder Count, you said large-scale machinery is needed; without sufficiently large machinery, it really won’t work." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
Over one meter deep snow, even in Perfikot’s original world before crossing over, was a terrifying presence, with not much that could handle such thick snow and the resulting harsh weather.
Especially in this era, there were no crawler trucks or diesel engines; beyond their own two legs, humans could only use sleds and steam locomotives.
If Perfikot hadn’t built the Flying Airship, Northern Territory’s transportation would now be cut off.
And not only cut off from the New Continent colony and the Empire’s mainland but even the traffic between Eagle’s Beak Cliff base and the Fjord camp would be interrupted.
Due to the heavy snow, the railway connecting the three strongholds in Northern Territory was directly buried, and the excessive snow depth rendered the railway snowplows and obstruction removers ineffective.
"How are things now? Is anyone clearing the snow?" Upon hearing this bad news as soon as she returned, Perfikot’s mood turned sour, and she couldn’t be bothered to arrange for Andrew, immediately asking the civil officer reporting to her about the current situation.
"The situation is dire. We have organized personnel to dig the tracks, but everything, including four locomotives and all carriages, is buried in snow. Rail traffic is completely interrupted," the officer reported to Perfikot, his face full of seriousness and concern.
This officer, before coming to the Northern Territory with others, did not know how harsh the conditions could be or how terrifying the storms were.
However, as an Empire civil servant, his sense of responsibility kept him from retreating, continuing to perform his duties diligently.
Of course, he had no way to retreat.
Currently, apart from the Flying Airship, Northern Territory is indeed in the face of complete transportation severance. Before restoring traffic, not to mention escaping, even the fuel for heating is running low.
"Is the fuel insufficient? I remember I ordered that both the Eagle’s Beak Cliff base and the Fjord camp must stockpile at least a week’s worth of coal, so why is it not enough?" Perfikot frowned, obviously dissatisfied with this situation.
Faced with Perfikot’s questioning, the officer became tense but quickly explained, "Before this snowstorm, several heavy snowfalls reduced coal mine production, so the coal reserves at Eagle’s Beak Cliff and Fjord camp had already dropped to 60% of the original levels.
Then the snowstorm’s onslaught stopped coal mines completely, further consuming coal leading reserves to a dangerous level. We now have to adopt a rationing system to reduce coal consumption."
"Has the situation deteriorated to this extent?" Perfikot frowned deeply, not expecting the situation to have reached such a level.
She had somewhat anticipated transportation disruption due to Northern Territory’s snow, possibly affecting coal acquisition, hence ordering a week’s coal reserve for emergencies.
Yet she hadn’t foreseen the severe impact of Northern Territory’s bad weather, resulting in coal supply cut-off, with stockpiled coal nearly depleted.
Thinking of this, she directly asked, "Using the rationing system, how long can the coal last? Three days or five?"
"It’s... two days." The officer replied in a timid voice to Perfikot’s question.
This answer made her frown tightly, and her expression turned very unpleasant.
However, the officer quickly added, "Eagle’s Beak Cliff base still has some wood reserves, those were the sleepers cut down when building the railway. We estimated they could support two to three days.
But the Fjord camp consumes more fuel than us, and they might not have enough fuel."
"Let the White Bear Knight Order mobilize all Steam Knights to cut down trees; living people can’t be suffocated by urine. This area is surrounded by forests, and wood can be burned," Perfikot immediately commanded the White Bear Knights beside her and asked, "How many in the Knight Order can currently use Steam Knight armor?"
"Currently, all Senior Knights in the Knight Order can use Steam Knight armor. About eighty percent of official Knights can use Steam Knight armor. If you require, the Knight Order can assemble fifty Knights capable of using Steam Knight armor," Captain William stood by Perfikot, reporting. He was wearing Steam Knight armor now and understood why Perfikot asked this.
Perfikot nodded, seriously thought for a moment, and then said, "Endure for a while, deploy all current Steam Knights first to open the railway from Eagle’s Beak to the Fjord, meanwhile gather all Knights able to use Steam Knight armor, and take the Flying Airship to Fjord camp and activate the Steam Knight armor there."
"Yes, Count," Captain William replied, accepting the order but then asked, "What are our specific task arrangements?"
He needed to confirm the specific tasks of the Knight Order to avoid discrepancies.
Perfikot nodded slightly, feeling the biting cold, she thought and said, "Your main task is to open the railway, then leave ten Steam Knights each at Fjord and Eagle’s Beak, cutting trees to replenish fuel at these two places.
Others... forget it, I’ll find another way for the coal mines. Your task is to ensure fuel supply for Fjord and Eagle’s Beak."
"Understood, the White Bear Knight Order will not disappoint you!" This could be said to be the first official task after forming the White Bear Knight Order, and Captain William certainly hoped to accomplish it beautifully and fully.
Arranging for his attendants to relay orders, he also led all remaining Steam Knights to Eagle’s Beak base train station, planning to first dig out the small train.