The Lonely Earth - Earth ISOT into Magitek fantasy

Chapter 16: Workmen

Le Creusot - Burgundy, France. 20 days after Worldshift

The sun hung low over the tranquil town of Le Creusot, casting a warm golden hue upon the landscape. It was a picturesque day, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had enveloped the world just three weeks ago during the cataclysmic event known as the Worldshift. Amidst the ruins of a once-thriving industrial hub, a remarkable transformation was underway.

Another pristine LeClerc tank emerged from the depths of a sprawling war factory, an establishment that owed its existence to the collaborative efforts of the United Council of Atericil (UCA) and an extraordinary automated construction yard. This fusion of cutting-edge technology and human ingenuity was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Engineers had entrusted the UCA's automaton workers with the intricate schematics of the French tank, and these tireless machines were crafting these formidable war machines at a pace that would have made even the legendary Sherman factories blush in comparison.

Jean-Pierre Bosser, a veteran of the military and a keen observer of industry, stood among the bustling chaos of the factory floor. He was both deeply impressed and, to some extent, apprehensive. The gearmen, their metallic limbs moving with unparalleled precision, worked in perfect harmony with the colossal armatures. Together, they churned out weaponry and armor at a pace that defied belief. It was a production rate that France had never witnessed before, thanks to their partnership with Atericil.

The very thought of it left Jean-Pierre Bosser in a state of wonder. He had seen the industrial might of nations and their wartime efforts, but this was an entirely different league. The Atericit representative had assured him that, provided the war factory had a steady supply of materials, it could assemble a fully functional tank in a mere thirty minutes.

The implications were staggering. With further inquiry from the representatives, under optimal conditions and with streamlined transport logistics, the entire process—from the extraction of raw ore to the assembly of a combat-ready vehicle—had the potential to be completed within a matter of hours. What made this even more astounding was the factory's ability to accomplish this feat independently, without the need for extensive additional infrastructure.

As he watched the assembly lines in action, Jean-Pierre couldn't help but ponder the future possibilities. A tantalizing vision emerged – a seamless supply chain from the extraction of raw ore to the completion of a battle-ready vehicle in just a few hours, all facilitated by the remarkable war factory. It just shows what could be achieved with ingenuity and collaboration in these trying times.

The implications of this technological marvel were nothing short of monumental. France, renowned for its military manufacturing prowess, stood on the cusp of a renaissance in industrial might. The prospect of entirely bypassing the sweatshops and factories of Asia was not merely an economic boon; it was a seismic shift that could reshape the nation's self-sufficiency. The French military, long dependent on international trade for its equipment needs, now possessed the potential to meet all of its demands internally, unshackled from the reliance on any other nation.

Yet, amidst the excitement and optimism, there lingered a shadow of unease. The implications of such autonomy were not without their challenges. It was a double-edged sword, capable of both bolstering and disrupting the national economy. The surge in domestic production, while a triumph for the French manufacturing sector, threatened to upend the global supply chain, leaving economic ripples that extended far beyond national borders.

Furthermore, the staggering scale of production meant that the French army found itself in possession of a surplus of equipment, far exceeding the number of available soldiers. It was a curious imbalance, one that raised questions about resource allocation, training, and the role of the military in this new era. While having an abundance of equipment was an enviable position, it also posed challenges in terms of maintenance, storage, and the need for a larger and more efficient standing force.