81. Second Layer Inspection

Agirakana houses an infinite number of Gravity Control Devices within its interior, adjusting the magnitude and direction of gravity at specific locations by balancing and fine-tuning them.

That is to say, regardless of circumstances, the shafts with atmospheric layers, the outer regions currently undergoing Terraforming, the outer regions of the First Layer and Second Layer where Terraforming has already concluded, and the Bio-Android Residential Zone within the Core Interior are all adjusted to maintain a downward acceleration equivalent to 1 G.

Additionally, in layers that have been fully Terraformed, or are significantly advanced in the process, the gravity vector is slightly offset to simulate a Rotational Environment, thereby generating atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.

The weather in the outermost First and Second Layers, where terraforming has been completed, is notably calm—due to the Agirakana’s subtle adjustments to gravitational orientation, simulating a gentle rotational effect. Atmospheric circulation remains smooth, and weather changes occur with equal mildness. Ocean currents, too, are exceptionally subdued.

What is being considered for the Japanese settlers is a long, sweet potato–shaped island located within the outer Second Layer. By adjusting the timing and intensity of the luminous panels on the Third Layer’s underside, the temperature fluctuations are calibrated to mimic Japan’s seasonal variations.

I’d never clearly seen this island before, so I decided to take the opportunity to confirm its layout. I contacted Agirakana and sent a few drones to survey the sweet potato island on the Second Layer. Maria remotely piloted the drones from the adjacent desk, following my verbal instructions.

The island covers approximately five hundred thousand square kilometers—just over twice the area of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which spans twenty-two thousand eight hundred square kilometers. There are a few smaller islands around it, but no continent nearby.

The island’s central region features a gently undulating mountain range, roughly a thousand meters in elevation, stretching north to south and dividing the island into east and west. Several rivers branch out from this range, flowing east and west. Due to the minimal elevation change, the rivers meander slowly. With nearly flat terrain elsewhere, the total flatland area amounts to approximately forty thousand square kilometers—four times the area of Japan’s ten thousand square kilometers.

Japan’s population during the Edo period was roughly thirty million. In other words, just under ten thousand square kilometers of land, sustained solely by human labor, could support thirty million people. If the land were four times larger, even if civilization regressed to Edo-era levels for some reason, it could still feed one hundred and twenty million people—no problem, really.

Ten square kilometers of land along the lower reaches of the Nakagawa—the river flowing eastward from the central highlands of Satsumaimo Island—had been prepared for this round of settlement. Road networks, water supply, sewage systems, electricity, and gas lines were already in place, along with the requisite infrastructure: power plants, water purification facilities, sewage treatment plants, gas storage tanks—everything ready for immediate use. The plan was to build a small city using this ten-square-kilometer plot as a single unit. Naturally, initial consumables would be transported from Agirakana’s dedicated factories.

Currently, herbaceous plants native to Japan were being cloned and transplanted en masse, with woody species gradually introduced in parallel. Insects were also being released onto the island to breed. Stability remained tenuous, to be sure, but in a few more years, the ecosystem should settle enough to safely introduce small animals. At this rate, Satsumaimo Island seemed to be on track—no immediate problems, at least.

At that moment, the West Wing of the Presidential Residence, United States, National Security Council Chamber.

……

"Then, let us begin the National Security Council. Director of National Intelligence, please provide the routine report on Agirakana."

"Yes, Mr. President.

According to the latest update on Agirakana’s official website, they plan to recruit approximately 200,000 immigrants from Japan by the end of next March. However, the site notes that this number may increase in the future. The website features dozens of internal video clips from the enigmatic celestial body Agirakana, and analysis confirms all are authentic, real footage. Experts have concluded, based on the footage, that Agirakana is a planet situated beneath an artificial sun."

"An artificial sun? If people are living there, it's obviously a planet. But what exactly does 'artificial sun' mean?"

"The entire celestial sphere is composed of a luminous body,"

“Is the celestial sphere a luminous body? Feels like some subterranean world, doesn’t it. Well, whatever—doesn’t really affect us either, so it’s fine. Any updates on Agirakana’s sudden surge in recruiting immigrants?”

“As I mentioned during yesterday’s meeting, the mainland Chinese have been actively using parts of Japan’s political and media circles to campaign against Agirakana. However, some experts have suggested that Agirakana might be preparing to withdraw—taking a certain number of Japanese with them, from Japan, or even from Earth.”

“Ah, interesting analysis. So that would precisely play into the mainland Chinese’s hands, wouldn’t it?”

“We may need to prepare for the reorganization of global order following Agirakana’s departure.”

“Specifically?”

If Agirakana’s unilateral defense obligations cease to exist, the long-suppressed potential for mainland China’s expansionism in the Pacific grows considerably.

To counter this, Japan’s defense posture must be strengthened. Unfortunately, our agents’ penetration into Japan’s political sphere and media remains significantly weaker than mainland China’s, so approaches from that direction seem unlikely. Therefore, I propose reinforcing the Seventh Fleet—redirecting aircraft carriers from the currently stable Middle East theater and integrating them into the Seventh Fleet.

“Direct military power, then. Costly, certainly. But we can’t allow mainland China to seize the economic sphere Japan has cultivated in Southeast Asia. Approved. Defense Minister, proceed accordingly. Secretary of State, handle coordination with relevant nations.”

“Understood.” “Yes, Mr. President.”

"Thinking about it now, handing Okinawa back to Japan really was a regrettable decision. Apparently, the Democratic administration had made so much progress on the matter that the next Republican administration couldn’t reverse it. The reason China’s been so bold on the mainland lately? That’s the result of the Democratic administration’s leniency toward the mainland. Those people can’t think beyond the immediate moment—they’re all short-term fixers.

Complaining about it now won’t change anything. Gentlemen, let’s get to work on what we can do for our State."

"Yes, Mr. President."

The National Security Council meeting, as always, was a formality.

[Promotion]

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'He Got a Spaceship—Turns Out, It Was a Star!?'. A silly SS, but feel free to check it out if you’re bored.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1640gj/

"Grasp the Galaxy in My Hands! — Prototype Event Probability Calculation Device X-PC17 —"

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https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0094gj/

Please enjoy.