I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 588 - 486: The Unaffordable Mobile Base

"A transport-type Mobile Base? That’s quite an interesting idea."

The leader from the last video call with Chen Xin, only this time Chen Xin had returned to the research center and was using the center’s communication equipment to talk with the leader.

Faced with such a positive attitude from the leader, Chen Xin naturally felt the plan’s likelihood of approval increased. So he unfolded the nanomolecules in his hand, projecting the transport-type Mobile Base he had designed over the past few days, and elaborately explained his entire plan to the leader.

"This is the transport-type Mobile Base I designed. Compared to previous models, I’ve made some adjustments to its internal structure." Chen Xin showcased his design to the leader and highlighted the modified parts for clarification: "The original vehicle garage at the bottom is retained, but here I’ve added an elevator to facilitate the transportation and loading of materials. The second deck connected by the elevator will be transformed into a large warehouse for storing goods."

Since it’s a transport-type Mobile Base, it naturally needs space for loading goods.

While designing the transport-type Mobile Base, Chen Xin had naturally considered this, extending the original length of the Mobile Base and moving the functional engine room to the stern of the vessel, placing it between the bottom deck and the second deck.

Then, moving personnel quarters and other living facilities to the top deck, thus freeing the entire second deck to serve as a cargo hold, comparable to a warehouse.

The personnel configuration in a transport-type Mobile Base is not as extensive as in battlefield support or medical types, allowing for a reduction in the size of the personnel quarters. Even after moving them to the top deck, they still fit, even though the hangar takes up more than half of the space.

Chen Xin spent several days on this, using system upgrades to optimize the blueprints. There were no flaws or issues in the plan itself.

"Since it’s a transport type, the onboard vehicles need corresponding adjustments. I’ve replaced the original all-terrain vehicles with newly designed transport vehicles, and reduced the hangar’s four multifunctional helicopters to one transport helicopter." Chen Xin continued to explain his adjustments to the Mobile Base to the leader.

Listening to Chen Xin’s explanation and watching the projected animation from the nanomolecules, the leader nodded with satisfaction.

However, even as the leader nodded, he furrowed his brow and said, "Although it looks quite impressive, according to your design, Academician Chen, this Mobile Base should be over a hundred meters long, right? Do we have the capability to build something this large? Is it necessary to build it?"

The leader’s questions seemed to press the pause button, causing an enthusiastic Chen Xin to stop his explanation abruptly.

Whether it can be built, the resources required for construction, whether the nation can afford such resource investment, and whether the end result could justify the resources invested—whether such a large investment is necessary...

Though these questions don’t seem directly related to the Mobile Base itself, they are crucial constraints on the implementation of Chen Xin’s plan and the practical deployment of the Mobile Base.

Is a Mobile Base useful? Of course, it is useful.

Is the Mobile Base practical? Certainly, it is practical.

But is it absolutely necessary to build a Mobile Base?

Not necessarily.

The Mobile Base is not something that absolutely must be built. In the current situation of Flame Country, having a Mobile Base would indeed make things better, but not having one wouldn’t necessarily make things worse.

Therefore, building a Mobile Base is not essential, especially when its construction costs are not cheap.

This is akin to the situation the Suyia faced when they built the precursor to the Mobile Base, the Land Cruiser, long ago.

Was this thing useful? It was useful, but not that useful.

And it was too expensive. With such an investment, it would be better to build a hundred or eighty tanks to form an armored division for the same purpose.

This is also why the Suyia decided to mothball the three Land Cruisers back then, because they really were too impractical.

Flame Country’s current situation is naturally not as dire, and after Chen Xin’s adjustments and upgrades, the Mobile Base could still be of significant use.

However, the high cost of investment makes it seem not so economically viable.

After all, Flame Country is currently in a precarious state. Although various aspects of the domestic situation are relatively optimistic, the overall circumstances remain severe, and the nation has not yet overcome the various impacts of disasters.

Especially after the recent Southwest earthquake, which was a heavy blow to Flame Country. Although it wasn’t catastrophic, it still significantly impacted the nation in the short term.

"I understand your point, leader. From the current situation, I believe building the Mobile Base is necessary," Chen Xin stated pragmatically without resorting to rhetorical strategies or exaggerations to persuade the leader. He elaborated: "The high investment and high cost of the Mobile Base are indeed its disadvantages, but relatively speaking, the maintenance cost of a transport-type Mobile Base is much lower than the current consumption of material transportation by traditional means in a region.

In the long run, this investment is worthwhile, and once the Mobile Base is successfully built, the returns from the investment will become apparent quickly.

The only issue is the construction of the Mobile Base itself, and whether the country can allocate sufficient resources to build it."

"Exactly, Academician Chen, your analysis is very thorough. The country is indeed facing difficulties now and cannot afford such a large investment in building the Mobile Base at the moment," the leader’s expression also turned somewhat helpless.

If Flame Country still had its pre-disaster industrial capacity, he wouldn’t have to consider so much before approving Chen Xin’s plan. But now, the country’s industrial production capabilities are still in recovery and indeed cannot support such an immense plan.

According to Chen Xin’s plan, each province would be equipped with a Mobile Base, with larger provinces getting more based on actual needs.

A single Mobile Base might not be too expensive; the country might be able to afford it, but over thirty units...

It’s akin to the investment required for two complete aircraft carrier battle groups, beyond what the country can currently bear.

The idea of first building one or two to improve conditions in some areas might be a compromise solution, but even this is not a minor undertaking. The impacts and involved matters still require careful consideration.

Even if the leader communicating with Chen Xin was in a high position of authority, he couldn’t easily decide on such a significant matter. After some thought, he said to Chen Xin, "Academician Chen, please further refine this transport-type Mobile Base design plan, detailing how to build it and the investment required for constructing one. We need to have a thorough discussion before making a decision."