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Once the installation was complete, a system program appeared on the screen, displaying a pie chart along with several other graphs.

The charts indicated the charging progress of the eight batteries docked in the machine, each as large as a crate.

These batteries were now ready to be recharged using the lightning.

Each battery was numbered, allowing the engineers to easily track which ones were nearly fully charged and which still had some way to go.

There was also a tab allowing them to run a diagnostic on the batteries to ensure there were no issues before they were put into use.

Each battery was capable of powering a large building for a full week once activated.

This made Kisha raise an eyebrow, recognizing the immense potential of the project.

With the Advanced Solar Panels still on hold due to a shortage of materials, this new energy source could be a crucial solution for now.

"Did you get the inspiration for this from the Advanced Solar Panel blueprint?" Kisha asked suddenly, her gaze fixed on Engineer Steel.

Engineer Steel rubbed the tip of his nose sheepishly, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"That’s right! The blueprint was so advanced, but it required rare materials we don’t have enough of yet. So, my team and I had the idea to adapt some of that technology into this machine, using the materials we currently have available."

His expression shifted to one of concern, and he looked at Kisha with a mix of regret and apology.

"But City Lord, I must apologize. I used some of the precious materials you allocated for the Advanced Solar Panel to help build this machine."

"It’s alright," Kisha said with a reassuring smile.

"Since it will take time to finish the solar panel, we can go with the second-best option for now. With this, we can conserve our fuel and reserve it for the vehicles we use to gather supplies."

"After all, our fuel is limited, but lightning is unpredictable—it can strike anytime. If we don’t get a thunderstorm, the Vice City Lord can always use his lightning-type awakened ability to power the pole, and we’ll never run out of electricity."

She finished with a teasing tone, a thought of her husband bringing a smile to her lips.

’I miss him,’ Kisha thought, her gaze drifting to the pole.

Hearing that Kisha didn’t blame them, Engineer Steel felt a mix of guilt and relief.

His resolve, however, grew stronger.

He was more determined than ever to ensure that he and Dr. Shuveck finished the Advanced Solar Panel.

They were nearly done studying the blueprint and had already drawn so much inspiration from it that they were now discussing plans to build other machines that would undoubtedly be beneficial for their base.

Once his guilt had subsided, Engineer Steel returned his focus to the laptop, running a program to perform a thorough diagnostic on each battery and the pole, checking for any potential issues.

When the tests were complete, the team carefully moved the trailer to a safer distance from the Central Hall and covered it with a reflective tarp to prevent any accidental lightning strikes.

Next, they entered the small building next to the Central Hall, where Engineer Steel pushed the laptop onto a window sill.

The laptop was still connected to a tangle of cords. Kisha followed them inside, taking in the sight of the room. It was already neatly arranged, filled with an array of computers and machines.

"This is...?" Kisha asked, glancing around the room.

"This will be the operation room for the electricity systems, where everything will be maintained and monitored," Engineer Steel explained. "Once the solar panels are up and running, this will continue to serve as the operation room."

Kisha glanced around again and noticed several backup batteries scattered about.

Seeing her gaze, Engineer Steel quickly explained, "Once the batteries docked in the machine are fully recharged, we can replace them with these empty ones and repeat the process."

"This way, we can avoid overcharging the batteries and preventing them from exploding, while also making sure we don’t waste any of the lightning’s energy."

"We’ll be able to recharge as many batteries as possible. However, with our current resources, this is all we can manage for now."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Meanwhile, Dr. Shuveck and his team are busy working on the fuse that will allow us to dock the batteries and connect them to the base, so we can power our small city with them."

Once he finished explaining, Engineer Steel looked proud of their accomplishment.

Even Kisha was taken aback by their progress; she had always assumed they were simply busy studying the blueprints.

She couldn’t hide the confusion on her usually stone-cold face, and Engineer Steel noticed it immediately.

"The Vice City Lord helped plan this with us while we were studying the Advanced Solar Panel blueprint."

"When we realized it would take time to complete the solar panel, we decided to pivot and design a different machine using the same technology but with materials we already had on hand."

"We started working on it the day after we received the blueprint, and the idea was inspired by the Vice City Lord himself."

Engineer Steel wasn’t trying to flatter anyone; he was simply expressing his admiration for Duke’s intelligence and quick decision-making.

He couldn’t help but praise him, which made Kisha smile proudly.

After all, what Duke and the others had accomplished had been a huge benefit to the base.

Thanks to their efforts, the survivors now had access to heaters and air conditioners when needed most in extreme climates.

Plus, they could conserve fuel by powering the Supply Center with these batteries instead.

Kisha nodded in appreciation as she took in the small building, now transformed into their makeshift electricity department, poised to power the entire base.

Before long, Dr. Shuveck and his team arrived.

"We’ve finished the installation," he said, excitement in his voice.

When they heard that a thunderstorm was approaching—just as they were wondering how to test the machine—their energy shifted.

They immediately sprang into action, running around the base to prepare for the test. This would be the initial trial to see if the machine performed as they had hoped.

This was a crucial moment for them.

Initially, they had planned to ask the Vice City Lord to be their test subject, to channel lightning into the pole as agreed upon during the planning stage.

However, he had to leave just as they were finishing the machine, which was still in its prototype phase.

It felt as though the gods were giving them a chance to test it out.

The test was essential, as it would allow them to gather data and identify necessary adjustments.

Moreover, a thunderstorm was the perfect opportunity to do so, as the machine was specifically designed to harness lightning, while the solar panels were still in progress, awaiting some key components.

"Did you create a fuse for the entire base?" Kisha asked.

"Not yet, City Lord. Currently, we’ve only created a fuse for the Central Hall and the Supply Center."

"This is still a prototype, and we need more data. Once we’ve gathered and analyzed the results from this experiment, and if it proves successful, we’ll begin connecting the electric wiring from within the base to the main fuse, powered by these batteries recharged using lightning."