Iron Blood Fleet, a meeting room on a command ship.
"Lord Bismarck, my apology for my rudeness and lack of intelligence. I cannot understand the meaning of this operation" said Z23. "First we sent our precious Roon who was in the pseudo-state but she got captured. The Royal Navy's actions seem to buy time until their reinforcement. Now we must attack the replenished Royal Navy?" She holds her forehead, she still has countless questions she wants to ask.
"I understand your feeling," reassured Prinz Eugen, touching Z23's shoulder.
Bismarck already knew the disgraceful result when she first saw the order. What makes the Bundestag order such ineffective actions? Yes, Roon managed to force the Royal Navy to spend their already limited resources. However, the enemy commander's tactics drew her into the deep part of the formation, inflict severe damage on her, and captured her.
Just what benefit do Roon's injuries benefit Iron Blood?
"Bismarck, don't tell me this entire operation is for collecting data," asked Eugen
Bismarck slightly looks away, not facing Eugen. This means she indirectly agrees with what Eugen asked.
"Data? But what data… wait," Z23 realized the data they can yield in this situation.
Roon's battle against the Royal Navy and the upcoming attack they will commence involves combat, tactics, logistics, etc.
Those actions yield combat data for constructing PR ships.
"The shipyard research requires combat data for Friedrich der Große (FDG for short)," admitted Bismarck.
"I saw the blueprint of her, she does seem extremely powerful, but we are essentially sacrificing Roon for those combat data," said Eugen.
"Not just about the combat data," Bismarck interrupted. She opens a small but combination-locked case and then takes out a green sphere.
"This object looks… familiar," said Z23.
"I sense the same energy from the pseudo-stones, but more powerful." impressed Graf Zeppelin.
"This is the next generation pseudo-stone. The Bundestag intends to put it onto FDG. According to those engineers' calculations, the current pseudo-stone can only raise her development level to 15, which cannot display even half of her theoretical power."
"But those stones take away the wearer's mind. I heard she excels in military tactics and information analysis. Wouldn't it destroy her purpose?" asked Z23
"This is their untested theory, apparently this new generation can allow logical thinking and predictions. However, the wearer doesn't show emotions and compassion to allies. She only considers bringing victory, no matter the cost.
So the wearers still take mental effects from the stone, except they evolved from dolls to robots with artificial intelligence. A major step from the current generation but still a twisted object.
"Those engineers and scientists urge us to collect combat data for her," said Bismarck
Everyone thinks for a few moments. Soon, pseudo-stones will become part of Iron Blood's core power.
"We have talked long enough. Remember our objectives are different from usual," concluded Bismarck