Inside the temporary workshop in Night City, Osiris' tall, dark-red body stood before the temporary main control console, his crimson optical lenses locked onto the slowly rotating dimensional teleporter.
Several nimble mechanical tentacles silently extended from behind him and from beneath his robes, like precise tools with independent will, conducting initial simulations and parameter calibrations on the large portal array's energy circuits.
In Osiris' processor backend, data streams from the city management system flowed steadily, with various efficiency indicators steadily improving under mandatory regulations, though beneath the data lay widespread tension, suppression, and sporadic but quickly extinguished sparks of resistance.
He observed the initial results of these social experiments, but his current attention was entirely focused on the critical technical project at hand.
The stabilization and large-scale deployment of the dimensional teleporter was the nexus for connecting two worlds and mobilizing resources, making it the highest priority among all projects currently under Osiris' purview.
However, limited by the temporary workshop's site conditions, energy supply, and the physical property limits of local materials, the dimensional rift currently opened could still only sustain small-scale, short-duration passage, primarily for critical information transfer and the exchange of small materials, unable to support the trans-dimensional projection of large equipment or starships.
Following Osiris' command, a servo-skull projected a faint blue beam from its eye, precisely focusing on a point in space.
A low hum sounded, and the ozone smell in the air intensified sharply.
A subtle, continuously twisting and flickering faint blue rift was forcibly torn open, connecting the Cyberpunk World with the Death World base in the Warhammer Universe.
The discomfort caused by the stretching and distortion of spatial structures was clearly perceptible even to Osiris' heavily modified mechanical body.
On the other side of the rift, the Death World base's main control system immediately detected the channel establishment. Preset data packets, like a bursting dam, surged through the encrypted data link, instantly overloading Osiris' receiving array, and his processing core began to rapidly parse this torrent of information from another dimension.
Unlike star-language communication, which typically relies on the psychic abilities of Astropaths, where information is vague and fraught with subjective interference, this information stream carried ultra-light-speed communication from within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
This was a secret communication method within the Adeptus Mechanicus, but it came at a high cost, so even the Adeptus Mechanicus itself rarely used it.
However, it could transmit nearly lossless, structured, precise data, and was even faster than star-language communication.
Therefore, when important messages needed to be conveyed, the Adeptus Mechanicus would still use this method of communication.
The information stream Osiris received mainly contained two parts, the highest priority of which was the official communication from Archmagos Fabricator Kasper Vox of the Neksum Forge World, transmitted via this precious link.
"To Exploration Archmagos Osiris," Vox's voice came through, still carrying its characteristic composite texture even after trans-dimensional compression—the rasp of an elder mixed with electrical static, his tone formal yet with a hint of familiarity, "May the wisdom of the omnissiah continue to guide your explorations. We have just achieved a significant breakthrough."
"In accordance with our prior agreement and the foundational data you provided for the 'ancient logic core,' the Forge World's research team has completed the first round of prototyping." Subtle mechanical whirring sounds came from the communication's background, as if Vox was excitedly manipulating his mechanical tentacles, "This core… its potential is truly exhilarating."
Attached to the communication was a technical report summary and several recorded videos.
In the footage, a metal unit, approximately the size of a standard Cogitator core, was placed on an experimental base complying with the Adeptus Mechanicus' highest safety standards.
Its surface was etched with intricate, ancient patterns, distinctly different in style from common Cogitators, and the energy conduits subtly flowed with a light possessing a certain "activity," completely unlike the texture of ordinary data streams.
"Initial activation tests have been completed," Vox continued to explain, his tone carrying an excitement that was difficult to fully suppress after a technological breakthrough, "Its logic processing units have demonstrated super-expected parallel processing and pattern recognition efficiency.
When processing specific types of complex unstructured data—such as battlefield environment sensing, multi-variable production line optimization, or non-standard trajectory prediction—its response speed and optimization solution generation capability have increased by an average of 37.4 percent compared to standard Cogitator cores."
The report explicitly stated that the core had passed the highest level of joint appraisal within the Forge World.
Logic Sages and doctrinal inquisitors unanimously concluded: although its operational mode presented an "ancient style" and its logical pathways exhibited "non-standard deviations," its essence belonged to a "highly complex automated logic unit," operating entirely within a preset parameter framework, and possessed no "self-awareness" or "independent intent."
"The review has passed, Osiris," Vox's voice carried a rare warmth, "This is a gift from the omnissiah. Our forges will rekindle the glory of old."
This conclusion clearly drew an insurmountable red line with "Abominable Intelligence," clearing the biggest doctrinal obstacle for subsequent applications.
"Based on the successful prototype," Vox shifted the topic to practical engineering, his voice still carrying an unwaning exhilaration, "in accordance with the agreement, the construction of the NXS-07 lunar class cruiser has officially restarted, with its priority set as second highest, only after the production of the ancient logic core.
At this moment, I can hear the construction canticles resounding anew in the orbital dock, and the stagnant gears have begun to turn once more."
"Currently, the dock's basic maintenance and energy supply have been fully restored, and the construction sequence, dormant for a century, has been reactivated. The main keel has completed inspection and reinforcement, and approximately forty percent of the original structure is undergoing non-destructive testing and necessary upgrades."
The footage switched to a real-time view of the orbital dock.
Compared to Osiris' last visit, activity within this stellar-ring framework had significantly increased: more Tech-Priest teams piloting repair platforms traversed between the hull's skeletal structure, the scope of Servitor cleaning operations expanded, and the frequency of welding sparks noticeably increased.
Giant gantry cranes were lifting and positioning prefabricated structural components.
Although the overall progress was still in its early stages, the long-standing stillness had been replaced by a slow but steady momentum of revival.
"Based on current resource allocation and production line load calculations," Vox provided the key timeline, "if there are no major subsequent resource supply interruptions and no force majeure interferences, it is estimated that within three standard years, the NXS-07 will complete basic structural construction and core system integration, reaching the minimum standard for short-range voyages out of the dock."
Subsequently, Vox raised the core inquiry of this communication: "Osiris, the construction template for a standard lunar class forge ship has been loaded into the main control Cogitator. Given that this is your exclusive flagship, the Forge World respects your personalized requirements.
Do you need to propose special adjustment plans for the battleship's basic structure, internal compartment division, or non-core system configurations?"
His mechanical tentacles emitted an expectant hum: "Let us jointly forge this vessel that can carry the hope of Neksum's revival. Of course, if there are no special requirements, we will strictly follow the standard template to advance the construction process, ensuring the stability of the schedule and quality control."