When all members of Maine's crew completed their upgrades and reassembled in Osiris' lab testing area, the entire team's aura had undergone a drastic transformation.
Although Osiris adhered to the principle of "retaining human form as much as possible," not transforming them into the completely non-human forms of the Skitarii Corps, their cybernetic augmentation, exceeding seventy percent, and the widespread use of ceramic steel and plastisteel casings, made each of them exude a strong Adeptus Mechanicus style.
The dark metallic luster, the sturdy and practical armor plates, the faintly visible binary prayer etchings, and the low hum of the plasma reactors operating within their bodies, all made them distinctly different from the neon-flashing, fashion-conscious cyborgs of Night City.
They were more like a warband from another world, cold, efficient, and born for war.
Maine stood at the front of the team, his new ceramic steel left arm heavy and steady, the integrated melta-gun muzzle radiating a dangerous aura.
He tentatively channeled energy, and the armor plate on the outer side of his left arm slid open, revealing the complex jet mechanism beneath, as a waft of warm air mixed with the scent of chemical fuel spread out.
He could feel the steady and powerful output of the plasma reactor in his chest, far surpassing his previous energy cells.
Rebecca excitedly moved her new body, savoring the long-lost feeling of having to slightly tilt her head to meet Pilar's gaze.
The plasma bombard on her back was heavy and reliable; even in standby mode, the air around its muzzle could be seen subtly distorting from the high temperature.
She tried a few tactical maneuvers, finding her new limbs coordinated and powerful, which immensely satisfied her.
Dorio's appearance changed the least, but when she bent slightly and punched a high-strength alloy plate used for testing, the sudden loud bang and the subsequent melta effect clearly demonstrated the terrifying power contained within her body.
Her fist left a charred, molten-edged dent.
Pilar brandished his even more agile and powerful long arms, the promethium-filled fuel tanks on his back giving him a strong sense of security.
Falco pushed up his sunglasses; in his perception, the world seemed to slow down a few more beats, every detail crystal clear.
Morris stood quietly to the side; her modifications were already the most extensive, and after this optimization, her aura became even more restrained and dangerous, like a sharp blade hidden in its sheath.
"How do you feel?" Maine asked in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over his team members.
"Never been better!" Rebecca answered first, vigorously waving her fist, creating a whoosh of air, "This height, this strength, this cannon! It's awesome!"
Dorio nodded, concisely stating, "More power."
Pilar chuckled, "Now I can burn things to my heart's content!"
Falco calmly responded, "Control has improved a lot; I feel more confident in handling complex situations."
Maine looked at his revitalized team members, his heart filled with confidence.
The strength of this team had far exceeded the capabilities of any top mercenary team in Night City. They were no longer just street fighters but true war machines.
Osiris' figure appeared on the high platform of the testing area, his crimson optical lenses looking down at the transformed team below.
"The upgrade is complete," his synthesized voice echoed in the empty testing ground, "Your current equipment and bodies have initially met the standards for dealing with multi-dimensional risks. But this is just the beginning; familiarize yourselves with your new power and refine new tactics.
The 'iron guard' project requires test data, and Death World Base also needs regular patrols and clean-up. Next, corresponding missions will be assigned to you."
His words contained no excessive encouragement, only an emphasis on efficiency and practicality.
Maine, on behalf of all members, solemnly nodded to Osiris: "Understood, Boss. We will master the new equipment as quickly as possible and be ready at any time."
Osiris nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to leave the testing area.
— —
Just as Maine's crew was familiarizing themselves with their brand-new steel bodies, the first two official test prototypes of the "iron guard" project were also assembled in the designated foundry workshop.
The two machines stood side by side, their dark red paint, heavy and angular armor, and the prominent gear and binary runes on their shoulders, symbolizing Osiris' faction, made them exude an undeniable sense of oppression even when static.
They were already significantly different in appearance from the experimental model Valerie had previously piloted, being closer to the standard form in the blueprints Osiris provided to Archmagos Vox.
However, beneath this unified exterior were two distinct control cores.
One was prepared for Valerie, continuing and optimizing the deep neural interface she was accustomed to, aiming for ultimate human-machine integration and reaction speed.
The other was configured for Jackie Welles, using a hybrid mode combining a traditional multi-function cockpit with physical joysticks and an auxiliary sensory suit, focusing more on intuitive operation and adaptability for pilots without deep neural modification.
Osiris did not let these two cutting-edge pieces of equipment remain merely on the testing ground.
He quickly issued new orders: Maine's crew, along with Valerie and Jackie, would escort these two "iron guard" prototypes to a nearby Hive City named Vista Prima to conduct a live-fire data collection mission.
The mission brief was directly conveyed by Sekhmet.
Before the holographic star map projecting a cross-section of Vista Prima, resembling a giant metal beehive, she coldly stated the objective.
"According to limited intelligence from the local Adeptus Arbites and the Ecclesiarchy, an heretical cult has spawned in a deserted industrial zone in the lower levels of the Hive City... Lord Magos believes that purging such filth and simultaneously collecting 'iron guard' combat data from both driving modes during this process is a win-win."
"Valerie," Sekhmet added, turning her gaze to her, "Your mission is to evaluate the extreme performance and data feedback of the neural interface system in complex combat environments.
Jackie Welles, your duty is to verify the reliability, ease of use, and tactical adaptability of the standard driving mode."
Maine and the others listened quietly.
Chaos cults—this was a completely new concept for them.
In Night City, enemies were usually corporate armed forces, gang members, or cyberpsychos, their motives mostly clear: profit, territory, or pure madness.
But phenomena involving worship of extradimensional evil gods, possibly accompanied by supernatural powers, were beyond their scope of experience.
A mix of apprehension and excitement permeated the team.
Apprehension stemmed from an instinctive wariness of an unknown enemy, while excitement came from a strong urge to test their new power and a desire to step onto a broader battlefield.
"Remember," Osiris' voice cut in through the comms link, his synthesized voice echoing in the briefing room, "You will be facing more than just armed thugs. The corruption of Chaos is insidious and ever-changing, potentially involving psychic influence and the distortion of physical laws.
Maintain absolute willpower, and utilize the advantages your new equipment grants you—overwhelming firepower, superior protection, and efficient killing effectiveness.
Valerie, your mission is to ensure complete data collection for the 'iron guard' prototype in complex environments. Maine, command is in your hands; ensure the mission is completed and bring everyone back safely."
"Understood, Boss," everyone responded in unison.