After Maine received the clear and urgent request from Inquisitor Kairas, he dared not delay and once again connected with Osiris, who was far away on Neksum Forge World, through an encrypted communication link.
The moment the communication connected, there was an extremely brief silence in the channel, followed by Osiris' voice, processed by a synthesizer yet still revealing a hint of displeasure from being interrupted during his work: "Maine. Is the mission not over yet? I hope this communication brings a final report, not another on-site issue for me to arbitrate."
Beneath that steady tone was an extreme demand for efficiency.
Maine immediately realized that multiple requests for the same mission within a short period had already caused dissatisfaction from the Magos.
He quickly organized his thoughts and reported the core situation in the most concise manner: "Magos, the target Chaos Sorcerer and the summoned Warp entities have been eliminated.
Inquisitor Kairas witnessed the combat performance of the 'iron guard' prototype on-site; he showed strong interest in the equipment and formally submitted a procurement request.
He wishes to communicate with you directly to discuss this matter."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the channel, with only faint data stream static, as if Osiris was rapidly retrieving relevant data or conducting a logical assessment.
Seconds later, his voice rang out again, the displeasure seemingly dissipated, replaced by a cautious concern: "Connect him."
Maine immediately granted temporary communication access to Inquisitor Kairas.
"Greetings, Magos Osiris." Inquisitor Kairas' voice came through the communicator, and despite maintaining a formalized respect, the urgency contained within was not completely masked. "I am Inquisitor Kairas. It is an honor to establish contact with you under these... special circumstances.
I must state directly, the power armor system equipped by your subordinate squad, referred to as 'iron guard,' demonstrated astonishing effectiveness in the recent battle to eliminate heretics."
He paused slightly, seemingly organizing his words to ensure they were appropriate for communication between the Inquisition and the Adeptus Mechanicus, while also being sufficiently impactful.
"Its demonstrated firepower, protective capabilities, and especially the almost astartes-level reaction and close-combat ability that the neural-linked model erupted with at the critical moment, completely turned the tide of battle.
The Inquisition constantly faces threats from across the galaxy and urgently needs equipment of this kind that can significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of elite mortal forces.
I formally represent myself and my faction in expressing an intent to procure this equipment.
If it can be equipped to my Stormtroopers squad, it will greatly enhance our efficiency in hunting and purifying heretics."
Osiris' synthesized voice responded steadily, without much emotional fluctuation, but his wording was more direct and pragmatic: "Inquisitor Kairas, thank you for your interest in the 'iron guard' project.
To gain the recognition of the Inquisition is, in itself, an affirmation of the practical value of this technology."
He then shifted the topic, moving into the realm of technical discussion: "However, I must clearly state that the 'iron guard' project is currently still in the engineering testing and data collection phase.
The two you just saw are the only complete prototypes; their design is not yet finalized, some subsystems still require optimization, and they are still some distance from meeting the Inquisition's demand for large-scale, standardized deployment.
At this stage, I cannot promise to provide mass-produced finished products."
This answer did not surprise the Inquisitor; he clearly understood the development cycle of cutting-edge equipment. He immediately pressed on: "Then, Magos, is there a possibility of cooperation before the project is finally finalized? The Inquisition is willing to provide necessary assistance during this process."
Osiris seemed to have anticipated this question and immediately proposed an alternative solution: "Cooperation is feasible. I can provide you with a small number of early test models, for example, three to five prototypes, for combat testing by a designated, reliable Stormtroopers unit under your command.
In exchange, the Inquisition must assist our side in collecting complete combat data in diverse combat environments, including the limits of the machine's performance, adaptability in different tactical contexts, maintenance requirements, and pilot feedback.
This data is crucial for the finalization of the 'Iron Guard.'"
Inquisitor Kairas responded with almost no hesitation: "Yes! This plan is entirely feasible. To be able to preferentially obtain and test such powerful equipment is already a great advantage for me and my team.
Data collection will be strictly carried out according to your requirements, and the Inquisition has extensive experience in recording and analyzing combat information."
His tone carried clear satisfaction.
Although they were only test models, the proven power of the "Iron Guard" in actual combat was undeniable.
Even with only a few units, assigned to the most elite Stormtroopers squad, they would be sufficient to play a decisive role in high-risk missions, reducing casualties and increasing mission success rates.
This was extremely appealing to an Inquisitor fighting on the brutal front lines.
Next, the Inquisitor turned the conversation to a detail he was most concerned about, his tone filled with undisguised curiosity and inquiry: "Magos, there is another critical question.
That neural-linked 'iron guard,' in the final moments of the battle, displayed incredible instantaneous acceleration and precise killing ability, its movements so swift and fluid that they even surpassed most servitor constructs.
I would like to understand, how can an ordinary mortal pilot truly master this... beyond-the-limit performance?
Can all pilots of neural-linked models achieve a similar level?"
Osiris' response was clear and direct, revealing the key: "The astonishing performance you described is the result of multiple factors superimposed. The inherent performance of the 'iron guard' prototype itself is the objective foundation.
The pilot possessing excellent combat talent, neural reflex speed, and the psychological quality to remain calm under extreme pressure are subjective conditions.
But the most crucial factor is that she has a specially customized 'Sandevistan' type neural acceleration cybernetic implant within her."
He further explained, his tone like stating a technical parameter: "This cybernetic implant can greatly increase the user's neural signal transmission speed in a short period, and in her subjective perception, the flow of external time will significantly slow down, theoretically by over seventy percent.
When she synchronizes with the 'iron guard' system through a deep neural connection, this acceleration effect is partially mapped to the machine's reaction core, thereby achieving the extraordinary dynamic performance you witnessed."
The Inquisitor listened intently. He was not entirely unfamiliar with concepts like "Sandevistan" and "neural acceleration"; the Inquisition's archives contained records of various technologies for enhancing human capabilities, including some forbidden domains.
What Osiris described was simply a type of cybernetic modification technology he had not heard of before.