Chapter 25: Adamantium Combat Suit
Lucan wasn't worried about the Medic gun and its nanites being reverse-engineered.
Although the technology within the Medic gun was advanced, what was truly powerful was Lucan himself combined with the equipment produced by the System-granted Barracks. The two were indispensable.
If the Mechanicus truly managed to directly crack and copy the technology, then this Medic gun would just be an ordinary piece of tech.
Not only its effects but also its efficiency would be greatly diminished. Only a Medic gun produced by the Barracks or wielded by a Medic warped in by Lucan could achieve the in-game effects.
"The sample I provide has this effect. Whether you can research it, or if what you build can match mine, that's not my concern. If it can't, that just means your technology isn't up to par."
After personally experiencing the miraculous effects of the healing ray, Otis immediately became interested in this technology. Although machine spirits existed, he had never seen technology that could repair both flesh and metal with such rapid efficiency.
"What do you require, Rogue Trader!"
"I need a cruiser. Any class will do."
"A cruiser? Impossible! Every cruiser is a precious asset of the Explorator Fleet!"
"I trust you understand how valuable this technology is, Magos? A cruiser is not an excessive demand!"
"Impossible. Cruisers, even within the Explorator Fleet, are not items that can be casually traded! Perhaps it could be exchanged for two frigates. If you are willing, the Mechanicus can compensate you in other ways. We can refit these two frigates with more powerful void shields, engines, and lances, and also upgrade their armor plating.
If you require naval munitions, we can also provide them to you free of charge in the future!"
After some haggling with Otis, Lucan knew this was the best deal he could secure at this time.
If he could directly provide the principles behind the technology, perhaps Otis would have agreed without hesitation.
But he could only provide samples; Lucan himself couldn't explain the principles clearly even if asked.
"Alright, but I still need some other resources."
"Resources? What kind of resources do you require?"
"Could you provide me with a list of what you are able to trade with me?"
After Lucan finished speaking, Otis immediately began searching his cranial databanks.
Then, a servo-skull that had been lurking nearby projected a holographic image.
All the mineral resources he was authorized to trade were listed on it.
"These are all the mineral resources within my authority to trade. Once you have selected the resources you desire, I will convert them into a reasonable quantity for our transaction."
Lucan examined it carefully.
Plasteel, adamantium, phlogiston, promethium, ceramite – most were common minerals and energy resources widely used throughout the Imperium.
Lucan had learned from Verre that the Dynasty also had resource points for mining, but since they couldn't even return to the capital world now, those minerals couldn't just fly over.
Lucan actually wanted to exchange for a large amount of adamantium, but after hearing Otis's conversion rates, he immediately gave up. This material had low production but high demand. It was difficult to refine, yet it was used extensively in warship keels, rams, and armor.
Even for the Adeptus Mechanicus, it was a vital resource that required strict control.
He thought of the "corn" (likely a metaphor for something precious or abundant if it's a typo, or perhaps something specific to the original text's context) inside the Imperial Palace on Terra, and how the power armor worn by the God-Emperor's Custodes was made of auramite, which was even stronger than adamantium. The truly terrifying aspect was processing auramite to such a fine degree.
But Lucan thought about it and hadn't seen anyone who could process adamantium to such a fine degree either.
After a round of bargaining, Lucan still chose to exchange for a very small amount of adamantium, along with large quantities of ceramite and plasteel.
Plasteel would be used to produce combat suits for trade, the sturdier ceramite would be used to arm Lucan's own warriors, and the small amount of adamantium would be used by Lucan to forge his own personal combat suit and to equip his most trusted warriors.
If the Barracks' production rules held true, it should be able to process even adamantium!
Both parties reached an agreement on the terms of the trade.
"Rogue Trader, the Mechanicus transport ships will soon deliver the supplies you require to the port. The warships will also arrive shortly. Please send someone to receive them."
"Magos Otis, samples of the CMC-400, CMC-660, and the C-14 rifle will be delivered along with your transport ships. You may take this Medic gun with you now!"
Otis picked up the box with a mechadendrite. He didn't want to stay a minute longer; he was eager to return to his own forge to study this item thoroughly.
After seeing Otis off, Lucan looked at the cargo manifest.
"This adamantium is enough to make five combat suits. The ceramite is enough to arm ten companies of Raiders. And the cheapest plasteel is probably enough for several days of full-throttle production!"
Looking at the two deals concluded today, Lucan felt he had completely resolved the most pressing issues at hand.
"Verre! Get some food and drinks! Let's celebrate!"
It had to be said, the Adeptus Mechanicus was remarkably efficient. The Explorator Fleet was practically the largest Mechanicus organization here. They didn't need the tedious and lengthy approval processes of the Departmento Interno or the Departmento Munitorum; they could directly allocate all their own resources.
As soon as the exchange of goods was complete, Lucan eagerly took a shuttle back to the Golden Ram.
At this moment, the warship's repairs were proceeding at an extremely rapid pace. Over a hundred SCVs were carrying out repair work in various parts of the ship. Given the SCVs' efficiency, it was estimated that the repairs to the Golden Ram could be completed in about 10 days. The remaining half-month could then be used to repair the frigates provided by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
And Lucan actually saw a group of Tech-Priests and artisans, led by Pavian, chanting hymns to the Omnissiah around the SCVs.
They lit sacred incense, attempting to gain the attention of the machine spirits and please them.
The Tech-Priests and artisans on this voidship had begun to deify the SCVs, believing them to be a miracle of the Omnissiah, and referred to them as "Holy Machines."
Hearing Verre's report, Lucan learned that a nascent, entirely new branch of Machine Cult faith was even slowly emerging among these Tech-Priests.
Hearing of Lucan's arrival, Pavian dropped all his work and waited for Lucan in the forge workshop.
"Great Captain, the Omnissiah is with you! I hear you wish to create a brand-new combat suit? Please allow me to complete this sacred step!"
"Then I'll trouble you, Pavian."
"It is my honor!"
When the adamantium, transported by servitors, was fed into the Barracks, the facility immediately began to operate.
This time, the production was much slower, taking a full three hours before a CMC-400 combat suit made of adamantium was presented before them all.
Looking at the entirely gleaming, golden combat suit appearing before him, Lucan was almost blinded.
Pavian was stunned once more… He felt as if he was perpetually underestimating the STC before him.
He eagerly transported the suit of armor to the testing grounds to verify its strength.
Lasguns, C-14s, chainswords, autocannons, flamers, and even grenade launchers could not inflict significant damage upon it.
As long as the user could withstand the impact trauma, the strength of this adamantium armor was practically maxed out.
"If I wear this now, wouldn't my physical and 'magical' resistance be maxed out? Could the value of this combat suit be comparable to that of a Custodes', worth an entire planet? Maybe not a planet for mine, but a hive city would do! Though, there's one slight issue: this gleaming gold is far too ostentatious. Pavian, have the paint job on this suit changed to black!"
Lucan still maintained his principle of not showing off too much during the early stages of development. If news of him casually producing adamantium combat suits got out now, it was estimated that Lucan and his Dynasty would be utterly destroyed within a few days.
(End of Chapter)