Chapter 236: Passing the Review
Inside the temporary workshop in Night City, Joric's tall, dark red body stood before the makeshift main console. His crimson optical lenses locked onto the slowly rotating Dimension Teleporter.
Several dexterous mechadendrites extended silently from behind his back and under his robes, like precision tools with wills of their own, performing preliminary simulations and parameter calibrations on the energy circuits of the large-scale portal array.
In the background of Joric's processor, data streams from the city management system flowed steadily. Under forced regulation, various efficiency indicators were rising steadily, despite the widespread tension, repression, and sporadic but swiftly extinguished sparks of resistance hidden beneath the data.
He maintained observation of these preliminary social experiment results, but his current attention was fully focused on the key technical project at hand.
The stabilization and up-scaling of the Dimension Teleporter was the hub connecting the two worlds and mobilizing resources. Its priority was the highest among all projects currently in Joric's hands.
However, limited by the temporary workshop's site conditions, energy supply, and the physical limits of local materials, the dimension rift opened at this moment could still only maintain small-scale, short-duration passage. It was primarily used for transmitting key information and exchanging small items, unable to support the cross-dimensional projection of large equipment or starships.
With Joric's command, the Servo-skull projected a ghostly blue beam from its eyes, focusing precisely on a point in space.
A low hum sounded, and the smell of ozone in the air intensified abruptly.
A fine, ghostly blue rift with constantly twisting and flickering edges was forcibly torn open, connecting the Cyberpunk world with the Death World base in the Warhammer universe.
Even Joric's heavily modified mechanical body could clearly perceive the discomfort brought by the stretching and twisting of the spatial structure.
Across the rift, the main control system of the Death World base immediately detected the channel establishment. Preset data packets surged through the encrypted data link like floodwaters bursting a dam. Joric's receiving array was instantly fully loaded, and his processing core began to parse this torrent of information from another dimension at high speed.
Unlike Astropathic communication, which relied on telepathy, was vague, and full of subjective interference, this information stream carried Faster-Than-Light (FTL) communication from within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
This was a secret communication method within the Mechanicus, but due to its high cost, even the Mechanicus itself rarely used it.
However, it could transmit nearly lossless, structured, precise data, and was even faster than astropathic messages.
Therefore, when transmitting critical information, the Mechanicus would still utilize this method.
The information stream received by Joric contained two main parts. The highest priority was a formal communication transmitted through this precious link from Fabricator Locum Casper Volks of the Forge World Nexum.
"To Explorator Magos Joric," Volks's voice came through. Even after cross-dimensional compression, it still carried that unique mixed texture—an old man's huskiness mixed with electric static, the tone revealing a hint of familiarity within the formulaic speech. "May the wisdom of the Omnissiah continue to guide your exploration. We have just achieved a significant breakthrough."
"In accordance with our previous agreement and the foundational data of the 'Ancient Logic Core' you provided, the research team of the Forge World has completed the first round of trial production." The faint sound of mechanical operation came from the communication background, as if Volks was excitedly moving his mechadendrites. "This core... the potential it displays is inspiring."
Attached to the message was a technical report summary and several recording segments.
In the footage, a metal unit about the size of a standard Cogitator core was placed on an experimental pedestal meeting the highest security standards of the Mechanicus.
The patterns etched on its surface were complex and ancient, distinct in style from common Cogitators. A light possessing a certain "vitality" flowed faintly at the energy conduit connections, completely different from the texture of ordinary data streams.
"Preliminary activation tests are complete," Volks continued to explain, his tone carrying excitement difficult to fully suppress after a technological breakthrough. "Its logic processing unit demonstrates parallel processing and pattern recognition efficiency exceeding expectations.
"When processing specific types of complex unstructured data—such as battlefield environment perception, multi-variable production line optimization, or non-standard ballistic prediction—its response speed and optimization solution generation capability show an average increase of 37.4% compared to standard Cogitator cores."
The report explicitly stated that the core had passed the highest-level joint appraisal within the Forge World.
Magos Logis and Doctrinal Censors unanimously determined: Although its operational mode presented an "ancient style" and logical paths contained "non-standard deviations," its essence belonged to a "highly complex automated logic unit." It operated entirely within the framework of preset parameters and possessed no "self-awareness" or "independent intent."
"The review passed, Joric," Volks's voice carried rare warmth. "This is the grace of the Omnissiah. Our forges will rekindle the glory of the past."
This conclusion clearly drew an insurmountable red line separating it from "Abominable Intelligence," clearing the biggest doctrinal obstacle for subsequent applications.
"Based on the success of the trial production," Volks turned the topic to actual engineering, his voice still vibrant with excitement. "Per the agreement, the construction of the NXS-07 Lunar-class Cruiser has formally restarted. Priority is set to second, second only to the production of Ancient Logic Cores.
"At this moment, I can hear the construction hymns ringing once again in the orbital shipyards. The gears that have been stagnant start turning again."
"Currently, basic maintenance and energy supply for the shipyard have been fully restored. Construction sequences stagnant for a century have been reactivated. The main keel has completed inspection and reinforcement. Approximately 40% of the original structure is undergoing non-destructive testing and necessary upgrades."
The image switched to a real-time feed of the orbital shipyard.
Compared to what Joric saw last time, activity within this star-ring skeleton had increased significantly: more Tech-Priest engineering teams drove maintenance platforms shuttling between the ship's skeleton; the operational range of cleaning Servitors expanded; the frequency of welding sparks increased noticeably.
Giant gantry cranes were hoisting prefabricated structural components into position.
Although overall progress was still in the early stages, the dead silence of long-term idleness had been replaced by a slow but firm momentum of recovery.
"Based on current resource allocation and production line load calculations," Volks gave a key timeline. "If subsequent resource supply suffers no major interruptions and no force majeure interference occurs, it is estimated that within three standard years, NXS-07 will complete basic structural construction and core system integration, reaching the minimum standard for short-range navigation detached from the shipyard."
Subsequently, Volks posed the core inquiry of this communication: "Joric, the construction template for a standard Lunar-class Cruiser has been loaded into the master 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 warship's basic structure, internal compartment division, or non-core system configurations?"
His mechadendrites emitted an expectant hum. "Let us forge this ship capable of carrying the hope of Nexum's revival together. Of course, if there are no special requirements, we will proceed strictly according to the standard template to ensure stability in construction schedule and quality control."
(End of Chapter)