Days after Inquisitor Kairas' departure, the Neksum Forge World seemed to return to its usual rhythm, but within Osiris' private research facility, a subtle change had already occurred.
Resources began to be increasingly allocated to the 'iron guard' project, the designated Tech-Priest team became busier, and the sounds of equipment calibration from deep within the laboratory became much more frequent.
After handling the preliminary matters of cooperation with the Inquisition, Osiris took the time to review the complete report, compiled by Sekhmet, on Maine's crew's mission in the Vista Prima Hive City.
This included combat logs, chassis data, and post-mission statements.
He calmly analyzed the data.
Soon after, all members of Maine's crew, along with Valerie and Jackie, were summoned to the main hall of the laboratory.
Osiris' massive dark red body stood in the center, his crimson optical lenses sweeping over the people standing below.
The traces of their modifications were more apparent in the cold light of the laboratory, radiating a steady aura after being tempered by war, but also carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of estrangement from their memories having been interfered with.
"I have reviewed your mission report from Vista Prima," Osiris' synthesized voice rang out steadily, without much emotional fluctuation. "From a tactical perspective, facing a sudden, high-intensity psychic threat, you ultimately effectively utilized your new equipment and coordinated combat capabilities, eliminated the primary target, and preserved yourselves.
The two 'iron guard' prototypes also collected crucial real-world combat data. This part met expectations."
He changed the subject, his tone still steady, but the content went straight to the core: "However, in the early judgment and decision-making of the incident, there was obvious hesitation and unnecessary empathy.
When facing an incident already corrupted by Chaos, any hesitation based on ordinary moral principles could lead to irreparable disaster and put yourselves and your companions in extreme danger.
You need to remember this. In this universe, and even in future dimensional exploration missions, efficiency and survival often need to be prioritized over individual emotions."
Maine nodded steadily, without offering any excuse.
He recalled the intense inner struggle he felt at the factory gate at the time; although the specific details were blurred, the heavy feeling still remained.
"Understood, Boss. We will learn from our mistakes." He knew that Osiris' assessment was spot-on; in this world, which was far more brutal than Night City, some of their past behavioral patterns had to change.
Osiris' optical lenses flickered slightly, seemingly acknowledging Maine's response.
"Overall, you have initially proven your value in interdimensional operations and your ability to adapt to new equipment and environments," he announced the next arrangements. "Therefore, after assisting in the initial testing and data collection for the next phase of the 'iron guard' prototypes, you will be able to return to your original world."
This news made the eyes of many in the team light up.
Rebecca almost whistled, but seeing Osiris' unblinking optical lenses, she bit it back.
Jackie's face showed undisguised anticipation, and Pilar excitedly rubbed his mechanical fingers.
Even the usually steady Dorio and the silent Morris had a flicker of emotion in their eyes.
Valerie seemed relatively calm, but her slightly relaxed shoulders also revealed her mood.
David and Lucy stood a little further away; hearing the news, curiosity showed in the young man's eyes, while Lucy remained her quiet self.
"Returning is not the end of the mission, but the beginning of the next phase," Osiris continued, pulling their thoughts back. "There, you will undertake the first true, active preparatory work for dimensional exploration.
The goal is to find and initially assess a stable, unknown dimension with certain resource or technological value.
Specific mission briefings and target coordinates will be issued via the teleporter left in the Workshop after your return."
He did not reveal more details, but the term "dimensional exploration" had already stirred ripples in everyone's hearts.
Returning to the familiar Night City, and then using it as a starting point to actively step into a completely unknown world? This was far more exhilarating and uncertain than being passively brought into the Warhammer Universe.
"Before that," Osiris concluded, "continue to familiarize yourselves with your new equipment and maintain combat readiness. Dismissed."
Everyone saluted as instructed and successively left the main laboratory.
After the heavy alloy door closed, the atmosphere noticeably relaxed.
They did not immediately return to the residential area but spontaneously went to a relatively spacious common lounge allocated for their use.
Although it was still filled with the coldness of metal, it had a bit more "life" than other places.
"Damn it! We can finally leave this godforsaken place!" Jackie was the first to collapse onto a metal bench, as if his bones had been removed. "Damn, this place is so hardcore it hurts. Even the food tastes like chewing plastic, no flavor at all."
He smacked his lips, as if he could still recall the strange taste of the synthesized nutrient paste.
Rebecca bounced onto the chair opposite him, her legs swinging restlessly, a devil-may-care smile on her face: "Come on, Jackie! At least there's fighting here, it's intense!
Much more satisfying than cleaning up those high-on-braindance scum in Night City!
Those fiery ghostly things, and that monster half-man, half-broken machine, they were really f***ing cool!"
Although her memories were blurred, the sense of extreme violent impact lingered.
Pilar adjusted his iconic goggles, his voice a little tight: "Cool it was... but that damned Hive City, honestly, it made my skin crawl. Didn't you feel it?
Above, it looked decent, but below... it was practically a giant, rusted prison."
He remembered the sights he saw as the elevator descended, those dark, dirty, bottom levels crowded with blank-eyed living people, which sent shivers down his spine.
Maine, arms crossed, leaned against the cold wall, his voice low and hoarse with a world-weary tone: "Pilar's not wrong. That place and Night City... they're similar at their core, but that place is even more f***ed up."
He glanced at his crew members. "It's all for a living, rolling in the mud. Night City is chaos, it's madness, corporations, gangs, edge-runners like us, at least on the surface you can still choose how you die. But there..."
He paused, letting out a heavy breath. "Everything's f***ing arranged, from top to bottom, rules crush people, even trying to overturn the table feels... pointless. Cops, black-clad freaks, and those big soldiers... layers upon layers of oppression, an individual? Not even a fart."