Dorio crossed her arms, her bulky frame like a wall. She added in a muffled voice, "Those workers… they're more desperate than the most wretched nomads in Pacifica. Nomads can at least find a corner to rot away in.
There, they are born as cogs in a machine, tightened until they die, then discarded like scrap metal."
Valerie, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke. Her voice was calm but carried a penetrating quality, the analytical tone unique to former corporate elites: "When I was at Arasaka, I encountered some projection models about the ultimate form of megacities."
She paused, as if comparing a cold database with vivid memories. "Now that I've seen it with my own eyes… Night City, if the Corporate Council is allowed to devour everything unchecked, if technology races towards control and exploitation for hundreds of years, if social strata are completely locked, and the lower class piles up like trash… then its ultimate destination will likely be the Hive City we saw."
Her words plunged the lounge into a brief silence.
The analogy was too precise, and too horrifying.
Night City was already the extreme of chaos and oppression in their understanding, but the Hive City showed the even more desperate end this model could reach over time.
"Damn it," Jackie spat, "hearing you say that, I don't even feel like going back anymore. Are we fighting tooth and nail just to keep our home from turning into that kind of hellhole?"
"At least we know now how bad things can get," Maine broke the silence, his tone firm. "And we have the possibility of changing some things."
He was referring to their enhanced bodies and the potential for more support from Osiris.
The conversation then shifted to "Dimensional Exploration," which Osiris had mentioned last.
"Going to another world…" Falco pushed up his sunglasses, the lenses reflecting the sheen of data streams. "Will the fundamental physical constants be off? If there are pure energy-based life forms… or if time itself flows differently, that would be truly wild."
His tone carried the curiosity and caution characteristic of a tech enthusiast.
Rebecca's eyes immediately lit up. She slapped her thigh, making a faint metallic clang. "Holy shit! Another world! There must be big guys we haven't seen yet that we can blow up! And maybe some local specialty good stuff!
Think about it, if we can get our hands on some unique firearms or black tech from over there and bring them back, damn, wouldn't we be unstoppable in Night City? See someone you don't like, just pull it out and give them an interdimensional surprise!"
She was already lost in fantasies of blasting opponents to smithereens with unknown weapons.
Pilar nervously twisted his long neck, his voice a little shaky. "Come on, Rebecca… I just hope it's not another one of these hellholes where we have to risk our lives at every turn.
What if… what if there's a normal world? At least I could get some peaceful sleep, without fearing being dragged away by some ghost while I'm sleeping."
Jackie suddenly sat up straight, his business acumen instantly activated, his eyes gleaming like they were scanning eddies. "Hey! Why is everyone thinking about violence? Think bigger! What if that world has some local specialties, like… a fruit that makes you remember everything you see, or some damn self-luminous gem that you absolutely can't find in Night City!
We bring back a few crates of it, open a shop in Westbrook or Charter Hill, selling 'Interdimensional Curiosities.' Wouldn't that be a damn monopoly? Faster money than robbing a bank!"
He was already calculating potential profits and the cost of bribing various factions.
Valerie calmly interrupted their fantasies, her voice like a splash of ice water. "Unknown also means an equivalent level of risk. Since the Magos entrusted us with this mission, it means he has assessed its value and is aware of the dangers involved.
We can't just stumble in like headless chickens. Intelligence gathering, equipment adaptation, emergency extraction plans… these must all be in place before we leave. Missing even one could mean we stay there forever."
Her mind had already switched to standard Arasaka high-risk mission assessment mode.
Maine listened to his team's noisy discussion, his rugged face expressionless, but his gaze was deep.
Returning to Night City meant temporarily bidding farewell to this universe of steel prayers and eternal war, and returning to the city woven from neon, cyberware, and cold capital—a city they both hated and knew well.
But this time, they were no longer the street mercenaries struggling to survive in the cracks.
Foreign world enhancement technology flowed through their veins, more brutal combat memories were etched into their bones, and they carried the task of expanding territory for the Mechanical Magos.
This was both an unprecedented opportunity, a springboard to leap out of Night City's mire, and it also meant they would be drawn into an even deeper, more dangerous vortex.
He looked at his teammates—the restless Rebecca, the shrewd Jackie, the nervous Pilar, the steady Dorio, the tech-savvy Falco, Morris in the shadows, and the calm Valerie.
They were still the same crew who had climbed out of Night City's cesspool, but something had indeed quietly changed after experiencing the fires of the Forge World and the darkness of the Hive City.
The road ahead was unknown, and its fortunes unpredictable, but at least their team was still together, and they were tougher, fiercer, and more resilient than ever before.
He looked at his teammates, these companions who had struggled out of the streets of Night City with him, now transformed into warriors capable of fighting terrifying entities in the depths of the Hive City.
The road ahead was unknown, but at least they were still together, and stronger than ever before.
"Alright," Maine straightened up, cutting off everyone's imaginings. "Before we go back, there's still work to be done. Everyone, perk up and complete the test mission the Magos entrusted us with. Then…"
He looked at the symbolic metal door of the lounge that separated inside from out, as if he could see through it to the distant, bizarre Night City. "Then, we go home. To prepare for our next 'business trip.'"
Everyone's expressions grew serious, and they nodded.
Returning to Night City was not the end, but a new beginning.
The dimensional exploration mission was like a door about to open; behind it lay either endless opportunities or deadly traps.
But no matter what, they had already embarked on this path, unable to turn back, and could only continue forward.
The discussions in the lounge gradually subsided, replaced by a solemn anticipation for the future and a determination to silently gather strength to face the unknown.
In any case, they were at least doing better than those mercenaries on the streets of Night City now.
The subsequent testing phase did not last too long.
Osiris no longer needed to personally oversee the subsequent detailed development, standardization, and mass production preparations for the iron guard project.
After witnessing the Inquisition's strong interest and concrete orders, Fabricator-General Vox no longer had any doubts about the future of the iron guard.
The massive industrial machine of the entire Neksum Forge World was being driven with unprecedented efficiency.
Various resources continuously converged on this project.
Archmagos Vox had even proactively begun to use his political influence to pave the way for Osiris' official assessment procedure for the Forge Magos title.
However, the operational speed of the Imperial bureaucracy, even with the main Warp routes largely clear after the Great Heresy, was still constrained by distance, inter-factional disputes, and inherent inefficiency.
All of this required time.
According to Archmagos Vox's experienced judgment, it would take approximately one standard Terra year to complete most of the preliminary processes before Osiris could truly begin the substantive assessment for Forge Magos.
During this period, Vox suggested that Osiris systematically organize the technical data of the iron guard project and write a substantial academic paper.
This would serve as both a summary of the project's current stage and accumulate necessary academic capital for the upcoming assessment.
Osiris naturally had no objection to this; it also aligned with his plans.
However, in his personal prioritization, dimensional exploration clearly ranked much higher than writing a paper.
He could write the paper in his spare time during dimensional exploration.
For Osiris, his primary goal was always to initiate a new round of dimensional exploration as soon as possible, to gather more resources and knowledge for his research and personal network.
Since the performance data of the basic iron guard model had been sufficiently collected, and after the first batch of test units for Inquisitor Kairas were produced and ready for delivery, he felt there was no longer any need to remain on Neksum.
Osiris, accompanied by Maine's crew, Valerie, Jackie, and a newly assigned servitor construct squad, which included two Death-class automatons, boarded the returning frigate.
After traversing the Warp again, the group returned to the ancient ruins on the Death World.
Death World Base, ancient ruins landing platform.
The shuttle's engine roar gradually ceased, and the hatch slowly opened with a hydraulic hiss.
Osiris' massive, dark red body was the first to step onto the metal ground, followed closely by Maine's crew, Valerie, and Jackie.
The newly assigned servitor construct squad also descended the gangway in turn; the massive bodies of the Death-class automatons exuded a terrifying sense of oppression, and their huge metal limbs made heavy thudding sounds on the platform.
"Sekhmet, arrange these servitor constructs," Osiris said without stopping, heading directly to the base's control center.
The skitarii soldiers along the way saluted him.
In the core area of the ruins, several Tech-Priest apprentices were working at the monitoring stations; upon seeing Osiris arrive, they quickly bowed in salute, performing the gear rite with both hands while also greeting Osiris in binary.
The on-duty apprentice quickly pulled up a holographic interface, projecting key data streams before Osiris: "Reporting, Archmagos, all systems are operating normally and within preset parameters.
The energy core output is stable, all defensive arrays are online, and no high-level alerts have been triggered.
Additionally, according to your instructions before you left, the main structure construction for the laboratory expansion project in the eastern sector of the ruins has been completed on schedule."
Osiris quickly scanned the monitoring data, then pulled up the recent detailed maintenance logs and energy consumption reports.
The energy curve fluctuations were within the normal range, and the system logs were complete, with no abnormal interruptions or error codes.
While these apprentices, personally selected and trained by him, had limited talent in technological innovation and theoretical breakthroughs, their meticulous work and high obedience meant they could flawlessly complete daily maintenance tasks, which largely satisfied him.
"What is the specific progress of the laboratory expansion? What stage are the new equipment installations and debugging at?" he asked, quickly browsing the construction records and material List.
"The main structure is fully completed, Archmagos," another apprentice interjected, skillfully pulling up the laboratory's three-dimensional structural diagram and equipment list, "The three newly installed advanced material analysis units have completed basic calibration and are expected to be put into preliminary use by the next standard week.
However, the main energy interface specifications of the accompanying multi-functional environmental simulation system have a slight discrepancy with the existing wiring, requiring your personal confirmation of the final connection scheme and energy output threshold to ensure safety."
Osiris nodded; this progress met his expectations.
The expansion of the eastern laboratory was a crucial part of his plan; many samples brought back from other dimensions and their analysis would be conducted there in the future.
He turned to the other apprentices, beginning to inquire about their recent studies one by one.
From understanding the basic doctrines of the Mechanicus Holy Scripture to the operating procedures of common instruments, and then to troubleshooting simple faults, he meticulously questioned every detail, occasionally posing one or two questions to assess their comprehension.
Although these apprentices were unlikely to become independent Tech-Priests in the foreseeable future, they had already demonstrated the necessary qualities to serve as reliable basic technical support for maintaining the base's operations.
After reviewing all routine reports and work progress, Osiris' gaze moved past the apprentices in front of him, falling upon David and Lucy, who stood slightly behind the group.
The two young people noticed his gaze and unconsciously straightened their bodies, waiting attentively for his instructions.
"David, Lucy," his synthesized voice sounded again, clearly calling out their names.
A barely perceptible look of surprise immediately flickered across David's face; he instinctively turned his head to look at Lucy beside him,
And while Lucy's expression didn't change much, her hand holding David's tightened slightly.
"You two do not need to return to Night City this time," Osiris directly announced his decision.
He saw David's lips move, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't give him a chance to speak, continuing in that steady tone, "Your current grasp of basic Adeptus Mechanicus knowledge is not yet systematic enough, and you have only touched the outermost threshold of the infinite mysteries contained within the Omnissiah.
Staying at the base, continuing to study and practice with the other apprentices, deeply familiarizing yourselves with the Adeptus Mechanicus way of life and thought logic, and mastering more systematic technical theories and operating procedures, is crucial for your future development path."
David opened his mouth, as if to speak, but in the end, he only nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes, Archmagos."
He understood that this was Osiris' arrangement, beyond question, and from a rational perspective, he also knew that he indeed needed systematic learning.
Lucy merely nodded slightly, indicating acceptance.
Leaving David and Lucy on the Death World was partly based on an assessment of their current abilities, believing they needed a more solid foundation, and partly to intentionally allow them to deeply adapt and integrate into the Adeptus Mechanicus ecosystem and value system in advance.
Osiris vaguely felt that certain qualities displayed by these two young people from the Cyberpunk World, especially David, might enable them to undertake special tasks in the future, different from ordinary soldiers or technicians.
Systematic learning and environmental immersion were necessary steps in shaping them.
After dealing with the affairs of the Death World Base and confirming that the servitor construct squad had been successfully integrated into the defense system, Osiris did not linger.
He activated the dimensional teleporter, locking the coordinates precisely on the Wasteland Town laboratory on the outskirts of Night City.
The familiar ethereal blue light once again filled the entire cave, and the distorting sensation of space peeling away briefly assailed them, only to vanish in an instant.
When everyone's senses stabilized again, they were already inside the tall, sturdy teleportation hall of the Wasteland Town laboratory.
The air was no longer thick with the heavy oil and ozone of the Forge World, but rather the slightly metallic and disinfectant scent produced by the laboratory's internal circulation and filtration system, with a faint hint of the dusty air from the abandoned town wafting in from outside.
Compared to the suffocating oppression of the Hive City's lower levels, the environment here could almost be called "clean."
The sudden change in environment caused everyone to pause for a moment. Jackie looked around, a relaxed expression on his face, as if returning to familiar territory. He rubbed his neck and muttered, "Finally back on home turf..."
"Snap out of it," Maine said in a deep voice, rubbing the prominent scar on his chin as his gaze swept over his crew. "The Boss didn't bring us back for a vacation. Business first."
Valerie immediately got into gear. She looked at Osiris, her tone respectful and efficient: "Magos, how shall we deploy next?"
Osiris turned to them, his gaze sweeping over everyone, taking in their subtle relaxation upon returning to familiar ground.
"Sekhmet will assist you with the preparations," Osiris' voice resonated steadily within the laboratory. "Draw up a list of all necessary equipment and supplies. Weapons, ammunition, protective gear, survival provisions, medical supplies, reconnaissance tools... Given the unknown environment, preparations must be thorough, better to have too much than too little."
He paused, emphasizing, "The key is versatility and reliability. We cannot predict the specific rules and threats of the target dimension, so you must consider every possible situation you might encounter."
"Understood, Boss," Maine responded on behalf of the team, his tone steady. "We'll get the list sorted as soon as possible."
"You have seventy-two standard hours," Osiris finally ordered. "Handle any necessary personal affairs, and complete all procurement and preparations. After seventy-two hours, gather here for the final mission briefing and equipment check."
"Yes, Magos," everyone responded in unison, then quickly dispersed to begin their intense preparations.
The brief sense of relaxation brought by returning to a relatively familiar environment was immediately replaced by the urgency of stepping into a completely unknown domain.
——
Over the next seventy-two hours, the Wasteland Town laboratory and its surrounding areas presented a scene of highly efficient operation.
Maine's crew members, Valerie, and Jackie each performed their duties, comprehensively preparing supplies for the first active dimensional exploration.
Maine and Dorio were responsible for coordinating and procuring heavy equipment and life support supplies.
Leveraging their extensive mercenary experience, they ordered high-power environmental lighting systems, multi-functional engineering robotic arms, high-strength traction and climbing rigging, and mobile auxiliary devices for navigating complex terrain through reliable channels.
Considering the possibility of encountering extreme environments or needing to establish temporary strongholds, they also prepared industrial-grade obstacle removal tools, cutting equipment, and structural reinforcement materials.
Rebecca and Pilar focused on environmental detection and data collection.
Their procurement list included various models of drones, with a strong emphasis on their terrain scanning, environmental sampling, and long-endurance reconnaissance capabilities.
In addition, various motion sensors, atmospheric and water quality component analyzers, radiation and anomalous energy detection devices, and signal interception and preliminary analysis units were all listed.
Rebecca insisted on bringing her second-hand industrial cutting laser, reasoning, "Whether it's a stone door or an alien tree, if you burn through it, you can go."
Pilar, using his upgraded nervous system and dexterous cybernetic hand, thoroughly inspected and optimized the parameters of all electronic devices to ensure their stability in an unknown environment.
Falco inventoried and replenished a large amount of basic survival supplies: high-energy compressed rations, water purification equipment and filters, comprehensive first-aid medical kits, protective suits adapted to extreme temperatures, emergency thermal insulation gear, illuminating signal flares, and various rope tools.
Jackie was active in his business network, preparing "non-standard" but potentially crucial supplies for critical moments.
He not only acquired some specialized tools for geological exploration and ruin investigation but also used funds to stockpile a batch of items he believed could have "transaction value" or serve as a "door-opener" in different cultural contexts.
These included a small amount of high-purity synthetic gemstones, a few exquisitely crafted old-era mechanical timepieces, well-preserved quality food, and a few boxes of premium tobacco and alcohol.
His thinking was very practical: "It's always good to be overprepared. What if the 'hard currency' over there doesn't look like credits?"
Valerie, as a former corporate agent, demonstrated systematic planning and integration capabilities.
She was responsible for compiling and reviewing everyone's procurement lists, eliminating redundancies, filling potential gaps, and paying special attention to redundant backups for critical equipment (especially communication and relay devices).
She also prepared a powerful portable data analysis terminal and data connection cables compatible with multiple interfaces.
The Workshop's warehouses and designated areas were quickly filled with categorized supplies.
Sekhmet coordinated several Servitors, efficiently performing material warehousing, marking, performance spot checks, and preliminary packing, ensuring that all equipment and supplies could be quickly and accurately deployed when commanded.
As everyone was busy, Margaret Limgrave found Osiris in the main control room.
"Magos," Margaret began with standard etiquette, her voice clear, "Margaret Limgrave, Knight of the Astoria Family, requests to participate in this dimensional exploration mission."
Osiris' massive mechanical body turned to her, his crimson optical lenses gazing at her calmly.
Margaret continued to state her reasons, with the sense of responsibility characteristic of a Knight: "knight mecha possess powerful firepower and protection, serving as a solid anchor for the exploration team in an unknown environment.
If there are insurmountable threats ahead, we will be the strongest bulwark to tear through defenses and cover retreats.
To let comrades venture into danger while a Knight sits idly behind goes against our creed."
Osiris' voice rang out steadily, not directly denying her wish, but stating objective limitations: "Your combat will and sense of responsibility have been noted, Knight Margaret Limgrave.
However, the core mission of the first wave of exploration is reconnaissance and information gathering, with an emphasis on stealth, mobility, and adaptability."
He paused, bringing up a size comparison chart of a knight mecha, ordinary power armor, and a human body: "The massive size and significant energy signature of a knight mecha would easily make it a focal point in a completely unknown environment, which is not conducive to covert operations.
Secondly, whether the target dimension's environmental carrying capacity and spatial structure can accommodate a knight mecha's activities is still unknown, posing a huge risk.
Therefore, the first round of exploration, executed by Maine's crew and Valerie, is the most efficient solution under current conditions."
Margaret listened intently. She understood that Osiris' analysis was based purely on rationality and mission requirements, not a disregard for the Knight's value.
She nodded slightly, indicating understanding, but the fighting spirit in her eyes did not extinguish: "I understand, Magos. Then, please allow our Lingguang squad to serve as a quick reaction force, standing by on this side of the teleportation point.
Once a distress signal is received from the front, or if the environment is confirmed to allow mecha deployment, we will cross over immediately to provide decisive support."
"Granted," Osiris accepted the proposal. "You, along with the servitor construct squad, will form the base's ultimate defense and emergency response force. Maintain a standby status."
"Understood, Magos," Margaret said, placing her right hand over her chest and bowing solemnly before turning to leave. Although she could not be part of the first wave of exploration, serving in a crucial support role was equally in line with a Knight's duty.
__________
Changed the fic title so you can guess the next world.