The arrival of Osiris' massive, dark red mechanical body instantly shifted the tense atmosphere that had been caused by the anomaly of the portal.
After a brief moment of shock, Doctor Carol's face lit up with immense excitement and enthusiasm—a state unique to top scientists encountering an unprecedented research subject.
She almost scurried forward, completely disregarding his non-human form and potential threat, a barrage of questions pouring out towards Osiris like a sudden storm:
"Mr. Magos! What is the principle behind your dimensional teleportation technology?
How did you overcome the potential differences in physical constants between different dimensions? How was the energy requirement solved? How was such astonishing precision achieved in positioning?
Also, is your… mechanical life form a common existence in your civilization? What kind of integration of biotechnology and mechanical engineering lies behind this?"
Her questions touched upon multiple cutting-edge fields, including physics, engineering, and biology, as she eagerly sought to peel back a corner of the unknown.
Osiris' gaze focused on Carol, his synthetic voice steady, but upon closer listening, a hint of recognition for a "qualified interlocutor" could be detected: "Doctor Marcus, your questions touch upon the core.
The key to dimensional teleportation lies in identifying and utilizing the 'folds' in the fabric of reality itself, rather than tearing it apart with brute force. As for my form, it is an inevitable choice in the pursuit of efficiency and knowledge."
He then turned the tables, posing his own questions, clearly targeting the parts that interested him most: "I am extremely interested in the principles of your so-called 'genesis project'.
How does it achieve macroscopic material recombination and life sequence encoding? What are its energy sources and control logic? This technology, which almost defines rules, far exceeds the scope of ordinary energy applications."
Two top scientists, one representing the Adeptus Mechanicus' ultimate thirst for knowledge and pragmatic transformation, the other representing the Starfleet's cutting-edge scientific research based on rational exploration and bioethics, their minds collided violently at this moment.
Dimensional teleportation and the genesis project, one skilled in traversing spatial barriers, the other adept at reshaping matter and life forms—at the highest level of fundamental physics and energy manipulation, there seemed to be areas where they could subtly inspire and corroborate each other.
Flashes of inspiration constantly appeared in their dialogue, as both caught clues from the other's words that could greatly enlighten their own research.
For a time, the cave seemed to become a temporary top academic forum, filled with highly specialized and obscure technical exchanges. Not to mention Maine and others, even Lieutenant Saavik, who possessed profound knowledge, was somewhat bewildered.
However, this fervent academic exchange was soon interrupted by a calm voice.
"Carol." Commander Kirk stepped forward, his voice carrying the steadiness of a soldier and the responsibility of a Commander, "All details of the 'genesis project' are top-secret Federation classified information. Any form of technical exchange, especially with… non-Federation members," he glanced at the non-human Osiris, "must undergo a comprehensive evaluation and formal approval by the Federation Council Security Committee. This is a regulation, and we must comply."
His words were like a basin of cold water, dousing Carol's burning enthusiasm for exchange.
She opened her mouth, wanting to argue that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but under Kirk's serious gaze and Federation regulations, she ultimately swallowed her words, her face filled with unwillingness and regret.
Osiris' mechanical head turned to Kirk, his crimson optical lenses flickering slightly.
A clear displeasure was conveyed through his expression, and his voice took on a cold, metallic quality: "Bureaucratic procedures. Shackles of efficiency."
He made no secret of his disdain for such a layered, potentially time-consuming approval process.
In the Adeptus Mechanicus, technology certainly had its tiers and permissions, but the flow of knowledge between Magos, based on equivalent exchange or power struggles, was often much more direct.
However, Osiris' dissatisfaction ended there. His heavily modified logic core quickly suppressed any meaningless emotional fluctuations.
As an entity capable of ascending to Explorer Magos within the Adeptus Mechanicus' faction-ridden and strictly regulated environment, he understood the necessity of such "procedures"—whether to maintain organizational operation or to protect core interests.
Dealing with a vast Starfleet and forcibly demanding its top secrets would be foolish and dangerous, not in his best interest.
"I understand your position, Commander." Osiris' synthetic voice returned to its steady tone. He no longer dwelled on immediately obtaining the core data of the 'genesis project,' but instead looked towards broader possibilities, "The Federation' technology clearly possesses unique value. Perhaps we can begin contact in some… non-sensitive areas. For example, fundamental energy theory, or materials science."
He did not make things difficult for Kirk, displaying an unexpected "reasonableness."
But this was not abandonment; it was a strategic shift.
He knew that once the door to communication was opened, with the dimensional technology he possessed—which was equally interesting to the Federation—as leverage, gradually accessing deeper technologies would only be a matter of time and strategy.
At this moment, maintaining a good initial contact atmosphere was far more important than tearing relations apart for immediate knowledge acquisition.
The patience of an Explorer Magos was sometimes more terrifying than his thirst for knowledge.
When Kirk heard Osiris' almost reasonable response, his tense nerves did indeed relax a little.
The rationality and restraint displayed by the other party made him much easier to deal with than he had anticipated from an "extra-dimensional Magos" who possessed unknown powerful technology and a non-human form.
This made him see the possibility of peaceful, orderly communication.
He pondered for a moment, then made a more sincere invitation: "Mr. Magos, since you are interested in the Federation' technology, and your existence itself represents an unprecedented contact case for the Federation, I formally invite you and your team members to Terra—the capital homeworld of the Starfleet.
There, you can engage in broader exchanges with the top scholars of the Federation Academy of Sciences, and specific procedures for technological cooperation can also initiate formal diplomatic processes for discussion."
"Terra…"
This familiar word, spoken by Kirk, stirred a complex ripple of data in Osiris' processor, evoking a hint of almost "sentiment" in his emotional fluctuations.
Strictly speaking, this was already the fourth "Terra" in his cognition.
The first was the blue homeland from his vague past life memories, a hometown full of mundane life.
The second was Holy Terra, the center of the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer Universe, a metal planet that had become crowded, suffocating, and covered in Hive Cities after ten millennia of war and extreme bureaucracy, a symbol of heavy faith and cruel reality.
The third was the Terra of the Cyberpunk World, where Night City struggled amidst capitalistic oppression, technological abuse, and social division, a place of despair where dazzling neon lights and deep darkness coexisted.
And this one, the Starfleet's Terra… based on his analysis of Kirk and his team's behavior patterns, technological level, and social ideals in his database, this was very likely a utopian homeland that had achieved unity, peace, and prosperity, truly embarking on a journey to the stars.
This was the image of "Terra" closest to his vision of perfection, and most consistent with humanity's beautiful fantasies for the future.
This strong contrast and sense of déjà vu left Osiris with almost no hesitation.
He needed to witness this "ideal template" firsthand, and even more, he needed to access the larger technological system it represented.