"Lord Sigismund," Osiris' voice remained steady, but his tone carried an unprecedented solemnity, "Based on the cooperation we are about to embark on, and the profound impact this technology may bring, I have an important request."
Sigismund's projection paused slightly: "Please speak."
"I hope to have the opportunity to meet Lord Rogal Dorn," Osiris stated clearly, "I possess certain technologies that transcend conventional understanding.
The importance of these technologies goes beyond the scope of regular cooperation, and may even relate to the future strategic direction of the Imperium. Due to their unique nature, I must personally present them to the Primarch."
Sigismund was silent for a moment, his black helmet tilted slightly: "Is the technology you speak of related to the research you conducted on the Death World?"
"Partially related, but far from limited to that," Osiris responded cautiously, "The matter recombination and ecological transformation technologies involved, if applied correctly, might change the Imperium's strategic model for colonizing Death Worlds. However, the potential risks and value of these technologies both need to be assessed at the highest level."
Sigismund's mechanical joints emitted a faint hum, as if weighing the significance of this request. Finally, he said in a deep voice: "I will convey your request to the Primarch. But you must understand, Lord Dorn is currently burdened with the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the entire Imperial defense line. If your demonstration cannot prove its value..."
"I understand," Osiris interjected, "I will prepare a complete demonstration plan and technical parameters. At the same time, the equipment research and development work required by the Black Templars will proceed synchronously and will not be delayed by this."
---
After the communication ended, Osiris immediately began to re-prioritize his research.
The opportunity to meet a Primarch was rare, and he had to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
The research on the genesis particle needed to be accelerated; at least, he had to produce convincing interim results that could be demonstrated in a confined experimental field.
At the same time, he needed to organize another even more disruptive technology, whose importance far exceeded that of the genesis particle—that was the Warp Drive technology parsed from the Star Trek database.
Osiris clearly realized that in the vast and perilous galaxy, reliable and relatively safe faster-than-light travel capability was the lifeline for the Imperium to maintain its rule.
And Warp Drive technology had the potential to shake this lifeline.
According to his calculations, reaching Warp Factor 6 would be enough to replace the current shipping system, which relied on the Warp and the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, within a sector; if Warp Factor 8 could be achieved, its range and speed would even be able to support regular inter-sector traffic, and even the long journeys across sectors would no longer be an unattainable luxury.
But once this power was unleashed, it would trigger a monstrous wave that would sweep across the entire power structure of the Imperium.
The Adeptus Astra Telepathica would lose its monopoly on information transmission, the value of the Navigator families' Warp navigation capabilities, on which they depended for survival, would plummet, and the entire political, economic, and military system of the Imperium, built on Warp travel, would suffer a fundamental impact.
Not to mention, the Adeptus Mechanicus headquarters on Mars would never sit idly by while a technology capable of redefining interstellar travel was controlled by a Magos from a peripheral Forge World; they would inevitably interfere, seize, or even seal it at all costs.
Without the approval and protection of an entity like a Primarch, this technology could not even begin to be promoted, and even safely holding it would be a luxury.
Rogal Dorn, with his absolute loyalty, pragmatic style, and crucial position within the Imperium, was currently the only highest-level individual Osiris could access who might understand and support the strategic value of this technology.
Therefore, this meeting was of paramount importance.
He had to meticulously design the presentation plan, not only to allow Primarch Dorn to intuitively understand the strategic advantages brought by the Warp Drive—for example, how to enable Imperial forces to respond to border threats more quickly and safely, and how to maintain communication in key sectors during Warp storms.
He also had to carefully control the amount of information, avoiding premature exposure of its full potential, while preparing to address the sharp questions the Primarch would inevitably raise about the social and political upheavals caused by the technology.
He fully entrusted the subsequent improvement work of the Iron Guard project to the Neksum team, while he himself dedicated the vast majority of his computational resources and energy to preparing for this crucial presentation.
This was not only to secure research resources but also to gain a foothold in the Imperial high command, to find a sufficiently sturdy backing in advance for the potentially greater storms that might come in the future.
The key to the future was in his hands, and now, he needed to persuade one of the cornerstones of the Imperium to see what lay behind the door with him.
---
Sigismund's efficiency was as swift as his swordsmanship.
Shortly after the communication ended, a small shuttle belonging to the Black Templars pierced the thin atmosphere of the Death World and landed on the landing pad of Osiris' base.
Sigismund, clad in black power armor, personally visited, showing the importance he attached to Osiris' previous proposal.
Osiris did not engage in much small talk or display other parts of the base.
He directly led Sigismund through the heavily guarded passage to the edge of the canyon where the genesis experiment was being conducted.
Standing on the observation platform, overlooking the vibrant green canyon below, which was strikingly out of place with the surrounding desolate environment, Sigismund's face, hidden beneath his helmet, could not be seen, but his slightly leaning posture revealed his inner turmoil.
He could feel the humidity and freshness of the air here, and he could see the lush vegetation, which was nothing short of a miracle in a world marked by the Imperium as completely dead.
"As you can see, the preliminary application of environmental transformation," Osiris' voice calmly sounded beside him, "But this is not the main reason I requested to meet the Primarch."
He turned to Sigismund and made a gesture, indicating for his accompanying Black Templars guards to temporarily retreat beyond earshot.
Sigismund hesitated slightly, then waved his hand, and the two loyal warriors immediately retreated, maintaining vigilance from a distance.
Once only the two of them remained, Osiris spoke again, his synthesized voice slightly lowered but carrying immense weight: "Lord Sigismund, what I truly wish to show Lord Rogal Dorn is a technology capable of redefining the Imperium's territorial reach and methods of force projection.
It concerns navigation, it concerns speed, it concerns... breaking free from absolute reliance on the Warp and Navigators."
He clearly uttered the term: "I have mastered a feasible technological path for 'Warp Drive.'"
He concisely explained the core: "According to theoretical models, this technology can achieve faster-than-light travel based on the real universe. After reaching a certain level, its speed will be sufficient to replace the existing Warp Drive within a sector, or even a sub-sector.
The journey will take place entirely within the real universe, avoiding the storms of the Warp and the... threats within it."