Halsey?
Upon hearing this, Dorn was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting the "legendary doctor" to request communication.
In his impression, Catherine Halsey should currently be in the universe designated as "08" (Halo), leading the core research team on the Ark, continuously breaking through the technological barriers of the Forerunners.
Her name is almost synonymous with "genius" and "madness." Her research achievements have not only propelled the technological advancement of the human empire but have also played decisive roles in many critical battles.
So, why would she appear at the Imperial Palace?
And why would she request to communicate with them, who are about to embark on an "expedition"?
In that brief moment, countless questions flashed through Dorn's mind.
Halsey's appearance often signifies some major discovery or crisis, and her communication request might foreshadow some unknown variable.
However, to outsiders, this Primarch showed no hesitation.
His expression remained stern, his gaze still carrying a hint of inscrutable depth, as he said to the Imperial Fists communications officer:
"Approve the request."
"Yes, Father," the officer quickly responded.
Dorn nodded, then turned away from the observation window and walked toward the nearby bridge control console.
Aeoy remained silent, following closely behind.
The female elf's gaze was equally calm and profound, as if she were contemplating the deeper implications behind Halsey's communication request.
The atmosphere on the bridge became tense yet orderly, with every crew member quickly diving into their tasks.
Dorn stood before the control console, his eyes scanning the flickering data streams on the screen.
Before long, the console released glowing blue "particles," which twinkled like stars and rapidly coalesced into a holographic projection in front of Dorn and Aeoy.
In the projection, Catherine Halsey wore a white lab coat, her ponytail neat and tidy, her eyes filled with a sense of urgency and focus.
"Doctor, I wasn't aware—" Dorn began to ask as the projection appeared.
However, before he could finish, the impatient Halsey cut him off, saying:
"I have a batch of experimental Terminator armor ready for delivery to your Imperial Fists."
Halsey's voice was crisp and direct, as if she were simply announcing an important experimental result. "This armor will not only help our research department gather more combat data but will also assist you in increasing the efficiency of local battles."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing the key information about "experimental Terminator armor," Dorn's brow relaxed.
Clearly, he was pleased with the arrival of this new equipment.
But soon, Dorn realized that this was likely a case of "gifts come with strings attached." Halsey's generosity undoubtedly had deeper implications.
The research department wouldn't just hand over goodies to the legions without reason, especially not "experimental" equipment that hadn't yet been officially deployed.
A hint of contemplation flashed in Dorn's eyes, but he didn't speak immediately. He knew that Halsey's next words would be the crux of the matter.
Sure enough, Halsey ignored Dorn's reaction and continued, "At the same time, there's a batch of experimental troops that need to accompany your Imperial Fists to the 17th universe (Star Wars) for combat."
Experimental troops?
To be honest, Dorn didn't have much objection to this, or rather, he didn't pay much attention to this so-called experimental unit.
In his eyes, no matter how much the troops were modified or upgraded, they likely couldn't compare to the Astartes implanted with gene seeds, let alone the Grey Knights and Custodians who used their father's gene seeds.
The existence of this unit was merely another attempt by the research department. It might prove effective in certain specific situations but wouldn't become a decisive force on the battlefield.
Therefore, whether this unit accompanied them or not didn't matter much to Dorn.
He wasn't worried about them "stealing glory," as the honor and strength of the Imperial Fists had already been proven in countless battles.
However, procedures had to be followed.
As a Primarch, he had to ensure that all actions complied with the Empire's regulations and the Emperor's will.
"Doctor," Dorn's voice was low and filled with authority, "we will fully cooperate with the research department's needs, and I won't inquire too much about the specifics of these 'experimental' troops. But I want to know if your research department has obtained the Emperor's approval."
His gaze carried a hint of scrutiny, as if he were looking directly into Halsey's soul through the holographic projection.
Dorn understood that Halsey's request might hide some deeper meaning, and as the leader of the Imperial Fists, he had to ensure that all actions remained within controllable limits.
Otherwise, casually accepting her "gifts" and then helping her with "a small favor" could easily embroil him and the entire legion in a whirlwind of public opinion.
After all, aside from external threats to the Empire, internal stability wasn't as solid as it appeared.
The legions were mostly in competition with each other, and the relationships between the Primarchs weren't exactly harmonious.
Each legion fought for the glory of the Empire, but the undercurrents of rivalry never ceased.
If he and the Imperial Fists were to have any "vulnerabilities," certain legions would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to maneuver, even to the point of kicking them while they were down.
In this complex web of power, any misstep could trigger a chain reaction.
Therefore, Dorn had to proceed with caution, ensuring that every decision aligned with the Empire's regulations and the Emperor's will.
He couldn't allow the Imperial Fists to become a target for other legions, nor could he let the legion's honor be tarnished.
Hearing Dorn's serious inquiry, Halsey responded frankly, "Of course, any work-related decisions are first discussed with your father.
This project was also personally approved by the Emperor, so there are no procedural issues. You can rest assured."
Halsey's gaze, through the holographic projection, met Dorn's eyes directly. She understood that Dorn's caution wasn't unfounded but was aimed at ensuring the honor and stability of the Imperial Fists.
"In that case, the Imperial Fists have no objections."
As Dorn spoke, his gaze swept across the bridge's crew, and he then ordered, "Have this ship break formation and hover outside the 17th spatial gate, then activate the gravity well.
Notify the other ships in the fleet to continue crossing the spatial gate according to the original plan. Upon reaching Jedha on the other side, initiate warp travel directly and head for Yavin 4."
"Yes, Father."
The crew quickly sprang into action.
The helmsman's fingers flew across the control panel, and the Eternal Crusader's engines emitted a faint, low hum as the ship slowly broke formation and hovered outside the 17th spatial gate.
Meanwhile, the communications officer swiftly relayed Dorn's instructions to the main force of the legion.
Every ship continued forward as ordered, crossing the spatial gate and heading toward Jedha.
"Then we'll discuss the details later."
Seeing this, Halsey concluded the communication and dissipated the projection.
As the projection completely faded, Aeoy timely interjected, "I remember when organizing materials last year, there was a joint project between the research and biology departments called the second-generation auxiliary army project, also known as the Empire's Spartan Phase I Program.
The project's lead was Dr. Catherine Halsey. Presumably, the experimental troops she mentioned are the first batch of Spartans."
Her voice was calm and clear, as if reminding Dorn to pay attention to this detail.
"Yes, I'm aware."
Dorn nodded slightly.
He was indeed familiar with the Spartan Program, even quite well-acquainted with it.
The reason the Emperor had dispatched the investigation department's elite to secretly capture Halsey was to "acquire" the UNSC's Spartan-II Program.
This program was once a key initiative by the UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to develop elite forces, primarily for assassinating rebel leaders. However, the program was aborted before it could officially launch.
Moreover, after Atlas unified half of the galaxy in the Halo universe, the progress of the Spartan Program began to "stagnate."
However, the stagnation wasn't due to technical bottlenecks but because the selected members were mostly children aged five to nine.
These children needed to undergo extensive training and modifications to become true Spartan warriors, so the program's progress was relatively slow, far from advancing as rapidly as other projects.
Compared to the current auxiliary army, the Spartan Program seemed somewhat "redundant."
The auxiliary army mostly consisted of elite troops from regular forces. After being screened by the biology department's technicians and injected with the side-effect-free Inquis serum, they could achieve physical capabilities beyond the peak of ordinary humans.
After years of development, the Inquis serum had been fully perfected by the biology department. The production cost posed no pressure to the current Empire, greatly enhancing the auxiliary army's combat effectiveness and numbers.
In contrast, the first batch of Spartan Program members took nearly a decade to be incorporated into the experimental troops by the research department.
Such efficiency, in Dorn's eyes, clearly couldn't compare to the auxiliary army. Thus, he didn't hold high expectations for the Spartan Program.
However, Pietro, who oversaw the Imperial Fists' auxiliary army, showed great interest in the Spartan Program.
As a high-ranking officer, Pietro had also reviewed the internal project progress reports made available to them by the research and biology departments.
He believed that the potential of Spartan warriors far exceeded that of ordinary auxiliary troops, especially in executing special missions where they could play irreplaceable roles.
Whether infiltrating behind enemy lines, sabotaging key facilities, or performing high-difficulty tasks in extreme environments, the adaptability and combat prowess of Spartan warriors would undoubtedly be remarkable.
However, Pietro didn't voice his opinions too much in front of Dorn.
As a Primarch, Dorn had a more macro perspective on the legion's overall strategy.
Thus, Pietro merely kept an eye on the program's progress, waiting for the right moment to present his views.
Now, Halsey had proactively "delivered" the Spartans, which delighted Pietro.
This general secretly hoped that if the Spartan Program could be fully promoted, even directly modifying the existing auxiliary army, the combat effectiveness of the auxiliary troops would see a qualitative leap.
At that point, they might be able to perform on par with the Astartes, becoming another absolute elite force within the Imperial Fists.
Thus, Pietro appropriately chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation, "Regardless of whether the experimental troops are Spartans, the research department has given the Imperial Fists the latest equipment first. Let's go take a look; there might be unexpected gains."
"You're right, let's go." Dorn nodded slightly, agreeing with Pietro's suggestion.
He had originally planned to meet Halsey in person to further understand the specifics of this experimental unit.
Under Dorn's lead, Aeoy, Pietro, and several Temple Knights—the honor guard of the Imperial Fists—left the bridge.
They boarded a tram heading toward the maintenance bay located in the ship's belly.
Soon, inside Maintenance Bay 1 of the Eternal Crusader;
The space here was vast and open, with specifications and equipment similar to those of a hangar, but the vehicles stored here were mostly ground armor units.
Titan main battle tanks with magnetic suspension chassis, the Mammoth—a true mobile fortress—and heavy Cyclops mechs were neatly arranged on the bay's racks, like a group of slumbering steel behemoths waiting to be awakened.
The Titan main battle tank, which had served the Empire the longest, had already undergone extensive enhancements, upgrades, and modifications.
For instance, the standard model was equipped with dual 100mm Gauss cannons, capable of precisely striking targets at extreme distances, with firepower sufficient to penetrate and destroy most fortifications and heavy units.
Additionally, the rear of the Titan's turret was fitted with three 4mm small-caliber Gauss close-defense guns to enhance its anti-air capabilities.
Even as the battlefield expanded into space, the tank's role in ground combat remained irreplaceable, providing the most solid fire support for the troops.
Aside from these heavy armor units, the maintenance bay also housed various Hunters on standby.
In the central area of the bay was a plasma airlock with a diameter of a hundred meters, along with a gravity lift of corresponding size.
The gravity lift allowed ships hovering within the atmosphere to directly deploy the bay's combat units to the surface, significantly improving deployment efficiency.
Currently, numerous containers were placed beside the gravity lift, neatly arranged on the metal deck, while transport Terminators and Hunters moved these containers to other areas.
Dorn, Aeoy, Pietro, and others stood at the edge of the gravity lift, while across from them stood Halsey, wearing a white lab coat and sporting a ponytail.
Behind Halsey was a group of "children" over two meters tall but with youthful, immature faces.
Most notably, these "children" were only around seventeen or eighteen years old, yet when they looked at the Temple Knights beside Dorn, their eyes showed no nervousness or fear but rather curiosity and a "eagerness to try," as if they were ready to face any challenge.
Of course, none of these "children" dared to look at Dorn with the same expression.
No matter how confident they were, they knew they were no match for a gene-forged Primarch.
For in the Empire, everyone knew that aside from the Emperor himself, only the gene-forged Primarchs possessed the power to "shatter planets."
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American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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