Chapter 80: Joric's Stance
Deep in the desert sanctum, the cold, constant light illuminated Joric's tall, crimson form. He had received and processed Moiré's full report of her contact with the Militech "Probe" team.
Their intent was clear: having confirmed the credibility of his threat, they were now attempting to escalate the situation from a simple payment of reparations to a "constructive dialogue," one that might lead to a technological exchange.
Within Joric's logic-engine, Militech's response was classified as efficient and predictable. They recognized a disparity in power and had immediately pivoted their strategy from armed confrontation to transactional engagement. This was the standard operational doctrine of a mega-corporation: when faced with a threat that cannot be easily annihilated, one attempts to convert it into a usable resource or a controllable partner.
However, Joric had little interest in such a partnership.
His core objective remained singular and unwavering: stabilize the Dimensional Sextant, establish a reliable conduit to the Warhammer universe, and acquire the resources and technologies of that reality—most especially, to solve his critical, ongoing shortage of blessed materiel.
Any entanglement with local factions, whether war or protracted negotiation, would consume his precious research-time and processing cycles.
He needed a method that would satisfy Militech's immediate overtures—enough to secure their "reparations" and ensure their temporary passivity—while simultaneously drawing a clear, hard line to prevent endless future probing and harassment.
At the same time, for Biotechnica, which was still baying for blood, a different, more direct, and less ambiguous warning was required, one that would utterly extinguish their foolish, emotional fantasies of revenge.
"A transaction is acceptable. But it will be on my terms," Joric's synthesized voice whispered, carrying an air of absolute finality. He would purchase a temporary peace, and the resources he was owed, for the lowest possible price.
His consciousness delved into his own vast data-archives. He did not access his primary Mechanicus knowledge-base, but rather a "secondary" partition, one that stored the countless design-schematics, unfinished concepts, acolyte-level practice-files, and "obsolete" tech-basics he had accumulated over his long career.
His mind, a precision sieve, filtered the sea of information.
He selected a target: a crystal-focusing efficiency-optimization schematic, one he had designed as a mere acolyte to understand the foundational principles of las-weaponry.
In the 40k-tech hierarchy, this schematic was an entry-level, foundational application. It optimized the alignment of a lasgun's focusing crystal and its energy-pathway, resulting in a minor increase in range and beam-coherency, and a reduction in energy-bleed. For the young Joric, it had been a competent exercise. For the Magos-level entity he had become, it was trivial.
In addition, he extracted a few fragmented logic-optimization protocols and data-handling techniques he had parsed from the Rogue AI's code. These were... notes, useful for understanding this world's Net, but by no means a core-technology breakthrough.
Joric compiled these two items into separate, clean, unadorned data-packets.
In his eyes, they were, quite literally, scrap-code. But as a payment to placate Militech and secure the reparations-list... the cost-to-benefit ratio was extremely high.
He transmitted the data-packets to Moiré, along with a new set of directives, broadcast over the encrypted link.
++[Deliver these to the Militech representatives.]++ Joric's voice was flat. ++[Inform them this is our initial response to their 'constructive' proposal. One packet contains a foundational optimization-tech for energy-weaponry. The other, data-processing techniques derived from non-standard logic. Inform them that upon their verification of this data's value, they are to *immediately* begin the delivery of the reparations-list. The drop-point and method will be designated by us at a later time.]++
He paused, then continued. ++[And you will make this clear: This is the full extent of our 'technological exchange'. We have no interest in a deeper alliance or frequent interaction. Maintaining the current status—mutual non-interference—is the most efficient co-existence protocol.]++
The directives were not finished. Joric's crimson optics flickered as he issued a second, completely different order.
++[Afterward, you will locate the Biotechnica Head of Security, Elliot Kwan. You will purge him. You will place his cranium at the head of CEO Nicolo Logagia's private bed, ensuring he discovers it the next time he retires.]++
The order was given with the same calm as if requesting a routine diagnostic.
++[This action is to provide an unambiguous, final termination to any of Biotechnica's lingering fantasies of retaliation *or* negotiation. Kwan's death, and the *method* of its presentation, is the direct response to Logagia's previous posturing. It is the final ultimatum. The death *is* the message: This matter is now closed. If any further hostile action is detected, the next head he finds will be his own.]++
Joric's logic was simple.
Militech had demonstrated rationality and calculation. They could be managed with a transaction.
Biotechnica, under Logagia's leadership, was still mired in inefficient, emotional rage. They required a more... potent... analgesic to help them recover their senses.
Kwan, the messenger who had been spared, had now served his purpose. His remaining value was to be expended in the delivery of this final, undeniable warning.
++[Return to this sanctum upon completion of both tasks. Maintain efficiency and stealth. Do not introduce unnecessary variables.]++
Moiré, in the field, received the data-packets and the directives. She felt no conflict, no hesitation. Transaction or termination, it was all the will of her Master.
++[Understood, Master.]++ she replied.
At the derelict communication tower, the "Probe" team was waiting, the atmosphere even heavier than before. They saw Moiré appear, her form just as calm and efficient as the first time.
Dr. Sorenson stepped forward. "We await your Master's reply."
Moiré, without a word of greeting, initiated a secure, short-range data-transfer, sending the two packets to Sorenson's device.
"This is my Master's response to your proposal," Moiré's flat, synthesized voice stated. "Packet One contains a foundational design-schematic for optimizing las-weapon crystal-focusing efficiency. Packet Two contains... data-processing techniques. You will now begin delivery of the reparations."
(End of Chapter)