Chapter 101: Reviewing the Report
Compared to the inefficient bio-emotional fluctuations of Maine's crew, Joric's attention was locked on the primary harvest of the experiment: the data retrieved from the Warhammer universe.
A mechadendrite extended silently, precisely detaching the encrypted storage-core from the servo-skull that had just returned from its dimensional voyage.
The loyal messenger's ocular lights dimmed, powering down into standby mode, hovering silently like a metallic artifact awaiting its next summons.
"Let us see what tidings Ignis brings us, Old Friend."
Joric's synthesized voice echoed in the silent manufactorum—less a conversation, more an externalization of his thought process.
The moment the storage-core interfaced with the main console, complex decryption protocols activated. Data-streams cascaded across the display, like chains unspooling.
His logic-engine spooled to maximum, precisely parsing the information stream from another world, carried by Ignis's will.
The report followed standard Mechanicus formatting: organized, detailed, continuing her rigorous discipline.
"Reception protocols within nominal parameters. Containment zone shows no systemic disturbance... Excellent."
Joric murmured as he reviewed the data, his crimson optical lenses flickering steadily as he cross-referenced each step against his projections.
The report confirmed that the reception and containment of Maine's crew had followed his pre-set directives perfectly. The camp's basic defense and life-support systems remained stable, unperturbed by the arrival of the off-worlders.
As the report deepened, Ignis outlined the formidable defensive profile of the Death World encampment with precise data and objective descriptions.
Regarding the defense forces, she provided detailed specs and deployment patterns, centered on Joric's absolute loyal elite—the three thousand Skitarii Vanguard.
"Three thousand Vanguard... deployed according to the pre-set matrix."
Joric's metallic fingers tapped an unconscious, rhythmic beat on the console's edge, as if running a simulation.
"These units consumed significant resources... it appears Ignis has trained them well."
He addressed the air, or perhaps his "Old Friend" servo-skull, though it offered no reply.
The report confirmed this legion was fully deployed around the ruin's perimeter, establishing a multi-layered, three-dimensional defense network.
These Vanguard were far beyond the standard template. They were elites forged by Joric, integrating vast resources, Magos-level knowledge, and the pinnacle of Warhammer craft.
Their augmentations exceeded standard patterns. Their physiology was pushed to the absolute limit of human endurance. Their neural-response speeds were specifically tuned for absolute execution in extreme combat environments.
Their loyalty was rooted not just in doctrinal indoctrination, but in specific protocols deep-seated in their neural architecture, directly linked to Joric's will, ensuring unconditional obedience.
"Loyalty protocols stable... Neural-coupling efficiency maintains above threshold."
Joric nodded slightly, satisfied.
He recalled the countless simulation cycles required to design these enhancement protocols. Now, the investment was validated.
In terms of wargear, they were equipped with weapons and armor forged from a fusion of Joric's personal technical insights and top-tier Warhammer manufacturing standards.
Their power armor's core output and structural integrity far surpassed standard patterns, with internal support systems tightly coupled to the soldiers' enhanced nerves.
The lethality, range, and reliability of their primary weapons had been optimized to handle any known heavy threat.
According to Ignis's assessment, under standard engagement conditions, a single one of these Skitarii Vanguard possessed a composite combat efficiency rivaling, and in certain tactical scenarios exceeding, a standard Astartes Battle-Brother.
"Individual efficacy benchmarking against Astartes... Baseline models, perhaps, but the Ceramite and Adamantium were not wasted."
A faint, almost imperceptible ripple of accomplishment passed through Joric's synthesized voice.
This force was the symbol of his martial power, the foundation of his ability to execute his plans within the perilous Warhammer universe.
Ignis emphasized in her report that this legion of three thousand was the bedrock of Joric's foothold in that world, the absolute foundation for executing his will, and his most core, irreplaceable military asset.
She noted specifically that the patrols and sentries Maine's crew had observed within their restricted zone were merely the tip of the iceberg.
This was a deliberate result of her security and containment protocols, restricting the visitors to non-essential areas.
The true defensive weight and the main force were deployed in depth around key terrain and the ruin's entrance, forming a steel wall invisible to outsiders.
"A prudent arrangement."
Joric evaluated.
"Let the guests see what they need to see. Always hold cards in reserve."
He closed Ignis's report interface. The manufactorum returned to the hum of machinery, but the calculations in his mind surged.
Having digested Ignis's intel, Joric's core-logic began a comprehensive assessment of the situation and future integration.
He turned his massive frame to the main console, scanning the stable operational parameters of the Dimensional Sextant.
"Old Friend, it seems our 'Key' is taking shape."
He shared his progress with the servo-skull.
Regarding dimensional transit technology, the successful return of Maine's crew marked the preliminary conquest of the most critical technical hurdles.
Empirical data showed that while transit still inflicted significant physiological and neural stress on organic and precision-implant subjects—evidenced by the crew's reaction upon arrival—the stability of the conduit and the controllability of its activation/deactivation had been fundamentally verified.
"Energy consumption remains excessive... side effects on biologicals require optimization."
He called up the energy-curve of the transit, analyzing aloud.
The next research priorities were clear and specific: primary task—optimize the massive energy consumption structure to increase efficiency; core objective—mitigate or eliminate the functional disorders and side effects inflicted on lifeforms and precision equipment during transit; simultaneous goal—enhance conduit stability during activation, gradually extending its duration.
All these technical refinements pointed toward a clear long-term goal: laying a solid technical foundation for the potential future large-scale transport of materiel or organized military forces across dimensions.
At this moment, the low, continuous thrum of the Dimensional Sextant had become the constant background note of the manufactorum. Yet Joric's sensory systems never relaxed. The slightest fluctuation or variance in operational parameters was precisely logged, categorized, and fed into his analytical models for deep parsing.
(End of Chapter)