Chapter 593: The Collegia Titanica's Order
The cleanup operations on Verdant III entered their final stages.
Having lost their Warlord and main heavy units, the remnant Ork tribes could no longer organize effective resistance. Under the joint purging of the Steel Hound Legion and local defensive forces, they were either annihilated or scattered into the undeveloped, savage regions of the planet, incapable of posing a strategic threat in the short term.
After resting and reorganizing at the temporary base for several standard days, the EVA tactical squad received orders to return.
On the day of departure, Princeps Olaf personally led the main surviving officers of the Steel Hound Legion to see off Ryo and the EVA squad at the landing pad.
The atmosphere was solemn yet warm.
"Lord Astartes, thank you once again to you and your warriors for turning the tide." Princeps Olaf solemnly offered Ryo an Imperial military salute. "The Steel Hound Legion remembers this camaraderie."
"I will personally push forward the formal proposal for subsequent cooperation and technical exchange, and have it delivered to your hands as soon as possible."
Ryo (the second avatar) nodded slightly in return. "I look forward to further cooperation with the Steel Hound Legion. May the Emperor's wisdom guide us."
His gaze swept over the officers behind Olaf. The looks they gave the three EVA-Titans—which were being towed into the cargo hold of the Adeptus Mechanicus transport ship—were filled with awe, curiosity, and an unconcealable trace of longing.
This kind of gaze was worlds apart from the suspicion and scrutiny they had when they first arrived.
Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami had already boarded the transport ship in advance.
Through the portholes, they looked down at the gradually receding land, which still bore the scars of war.
Shinji's eyes were complex, containing both the relief of leaving the battlefield and a trace of bewilderment towards this cruel experience.
Asuka had her arms crossed, her face carrying the satisfaction of completing an arduous mission and a hint of weariness.
Rei Ayanami remained placid, as if everything outside had nothing to do with her.
The transport ship's engines started, emitting a low rumble, and slowly ascended, leaving Verdant III and the seeing-off officers and soldiers of the Steel Hound Legion below.
Necromunda, the Eternal Seeker in near-orbit, the geneseed optimization laboratory of Ryo's main body.
The air was circulated by a highly efficient filtration system, leaving only the slight astringency of coolant, the faint fishy smell of nutrient base fluids, and the nearly silent, low-frequency hum of precision instruments running.
Countless thick cables and data conduits hung down from the ceiling and walls like metallic vines, connecting to several massive vats filled with fluorescent green liquid in the center.
Within the vats, developing geneseeds could be faintly seen undergoing extremely slow and critical structural optimization under the regulation of precise biochemical programs.
Ryo's massive, deeply mechanically augmented body stood silently before the main control console. Dozens of precision mechadendrites danced silently behind him, connecting to different data interfaces to monitor and fine-tune tens of thousands of physiological and genetic parameters in real-time.
His logic core operated at full speed, processing data streams from the experiment itself, the Death World base, Night City, and various dimensional exploration projects.
Just as he finished optimizing a set of catalytic enzyme injection parameters, a communication request from an external node of the laboratory—marked [Highest Priority—Collegia Titanica—Encryption Level Omega]—forcefully inserted itself into his processing queue.
Ryo's crimson optical lenses flickered slightly, pausing the current genetic sequence simulation.
He identified the source of the encryption protocol initiating the communication—Mars, Headquarters of the Collegia Titanica, the private channel of Archmagos Dominus Castian Zoor. This was within his expectations, though slightly faster than anticipated. The Steel Hound Legion's report had clearly drawn the direct attention of this true powerholder.
He connected the communication, and the light of a ghostly blue holographic projection coalesced in the laboratory, revealing a massive and complex mechanical silhouette—it was the remote image of Archmagos Dominus Zoor.
Countless data cables and auxiliary mechanical arms acted like tentacles, connecting to and guarding the central main body, which was highly augmented and possessed almost no human form. Its crimson optical lens array, whose light intensity and information density far exceeded ordinary Tech-Priests, focused on Ryo across the sea of stars.
"Greetings, Archmagos Zoor." Ryo's synthesized voice was as steady as ever, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as he responded to the projection with the equivalent etiquette of a Magos.
"Magos Ryo." Archmagos Dominus Zoor's voice rang out directly. It was a unique synthesized voice that had undergone countless modulations, blending metallic grating with energetic vibration. It was cold and majestic, yet carried a near-absolute rationality belonging to a top-tier technological master. "I have personally reviewed the combat report submitted by the Steel Hound Legion, designated [TX-114—Verdant Purge]."
"The report gives an evaluation exceeding conventional norms regarding the large-scale humanoid combat units in your possession and deployed in combat, codenamed 'EVA-Titans'." The light of Archmagos Zoor's optical lenses intensified slightly. "The tactical-level ultra-high-speed mobility they displayed, the seamless integration of biology and mechanics, and their efficacy in executing precise annihilation of high-value targets in complex battlefield environments have piqued my interest."
A heavily encrypted data packet was transmitted over.
"Based on this preliminary assessment, and the current objective need for new rapid-strike forces on the Imperial frontiers, I wish to obtain further technical details regarding the 'EVA-Titans', including their design principles, the nature of their energy source, and the feasibility of large-scale production." Inside the data packet was an extremely detailed list of technical information requirements.
"Furthermore," Archmagos Zoor's voice remained flat, yet carried heavy weight, "Based on real-combat verification and my preliminary judgment, the Collegia Titanica formally puts forward a procurement intent."
"The initial order requirement is ten 'EVA-Titan' units possessing equivalent efficacy. You are required to provide a delivery schedule and a list of resource requirements."
Ten units. This number exceeded Ryo's expectations; clearly, this Archmagos Dominus had a clear and urgent intent for real-combat deployment.
Ryo's logic core completed the analysis within microseconds.
Providing all technical details would expose the fundamental differences between EVA technology and the Imperial tech tree, carrying enormous risk.
But a complete refusal would mean losing an important ally and resource channel.
"Thank you for your recognition, Archmagos Zoor." Ryo's synthesized voice remained steady. "The 'EVA-Titan' project involves a unique technological path, and the cultivation of its core biological components is complex and time-consuming. There are barriers to providing the complete technical blueprints."
"However, based on our shared responsibility for Imperial defense, I am willing, on the premise of ensuring core technological security, to provide non-core parameters necessary for combat evaluation and to undertake this order."
He rapidly generated a filtered data packet in response, containing basic dimensions, armor types, weapon configurations, and blurred performance parameters.
"Regarding production," Ryo continued, "Conventional structural components can be handled by my Nexxam Forge. But its core biological components require independent cultivation facilities."
"It is estimated that the first prototype can complete testing within six standard months. Subsequent units will be delivered at a rate of one every four to five months, depending on the supply of core components."
"A detailed list of resources will be submitted within three standard days."
Archmagos Dominus Zoor's projection remained silent for a moment, subtle sounds of energy flow emanating from within. "Acceptable. The filtered data has been received and analyzed. Order confirmed. I look forward to the prototype's performance, Magos Ryo. May the Omnissiah guide your forge."
The communication cut off.
The laboratory returned to silence, save for the faint sound of bubbles slowly rising in the cultivation vats.
Ryo's main body turned to another control terminal, his crimson optical lenses locking onto the dimensional coordinates representing the EVA world.
Cooperation across dimensions with WILLE had transformed from a possible option into an imminent, necessary action.
Archmagos Dominus Zoor's order acted as a clear directive, greatly elevating the priority of this cooperation.
He needed Misato Katsuragi's cooperation; he needed that world to provide the "empty shells" of the EVAs.
This was not just a transaction, but a crucial test of the cross-dimensional resource network he was building.
He began drafting a communication request to the WILLE world, strictly worded but with clear objectives.