Time was a resource that could not be wasted. Almost at the exact moment the synchronization was complete, several encrypted commands were dispatched from Osiris's main body.
One command was sent to the Nexum base, authorizing the mobilization of a pre-stashed stockpile of high-energy units and infrastructure materials. These would serve as the initial "down payment" for WILLE, and the base was ordered to remain on standby for potential dimensional transmissions.
Another, more weightier command arrived directly at the Nexum Forge World, specifically the forges under Osiris's direct control. The content was explicit: immediately initiate the preliminary production process for the non-biological structural components of the EVA Titans. This included the procurement of raw materials, the realignment of production lines, and the preparation of initial molds.
The order had been issued, and while the response remained pending, Osiris's planning dictated that waiting and action must proceed in parallel. The entire system began to pivot toward these new objectives, laying the foundation for a cross-dimensional manufacturing task of unprecedented scale.
Nexum Forge World, the core forge sector belonging to Osiris's faction.
Unlike Mars or other traditional Forge Worlds, the architectural style here, while retaining the fundamental aesthetics of the Adeptus Mechanicus, placed a heavier emphasis on efficiency and modularity. Massive factory complexes rose like mountains of cold metal. Their interiors did not rely solely on ancient traditions and rituals; instead, they integrated automated production flows and digital management systems optimized by Osiris.
When the production orders from the main body—marked [COLLEGIA TITANICA ORDER - EVA TITAN - HIGHEST PRIORITY]—arrived along with the attached technical parameter packages, the entire forge was injected with a surge of energy, operating at a tempo far exceeding the norm.
Thick energy conduits hummed, feeding massive amounts of power into various production lines. Swarms of servo-skulls flew through the air like disturbed hornets, transmitting commands and initial data. Tech-priests in red robes and low-level servitors busied themselves among the gargantuan machinery. Their chants, besides prayers to the Machine God, emphasized precise data and temporal milestones.
The production overseer, a senior Tech-priest named Cassius-7, stood on the main control gantry. His bionic eyes rapidly swept over the massive production lines coming to life below. His logic core was processing the structural blueprints (limited to the non-biological parts authorized for production) he had just received.
"Analysis complete. Structural complexity rating: High. Material requirements: Beyond standard STC template parameters, involving multiple specialized alloys and composites. Manufacturing precision requirements: Extreme." Cassius-7's synthesized voice carried a hint of fluctuation—perhaps due to the rising processor load. "Activate Heavy Structural Forging Lines One through Seven. Prioritize the manufacturing of the main frames and joint structures. Mobilize Precision Machining Centers Three, Five, and Nine to handle armor plating and weapon platform components."
The orders were executed swiftly.
In the heavy forging sector, incandescent molten metal churned within anti-gravity crucibles before being poured into massive molds engraved with complex cooling runes. Driven by hydraulic systems, heavy forging presses hammered the burgeoning giant components with thousands of tons of force. Each strike sent tremors through the ground, and sparks flew like waterfalls. These parts were the metallic skeletons, load-bearing structures, and articulated joints of the EVA Titans, designed to withstand the immense stress generated during high-speed maneuvers.
In the precision machining centers, the atmosphere was starkly different. The environment was relatively clean with a constant temperature. High-energy laser cutters traced pre-set paths along thick composite armor plates, leaving surfaces as smooth as mirrors. Multi-axis CNC machines worked with micron-level precision, cutting and polishing weapon hardpoints, sensor mounts, and internal conduit channels. Servo-arms assembled precision parts to form the barrels of Volcano Cannons, the focusing arrays of energy weapons, and complex hydraulic transmission systems.
"Abnormal internal stress detected in the mold of Forging Line Three. Deviation: 0.05%," reported a monitoring priest.
"Adjust coolant flow immediately. Inject stress-relief agents. Deviation must remain within 0.01%," Cassius-7 responded without hesitation. For Titan-class equipment, any minor flaw could be amplified infinitely on the battlefield, leading to catastrophic failure.
The entire production process was accompanied by a massive flow of data. The dimensions, weight, material density, and internal flaw detection results of every part were recorded in real-time and uploaded to the central database to be compared against standard parameters. Any part exceeding tolerances was automatically flagged and removed, triggering an investigation by Tech-priests.
Meanwhile, in the specialized energy system assembly area, Tech-priests were carefully installing and calibrating high-energy plasma reactors. These reactors would provide surging power to the non-biological components of the EVA Titans. Their output stability and energy density far exceeded standard Imperial power sources of comparable size, though they brought more complex safety and control challenges.
"Energy conduit laying complete. Commencing primary circuit pressure testing."
"Master control logic unit implanted. Initiating base instruction set flashing."
"Armor plate composite lamination finished. Preparing for impact and energy resistance testing."
Reports from various sectors flowed like streams into an ocean, integrating within Cassius-7's processing core. He watched the giant components taking shape on the virtual screens—leg frames kilometers long, chest plates as thick as city walls, and energy distribution units as complex as labyrinths. Though not yet assembled, he could already feel the terrifying power and industrial beauty they contained.
This was only the beginning. An order for ten units meant the same process had to be repeated ten times, with strict consistency in quality for every single unit. More importantly, they were only producing the "shells." According to the information from the Magos, these powerful war machines still required "souls" filled with mystery from another world—those biological cores—to be truly awakened.
Cassius-7's mechanical fingers tapped on the control panel, pulling up the resource requirement list and sending it to the Collegia Titanica's Department of Logistics and Osiris's main workstation. The list detailed massive quantities of adamantium, plastieel, ceramite, energy-conducting crystals, superconducting materials, and various rare elements.
Producing the shells for ten EVA Titans was an extremely heavy burden even for a medium-sized forge. It would nearly exhaust the recent strategic reserves of Osiris's faction and required a massive injection of external resources.
The roar of the forge was both a promise and a price. Whether they could deliver on time depended on whether the resources would arrive and whether the interdimensional organization known as WILLE would accept that cross-dimensional order.