Chapter 709: Constructing the Gateway
In Pandora's orbit, that Eldar cruiser, like a silent workshop, began releasing massive numbers of small wraithbone constructs.
These constructs self-assembled and expanded in the zero-gravity of space, beginning to build the most foundational support structure of that magnificent portal framework according to the transmitted blueprints.
Meanwhile, Ryo's engineering team also began using transport ships to ferry human-manufactured alloy components and energy nodes to the orbital construction site, preparing for mixed assembly.
In the Predator homeworld's star system, the other Eldar cruiser, after a tranquil voyage, had also quietly arrived in the target planet's outer orbit, establishing contact with the Predator mothership controlled by Irian's squad that was previously lurking there.
A larger, more precise psychic detection array was deployed to conduct one final millimeter-precision verification of the anchor zone.
The massive core components of the esoteric rite began their final psychic infusion and preheating within the cruiser's ritual chamber.
The High Farseer's will, like an invisible hand, reached across the galaxy, brushing over every critical node to ensure everything was perfectly accurate.
The gears of harvest, at both ends of the stars, began to interlock synchronously and precisely.
The orbital construction site on the perimeter of the Pandora star system presented a bizarre spectacle.
The Eldar cruiser hovered at the core of the construction zone like an elegant broodmother.
Slender yet resilient psychic beams extended from various parts of its hull. Like invisible tentacles, they guided and manipulated thousands of large and small wraithbone constructs.
Some of these constructs resembled miniature space jellyfish, others like multi-jointed metallic insects. They moved silently and highly efficiently in the vacuum, transporting pre-carved runic wraithbone components one by one to their designated positions, precision-splicing them via psychic welding or mortise-and-tenon structures.
The human engineering transport ships, on the other hand, appeared much more rugged.
What they ferried over were heavy alloy beams, composite armor plating, large energy conduit interfaces, and crates of electronic components and stabilizers produced by the factories on the Death World and Pandora base.
Human Tech-Priests and servitors clad in powered exoskeletons bustled about at pre-designated coordinate framework nodes, physically connecting human technological creations with the Eldar wraithbone structures and splicing energy circuits.
This was a colossal engineering feat fusing two entirely different technological systems.
The wraithbone structures provided natural psychic conductivity and spatial stability, while human alloy structures and electronic systems provided solid physical support, the load-bearing capacity for massive energy transmission, and intricate system control interfaces.
In the technical center of the Trailblazer mobile base, a holographic screen displayed the real-time construction progress of the portal framework.
A gigantic ring-shaped skeleton composed of countless hexagons and triangles was gradually manifesting in space.
Its planned final diameter would reach an astonishing fifty kilometers, but currently, only the most foundational support ring, about one kilometer wide, was complete.
Techmarine Cassius and several Tech-Priests were engaged in a continuous data-stream dialogue with the high-ranking technicians dispatched from the Eldar cruiser.
Both sides were rapidly learning and adapting to each other's technical language and engineering logic.
"Sector Seven, coupling degree between the wraithbone resonance node and the standard human energy node has reached ninety-two percent, exceeding expectations. Recommend using this sector's coupling model as the template for subsequent construction," a human Tech-Priest reported.
"Received. Have transmitted this sector's data package to all construction units. Attention, the energy flow peak of the template sector must be kept below eighty-five percent of the design threshold to leave a margin for the long-term psychic saturation of the wraithbone structure," an Eldar technician replied, simultaneously transmitting a set of corrected energy distribution parameters.
Ryo closely monitored the integration progress.
His team was putting their full effort into deciphering and absorbing the core of the Eldar portal framework technology.
The focus lay in how to seamlessly link the stable spatial field generated by the framework with the dimensional coordinate targeting and gateway tearing technologies he mastered.
"The key lies in 'resonant guidance'," a Tech-Priest focusing on theoretical analysis pointed out during an internal meeting. "The Eldar framework utilizes specific geometric structures and energy field resonance to solidify a 'higher-dimensional interface' in real space. Our dimensional teleportation technology actively 'tears' a rift leading to designated coordinates. We need to precisely 'guide' this 'tearing' action to this 'solidified interface' and use the framework's resonance to stabilize and expand the rift, thereby drastically reducing the energy consumption required to maintain the gateway."
"It is equivalent to us first tearing a small opening in a piece of cloth by hand, then immediately fitting this opening over a specially reinforced, pre-prepared eyelet, and then stretching the opening along the eyelet to the size we need," another Tech-Priest used a more intuitive analogy. "The framework is this 'eyelet.' It makes the process of tearing and expanding labor-saving and less prone to ripping."
"Analysis correct," Ryo approved. "Then, the next step is to modify our dimensional teleportation main control program to add a resonant synchronization protocol with the portal framework. Sergeant Cassius, you will lead the team responsible for program rewriting and simulation testing. At the same time, notify the orbital construction team that after the foundational framework ring is complete, they are to prioritize building the first complete 'resonant guidance unit.' We need to conduct a practical, small-scale gateway opening test."
"Understood." Cassius accepted the order and left.
Just as the portal framework construction in Pandora's orbit was in full swing, the preparatory work over in the Predator homeworld star system had also entered its final stage.
The Eldar cruiser had already secretly deployed the vast majority of the esoteric rite core components via small transports to the surface of the spatial anchor region previously selected by Farseer Irian. It was a desolate plateau, yet now it was covered in faintly glowing wraithbone pillars and complex crystal arrays.
They were arranged according to an ancient star map, forming a massive ritual site covering several square kilometers.
High Farseer Eldrad's primary consciousness was focused here, personally guiding dozens of ritual specialists in conducting the final psychic infusion and calibration.
Their psychic energy, like invisible silk threads, connected every pillar and every crystal, adjusting their resonant frequencies so they would establish an initial, faint, but stable harmonic link with the target planet's ley line energies and the portal framework far away in Pandora's orbit.
Irian's squad's mission transitioned to the highest level of alert. They and the two Astartes scouts lay in ambush at vantage points on the perimeter of the ritual site, monitoring any Predator aircraft or ground patrols that might approach the area.
Fortunately, this region seemed remote to begin with, and combined with the Eldar's exceptional cloaking technology, it had not yet attracted the attention of the Predator race.
"Esoteric rite foundational construction is ninety-five percent complete. The psychic resonance network has been initially activated, and the harmonic link with the Pandora receiving end framework is stable." The High Farseer's conscious fluctuations were transmitted back to the cruiser, then relayed via encrypted channels to Ryo on Pandora. "Ready to enter the final activation standby state at any time. Please confirm the readiness of the receiving end."
Ryo looked at the orbital construction progress and the results of the program rewriting simulation tests.
In orbit, the first complete "resonant guidance unit" had been fully constructed. It was a scaled-down segment of the ring-shaped portal framework, about one hundred meters in diameter.
The program rewriting was also essentially complete. Simulation tests showed that the energy consumption required to open and maintain a small, stable gateway through the guidance unit had dropped by approximately sixty-five percent compared to traditional methods, meeting expectations.
"Receiving end preliminary test unit is ready. Final portal framework main body construction progress is twenty-two percent. Core control program rewriting is complete and can undergo practical verification via the test unit," Ryo replied. "Recommend that in twenty-four standard hours, both sides conduct a small-scale, short-duration joint gateway opening and closing test to verify technical integration and coordinate synchronization accuracy."
"Agreed. Test coordinates set as: the designated spatial coordinate point at the Predator homeworld ritual site, and the center point of the Pandora orbital test unit. Gateway scale: ten meters in diameter. Duration: thirty seconds," the High Farseer rapidly drafted the test parameters.
A miniature gateway test spanning two star systems and connecting two universes was about to take place. This was a critical verification of the technical feasibility of the entire "planetary relocation" plan.