"The Prime Mover is omnipresent. It flows both among pure circuits and gears, and can equally reside within meticulously designed life forms that achieve perfect harmony with machinery!" Archmagos Zor's voice became highly infectious, filled with the insight of a technological prophet. "The existence of the eva titan is not a desecration of the omnissiah at all; rather, it may be a new path shown to us by the Prime Mover!
A path that shatters the hypocritical barriers of 'pure machinery' and 'pure life', pointing directly to a higher-level 'perfect harmonious entity'!
This flesh is a 'living component sculpted by the Prime Mover'; this machine is a'sacred framework that carries and guides the manifestation of this power'.
The synergistic effect produced by the combination of the two far exceeds simple addition! This is yet another clear proof of the infinite wisdom and power of the omnissiah!"
"Sophistry! This is dangerous technical heresy!" Malcador-33 refuted fiercely, but his momentum was clearly suppressed by Archmagos Zor's dogma-against-dogma counterattack. "There has never been such a description in the scriptures of the God of All Machines! Equating unclean flesh with sacred machinery is confusing the essence and is the beginning of corruption!
You are about to lead the Adeptus Titanicus astray into irredeemable ruin!"
"Scriptures need interpretation due to the times, and technology develops due to needs!" Zor's voice suddenly turned stern, carrying the unquestionable determination of a ruler. "Today, when The Great Rebellion has almost destroyed our foundations, should we stubbornly cling to incomplete dogmas and wait for a slow, perhaps never-to-completed 'pure' revival, or embrace the new possibilities demonstrated by the Prime Mover, restoring strength as soon as possible with a pragmatic and flexible attitude to defend the glory of the Empire and the omnissiah?
Interpreter, look at the wrecks of those Titans outside the door! Hear the wails for help from the Forge World! What we need are weapons that can fight and win, not endless arguments over 'pure' concepts in an ivory tower!"
The debate between the two rapidly escalated, rising from technical ethics to a core doctrinal clash, and their words became increasingly fierce.
Other conservative Priests also began to step out from the shadows, joining Malcador-33's faction, while more pragmatic Tech-Priests supporting Archmagos Zor also spoke up one after another. The hall was instantly filled with debates in various synthetic tones and the humming of binary doctrinal citations.
Osiris remained silent from beginning to end, like a reef in the eye of the storm.
His optical lenses calmly observed this internal ideological conflict within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
He had neither the intention nor the ability to get involved in this deeply rooted theological divergence.
His goal was clear and pragmatic: to achieve technological exchange and cooperation, and to enhance his own strength.
As for whether this weapon was interpreted as a 'creation of the Prime Mover' or regarded as 'heresy that needs to be cleansed', he did not care as long as it did not hinder the transaction itself.
Therefore, when someone in the debate tried to turn the spearhead back at him and questioned the 'true essence' and'source of inspiration' of EVA technology, Osiris only responded in a steady, technical tone: "The eva titan is the product of the comprehensive application of multiple cutting-edge technologies, and its design aims to solve specific tactical needs and production bottlenecks.
Regarding its philosophical and theological positioning, I believe that Your Excellency Archmagos Zor's interpretation has profound insight. I myself am more focused on its engineering implementation and combat efficacy."
He cleverly kicked the ball back to Zor while avoiding directly taking a side.
He positioned himself as a technical expert providing solutions rather than a participant in doctrinal disputes.
This fierce debate lasted for quite some time, and the verbal clashes almost evolved into throwing data-slates at each other.
Eventually, Archmagos Zor clearly lost his patience.
"Enough!" A low roar exploded like thunder, drowning out all the noise.
Archmagos Zor's massive body suddenly stood up, and several thick auxiliary robotic arms behind him suddenly unfolded. At the end of one of those arms was not a tool or a sensor, but a giant 'Forge Axe' with a ferocious shape and an entangled energy force field.
Scriptures for suppressing heresy and maintaining orthodoxy were etched on the axe face, and at this moment they were emitting a dangerous hum.
The terrifying pressure swept across the audience like substance, and all arguments stopped abruptly.
Even the most excited Malcador-33 was awed by this momentum mixed with top-tier mechanical military force and the authority of the ruler, and the light of his white lenses dimmed a bit.
Archmagos Zor's crimson compound eyes swept across the conservative faction in the audience, finally falling on Malcador-33. His voice was as cold as absolute zero: "The dispute over technological routes can be debated. But stubborn dogmas that obstruct the Adeptus's recovery of strength and disregard the safety of the Empire are another form of betrayal at present.
I, Castian Zor, rule in the name of the Archmagos Dominus: The eva titan project complies with the path of technological development guided by the Prime Mover and is crucial to the revival of the Adeptus.
Anyone who continues to publicly hinder the advancement of this project on the grounds of 'purity'——
The Forge Axe in his hand lifted slightly, and the energy force field crackled.
"Will be charged with hindering the preparations for the Crusade and weakening the power of the omnissiah, and handed over to the internal disciplinary tribunal of the Adeptus for disposal.
Now, either return to your seats and put forward constructive opinions on specific technical cooperation details, or leave the hall."
Naked armed deterrence and power adjudication.
In the Adeptus Titanicus, especially in the present when they had just experienced a civil war and urgently needed to restore discipline, the authority of the Archmagos Dominus could not be challenged, especially when he held the banner of righteousness of 'restoring strength'.
Malcador-33 and other conservative Priests stood stiffly for a moment, the light in their white lenses or optical lenses flickering violently. Eventually, under the silent threat of the Forge Axe and Zor's unquestionable gaze, they chose to silence and slowly retreated back into the shadows, but that unwillingness and hostility did not dissipate, only temporarily dormant.
Only then did Archmagos Zor slowly retract the Forge Axe, and the robotic arms curled back behind him.
He turned to Osiris, the light in his crimson compound eyes having returned to calmness, as if the fierce conflict just now had never happened.
"Pardon this unseemly display before you, Magos Osiris. There are always some voices internally that need proper——guidance." His tone returned to the pragmatism of negotiations. "Now, the obstacles have been cleared. We can continue to discuss the specific terms of cooperation.
Regarding the 'tiered cooperation' model you proposed, and the supplementary demands of the Steel Hound Legion—I believe it has value for in-depth discussion. Perhaps we can start with a specific exchange to build mutual trust."
His compound eyes flickered slightly, pulling up the outline of a new encrypted data stream.
"For example, a verified, reproducible copy of a complete Warmaster-class Titan Standard Template Construct (STC), in exchange for the basic production template package you provide that can be used to authorize cooperative Forge Worlds to produce non-core structural components of the eva titan. What do you think?"
Archmagos Zor's proposal, like a meticulously polished weight, was cast into the scales of negotiation.
Warmaster-class Titan STC template copy.
The value represented by this phrase, within the Adeptus Mechanicus, especially to Osiris and the Neksum Forge World and Steel Hound Legion he represented, was immense.
The Warmaster-class Titan stood over fifty meters tall and was the heavy mainstay in the Titan Legion second only to the Emperor-class. Before The Great Rebellion, its existence was known only to a very limited circle of high-ranking officials within the Adeptus Mechanicus; it was usually deployed secretly on a Forge World and would only be activated when that Forge World came under attack.
Its firepower, defense, and command capabilities far exceeded those of the Warlord-class, making it a strategic unit truly capable of turning the tide of a battle.
A complete and replicable STC template meant that Neksum would acquire the theoretical and technological foundation to independently produce Warmaster-class Titans.
This would not only greatly enhance the strength of the Steel Hound Legion and fill the gap in its high-end combat power, but also significantly elevate Neksum's status among the Forge Worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
A Forge World capable of producing Warmaster-class Titans had a world of difference in speaking rights and resource allocation levels compared to Forge Worlds that could only produce Warhound- and Reaver-class units.
Although going from obtaining the template to successfully producing a usable Warmaster-class Titan in practice would still require investing massive resources, solving countless engineering problems, and undergoing lengthy testing and adjustments, the opening of this door itself was priceless.
What Archmagos Zor asked for was not the core biological cultivation technology of the eva titan, but the "basic production template package" used to produce "non-core structural components."
This precisely coincided with some of the concepts in the "hierarchical cooperation" model previously proposed by Osiris.
These templates would include the general skeleton design of the eva titan, standard armor plate specifications, manufacturing processes for conventional joints and transmission systems, as well as definitions for external weapon mounts and universal interfaces.
Having mastered these, the cooperating Forge World could mass-produce the "shells" of the eva titans, and then ship them to Neksum for the final injection of the "soul" (biological core) and final assembly and tuning.
For Adeptus Titanicus, this could greatly accelerate the production speed of the eva titan "shells" and disperse production pressure, while the core lifeline (the biological core) remained in Osiris's hands, forming a cooperative relationship of mutual dependence and mutual restraint.
For Osiris, he traded a set of non-core production standards that he had already intended to partially share for the coveted advanced Titan technology, while still firmly controlling the most unique and irreplaceable parts of the eva titan.
This was a highly pragmatic exchange where each took what they needed.
Osiris's crimson optical lenses gazed at the encrypted data stream outline representing the Warmaster-class STC template, while his internal Logic Core rapidly calculated the gains and losses.
The other party had obviously carefully studied his demands and bottom line, and the conditions given were highly targeted, cleverly avoiding the most sensitive parts.
"The value of the Warmaster-class STC template is unquestionable," Osiris slowly spoke, his synthesized voice steady. "It can provide key support for the revitalization of our Titan Legion. Exchanging it with our EVA basic production templates is, in principle, equivalent."
His tone shifted slightly as he entered the stage of detailed consultation: "However, to ensure the smoothness of the exchange and the effectiveness of subsequent cooperation, several specific issues need to be clarified."
"First, regarding the completeness and practicability of the Warmaster-class STC template. Neksum needs to ensure that the received copy data is complete and intact.
It must include all necessary sub-templates ranging from basic material smelting formulas, core component casting processes, power system integration, to weapon platform calibration and preliminary machine spirit pacification protocols, and it must be a 'clean' version verified through actual production with known error codes eliminated."
"The Adeptus Titanicus must provide corresponding technical verification nodes and data integrity guarantees."
"Second, regarding the scope of authorization and limitations of the EVA basic production template package. This template package is only authorized for use in producing non-core structural components of eva titans at designated cooperating Forge Worlds under the supervision of Adeptus Titanicus, and all produced components must be supplied to Neksum for final assembly.
The template package must not be used for the production of any other type of mecha or weapon, nor may it be sub-authorized or technically transferred to third-party Forge Worlds without our written permission.
The template package will contain anti-reverse engineering and unauthorized production self-destruction protocols."
"Third, regarding the subsequent arrangements for this exchange. After the template exchange is completed, both parties should immediately form a joint technical team responsible for interpreting the templates, adaptive adjustments (especially the adaptation of the STC templates to Neksum's existing industrial base), and formulating the initial cooperative production plan.
At the same time, the specific resource list and delivery schedule for expanding eva titan orders should also be finalized as soon as possible under this framework."
Osiris's terms were clear and specific, safeguarding his core interests (obtaining available advanced STCs), setting necessary restrictions (protecting the scope of EVA technology diffusion), and pushing cooperation into a substantive implementation phase.
Archmagos Zor's crimson compound eyes steadily gazed at Osiris, internal data streams flickering, obviously rapidly evaluating these terms.
After a moment, he nodded slightly.
"Your considerations are comprehensive and professional. Acceptable." Archmagos Zor's voice carried the composure of reaching an important consensus. "The completeness and cleanliness of the templates will be handled by the verification team led by Magos Solan, and the key logs of the verification process will be open to you.
The restrictive clauses on the scope of authorization meet the Adeptus Titanicus's current demand of concentrating resources and rapidly forming combat effectiveness, and will also be written into the formal protocol.
The formation of the joint technical team will start immediately after this meeting concludes."
He slightly adjusted his sitting posture, and his massive mechanical structure emitted a low hum.
"Then, as the basis and symbol of this agreement, shall we confirm now to exchange a set of 'Warmaster-class Titan Standard Construction Templates (complete replicable copy)' for a set of 'eva titan Non-Core Structural Component Basic Production Template Packages (limited authorization version)'?"
"Confirmed."
"Very good." The red light in Archmagos Zor's compound eyes seemed to soften slightly. He raised a mechanical hand and made a complex gesture.
The wall on one side of the hall silently slid open, revealing a small secret room behind it filled with precision instruments and contemplator arrays.
Two Priests serving as "Template Guardians," who had remained silently following Zor and draped in special rune robes, walked out of the secret room, holding a huge container jointly encapsulated by psychic alloy and data crystals.
Layers of encrypted psychic light flowed across the surface of the container, and its physical structure itself was a work of art combined with a security device.
The template exchange ceremony was completed in a solemn and efficient atmosphere.
When Osiris received the heavy container—jointly encapsulated with psychic alloy and data crystals, its surface shimmering with layers of encrypted runes—from the "Template Guardian" of the Adeptus Titanicus, his sensors clearly captured the unique informational ripples emanating from the complex, orderly, and extremely precise data structure inside the container.
This was the stc system template for a Warmaster-class Titan.
"May this exchange become the cornerstone of deep cooperation between the Adeptus Titanicus and the Neksum Forge World," Archmagos Zor said in conclusion, "The joint technical team can begin work tomorrow."
Detailed negotiations regarding subsequent orders and resource agreements will be coordinated by my representatives with your personnel.
I look forward to seeing more steel giants forged by our combined strength standing tall on the battlefronts where the Imperium needs them most in the near future."
Osiris securely placed the STC container onto his portable dedicated data interface bracket, the light of his crimson optical sensors remaining steady.
"I share the same expectation. The effective combination of technology and resources will surely burst forth with the power to protect humanity."
He then added, "Regarding the production specifications for FVA non-core structural components promised by our side."
"To ensure optimal compatibility with the existing industrial system of your designated Forge World, I need to perform parameter fine-tuning and final encapsulation on-site, assisted by the contemplator arrays at your headquarters and combined with real-time data."
This can avoid production deviations caused by environmental differences."
Archmagos Zor's crimson compound eyes flickered slightly, seemingly approving of Osiris's pragmatic approach of pursuing optimal matching degrees.
"Very well. Magos Solan will arrange a Cogitator node with the highest authority for you and ensure data security. Once completed, you can directly hand over the specifications to the joint technical team."
He paused slightly, "Furthermore, Magos Osiris, since you have acquired the Warmaster-class stc system, you must also understand that between possessing a template and being able to translate it into actual combat power lies a vast ocean of knowledge."
The Adeptus Titanicus headquarters possesses the Imperium's most complete database and practical training facilities related to Titan construction.
If you are interested, during the work of the joint team, you and your designated personnel may have limited access to these resources to help you more effectively——understand and utilize this gift."
This was an unexpected yet reasonable proposal.
On one hand, this demonstrated Archmagos Zor's sincerity in hoping to deepen cooperation, ensuring that Osiris's side could truly utilize the STC and thus form combat effectiveness more quickly (whether for the Steel Hound Legion or Neksum as an EVA production base).
On the other hand, this was also an invisible binding, allowing Osiris to integrate more deeply into the knowledge system of the Adeptus Titanicus.
Osiris barely hesitated.
"Thank you for the Archmagos's generosity. The inheritance and sharing of knowledge are the keys to technological progress. I accept this proposal."
The meeting ended here.
Archmagos Zor left, and Magos Solan stayed behind to finalize the details of the joint technical team with Osiris, arranging a secret room equipped with top-tier contemplator arrays within the headquarters for him to write and encapsulate the EVA production specifications.
In the secret room designated by Magos Solan, Osiris deeply connected himself with the massive and efficient contemplator array.
He did not call upon any preset template packages, but instead used the EVA basic design data stored in his own Logic Core as a blueprint, combining it with
real-time accessed standard industrial capability parameters, material library lists, and environmental constants of some cooperative Forge Worlds provided by the Adeptus Titanicus, to reconstruct the data on-site.
His mechanical tentacles moved rapidly in the air, pulling data streams, adjusting structural stress models to match the limits of different gravity forging presses, modifying alloy composition ratios to adapt to subtle differences in local minerals, and rewriting processing accuracy tolerances to correspond with the control capabilities of Servitors of varying levels——
This was an extremely complex and time-consuming process, requiring thorough knowledge of EVA design and a rapid capacity for understanding and adapting to the target production system.
Osiris's Logic Core operated at full speed; inside the secret room, there was only the low hum of the Cogitator cooling fans and the faint light of data streams cascading across the main screen like waterfalls.
Hours later, a brand new, highly customized basic production specification data core embedded with strict permission locks and anti-reverse-engineering protocols was successfully generated.
It was not a universal blueprint, but rather resembled an "adaptive production instruction set" that could automatically derive the most appropriate production process details based on the specific conditions of the connected Forge World within the authorized scope.
Osiris handed it over to the receiving personnel sent by Magos Solan who were waiting outside.
Having fulfilled this commitment, Osiris's attention returned to the heavy STC container.
He knew deeply that Archmagos Zor spoke the truth.
Obtaining the STC template by no means meant that one could immediately press a button to produce a Warmaster-class Titan.
The stc system was born in the Golden Age of Technology of human civilization, and its original intention was indeed to allow colonists with even limited knowledge levels to rely on
standard templates and local resources to produce the tools and equipment needed for survival and development, ranging from screws to buildings, and even certain models of vehicles and small aircraft.
Its "user-friendliness" was reflected in packaging complex knowledge into step-by-step foolproof operation guides.
However, Titans, especially strategic war machines like the Warmaster-class, had a level of complexity that far exceeded the scope of "standard tools".
The disciplines it involved spanned a huge range, from super-heavy material smelting, micro-gravity precision casting, the stabilization and control of the plasma reactor, multi-legged/bipedal complex kinematics and balance algorithms, the focusing and heat dissipation of giant energy weapons, to the preliminary principles of machine spirit science resonating with the massive mechanical body, and most importantly—how to integrate all this into an organic whole that could fight, survive, and be effectively controlled by mortals (even highly modified commanders and crews).
Someone completely ignorant of metallurgy, even if given a detailed recipe, might smelt a furnace of waste slag because they could not understand the impact of temperature curves on crystal lattice structures.
Someone with no concept of fluid mechanics would be at a complete loss when faced with cooling system pipeline diagrams.
Someone unfamiliar with the principles of neuro-mechanical interfaces might suffer burned nerves or a raging machine spirit if they forcefully connected to a Titan's control system.
The STC template could provide "steps", but could not endow the executor with the deep knowledge to understand "why it is so" and "how to remedy errors".
For an Adeptus Mechanicus sage like Osiris, the STC was a precious blueprint and a highly optimized solution set, but using it—especially turning it from blueprint to reality—was in itself a systematic project requiring profound knowledge reserves.
He needed to learn—or rather, systematically sort out, verify, and master—the massive knowledge system related to building, maintaining, and understanding a Warmaster-class Titan.
Only in this way could he not only "replicate" a Titan, but also adjust and optimize according to actual conditions, solve the countless unexpected problems that would inevitably arise during the production process, and ultimately reasonably and effectively deploy this war machine onto the battlefield to exert its due strategic value.
This is precisely why, even during the Great Crusade era, when the Empire possessed a relatively complete STC library and an efficient interstellar logistics network, constructing an advanced Titan still required a lengthy period measured in "years."
This was not only due to the time-consuming physical processes of material collection, component casting, and final assembly and debugging, but also because of the massive investment required for knowledge transmission, artisan training, ritual preparation, and communication and coordination with complex machine spirits.
Every Titan was a mobile sanctuary of knowledge and an industrial miracle.
By the fortieth millennium, with the loss of countless knowledge, the scattering of STC fragments, the erosion of Chaos corruption, and the ossification and decay of the entire imperial administrative and logistics system, the time required to produce a Titan—even the smallest Warhound-class—was elongated to a despairing century or more.
This was not only due to technical difficulty; the deeper reason lay in the fact that many Tech-Priests of that era could no longer truly "master" all the systematic knowledge required to produce a Titan. They could only fumble through incomplete rituals and fragmented, word-of-mouth experiences, resulting in low efficiency and extremely low error tolerance.
The era Osiris currently lived in, though similarly facing warfare and losses, did not yet suffer from such a terrifying generational knowledge gap, and the system still survived.
Archmagos Zor's proposal to open up learning resources was a rare opportunity.
He activated the STC container.
The psychic locks faded away layer by layer, and the crystal shell opened, revealing the complex optical storage media and direct neural data interface inside.
Without hesitation, Osiris plugged a dedicated high-bandwidth data probe into the primary neural data port on the back of his neck.
In an instant, a tsunami-like torrent of data, rigorous enough to be breathtaking, surged inward.
This was not simple text or blueprints, but a "living" knowledge system containing multi-dimensional models, dynamic simulations, material property libraries, physical formula derivation processes,
failure case records, and even thought annotations from certain Golden Age engineers.
The light in Osiris's crimson optical sensors suddenly flared, and the power of his internal cooling system increased.
He "saw" a Warmaster-class Titan—from its initial conceptual sketch to the molecular structure design of every armor plate, the stress simulation of every hydraulic pipeline, and the deduction of tens of millions of possibilities for the reactor ignition sequence——
The sheer volume of information was so massive that even he felt the load on his processing core.
He quickly adjusted his strategy, not attempting to devour all the information at once, but rather following the logical sequence of construction. He prioritized extracting the overview framework, the basic principles of core systems (power, skeleton, main weapons), and most importantly—the "Knowledge Index Tree" and "Learning Path Recommendations" paired with this STC template.
The latter was clearly a precious legacy left by the designers of the Golden Age, designed to guide users in mastering the necessary knowledge step by step.
When Osiris initially stabilized the input of the data stream and outlined the general path of study, several standard hours had already passed.
He disconnected, and the glow of his optical sensors slowly returned to normal.
The weight of knowledge—at this moment, he had a more tangible realization of it.
This was not merely a blueprint; it was a long journey that required arduous trekking to traverse, leading to the forging of the machine of gods.
But he did not shrink back in the slightest.
Within his Logic Core, the flames of thirst for knowledge and control instead burned even brighter.
Through his internal link, he issued a new command to the Eternal Seeker: dispatch a detail including two senior Tech-Priests, five secondary Tech-Priests specializing in different fields, and ten apprentices with good learning capabilities, preparing to move into the study area designated by the Adeptus Titanicus headquarters.
At the same time, he ordered the spaceship to enter a berthed maintenance state.
He was going to stay, immersing himself in this ocean of knowledge until he could truly wield this power.
And as part of the exchange and sincerity of cooperation, he would also begin imparting knowledge regarding the manufacturing of non-core components of the eva titan—which he had compiled and verified on-site—to the Priests selected by the Adeptus Titanicus.
Learning and teaching were about to unfold simultaneously.
Deep within the Adeptus Titanicus headquarters, an area known as the "Corridor of Myriad Knowledges" was opened to Osiris and his team.
This was not a traditional library or classroom, but a massive complex composed of countless interconnected Cogitator nodes, holographic projection theaters, material sample libraries, miniature simulated foundries, and neural interactive learning pods.
The air was filled with a mixed scent of ozone, old parchment (the physical carrier of data-slates), high-grade lubricants, and a certain kind of incense used to help concentrate the mind.
Etched on the walls were the maxims and achievements of past famous Forging Priest and Titan captains, silently telling of the solemnity of knowledge and the price of power.
Osiris's team was assigned an independent study suite and corresponding resource quotas.
He himself possessed higher clearance, allowing him to access more core databases and certain restricted "experience logs."
Those were precious firsthand materials containing details of success and failure recorded by participating Priests during past Titan construction processes, possessing greater practical reference value than the standardized content in the STCs.
Studying began immediately.
Osiris plugged himself into an advanced neural interactive pod, interfacing the STC Knowledge Index Tree with the database of the "Corridor of Myriad Knowledges."
The first core discipline he chose was "Titan-Class Heavy Alloy Smelting and Forging."
As the data stream poured in, it was not just chemical compositions and temperature curves.
He "experienced" how the differences in trace elements of ores produced by different galaxies affected the impact resistance of the final armor plates.
He "saw" how, in a microgravity casting furnace, molten metal formed drastically different internal lattice structures due to differences in surface tension and cooling rates, which in turn affected overall toughness.
He "felt" how internal stress in metal was transmitted, released, or accumulated under tens of thousands of tons of pressure from a super-heavy forging press, and how these forces were guided through rhythmic hammering and intermittent tempering to forge ideal components that were both sturdy and capable of withstanding a certain degree of deformation.
Countless formulas, charts, simulated experiment failure cases (such as brittle fracturing, deformation, and internal bubbles), and successful empirical parameters intertwined into a profound ocean of practical knowledge.
This was by no means empty talk on paper.
Every once in a while, Osiris would leave the interactive pod and head to the affiliated microscopic simulation forging area.
There were scaled-down smelting and forging equipment with identical principles, allowing practical operations using small amounts of special alloys to verify what he had learned.
He saw that the sample from his first attempt at blending performed poorly in the toughness test. By backtracking the data, he discovered that the addition timing of a certain deoxidizer was a fraction of a second too early, causing the impurity precipitation pattern to change.
After adjustment, the performance of the second sample reached ninety-five percent of the STC baseline.
Meanwhile, the Tech-Priests and apprentices in his team had each chosen their own directions; some delved into Titan-Class Hydraulics and Transmission Systems", some focused on "Large Energy Weapon Cooling and Focusing Arrays", and others began doggedly studying Titan Foot Kinematics and Complex Terrain Adaptation Algorithms".
The study area was filled with low binary chanting (for mnemonic aid), the subtle rustling of data-slates being flipped through, and muffled yet intensely fierce debates that occasionally erupted over specific technical details.
Osiris regularly compiled their progress and the problems they encountered, answering them with his own understanding or guiding them to find answers from the database; questions he could not answer immediately were recorded as directions for subsequent in-depth study.
After several days of this immersive study, the first batch of Priest trainees selected by the Adeptus Titanicus to be responsible for the future production of non-core EVA components had also arrived.
The teaching took place in another dedicated practical training workshop.
Facing these Adeptus Titanicus Priests, whose gazes mixed curiosity, scrutiny, and a technician's inquisitive drive, Osiris did not engage in any hollow propaganda.
He directly pulled up the set of adaptive production instruction sets he had written on the spot and connected it to a simulated Forge World production environment.
"We will skip the theoretical disputes and look directly at how to manufacture." Osiris's synthesized voice was steady and got straight to the point.
What he showcased first was the universal composite skeletal structure of the eva titan.
"Pay attention, this is not solid steel."
It is formed by compounding multiple layers of dissimilar alloys through a specific temperature and pressure gradient, with the core layer responsible for load-bearing and energy absorption, while the outer layer is responsible for hardness and anti-corrosion.
"The 'Thousand-Layer Forging Method' in the STC database can be applied after adjustment, but the heating curve needs to follow this correction model I provided, otherwise the interlayer bonding strength will drop by thirty percent."
He pulled up the model, demonstrating the defects in the simulated stress cloud map caused by the incorrect curve, as well as the perfectly bonded state after correction.
The Priests of the Adeptus Titanicus were immediately attracted; some began recording quickly, while others raised questions: "What is the basic thermodynamic principle of this correction model? Why is it different from the preset values of traditional thousand-layer forging?"
Osiris displayed the unique thermal expansion coefficient curve of the EVA skeleton material, as well as the microstructural design requirements at the composite interface.
"Because the materials are different, the design objectives are also different. The EVA skeleton requires a higher specific strength (the ratio of strength to weight)."
He provided the derivation formulas and data sources, everything based on verifiable engineering principles.
Next was armor plate forming.
He demonstrated how to use the Adeptus Titanicus's existing large curved presses, by adjusting the matching algorithm of mold preheating temperature and stamping speed, to form EVA's lightweight armor—which features complex curved surfaces and internal stiffeners—in a single molding, rather than adopting a thicker and more spliced approach like traditional Titan armor.
"This can save fifteen percent of weight and twenty percent of processing time, but it places extremely high demands on mold precision and temperature control. Here is a control protocol subroutine I wrote, which can be integrated into your Forge machine spirit."
A Priest proficient in forge-craft questioned: "Such thin armor, how can it guarantee protection against heavy lasers and ballistic weapons? The side armor of our Warhound-class is more than three times as thick."
Osiris brought up the test data—ballistic and energy weapon strike records from a Death World and Neksum.
"Its defense does not rely solely on thickness. First, the material itself uses a nanoscale Ceramite-adamantium composite gradient material, with an extremely high surface hardness capable of deflecting or shattering incoming projectiles."
"Secondly, there is a deformable energy-absorbing layer between the armor plate and the internal skeleton, used to absorb residual impact."
He paused for a moment and brought up a simplified schematic diagram of the A.T. Field's principles (excluding sensitive information such as Apostles and souls).
"Most importantly, it is equipped with an activatable directional energy deflection shield, which is its primary defense means."
"The armor is more for dealing with stray bullets and shrapnel after the shield overloads, as well as maintaining airtightness and structural integrity."
This explanation sparked even greater discussion.
Energy shield technology was not new, but applying it so efficiently and flexibly to Titan-class units, and combining it with a biological organism, was something they had never heard of.
Osiris patiently explained the generator principles of this shield (based on the simplified version he provided), its energy consumption characteristics, and the interface standards with mechanical systems, pulling the discussion back into the realm of manufacturable engineering.
The teaching progressed through questions, answers, simulation verification, and even small-scale physical trial production (using alternative materials).
The profound engineering literacy Osiris displayed, his demanding requirements for details, and his ability to attribute all "unconventional" designs to quantifiable and achievable engineering principles gradually won the respect of these pragmatic Tech-Priests.
They might still harbor doubts about the biological core, but at least regarding how to manufacture the "steel body" enveloping that core, they began to have a clear path and confidence.
Meanwhile, during the gaps between teaching, Osiris's own study was continuously deepening.
Following materials science, he entered the field of Titan-Class plasma reactor Design and Stability Control".
This involved cutting-edge knowledge such as high-temperature plasma confinement, magnetohydrodynamics, and the instantaneous transmission, distribution, and buffering of massive amounts of energy; its complexity far exceeded the power source used by the EVA, which leaned more toward energy conversion rather than direct fusion/fission.
He spent a massive amount of time understanding how the magnetic field topology of the reactor core prevented plasma escape and maintained fusion conditions, learning how to balance output power with core lifespan, and dealing with those troublesome multiple redundant safety systems designed to prevent runaway reactions.
Every day, his Logic Core devoured massive amounts of knowledge, comparing, integrating, and optimizing it with his existing technology tree.
He was not only learning how to "replicate" the Warmaster-class Titan, but also understanding the Golden Age engineering philosophy behind it, pondering how to absorb its essence so that it might eventually feed back into EVA technology and even other fields in the future.
Learning and teaching proceeded simultaneously within this sanctuary on Mars, like the meshing of precision gears, pushing the cooperation between both sides toward substance.
Osiris could feel that his understanding of the weapon of war known as the "Titan" was rapidly shifting from an external observer to the identity of an internal builder.
And what was contained within that heavy STC container was no longer an out-of-reach secret, but a grand engineering blueprint that he needed to fill step by step with sweat and wisdom.
Time quietly slipped away amidst the unceasing casting bells and the murmurs of data streams on Mars.
Osiris and his team's immersive learning in the "Corridor of Omniscience" had lasted for dozens of standard days.
Osiris himself had completed the in-depth study and preliminary practical verification (on simulation and miniaturized equipment) of three core disciplines: "Titan-Class Heavy Alloy Smelting and Forging", "Titan-Class plasma reactor Design and Stability Control", and "Titan Main Structure Engineering and Final Assembly Process".
At this moment, he was plunging into the vast field of "Titan Weapon System Integration and Fire Control Protocols".
This was not just about learning how to install and calibrate a Volcano Cannon or turbo-laser cannon.
He needed to understand the matching of energy demand peaks of different weapon platforms with the output rhythm of the plasma reactor, mastering the complete mechanical chain where the recoil of super-heavy weapons is transmitted through the Titan joints and feet to the ground, and absorbed by complex hydraulic and inertial damping systems.
And learning how the fire control system synthesizes sensor data (radar, laser ranging, thermal imaging, and even basic visual recognition), the Titan's own posture, target motion trajectory prediction, environmental factors (wind speed, gravity, atmospheric refraction), and most importantly, the neural commands of the captain and weapon officer, to calculate the optimal firing parameters within milliseconds and coordinate the weapon servos to complete aiming and actuation.
This also involved primary data-link coordination with other Titans, knight mechs, and even infantry units within the same combat zone to avoid firepower overlap or friendly fire.
In front of a holographic tactical sandbox, Osiris simulated commanding a virtual Warmaster-class Titan to conduct a hardpoint breakthrough operation.
He manually adjusted the weapon energy distribution (whether to prioritize charging the main gun or maintain the rapid response of the secondary weapon array), planned the movement route to maximize the power of weapons in different firing arcs, and handled the continuous messages from simulated friendly units—
coordination requests and threat alerts.
After several simulations, he deeply realized that driving a Titan for high-efficiency combat was far from as simple as "walk over and fire"; it was a complex war system supported by comprehensive knowledge.
At the same time, the members of his team also achieved their respective successes.
The Priest in charge of transmission had figured out the complex triple-joint hydraulic linkage and balance feedback algorithms of the Warmaster-class Titan's legs, and tried to record the buffering design concepts therein, pondering whether they could be applied to the joint optimization of future EVA.
The Priest who studied energy weapons developed a strong interest in the cutting and polishing processes of the focusing crystals of several heavy laser weapons provided by Adeptus Titanicus, believing that their precision requirements and control methods had a certain inspirational significance for improving the Volcano Cannon of the EVA.
On the other side, the teaching of EVA component manufacturing to the Adeptus Titanicus Priests had also entered the second stage.
After mastering the basic skeleton and armor manufacturing, Osiris began to teach more precise components, such as the manufacturing and lubrication system integration of large joint bearings, the weaving and packaging processes of bionic muscle bundles (mechanical-hydraulic simulated structures used to drive certain fine movements, non-biological), and the production essentials of universal interface standards for external weapon hardpoints and quick-locking mechanisms.
During the teaching process, Osiris constantly emphasized the importance of tolerance control, material batch consistency, and systematic testing.
He brought a simplified production quality traceability and data feedback process used by Neksum, and suggested that the cooperative Forge World establish a similar mechanism during the trial production stage to quickly locate problems.
This rigorous, data-driven engineering management philosophy differed from the experience- and ritual-dependent methods of some Adeptus Titanicus Forge Worlds, sparking quite a bit of discussion, but also exciting some younger Priests who were more inclined toward quantitative management.
With the deepening of teaching and the launch of the joint technical team's work, the first batch of EVA non-core structural component samples trial-produced in an affiliated Forge World of Adeptus Titanicus according to the specifications provided by Osiris were shipped to the headquarters for inspection.
Led personally by Osiris, together with Magos Solan and members of the joint team, strict evaluations of these components were conducted in a dedicated testing workshop.
Dimensional accuracy, material strength, welding quality, internal defect scanning, interface compatibility test—one piece of data after another was recorded.
Overall, the pass rate reached eighty-two percent. For a first trial production, this result was quite good.
The main problems of the unqualified components were concentrated on some composite armor plates that were extremely sensitive to processing temperatures (micro-cracks appeared), as well as minor burrs in the internal lubrication pipelines of individual complex joints leading to abnormal flow resistance.
Osiris did not blame them; instead, together with the opposing Tech-Priest, he carefully analyzed each failure case, traced back the production data records, and identified minute deviations in the temperature control curves or links where tool wear was not discovered in time.
He recorded these analysis processes and correction suggestions in detail and fed them back to the production side.
This pragmatic problem-solving attitude further consolidated his image as a collaborator among the technological faction of Adeptus Titanicus.
It was also during this period that Osiris's understanding of the Warmaster-class STC began to move from "branch-by-branch learning" to "preliminary mastery through integration".
He began trying to conduct small-scale, virtual "full-process deductions" within the Logic Core—starting from receiving the resource list, simulating the scheduling of production lines, planning the component casting sequence, imagining potential interference problems during the final assembly process, and thinking about how to coordinate Priest teams of different specialties to work together.
He realized that to truly lead the construction of a Warmaster-class Titan, he also needed to deeply study seemingly "soft" but actually crucial disciplines such as "Titan Construction Project Management and Resource Scheduling", "Foundations of machine spirit Science and Preliminary Communication Rituals", and "Titan Crew Selection and Basic Training Syllabus".
This knowledge concerned how to combine cold machinery with living humans (or heavily augmented Priests) and that elusive "machine spirit" into a combat-capable whole.
However, these could be left for later.
The knowledge reserve of the current stage was already sufficient for him, after returning to Neksum and when resources were in place, to initiate the early preparation work for the construction of the Warmaster-class Titan—including site planning, special equipment design and manufacturing, core raw material reserves, and the setup of the most critical talent training system.
It was impossible and unnecessary for him to learn all the details on Mars; much experience had to be accumulated during actual construction.
At the same time, detailed negotiations regarding the expansion of eva titan orders and resource exchanges were basically finalized amidst the pushing and pulling between Osiris's accompanying administrative Priest and the representatives of Adeptus Titanicus.
A five-year framework agreement involving batch deliveries and massive resource flows had taken initial shape, awaiting only final signature.
Magos Solan found Osiris during a study break on a standard day, the blue light in his compound lens carrying a soothing fluctuation of completing a phased task.
"Magos Osiris, Archmagos Dominus and the Technical Review Committee of the Martian Council have comprehensively evaluated your academic contribution, the depth of knowledge transfer, and the practical advancement of the Adeptus Titanicus technical system during this exchange."
"Based on your exceptional comprehension of STC knowledge, your pioneering achievements in the field of eva titan engineering, and your demonstrated comprehensive technical literacy in accordance with the enlightening spirit of the omnissiah, the Council has resolved to officially confer upon you the title and authority of Forge Archmagos."
"The promotion ceremony will be held three standard days later in the Main Holy Knowledge Hall of Olympus Mons."
The light in Osiris's optical lenses flowed steadily.
Forge Archmagos—this was not the supreme Fabricator-General on Mars, but a higher title awarded within the Adeptus Mechanicus to magi who reached the grandmaster level in specific fields, signifying a huge upgrade in their technical authority and resource mobilization permissions, and granting them a more formal status and right to speak in the Martian Council.
This was both recognition and a deeper binding, marking that his technical path and personal prestige were further integrated into the core hierarchy of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
"Thank you, Archmagos Zorand the Martian Council for your recognition," Osiris replied, "This honor makes me deeply feel the heavy responsibility."
"This is what you deserve," the synthetic voice of Magos Solan carried a rare, near-admiring affirmation, "What you brought is not only new weapons, but also a new engineering philosophy and efficiency paradigm."
"The ceremony will focus on the confirmation of academic contributions and the inheritance of knowledge, which aligns with your consistent style."
Three days later, in the core area of Olympus Mons, the Main Holy Knowledge Hall.
This hall was not a place for grand religious rituals, but a venue within the Adeptus Mechanicus for holding the highest-level academic certifications, major technical achievement reviews, and high-level knowledge inheritance rituals.
Its internal space was extremely tall and wide, presenting a stepped circular amphitheater layout, but surrounding it were not spectator seats, but layer upon layer of contemplator arrays interface platforms, holographic projection generators, and data stream monitoring nodes.
The hall dome was not a mural of deities, but a dynamic mathematical-physical model projection showing the movement of elementary particles to the rotation of galactic nebulae, symbolizing the endless exploration of the laws of the universe.
The air was permeated with the fresh scent of advanced coolant and white noise like distant tides generated when millions of logic units operated simultaneously at low load.
At this moment, in front of various interface platforms on the annular hall walls, numerous figures were already standing solemnly.
They were all senior magi with seats in the Martian Council, grandmasters of major schools, and representatives of core armed forces such as Adeptus Titanicus and God-Machine Honor Guard.
They were not wearing the most gorgeous ritual robes, but working robes representing the highest technical level or management authority in their respective fields—dominated by deep red, decorated with concise emblems and data pipelines identifying their specialized areas.
Everyone's gaze, whether optical lenses, crystal eyes, or mechanical compound eyes, focused on the flat circular area in the center of the hall, cast from dark alloy and inlaid with precise circuit patterns.
Led by Magos Solan and two council debating Priests, Osiris stepped into the center of the hall.
He did not deliberately change his robes today, still wearing his signature dark Adeptus Mechanicus magos armor that combined functionality and a sense of majesty, but its surface had been cleaned, and all data interfaces and mechanical structures glowed with a cold and precise luster under the lighting in the hall.
An elderly man of towering stature, highly augmented, draped in a deep-red silver-trimmed robe symbolizing knowledge integration—the current Chief Academic Reviewer of the Martian Council—stepped down from a special platform on the side and came before Osiris.
His vocalizer was loud and clear, spreading throughout the hall without amplification.
"Based on Part VII, Chapter XIII of the Adeptus Mechanicus holy scripture "Code of Technical Logic", regarding the specifications for technical achievement evaluation and knowledge authority conferral," the reviewer's voice was emotionless, possessing only absolute organization, "Now, for Magos Osiris, belonging to the Neksum Forge World and Death World research sequence, the final technical contribution review and title conferral procedure are conducted."
He turned sideways, and the holographic projection above the center of the hall lit up, beginning to scroll at an astonishing speed to display declassified summary data.
eva titan infrastructure schematics, Neksum production efficiency comparison charts, key conclusions of Steel Hound Legion actual combat evaluation reports, Warp Drive Engine basic theory contribution markers, summaries of technical exchange frameworks reached with Adeptus Titanicus, and the learning progress and knowledge feedback evaluation of Osiris's team in the "Corridor of Ten Thousand Knowledges".
Massive amounts of data, formulas, models, and conclusions poured down like a waterfall, yet they were clearly classified and labeled for all high-ranking magi present to call upon the detailed argument chains behind them in real-time.
"The aforementioned technical contributions have been verified by a special team led by Archmagos Dominus Zorof Adeptus Titanicus, and cross-reviewed by thirteen sub-technical committees under the Council. Their innovation, practicality, expansion of existing technical boundaries, and actual effectiveness in enhancing the imperial defense forces have all received ratings exceeding the statutory recognition threshold," the reviewer continued to state, each conclusion corresponding to a string of authoritative verification codes and review record indices lighting up in the projection.
"In terms of knowledge transmission," the projection content switched, displaying the learning path map of Osiris in the "Corridor of Ten Thousand Knowledges", the evaluation of his depth of understanding of the Warmaster-class STC core module, and the process records of his teaching EVA non-core manufacturing technology to Adeptus Titanicus Priests along with trainee skill improvement data.
"The evaluatee has demonstrated exceptional knowledge absorption, integration, and re-dissemination capabilities. Their teaching results meet the standards of high-level knowledge inheritance, contributing to the perfection and diffusion of the technical system."
The hall was silent, with only the flickering light of the data stream projection and the low humming of the contemplator arrays.
This was a silent scrutiny. Every high-ranking member present quickly called upon the information within their authority, verifying every item stated by the reviewer.
There were no cheers, no chanting, only pure technical facts and logical chains silently colliding and confirming in the hall.
"Based on the above review," the Chief Academic Reviewer turned to Osiris, steady green light representing final confirmation flashing in his optical lenses, "The Martian Council, based on the knowledge and logic endowed by the omnissiah, rules: Magos Osiris's technical achievements and knowledge contributions have reached the standard of Forge Archmagos."
"His authority will be promoted to the corresponding level, he will obtain the right to attend the Martian Council, and he will enjoy the qualification of corresponding resource scheduling and technical initiative within the Adeptus Mechanicus."
He paused for a moment, and the projection model on the dome of the hall suddenly shrank, turning into a pure beam of light of data, projecting onto the ground in front of Osiris, forming a continuously rotating polyhedral geometric symbol with an extremely complex structure.
That was the visual symbol of the exclusive knowledge key and authority identifier of the newly promoted Forge Archmagos.
"Please step forward and receive the key of knowledge and the seal of authority and responsibility."
Osiris stepped forward steadily, standing within that beam of light.
His mechanical body and the pre-set interface on the ground automatically completed a high-speed, encrypted data handshake.
In an instant, massive non-sensitive general technical database access permissions, internal high-level communication protocols of Mars, and psychic-mechanical dual-encrypted verification codes representing his new identity poured into his core storage area like a torrent.
At the same time, two attendant Priests walked forward holding two physical objects.
One was a fist-sized polyhedral physical badge nested with dark gold metal and dark blue data crystals, its shape completely consistent with the projection on the ground, with a unique identity psychic code solidified inside, which could be recognized by any standard Adeptus Mechanicus equipment.
The other was a scroll crafted from ultra-thin flexible alloy, on which the full text of the "Charter of Rights and Responsibilities of the Forge Archmagos and the verification seals of all standing members of the Martian Council were recorded using micro-etching technology.
Osiris first took the heavy badge and adsorbed it onto the reserved position of his chest armor.
The data crystals on the surface of the badge lit up slightly, completing the binding with his identity identifier.
Subsequently, he took the alloy scroll. Although its contents were already known through the data stream, this physical object symbolized the continuation of tradition and the materialization of responsibility.
"From this moment on, you are Forge Archmagos Osiris," the reviewer's voice was solemn and grand, "May you use this authority and knowledge to continue exploring the infinite mysteries of the omnissiah, and with the power of logic and creation, defend the frontiers of human knowledge and survival."
Around the hall, all standing high-ranking magi and representatives simultaneously performed a concise Adeptus Mechanicus gear salute.
There was no unified cheer, but the light in countless optical lenses or mechanical eyes, whether expressing approval, carrying scrutiny, or containing expectation, together constituted the finale of this promotion ceremony.
Archmagos Dominus Zordid not appear in the center of the hall, but Osiris could perceive that on a certain high-level platform, those deep-red compound eyes were watching him, carrying the deep meaning of achieving an important strategic layout.
The ceremony ended.
Osiris left the Holy Knowledge Hall accompanied by Magos Solan.
The Forge Archmagos badge on his chest refracted a cold and hard luster under the artificial sunlight of Mars.
This was not just a title, but a signal—he and the technical path he represented had carved a sufficiently deep and formal imprint in the huge knowledge tree of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Several days later, the Eternal Seeker set off to leave Mars.
On the bridge, the newly appointed Forge Archmagos Osiris stood quietly in front of the window, his optical lenses reflecting the gradually receding rusted red planet.
This trip to Mars not only brought back the blueprint and knowledge of the Warmaster-class STC and established a deep technical alliance, but also embedded himself into the core power-knowledge structure of the Imperial Adeptus Mechanicus.
The road ahead, due to this new identity and weight, would inevitably face more complex games and higher expectations. But similarly, the resources he could mobilize, the knowledge he could touch, and the influence he could exert were no longer what they used to be.
The Warp Drive Engine started, and the starry sky began to distort regularly.
The Eternal Seeker completed its final warp jump, sliding out from the ripples of the starry sky as the familiar star system entered its optical sensors—Neksum Forge World and its companion star system.
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of Mars, which was thoroughly transformed and filled with an extreme mixture of religion and industry, Neksum presented the appearance of a relatively "young" Forge World that placed greater emphasis on efficiency and functionality.
Massive orbital docks surrounded the planet like metallic beehives, and on the surface, regular arrays of gigantic factories, straight networks of energy transmission pipelines, and busy spaceports with transport ships constantly taking off and landing were visible.
Although equally shrouded in industrial smoke and smog, everything here seemed to follow a certain optimized logic, lacking much of the millennia-accumulated, nearly rigid ritualistic redundancy found on Mars.
The warship sailed into the designated berth, completing the docking process with the giant interface of Neksum's primary spaceport.
When Osiris—the newly appointed Fabricator-General—stepped onto Neksum's alloy deck, he did not head to the usual reception hall; instead, led by a guiding Priest, he proceeded directly to the office of Fabricator-Prime Archmagos located deep within the primary Forge Temple.
The heavy adamantium doors slid open silently, revealing the scene within.
In the center of the room, seated behind a massive desk forged from a single block of adamantium with complex computational arrays embedded along its edges, sat Fabricator-Prime Archmagos Kasper Vox.
That native human eye precisely locked onto Osiris the moment he entered, its gaze carrying a weathered composure and a hint of imperceptible relief.
The multi-spectral bionic eye simultaneously performed a rapid scan to confirm identity and status.
"Welcome back, Magos Osiris—" Archmagos Vox's voice rang out, carrying that unique metallic resonant texture, deep and steady, a tone honed by commanding composure amidst roaring workshops for a long time, "—no, now I should address you as the Fabricator-General."
He did not rise from his specially crafted seat—which was less of a chair and more a part integrated with his mobility platform—though two of his four mechanical tentacles temporarily ceased their work, turning slightly toward Osiris in a gesture of attention and welcome.
"Mars's message arrived long ago. Ascending to Fabricator-General is Neksum's glory, and a well-deserved recognition of the achievements you have attained."
Osiris performed a standard, peer-level Adeptus Mechanicus greeting.
"Archmagos Vox, thank you. Meeting directly here—it seems time is pressing."
"Efficiency above all, a consensus between us." Vorx's human eye narrowed slightly, while his other bionic eye flickered with the light of data processing, "Bypassing useless rituals to face the core directly. Sit."
An idle mechanical tentacle flexibly swept over an equally sturdy yet relatively simple alloy chair from the wall, placing it opposite the desk.
Osiris sat down, dispensing with any small talk, and directly sent a multi-encrypted summary package regarding the STC container integrity verification and core data index to Vorx via the data interface reserved on the desktop.
At the same time, he pulled up a more detailed estimated manifest concerning subsequent Adeptus Titanicus eva titan orders, as well as the intention for priority resource supply channels promised by Mars.
The four tentacles behind Archmagos Vox instantly entered full working mode, with two of them switching, grabbing, and comparing data across multiple holographic screens at an astonishing speed, while another rapidly typed on the desktop control panel to pull up Neksum's current production capacity distribution map and resource inventory.
His human eye stared closely at the core summary, while his multi-spectral bionic eye scanned the order manifest and resource channel information. The entire room was left with only the subtle hiss of mechanical tentacle movement, the faint sound of data stream refreshing, and the short electronic buzz occasionally emitted by Vorx's jaw vocalization unit indicating he was thinking.
After a moment, he let out a low, satisfied, clanging sound reminiscent of a heavy forging hammer striking solid metal—this was his way of expressing extreme satisfaction.
"Good! A true, replicable Warmaster-class STC!" His human eye looked at Osiris with a burning gaze, "And this long-term order and resource channel—"
"Osiris, what you brought back is not merely a technical blueprint, but a booster that pushes Neksum directly from a slow recovery into a high-speed reconstruction track! Tell me all the details, as well as your plan."
Osiris knew that in front of Vorx, any embellishment was superfluous.
He pulled up the more detailed data models brought back from Mars and began to expound: "The STC template physical container and all data have been safely transferred to my shipboard core array. Upon returning to the surface, authorized replication to the core database under your direct control can be completed."
"The current primary task is to adjust Neksum's overall production plan to undertake the demands of Adeptus Titanicus."
He pointed to the key data in the projection: "According to the framework of the agreement, the baseline delivery volume for the next five years shall not be less than thirty complete eva titan airframes, which requires us to increase the production capacity of EVA non-biological structural components by more than three hundred percent."
"We need to immediately plan and initiate the construction of at least three new ultra-large final assembly workshops and supporting precision machining centers, simultaneously upgrade the energy network, and start the No. 3 and No. 4 core thermal energy extraction arrays ahead of schedule."
"The raw material supply chain must be deeply bound with the channels of Adeptus Titanicus, and backup mineral source exploration must be initiated."
Archmagos Vox's mechanical tentacles were already simultaneously sketching drafts, pulling up Neksum's global geological map and existing facility layout.
"For the final assembly workshop site selection, the Northern Extension Zone has stable geology and direct access via existing heavy-load tracks, making it the primary choice. The energy array has a long construction cycle, and forty percent of engineering resources must be diverted from the 'Crown of the Furnace' project with reprioritized urgency. Raw materials—" his multi-spectral bionic eye flickered rapidly, "—the channels of Adeptus Titanicus are a key guarantee, but we must establish a strategic safety inventory of no less than six months' demand; I will have the Department of Resources Administration immediately begin calculation and deployment."
The two quickly entered a highly collaborative working state, like the gears of two precision engines meshing together.
They discussed every single detail: the automation level and human-to-machine configuration ratio of the new production lines, the reinforcement plan for the quality traceability system, daily liaison nodes with the Adeptus Titanicus joint technical team, and how to maintain the output of Neksum's original key military industrial products such as Skitarii equipment and starship components without major impacts while ensuring this capacity leap.
"This is not merely a capacity expansion, Osiris." After finalizing a workshop layout plan, Vorx paused momentarily, his human eye looking deeply at him with a complex mix of emotions—gratification, anticipation, and a hint of relief— "This is reshaping the industrial backbone of Neksum."
"Successfully establishing a stable and efficient advanced Titan production capability means we will ascend from an important Forge World into 'an indispensable strategic fulcrum of the Imperium'."
"What you brought back is a potent catalyst that grants us a new lease on life."
The preliminary framework for adjusting the production plan rapidly took shape through the highly efficient calculations of the two Archmagi.
The core Tech-Priests and administrators under Vorx were urgently summoned to the office, received the tasks for their respective modules, and immediately threw themselves into work.
Inside the vast office, only the low hum of the contemplator arrays and the faint drone of Archmagos Vox's mobile platform power core remained.
Vorx gestured for Osiris to move to the private cogitation chamber on the side of the office.
The space here was relatively compact, with walls made of thick, soundproof metal embedded with interfaces directly connected to Neksum's core database.
The room's decor was sparse, featuring only a few miniature models representing the industrial milestones of this world, and a star map.
"Osiris," Vorx's metallic resonant voice sounded even deeper in the enclosed space, carrying a rare solemnity that went beyond official business. His mobile platform slowly turned to face Osiris directly, the four mechanical tentacles behind him also hanging down quietly. "Seeing everything you have brought back, and the clear path of planning and execution you have laid out, a decision I have pondered for a long time has now become even firmer."
He paused, the gaze of his human eye sharp and sincere, while his multi-spectral augmetic eye steadily projected the authentication runes representing a proposal of the highest authority.
"I intend, once this production capacity upgrade and transition are complete and the situation is stabilized, to formally propose to the Forge Council that you succeed me as the Fabricator-Prime Archmagos of Neksum."
The light in Osiris's optical lenses remained steady. He did not seem surprised by this proposal, but he did not respond immediately.
Vorx continued to elaborate, his mechanical tentacles unconsciously tapping the floor with a rhythmic clicking sound: "I understand that you have the Death World Base, which is your independent kingdom, and your newly acquired title of Forge Archmagos also gives you a bright future.
But Neksum is different. It is a complete Forge World with hundreds of millions of living souls, a mature industrial system, and defensive forces.
What it needs is not just maintenance, but a leap forward. You have the blueprints, the technology, the unconventional thinking, and the efficiency-first philosophy.
With you at the helm, Neksum can be ushered into a brand new era.
" He tapped his heavy breastplate, "While I am better suited for, and prefer to focus on, specific production supervision, legion coordination, and internal stability. We can complement each other perfectly.
This is the most rational choice for Neksum's future."
The weight of this proposal was beyond doubt.
The Fabricator-Prime Archmagos, the supreme ruler of a Forge World, wields planet-level resources, production capacity, and military force.
For any member of the Adeptus Mechanicus, this was the pinnacle of power and achievement.
However, after a brief silence, Osiris slowly but firmly shook his head.
"Archmagos Vox, I sincerely thank you for your trust and this heavy entrustment," his synthesized voice was clear and steady. "But I must decline."
Vorx's human eye widened slightly, and the light in his multi-spectral augmetic eye also froze for a moment.
Osiris explained, "My refusal is not a rejection of Neksum's value, nor is it a fear of responsibility. On the contrary, precisely because I am deeply aware of its importance, as well as the complexity and difficulty of the upcoming transition period, I believe you are the most indispensable helmsman right now.
Your familiarity with every single pipeline of this world, your prestige in both military and civilian spheres, and your steady, pragmatic style are the stabilizing anchors that will ensure this drastic expansion lands smoothly.
My methods—perhaps better suited for making breakthroughs, building, and optimizing specific systems, rather than day-to-day governance of every aspect of a massive planet. Changing leadership at this time carries risks that outweigh the benefits."
He turned slightly to face the star map on the wall of the cogitation chamber, his gaze seemingly fixed on a distant point of light.
"More importantly, the future I envision perhaps requires a different testing ground." The Death World is nearly a blank slate, with no deep-rooted traditional interests, and no ancient conventions that must be followed.
I can start from scratch, following the most ideal model, to build a highly specialized, extremely efficient, and focused on cut-
ting-edge R&D, specialized production, and cross-dimensional project support, a new type of research hub or "Precision Forge World."
It does not need to pursue the comprehensiveness and scale of Neksum, but it can achieve ultimate purity and height in specific fields."
He brought up the dynamic model of the Death World System, along with some preliminary orbital and geological scan data.
"There will become the perfect place to put my technical and management philosophies into practice. It can form a strategic complement with Neksum—you will be responsible for large-scale, standardized, and strategic-level production of conventional and heavy equipment; while we focus on EVA biological cores, advanced Warp Drive Engines, special materials, and other cutting-edge experimental projects.
We will establish a tight R&D-production-supply chain synergy between us, rather than having one party integrate everything. This may generate greater overall benefits."
Osiris turned back, his optical lenses facing Vorx's deep human eye: "Therefore, I choose deep cooperation over succession. I hope Neksum will grow stronger under your leadership, becoming a solid shield and production base for our common cause.
And I will dedicate myself to forging the Death World into a sharp, precise specialized dagger and an 'innovation engine.'
We will each stand in the fields we excel at most, supporting one another."