Archmagos Vox listened quietly, the mechanical tentacles behind him completely still, with only the gaze of his human eye slowly moving between Osiris and the star map.
After a long time, he let out a long sigh, like steam releasing pressure, containing understanding, relief, and perhaps a hint of regret.
"I understand." Vorx's voice regained its usual composure, but with a bit more emotion. "Your vision indeed transcends the scope of a single Forge World. Being bound to an existing position of power might truly be a constraint for you.
The picture you paint—a highly specialized, dynamic technological peak forming a joint force with Neksum's heavy foundation—indeed offers more room for imagination and strategic resilience. It was my thinking that was limited."
He extended a main mechanical tentacle, not to shake hands, but to gently touch a standard data port on Osiris's arm with the precise tool interface at the tip of his tentacle, emitting a crisp electronic handshake sound.
"Then, it shall be as you wish. You will continue to serve as the Pathfinder and architect, while I stabilize the rear and manage this foundation." Neksum will become the firmest supporter of the Death World's construction, whether in technology, manpower, or materials."
Osiris withdrew his arm: "This is exactly what I hope for. As for the specific cooperation model, we can immediately begin to flesh it out. For example, regarding the profits generated from the Adeptus Titanicus orders, I plan to directly and entirely convert my share into targeted investments for the infrastructure of the Death World."
"Oh?" Vorx's bionic eye flashed with interest. "All the profits? What do you want to invest in? A giant shipyard? Or an underground research city?"
"An Orbital Ring." Osiris brought up a preliminary concept diagram. It was a colossal modular structure encircling the Death World's equator, like a mechanical band worn around the planet.
"The initial phase will construct the core port area, basic industrial sectors, energy hubs, and connecting frameworks. This is the skeleton of future development, and the hub connecting the ground to deep space. It requires massive amounts of special alloys, thrusters, energy modules, and precision components—"
"And these are precisely what Neksum can provide in large quantities."
Vorx stared at the magnificent blueprint of the Orbital Ring. His human eye widened, and his multi-spectral bionic eye rapidly performed scale estimations and material simulations. A few seconds later, he let out a short, loud, clanging laugh that sounded like gears interlocking at high speed: "Hahaha!"
"What bold spirit! To give me an order that tests the very limits of our production capacity the moment you return!"
"Good! Very good! Neksum's factories need an epic project like this to temper and prove themselves!"
"As for the profit distribution and construction contract details, let the subordinates work them out. In principle, I support this fully! Whatever specifications you need, we will build!"
The atmosphere between the two Archmagi grew even more solid due to this clear division of labor and the grand joint project.
Osiris did not choose to take over the ready-made scepter, but instead chose to co-author a future blueprint with even greater potential.
And for Vorx, a closely cooperating ally focused on cutting-edge fields aligned far better with his core demand of ensuring Neksum's stable development than a successor who might bring uncertain changes.
The intent to cooperate quickly translated into concrete actions.
Over the following standard days, Osiris held intensive, back-to-back meetings with the most elite administrative, technical, resource, and legal teams under Archmagos Vox, breaking down the grand vision into legally binding agreements and executable plans.
The first to be reached was a formal agreement regarding the profit distribution of the Adeptus Titanicus orders.
After complex calculations and multiple rounds of negotiation, both parties finally confirmed: all expenses paid by the Adeptus Titanicus related to the production of the eva titan, after deducting all actual costs incurred by Neksum, the resulting "excess profits" would be distributed at a ratio of 60% for Osiris and 40% for the Neksum Forge World.
This agreement ensured that Osiris would receive a continuous and substantial flow of funds to support his massive infrastructure plans, while also guaranteeing that Neksum would obtain handsome returns from this core project for its own reinvestment and upgrades.
The agreement was signed in Neksum's Main Data Cathedral, a rigorous and efficient process that carried an authority not easily shaken.
Immediately afterward, with almost no pause, Osiris exercised the rights granted to him by the agreement.
Using his profit share over the coming years as payment guarantee and credit collateral, he formally submitted a super-construction covenant to the Neksum Forge World: "Death World Equatorial Orbital Ring Phase I Project."
The details of this covenant were comprehensive enough to shock any veteran Tech-Priest.
It first clarified the core goal of Phase I of the Orbital Ring: to construct a modular framework structure with a total length of 3,200 kilometers in a predetermined orbit above the equator of the Death World.
This structure was not a miracle of monolithic casting, but was precisely pieced together in orbit from seventeen strictly standardized giant functional modules via special high-strength interfaces. Its design inherently possessed the potential for future lateral extension and expansion.
Phase I of the project would include various functional modules.
Among them, four core port area modules for vessel docking and maintenance were planned.
Each had to be capable of simultaneously mooring and maintaining two cruisers or vessels of equivalent tonnage, and integrated smart navigation towers, multi-functional maintenance decks supporting special maintenance of Warp Drive Engines, standardized supply warehouses, and highly efficient personnel transit hubs.
Approximately forty-two percent of the orbital length would be allocated to basic industrial belt modules. Inside these modules, there would be general large structural component casting bays, precision instrument and electronic system assembly areas, and specialized composite material synthesis plants. All production lines would have reserved standardized data and logistics interfaces to ensure the smooth connection of future production processes.
Energy supply would be handled by specialized central modules, with two planned for deployment.
They would be equipped with ultra-large-scale adaptive solar collection arrays, whose design was specifically optimized for the spectral characteristics of the Death World's star. Combined with highly efficient energy storage matrices and smart power distribution networks, they aimed to provide stable and abundant energy for the Orbital Ring itself and future ground bases.
Connecting the various functional blocks and providing initial space for human activity were connecting modules that served dual functions of transport, residential, and scientific research.
To ensure the stability and maneuverability of this massive structure, distributed high-specific-impulse ion thruster arrays would be spread across the Orbital Ring, forming its propulsion and attitude control network. This would be used for precise orbital maintenance, space debris avoidance, and reserving basic power for potential future overall orbital adjustments.
Security would be guaranteed by an integrated defense framework foundation. Its design pre-embedded multi-layered armor, redundant energy conduits, all-domain sensor bases, and standardized weapon platform interfaces, while integrating preliminary close-in point-defense laser arrays and rapid-response missile modules to provide the Orbital Ring with basic self-protection capabilities.
The covenant not only strictly stipulated the ultimate performance parameters that each module must achieve, materials science indicators precise to the molecular tolerance level, and micron-level manufacturing tolerances, but also included in-orbit assembly process data verified by extensive simulations, interlocking phased quality verification nodes, and a complete set of special transportation plans from Neksum's ground factories to the Death World's orbit.
Among these, the construction and preliminary testing of the modules would be Neksum's responsibility, while the final transportation coordination and orbital construction would be led by Osiris's side.
The bill of materials attached to the covenant was as vast as a sea of stars, ranging from basic alloys and special composite materials measured in hundreds of millions of tons, to various servomechanisms, optical sensor arrays, and superconducting energy rings purchased in units of hundreds of thousands, down to the massive amounts of chips, crystals, and specialized life-support system compounds necessary to keep such a behemoth running.
"I firmly believe Neksum has this potential and resilience," Osiris responded. "This is also the core reason why I chose to give the order to you. For me, this is about obtaining vital infrastructure; for you, it is about undergoing a baptism to transform into a truly top-tier industrial powerhouse."
The contract officially took effect and was granted the highest priority. Under the personal oversight of Archmagos Vox and the efficient coordination of his four mechanical tendrils, the massive industrial planet of Neksum began operating at full speed for the project.
New mineral veins were identified and mined, giant furnace groups spewed flames day and night, assembly lines were reprogrammed and debugged, Tech-thralls underwent expedited training, and countless transport ships formed torrents of logistics, shuttling endlessly between resource points and foundries within the system.
Meanwhile, Osiris did not pin all his hopes on waiting.
Utilizing the colossal engineering management knowledge he had acquired on Mars, combined with the unique environment of the Death World, he began intensive preparations for the "software" and preliminary work of the Orbital Ring.
He officially established the "Orbital Engineering Command" at the Death World Base, composed of Tech-Priests returned from Mars and elite personnel selected locally. The command's primary task was to conduct precise mapping and construction planning of the orbital environment.
The Eternal Seeker and several specialized scout ships were deployed to perform millimeter-precision, all-round scans of the Death World's equatorial orbital space, accurately determining the deployment coordinates and connection angles of each Orbital Ring module, avoiding planetary radiation belts and areas with frequent micrometeoroids, and planning safe module transport routes and on-orbit construction zones.
Secondly, he began to lead the design of the Orbital Ring's Central Intelligent Management Architecture (CIMA).
This system needed the complex capability to manage hundreds of thousands of independent devices, coordinate energy flows, schedule traffic, maintain the internal ecology,
and respond to threats.
Rejecting the traditional centralized control approach of space stations, he adopted a highly distributed neural network design with self-learning and collaborative
capabilities. The core protocol integrated parts of the large-scale space facility management logic from the STC, strengthening its survivability and autonomous decision-making capabilities in high-interference environments.
To this end, the core contemplator arrays of the Death World Base began high-load simulation calculations and core code writing.
Another critical task was the direct construction of a talent pipeline.
The future operation of the Orbital Ring would require a large number of reliable Tech-Priests, skilled artisans, and basic maintenance personnel, but the Death World had no existing population from which to select.
In response, Osiris's solution was direct and efficient: activate the biological cultivation facilities to produce the required personnel in a targeted manner.
He activated a biological modification facility within the Death World Base that had long been prepared.
In the neatly aligned cultivation pods, the nutrient fluid glowed with a faint luminescence, as physical vessels based on multiple optimized genetic templates simultaneously underwent accelerated growth and systematic modification.
Osiris directly intervened in the setting of core parameters. While ensuring the stability of their basic physiological structures, he embedded verified underlying loyalty protocols and basic technical knowledge interfaces into the nervous system of each individual, supplemented by necessary primary cybernetic enhancements to ensure they could adapt to the future space environment and high-intensity industrial activities.
The entire process strictly followed the technical specifications of the Adeptus Mechanicus for biological modification, eliminating unnecessary ritualistic steps and focusing solely on the functional reliability and operational practicality of the final product.
After the preset cultivation cycle ended, the first batch of three hundred modified individuals entered a systematic activation and evaluation process.
The evaluation was conducted in standard testing grounds, comprehensively covering knowledge infusion absorption efficiency, logical chain deduction capabilities, basic mechanical operation adaptability, and obedience to complex commands.
Based on the evaluation results, the individuals were divided into two primary cohorts.
Approximately forty percent of the evaluated subjects were assigned to the technical candidate cohort.
Individuals in this cohort demonstrated learning abilities, technical comprehension, and preliminary problem-solving skills significantly superior to the baseline, possessing the potential to be trained as future Tech-Priests and system administrators.
They would undergo structured advanced theoretical education and practical training.
Approximately fifty percent of the evaluated subjects were placed into the grassroots management cohort.
Individuals in this cohort performed reliably in terms of knowledge execution accuracy, process adherence stability, and supervisory coordination of subordinate units (such as Servitors), making them suitable for roles requiring strict execution and basic judgment, such as production process supervision, warehousing and logistics scheduling, and infrastructure maintenance.
They would receive targeted job skills and management protocol training.
The remaining individuals, who possessed uncorrectable defects in neural adaptability, physiological compatibility, or other critical indicators, were disposed of according to standard protocols, with their still-usable biomass components and organ tissues archived and stored as medical or maintenance spares for the future.
Having completed their classification, the technical candidates and grassroots management personnel were immediately assigned to different preparatory training programs, beginning to adapt to their respective
role positioning to provide initial manpower support for the upcoming construction and operational phases of the Orbital Ring.
This newly cultivated batch of personnel was immediately deployed into intensive preliminary preparations.
Members of the technical candidate cohort entered systematic training processes, beginning to learn core knowledge such as orbital mechanics, modular architecture principles of the Orbital Ring, and central control system protocols, laying the foundation for undertaking technical design, operation, and maintenance responsibilities in the future.
Personnel from the grassroots management cohort were dispatched directly to various ground and planned orbital worksites, responsible for coordinating and scheduling the increasingly massive fleets of engineering Servitors and automated logistics units, ensuring the precise connection of material flow and basic construction phases.
Meanwhile, on the surface of the Death World, construction had fully commenced on the selected main ground control hub of the Orbital Ring, the integrated material distribution base, and the heavy launch site in the equatorial region.
The roar of giant terraforming machinery echoed across the wilderness, as multi-layered composite material foundations were compacted and reinforced step by step.
Deep within the underground spaces, the Command Center, storage warehouses, and auxiliary energy nodes were being excavated simultaneously.
Large communication arrays, high-power navigation beacon clusters, and orbital monitoring facilities directly linked to future orbital construction were also set up one after another along the planned routes.
The entire Death World System was like a massive machine that had received clear instructions, with its various subsystems beginning to enter their initial state of coordinated operation.
Although the giant structural modules from Neksum had not yet arrived, all the prerequisites required to receive and integrate these modules—from precise orbital parameters and docking ports to ground command links and logistics networks, and even the manpower system responsible for operation and maintenance—were turning from blueprints into reality at an astonishing speed.
Osiris stood atop the newly built orbital observation tower, his crimson optical lenses reflecting the quiet starry sky above.
In the virtual space constructed by his Logic Core, the silhouette of a structurally precise and richly detailed silver Orbital Ring was gradually becoming clear.
That would be the steel skeleton of his brand-new foundation, a hub converging diverse technologies and resources, and a solid, unshakable step he was taking toward the deeper universe.
At this moment, the Forge World of Neksum was forging every piece of bone for this blueprint, while the Death World was simultaneously laying down the neural network connecting those bones and cultivating the living cells to drive them.
The two forces, under the contract and clear division of labor between the two worlds, continued to converge, jointly advancing this grand project.
The period the Eternal Seeker stayed in the Death World System was enough for the first phase of the orbital star-ring project to cross the critical startup threshold and enter a self-sustaining propulsion pace.
When the last batch of giant structural modules stamped with the Neksum Forge marks, escorted by an exclusive transport fleet, arrived at the designated airspace and were precisely captured by the docking units of the orbital engineering command and guided into the assembly queue, Osiris's Logic Core evaluated and concluded that the base's construction now possessed the basic conditions for autonomous and orderly development within the established framework.
He boarded the Eternal Seeker.
Inside the warship, the final batch of data streams from the Death World Base had been archived, and the main energy core's output steadily increased.
Accompanied by a low engine hum reminiscent of tectonic pulsations, this massive hull slowly broke its physical connection with the orbital facilities, adjusted its posture, and sailed toward the heavily monitored coordinate airspace on the periphery of the system.
Outside the portholes, the scenery of the Death World System was presented panoramically for the last time.
On the surface of that dim primary planet, ground infrastructure projects in the equatorial region had fully unfolded, with the outlines of giant leveling machinery faintly discernible, laying the foundation for the future star-ring's ground control center and launch site.
On its orbit, the prototype of the project was even more obvious: the preliminarily erected construction platforms were like a string of scattered metal stars orbiting the planet; dozens of newly positioned star-ring base nodes flashed with the light of positioning beacons; unmanned engineering boats, like Drones, shuttled orderly within the preset grid airspace, carrying out surveying, obstacle-clearing, or pre-assembly operations.
Further away, the first batch of standardized functional modules manufactured by the Neksum Forge World—giant port bases, industrial section skeletons, and energy array frameworks—were quietly suspended in the temporary anchorage, waiting for the next step of precise splicing.
Inside the main observation tower established by the orbital engineering command, the newly modulated and trained first batch of technical candidates and grassroots managers were coordinating all these initial yet clearly structured construction activities through data links.
The Eternal Seeker did not linger too much; it steadily accelerated, leaving these increasingly systematic and bustling scenes behind, and finally reached the edge of the system.
There, the dimensional gate connecting to the Koprulu Sector operated silently, its deep blue light film rotating steadily with clear edges, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding pitch-black void.
The crossing process was smooth and efficient.
The hull of the Eternal Seeker was enveloped by a layer of gentle spacetime distortion fields originating from the portal framework technology, slowly sinking into that deep blue.
After a brief sensory deprivation and data stream disturbance, the warship slid out from the exit on the other side.
The starry sky outside the portholes switched instantly, and the cold, desolate background unique to the Death World System was replaced by the constellation arrangements of the Koprulu Sector.
The sensor array quickly completed environmental scanning and coordinate comparison, confirming that the warship had accurately returned to the scheduled peripheral anchorage of the Haven system.
On the orbit of Haven, new engineering works were unfolding.
Several temporarily erected standardized engineering platforms orbited the planet at precise geometric intervals, forming a primary construction network.
A large number of pre-programmed unmanned engineering boats and small automated transport ships shuttled endlessly between various platforms and material reserve points, towing prefabricated components or carrying construction personnel.
In the central area of the core platform cluster, an annular skeleton homologous in structure to the dimensional gate on the Death World side, but with a controlled scale, had already taken initial shape.
The main body of the framework adopted human-standard high-strength alloy beams, but at key energy conduction and spatial stabilization nodes, wraithbone components derived from Aeldari technology were embedded.
These wraithbone structures glowed with a unique, warm luster, contrasting with the cold, hard texture of metal, and were currently pulsing regularly with a faint blue-white energy radiance, indicating that basic resonance tests were already running.
This was precisely the dimensional gate under construction on this side of the Koprulu Sector.
Through the high-privilege data link of the Eternal Seeker, Osiris seamlessly accessed the engineering intranet and quickly browsed the complete construction logs since his departure.
The overall engineering progress matched the preset schedule, the architecture of the basic support ring was about forty percent complete, and the main load-bearing points had all passed pressure tests.
The core crystals of the energy resonance array were being installed in batches, and the matching field stabilizers were in the stage of synchronous debugging.
Responsible for on-site construction was a lean technical team left behind before his departure, whose members were a mixture of core Tech-Priests from the Death World Base and some screened localized Servitors who had mastered the necessary skills.
In addition, through limited coordination with local colonial management authorities, a small batch of human engineering personnel with engineering backgrounds and signed confidentiality agreements were also allowed to participate in peripheral operations under strict supervision.
All construction data, from material consumption to microscopic tolerance measurements, were encrypted in real time and continuously transmitted via directional relays to the main database of the Eternal Seeker, with synchronous cross-dimensional backups performed at the Death World Base.
Osiris did not order the warship to approach the construction area.
The Eternal Seeker maintained a safe distance sufficient to perform high-precision scans without interfering with the engineering or exposing too many details.
The remote sensor array conducted multi-spectral scans of the construction area, collecting real-time data such as framework deformation, energy flow distribution, and construction efficiency.
The analysis results showed that everything was proceeding step-by-step, with no unplanned interference or technical abnormalities detected.
Based on this assessment, he issued a set of instructions.
The instructions explicitly required the engineering team to maintain the current construction pace and quality standards, while also further enhancing the active and passive concealment measures of the construction area, including adjusting platform operational orbits to better match background space debris distribution characteristics, and strengthening the shielding and misleading of external non-cooperative detection signals.
In addition, the instructions also included sending a short encrypted confirmation signal representing "the Eternal Seeker has returned to this sector and is in an active state" to several covert monitoring nodes pre-deployed at key transportation nodes or intelligence hubs in the Koprulu Sector.
After the instructions were issued, the main thrusters of the Eternal Seeker ignited once more, performing a precise attitude adjustment.
The warship no longer lingered at the peripheral anchorage, but smoothly moved toward a camouflaged dedicated berth belonging to Osiris's forces in Haven's synchronous orbit.
The berth's automatic guidance system connected, and giant mechanical locking arms slowly extended, preparing to dock with the warship.
At the very same time the Eternal Seeker was performing docking operations, the early warning and sensor array deployed in Haven's high-altitude orbit captured a set of energy signals with distinct characteristics that were vastly different from conventional human or Protoss ships.
The signal source intensity climbed rapidly, indicating that a large object was pulling out of warp state.
The source of the signal was quickly identified: a living warship of extremely massive size, with an appearance showing mixed characteristics of biological organs and carapace—a Leviathan.
It emerged from the void, its massive body covered in pulsating energy veins resembling a vascular network, flashing bright and dim as it adjusted its posture.
Several pairs of giant bone plates on its head, serving both protective and sensory functions, slowly opened and closed, faintly revealing the intricate, biological-nest-like structure inside.
Sailing synchronously behind and to the side of this behemoth-like biological warship, maintaining a rigorous escort distance, was that human-standard Perseus-class warship with sharp lines and a solemn livery—the Pathfinder.
Almost simultaneously with the sensors confirming the target, Osiris received the standard identification signal and entry request transmitted via a secure channel from the Pathfinder.
The request was issued by Valerie, concise in format, and included a passenger manifest: Sarah Kerrigan, Zeratul, Asuka, as well as "a primal Zerg leader and a limited entourage".
"Docking permitted. Guide to the quarantine berth. Biological vessels must remain outside the quarantine zone, and only standard shuttles are permitted to carry designated personnel ashore." Osiris replied with the command.
The quarantine berth was located in a relatively independent area extending from the Haven orbital station, equipped with reinforced quarantine force fields and multi-spectral scanning arrays, dedicated to receiving visitors or supplies that might carry biological contamination.
Soon after, a small shuttle was released from the ventral hatch of the Leviathan and headed toward the designated berth alongside a shuttle launched by the Pathfinder.
The quarantine airlock doors of the berth opened, and the shuttle and transport craft entered successively.
Disinfection gas filled the air, and scanning beams swept back and forth across the hulls.
After confirming there were no active pathogens or parasitic risks, the inner hatch opened.
Kerrigan stepped out first.
Her form was drastically different from when she left.
Her height seemed to have increased somewhat, and her physique appeared more lithe and filled with a sense of power.
Her skin was no longer the pale hue of a human; instead, it was covered in an extremely fine, chitinized stratum corneum that shimmered with a dim golden and deep purple glow, resembling form-fitting armor.
Her hair remained dark red, but subtle bioluminescent glows could be faintly seen flowing at the ends of the strands.
Her facial contours retained human features, but deep within her azure pupils, an amber sheen belonging to a primal predator flashed from time to time.
Behind her, a pair of translucent wings condensed from psi energy, resembling insect wings but appearing more elegant and slender, gently folded.
She wore simple armor composed of biological materials and a small amount of alloy, with thickened chitinous plates covering key areas.
The psi inhibitors were nowhere to be found on her wrists.
Her entire presence exuded a primal, powerful, and completely controlled coercion; unlike the frenzied and distorted feeling from her time as the Queen of Blades, it was closer to the posture of a top-tier predator perfected to the ultimate degree.
Zeratul followed behind her.
This Dark Templar looked no different than before, with his tattered cloak and eerie green eyes, except that his expression held a trace of profound calmness after fulfilling a major mission.
Asuka jumped out of the shuttle third.
She was still wearing that red plug suit, casually draped with a jacket over it, her orange-red twin tails swaying with her movements.
Her face carried a hint of boredom after completing the long-distance voyage, but her eyes lit up when she saw the complete mechanical facilities inside the berth.
The last to emerge from the shuttle was a tall Zerg creature.
It possessed a physique far sturdier than ordinary Zerg, covered in heavy bone plates and spines, with a head resembling a mixture of reptilian and beetle characteristics, and multiple pairs of compound eyes flickering with a cunning and ancient light.
The ends of its arms were massive claws suited for digging and tearing, yet in its movements, it exuded a peculiar, almost meditative steadiness.
This was Dehaka, the leader of the primal Zerg tribe.
Following behind him were two slightly smaller yet similarly ancient and robust primal Zerg guards, who quietly remained by the shuttle hatch without stepping further inside.
"Significant changes, Kerrigan." Osiris's voice rang out through the communicator inside the berth, and his holographic projection was also projected before everyone.
"My power has returned, and it is even more... pure." Kerrigan spoke, her voice lower and huskier than during her human period, carrying a certain resonance, but her words were clear. "The tempering of Zerus has accomplished what needed to be done."
"The primal essence has fused. The current me has shaken off the shackles Amon imposed upon the Zerg."
She turned slightly to indicate Dehaka: "This is Dehaka, a leader of the primal Zerg. He and his tribe chose to follow temporarily. They are interested in 'evolution' and 'powerful essence', not Amon's shackles."
Dehaka emitted a low gurgle laden with complex pheromones, which the translator converted into stiff but comprehensible universal language: "Queen of Blades, possessing an ancient scent and new possibilities."
"Dehaka observes, learns, perhaps... cooperates. For better evolution."
Zeratul stepped forward, his eerie green gaze looking at Osiris's holographic projection: "A crucial step of the prophecy has been taken. She has mastered the power of the source, and a new fork has appeared in the future of The Swarm."
"Yet Amon's shadow is still closing in; we must make good use of this window."
Asuka interjected, her tone direct: "Alright, alright, catch up later. Osiris, both my evangelion unit-01 and the Pathfinder need comprehensive maintenance and ammunition replenishment; we were put through quite a lot over there in Zerus."
"Also, can next time's mission have a few more decent opponents? Many of the bugs, aside from being numerous, can't take a hit at all."
Osiris's optical sensors turned toward her: "Maintenance request received, will be arranged shortly. Now, please proceed to the conference room."
"I need to hear the complete action report and synchronize the current situation."
The conference room was located in the core area of the orbital station, furnished simply with a holographic projection table in the center, surrounded by seats tailored to the physiological characteristics of different races.
Osiris's Main Body attended the meeting, his tall mechanical body standing quietly beside the main seat, his dark red armor appearing steady and oppressive under the conference room's constant lighting, with the Archmagos insignia on his chest shimmering with a cold, hard gloss, while crimson optical sensors scanned everyone present.
Kerrigan, Zeratul, and Asuka took their seats.
Dehaka chose to stand near the wall, its guards remaining outside the door.
Valerie also attended the meeting, sitting at a side seat responsible for recording.
"Starting from Zerus." Osiris got straight to the point, his synthesized voice echoing clearly in the room.
As the primary guide, Zeratul first outlined the voyage to Zerus and the preliminary reconnaissance.
He described the extreme environment of that planet: the violent primal ecology, the omnipresent competition of consumption and evolution, and the more chaotic and powerful primal psi field pervading the foundation of the world, completely distinct from the Zerg psi network later twisted by Amon.
He emphasized that the primal Zerg populations there were completely unaffected by Amon's shackles, and their behavioral patterns were based more on the most primitive survival and evolutionary instincts.
Kerrigan took over the conversation, recounting the process of her penetrating deep into the core of Zerus, searching for and ultimately fusing with the "primal essence".
That was not a battle, but a long and perilous "assimilation" and "reconstruction".
The primal essence was not a physical entity, but the collection of the most fundamental survival and mutation driving forces accumulated by all life on Zerus over countless years.
The fusion process constantly impacted her existing genetic structure and psi patterns, forcing her to weed out the chaff and retain the true essence, stripping away all parts designed by Amon, while forcibly forging and connecting her own most core traits—human will, psi potential, and part of the neural node architecture bestowed by the Overmind—with the primal essence.
"The process was agonizing. Several times, I was almost consumed or turned into a mindless primal monster," Kerrigan said in a calm tone, though the amber gleam flickering in her eyes betrayed the peril she had faced. "But in the end, it succeeded. The core of who I am now has been reconstructed from primal essence. The backdoor protocols Amon left in the genetic foundation of The Swarm are completely useless against me.
I can even sense their presence, like looking at an outdated set of locks."
She demonstrated a fraction of her power: a cluster of biomass, constantly shifting in form and glowing with primal energy, condensed at her fingertips.
The psionic fluctuations radiated an ancient, majestic pressure that even made Dehaka take notice.
Dehaka let out a low rumble and added, "The Queen of Blades passed the most ancient trial. She carries the scent of Zerus's acceptance. Dehaka's pack will follow for now, to observe this new path of evolution."
At this point, Asuka leaned forward, waving her arm casually, her face lit with a vivid expression that mixed bragging and reminiscing as she interjected, "Speaking of Zerus, we fought a seriously tough battle there."
She turned to Osiris, her eyes shining slightly with the memory. "Just as Kerrigan was about to connect with that primal essence, trouble showed up. The very first primal Zerg on Zerus—the thing Dehaka called the 'Ancient One'—came out of nowhere and attacked us directly."
She gestured an exaggerated outline with her hands, her voice filled with visceral awe at its sheer size. "That thing was practically a walking mountain of flesh. Several sizes bigger than any Apostle I'd ever seen in the archives.
It probably smelled the dense energy radiating from Kerrigan during her fusion and figured devouring her would push it to the next stage of evolution. Its goal was crystal clear: consume Kerrigan while she was merging with the primal essence."
Her speaking pace quickened with the urgency of someone who had lived through it. "The situation was really precarious. Zeratul barely managed to disrupt it with his psionic power, Kerrigan couldn't afford any distractions at that critical stage, and when Dehaka's pack warriors rushed in, they couldn't even scratch its carapace. So it was up to me."
She made a sharp downward gesture, as if reenacting the sortie. "evangelion unit-01 launched from Pathfinder and dropped right onto the bastard's spine. Its carapace was ridiculously hard; conventional phase cannons barely scratched it.
Its attacks were pure feral instinct, totally erratic, but its strength and speed were insane—a single slam of its forelimb could literally split half a ridge in two."
Asuka paused briefly, her gaze focused as if re-examining the battle. "I tangled with it for almost twenty minutes, constantly analyzing its movement patterns, and finally pinpointed its energy core—just below the chest cavity, protected by layers of thick bio-armor and psionic fields."
Her tone took on an edge of tactical triumph. "Using evangelion unit-01's high mobility, I kept baiting it into wide-range lunges to drain its stamina, all while using the Progressive Knife to carve several weak points into its joints and the outer shell around its energy core.
Finally, it missed with a full-power charge. In that split second when its old momentum was spent and new power had yet to gather, I seized my chance."
The corner of her mouth curled into a faint, triumphant smirk. "I funneled every bit of remaining battery power into the Positron Rifle, aimed straight at the weak point I had cut open, and punched right through it with a single shot.
It blasted through at least a dozen meters of living tissue and hit the core dead-on.
The shockwave from the explosion nearly blew evangelion unit-01 off its feet. When the Ancient One collapsed, half the canyon caved in under its weight."
She concluded, her tone returning to its usual confidence, "Primal Zerg are definitely more savage and unpredictable. But as long as you find the right approach, they can be dealt with just the same."
Zeratul nodded slightly, his dim green gaze holding approval. "The Ancient One's attack was an unforeseen variable. The combat efficacy demonstrated by the machine Asuka piloted was one of the pivotal factors ensuring Kerrigan could complete her fusion smoothly.
That battle also served as a direct demonstration to the primal packs of Zerus that we wield another form of power, distinct from both psionics and biological evolution."
Kerrigan glanced sideways at Asuka and added briefly, her voice calm yet explicit, "Without her timely interception and destruction of the Ancient One, the fusion would have been forcibly interrupted. The outcome would have been unpredictable."
Zeratul went on to explain that after Kerrigan completed the fusion, they utilized her newfound ability to sense The Swarm's fundamental signals to summon and rally a pack of primal Zerg on Zerus who were willing to follow her.
These primal Zerg were more independent and cunning than the Zerg of the Koprulu Sector, often possessing superior individual combat strength, but they lacked a unified hive mind, relying instead on the authority of pack leaders and primal, interest-driven instincts.
After leaving Zerus, they returned to the Koprulu Sector. Kerrigan began taking steps to rally her former forces.
"The situation was more complicated than expected, but also simpler," Kerrigan said. "Some broodmothers and queens sensed my new signal and came forward on their own to pledge allegiance. Most of them were individuals who had sensed Amon's latent control, or simply followed a powerful leader.
Zagara was one of them." She mentioned a name—a broodmother renowned for her cunning and lust for expansion.
"Others refused to submit and issued challenges." Kerrigan's lips curled into a cold arc. "I dealt with them.
After Zerus, ordinary swarm units could hardly muster any effective will to resist in my presence. My psionic energy can directly suppress their neural nodes, and even backfeed fear or obedience into them."
"There were also those who attempted to remain independent, breaking free from any control," she continued. "I gave them two choices: submit, or be destroyed. Most chose the former. The stubborn few have already become nutrients for my new brood."
She had successfully reclaimed a medium-sized hive and used its resources to birth a new Leviathan as a mobile base and flagship. The Swarm was reorganizing, its new command structure founded on her personal psionic authority and the fundamental deterrence granted by the primal essence, combined with optimized utilization of the old neural nodes.
"The Swarm currently under my direct control is roughly seven percent the size of the original Overmind's swarm, but the unit quality and controllability are higher. More swarm units are in a wait-and-see state or dealing with signal disruption. Reclaiming them will take time, but the trend is favorable," Kerrigan concluded. "If Amon were to attempt direct control over The Swarm right now, he would find that a large portion no longer responds to his old directives, and would instead suffer psionic interference from me."
Zeratul added intelligence from the Protoss side: "Before leaving Shakuras, I informed Artanis of the fragments I foresaw and Kerrigan's progress.
"Internal debate persists among the Protoss, but the faction led by Artanis and Vorazun has recognized Kerrigan as a crucial variable against Amon.
"They will not offer public support for now, but they tacitly consent to my actions and may offer indirect assistance on certain levels. While the Protoss remain primarily focused on the campaign to reclaim Aiur, their vigilance regarding Amon has been elevated to the highest priority."
Valerie silently compiled all the report's key points into a summary, projecting it onto an auxiliary screen.
Osiris's optical lenses swept across the data as his internal processors rapidly analyzed and integrated the information. A silence hung for about ten seconds.
"Reports confirmed," he finally spoke. "Kerrigan's morphological shift and the Swarm's reclamation progress align with expectations, even slightly outperforming model simulations. The integration of Dehaka's primal Zerg clan is an additional variable; its long-term stability and mode of coordination must be evaluated. Asuka's combat data against the Primal Pack Leader holds reference value."
He looked toward Dehaka: "Pack Leader Dehaka, your clan's specific demands and form of cooperation require further clarification."
Dehaka responded in a low rumble: "Dehaka seeks powerful essence. Observes the new path. Cooperation... acceptable. Provide warriors, share knowledge of Zerus. Requirements: allow us to learn, acquire combat data, and hold a voice in evolution."
"This can be incorporated into subsequent negotiations." Osiris turned to Kerrigan, "Your next step?"
"Continue gathering the Swarm and consolidating strength," Kerrigan answered without hesitation. "At the same time, I need updates on Mengsk and the Dominion. Vengeance is part of our deal. Furthermore, Amon's movements are critical. Zeratul's prophecy indicates he will inevitably return, and we must prepare in advance."
"Regarding Mengsk, the Dominion is consolidating its gains from the Battle of Char while maintaining surface-level cooperation with the Farstar Union.
"General Warfield's fleet serves as our primary contact window. As for Amon—" Osiris paused briefly. "—there are currently no signs of direct activity.
"However, research on the Keystone is making progress. It is indeed a beacon, potentially linked to the legacy of the Xel'Naga or Amon's awakening mechanism. Research remains ongoing."
He made no mention of the Dimensional Gateway under construction, nor did he reveal that the *Everlasting Seeker* had just returned from the Warhammer universe.
"What do you need me to do?" Kerrigan asked directly.
"Proceed with your plan. Expand control over the Swarm, enhancing its combat capability and autonomy. Establish an effective coordination framework with Dehaka's clan. Gather any anomalous intelligence related to Amon or Xel'Naga ruins," Osiris listed sequentially. "When the time is right, operations against the Dominion will be placed on the agenda. At this stage, avoid large-scale conflicts with the Protoss or the Dominion unless necessary."
He turned his gaze to Zeratul: "The Dark Templar's assistance retains value on the levels of intelligence and special operations. Please maintain the communication channel with Shakuras."
Zeratul offered a slight nod.
"Asuka, maintenance on your unit and the warship will be completed within twenty-four hours. Afterward, you and Valerie will remain stationed aboard the *Pathfinder* as a mobile support unit under Kerrigan's tactical coordination, though ultimate command authority remains with me," Osiris assigned tasks.
"Understood." / "Acknowledged," the two responded in turn.
"Meeting adjourned. Specific operational details and resource allocations will be coordinated through Valerie," Osiris's mechanical body turned toward the exit. "Maintain open channels. Report any major developments or anomalies immediately."
He was the first to leave the meeting room, the heavy clank of his footsteps steadily fading into the distance.
A brief silence settled over the room. Kerrigan stood up, her rear psionic bone-wings fluttering almost imperceptibly. She looked out the viewport at the silhouette of Haven, then glanced toward the distant orbital construction platforms where engineering work was underway. She asked no questions about the purpose of those platforms; for now, they were not her priority.
Dehaka emitted an indistinct low growl and turned to leave the meeting room with his guards, clearly uncomfortable in human enclosed spaces.
Zeratul stood quietly for a moment before speaking to Kerrigan: "The path has been forged, but the most arduous trial may yet lie ahead. Tread carefully, Sarah Kerrigan."
Kerrigan nodded without offering a word.
Asuka stretched lazily, turning to Valerie: "Come on, let's go check how maintenance on my Unit-01 is coming along."
One by one, the occupants departed, returning the meeting room to silence.
After the briefing concluded, Kerrigan lingered no longer on Haven's orbital station.
She issued directives through her psionic link to the Leviathan waiting in the quarantine sector. The massive bio-warship slowly adjusted its orientation, opening its primary chamber to release a biomass shuttle.
Kerrigan, Zeratul, and Dehaka boarded the shuttle and returned to the Leviathan.
Asuka and Valerie headed to the *Pathfinder*, which would undergo its scheduled maintenance before standing by as a mobile unit once completed.
Inside the Leviathan, the environment differed radically from human or Protoss warships.
Corridors were composed of continuously pulsating biological tissue, while the air was thick with a faint odor resembling ionization mixed with organic matter.
Luminescence emanated from bio-fluorescent cells embedded within the fleshy walls.
Kerrigan walked through it with a natural stride, as if returning to a familiar domain, yet her posture exuded a far more dominant composure rooted in her primal essence.
She arrived at the Leviathan's core chamber—a vast space resembling a beating heart.
At its center hung a command throne suspended by psionic energy, surrounded by countless neural tendrils and pheromone-dispensing glands.
From here, she could interface deeply with the Leviathan, utilizing its powerful psionic amplifiers to project her will across distant reaches of space.
"Set course for the designated target coordinates," Kerrigan issued a direct command to the Leviathan.
The coordinates pointed to a sector on the fringe of the Koprulu sector where Zerg activity remained relatively frequent, yet Dominion and Protoss monitoring was sparse. She selected this region as an initial foothold to consolidate her strength and further rally the Swarm.
A low vibration, sounding like the resonance of countless living organisms, echoed throughout the Leviathan's interior.
Bio-propulsion organs along the outer hull began venting streams of ghostly green plasma, driving the leviathan to accelerate slowly away from the Haven system.
En route, Kerrigan commenced her work.
She sat quietly upon her throne, her eyes half-closed as her psionic bone-wings unfolded slightly, emitting soft yet potent psionic waves.
Amplified by the Leviathan, her consciousness rippled outward like waves across water.
The first to respond were the Broodmothers and Queens who had already pledged explicit loyalty or had been brought to heel by force.
Zagara's psionic signal arrived first, laced with sly devotion and a hunger for expansion.
Kerrigan issued a fresh directive to her: establish an outpost hive cluster within the target sector, and begin actively searching for and summoning nearby unaligned or observant Zerg units.
Signals from other Broodmothers linked in consecutively.
Kerrigan took their reports one by one, evaluating the scale and condition of the Swarm under each one's command, assigning specific rally zones and resource-harvesting objectives.
The psionic pressure she exerted was distinct and steady, enforcing absolute command without sparking unnecessary panic or rebellion.