Chapter 296: Mission Evaluation
In the few days following Inquisitor Karras Walker's departure, the Forge World of Nexum seemed to return to its usual rhythm. However, within Ryo's private research facility, a subtle change had already occurred.
Resources began to tilt more heavily toward the "Iron Guard" project. The designated Tech-Priest team grew busier, and the sounds of equipment calibration echoing from deep within the laboratory became much more frequent.
After wrapping up the preliminary matters regarding the cooperation with the Inquisition, Ryo took some time to review the complete report compiled by Ignis concerning Maine's squad and their mission in the Vesta Prima Hive World.
This included the combat logs, machine data, and the post-action (and processed) mission statements.
He conducted a cold, calculated analysis of the data.
Shortly after, all members of Maine's squad, along with Valerie and Jackie, were summoned to the main hall of the laboratory.
Ryo's massive dark red body stood in the center, his crimson optical lenses sweeping over the people standing below.
The cybernetic modification marks on their bodies were even more pronounced under the laboratory's cold lighting. They exuded a steady aura, having been baptized by the fires of war, but they simultaneously carried a trace of an imperceptible, subtle sense of alienation stemming from the memory intervention.
"I have finished reviewing your mission report on Vesta Prima," Ryo's synthesized voice rang out steadily, devoid of much emotional fluctuation. "From a tactical perspective, when facing a sudden, high-intensity psychic threat, you ultimately utilized your new equipment and coordinated combat capabilities effectively. You eliminated the primary target and preserved yourselves.
"The two 'Iron Guard' prototypes also collected crucial actual combat data. This part met expectations."
He shifted the subject. His tone remained steady, but the content cut straight to the core: "However, regarding your judgment and decision-making during the early stages of the incident, there was obvious hesitation and unnecessary empathy.
"When facing an incident that has already been contaminated by Chaos, any hesitation based on ordinary moral codes can lead to irreversible disaster, putting yourselves and your companions in extreme danger.
"This is a point you need to keep firmly in mind. In this universe, and even in future dimensional exploration missions, efficiency and survival must often be placed above individual emotions."
Maine nodded steadily, offering no excuses.
He recalled the intense inner struggle he had experienced before the factory gates. Although the specific details had blurred, the heaviness still lingered.
"Understood, Boss. We will learn from this." He knew Ryo's evaluation hit the nail on the head. In this world, which was far more cruel than Night City, some of their past behavioral patterns had to change.
The light in Ryo's optical lenses flickered slightly, seemingly expressing approval of Maine's response.
"Overall, you have preliminarily proven your value in cross-dimensional operations, as well as your ability to adapt to new equipment and new environments." He announced the next arrangement: "Therefore, after assisting in the preliminary testing and data collection for the next phase of the 'Iron Guard' prototypes, you will be allowed to return to your original world."
This news made the eyes of many in the team light up.
Rebecca almost whistled but managed to forcefully hold it back upon catching a glimpse of Ryo's unfluctuating optical lenses.
Jackie's face showed undisguised anticipation, and Pilar rubbed his mechanical fingers together excitedly.
Even the usually steady Dorio and the silent Mower had a flash of emotion in their eyes.
Valerie appeared relatively calm, but her slightly relaxed shoulders also revealed her mood.
David and Lucy stood slightly further away. Hearing this news, curiosity flowed into the young man's eyes, while Lucy maintained her quiet demeanor.
"Returning is not the end of the mission, but the beginning of the next phase," Ryo continued, pulling their thoughts back. "There, you will conduct the first true, active preliminary preparations for dimensional exploration.
"The goal is to locate and preliminarily assess a stable, unknown dimension with certain resource or technological value.
"The specific mission briefing and target coordinates will be issued through the teleporter left in the workshop after you return."
He didn't reveal more details, but the term "dimensional exploration" had already caused ripples in everyone's hearts.
Returning to the familiar Night City, and then using it as a starting point to actively step into a completely unknown world? This was far more thrilling and filled with more uncertainty than being passively brought into the Warhammer universe.
"Before that," Ryo finally said, "continue to familiarize yourselves with your new equipment and maintain your combat readiness. Dismissed."
The group bowed as instructed and left the main laboratory one after another.
After the heavy alloy doors closed, the atmosphere noticeably relaxed.
They didn't immediately return to their living quarters. Instead, they coincidentally gathered in a relatively spacious common lounge assigned to them.
Although it was still filled with the coldness of metal, compared to other places, it had somewhat more of a "human touch."
"Fuck! We can finally leave this godforsaken place!" Jackie was the first to slump onto a metal bench, looking as if his bones had been removed. "Damn, this place is so hardcore it makes my balls ache. Even the food tastes like chewing plastic; there's no flavor at all."
He smacked his lips, as if still recalling the bizarre texture of the synthetic nutrient paste.
Rebecca hopped onto the chair opposite him, her legs dangling restlessly, a reckless smile on her face: "Come on, Jackie! At least there's a fight here, and it packs a punch!
"It's way more satisfying than cleaning up those braindance-high scums in Night City!
"Those flaming ghost things, and that monster that was half human and half broken machine, that was fucking awesome!"
Although her memory was blurry, that feeling of extreme, violent impact remained.
Pilar adjusted his signature goggles, his voice a bit tight: "Awesome is awesome... but that ghost Hive City, honestly, gave me the creeps. Didn't you guys feel it?
"The top looks decent, but the bottom... is literally an oversized, rusted-through prison."
He remembered the scenes he saw as the elevator went all the way down. Those dark, filthy bottom levels packed with living people sporting empty eyes made him shudder.
Maine crossed his thick arms and leaned against the cold wall. His voice was low and carried the hoarseness of someone who had seen through the world: "Pilar isn't talking nonsense. That place and Night City... are a bit similar in their bones, but way more fucked up."
He glanced at his team members. "Everyone rolling in the mud just for a bite to eat. Night City is chaotic, it's crazy; corporations, gangs, edge-runners like us... at least on the surface, you can still choose how you die. But there..."
He paused, exhaling a breath of stale air. "Everything is fucking arranged, from top to bottom. The rules crush people to death; you don't even have the energy to want to flip the table. The cops, the weirdos in black, and those grunts... pressing down layer by layer. Individuals? They ain't even worth a fart."
(End of Chapter)