Chapter 393: Eternal Seeker of Knowledge
Under the intentional or unintentional "care" of all parties, this flagship belonging to Ryo, which was undergoing a radical transformation, received a slant of resources and technological investment far exceeding that of a standard Crescent-class.
It was no longer merely a cruiser equipped with warp navigation capabilities, but a stage for all parties to display their own technological prowess and sincerity in cooperation.
Nexum's contribution was particularly crucial. They did not provide basic materials; instead, they deeply integrated their proudest technological crystallization—a new type of cogitator array and autonomous decision-making assistance system, optimized and upgraded through inspiration from Ryo's early logic core—into the command core of the warship.
This system greatly elevated the warship's level of intelligence, enabling it to conduct highly efficient tactical analysis and autonomous responses in complex combat situations.
Graia not only fulfilled their promise regarding the energy core and shields, but also additionally installed a highly efficient energy distribution network, making the entire ship's energy redundancy and instantaneous output capability far exceed the design specifications.
Lucius meticulously crafted its sensor arrays and command links; its information processing speed and precision even approached the level of certain small Ark Mechanicus vessels.
The Martian faction was not stingy either, opening up their precious repository of ship components.
They installed the latest model of ship-borne miniature forge for this special Forge Ship, giving it the same production capabilities as a normal Forge World; an extremely high-specification multi-functional biological laboratory was integrated into the research module, its equipment precision sufficient to conduct analysis and research at the genetic level; a folding miniature shipyard, which when deployed could repair ships of cruiser class and below. Combined with the molecular restructuring technology mastered by Ryo, even shipbuilding was not out of the question.
Furthermore, there were ancient navigational instruments from Mars's secret hoards, an optimized thruster array, and so on. Many details highlighted Mars's "generous treatment."
And the most eye-catching "gift" came from the representative of the Forge World Stygies VIII.
Utilizing precious blackstone material, they personally built a highly shielded psychic isolation chamber located in the core area of the ship for Ryo.
This special cabin was primarily used to safely detain and study potentially captured psyker individuals, or to safely store dangerous relics possessing strong Warp resonance. Its unique anti-psychic properties ensured that the interior of the ship would not be polluted or eroded by such "dangerous samples."
When the welding and polishing of the final set of outer armor plates were completed, and the final main energy circuit was connected for testing, this special Crescent-class Forge Ship, which condensed the painstaking efforts of multiple parties, was finally declared complete in the giant shipyards of Mars.
It hovered quietly within the shipyard's anchoring force fields. Its streamlined hull was heavier and more majestic than a standard Crescent-class. The armor seams flickered with a specially treated matte luster, and numerous non-standard sensor protrusions and weapon platforms were cleverly integrated into the overall design, giving it an undeniable sense of power amidst its elegance.
Looking at its overall technological level and the various rare facilities it carried, it was not much inferior to those Ark Mechanicus vessels docked in Martian orbit acting as mobile fortresses.
What it lacked was perhaps only that unique historical heritage accumulated over ten thousand years and the massive internal industrial system that formed its own ecology, both of which those Arks possessed.
However, for Ryo—a veteran Explorator Magos who had existed since the early days of the Imperium's founding, who over the long years had explored countless ruins and collected untold amounts of lost knowledge—this so-called historical heritage was exactly what he lacked the least.
The secrets sealed within his massive private database, the technological lineages buried by time that he knew of, were enough to make up for this new ship's shortcoming in "age."
Archmagos Vox, along with several other representatives, stood on the shipyard's observation gallery, gazing at this completed masterpiece.
His mechadendrites tapped lightly against the railing, emitting a rhythmic clicking sound.
"I must say, although the process was a bit noisy," Vox's synthesized voice carried a trace of complex meaning, "the result is indeed impressive. Magos Ryo, congratulations on possessing a flagship befitting your status. It should have a name."
Ryo's mechanical body stood before the observation window, his crimson optical lenses scanning and storing every detail of the ship.
This ship was a product of the new technological order, condensing many key functions he needed for his future journeys, and was the cornerstone for him to walk his own path.
He slowly opened his mouth; a name had already settled in his heart:
"Eternal Seeker of Knowledge."
He paused slightly, explaining to the Magi present: "Knowledge is like the boundless sea of stars; even exhausting one's entire life, one cannot glimpse its entirety. This name implies an inexhaustible desire for exploration and an infinite pursuit of truth, which is also the original aspiration that we Tech-Priests should strictly adhere to."
This name cleverly avoided any factional stigma, elevating its intention above the fundamental credos of the entire Adeptus Mechanicus. At the same time, it also covertly aligned with his fundamental ideology of shuttling between different dimensions to seek various lost and unknown technologies.
Archmagos Vox took the lead in emitting binary code to express approval: "'Eternal Seeker of Knowledge', excellent! It fits the essence and transcends disputes."
He understood that this name could not be more appropriate for Ryo.
The representatives of the other Forge Worlds also expressed their approval one after another.
This name not only highlighted lofty ideals but also avoided political sensitivity, leaving them with no grounds to object.
The Martian representatives fell silent for a moment before finally emitting confirmation signals as well—regardless of anything else, this name at least sounded completely in line with the doctrinal tenets of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
With the name settled, this Crescent-class Forge Ship—gathering the painstaking efforts of multiple parties, boasting performance far exceeding the standard, and named the "Eternal Seeker of Knowledge"—was officially declared born.
After a simple and highly efficient departure ceremony, the warp engine of the "Eternal Seeker of Knowledge" emitted a low hum. A stable and powerful energy field enveloped its slender and majestic hull.
Under the gaze of countless sensors in Martian orbit, it did not charge toward the nearest Mandeville Point. Instead, following the first course set by Ryo, it headed straight into the vast void on the outskirts of the star system, preparing to commence its maiden warp voyage toward an unknown coordinate.
Ryo stood on the brand-new and cold bridge, feeling the raw power and untapped potential contained within this flagship of his, named "Seeker of Knowledge".
The surface of the brand-new control console was as smooth as a mirror, without any traces of wear and tear yet; all the indicator lights were flashing at the standard frequencies set at the factory, not yet having experienced the rapid flashing of actual combat; even the air output by the circulation system was "virgin" air, filtered to the highest standards and never having mixed with machine oil, sweat, and the smoke of artillery fire.
To him, the Imperium's game of power was merely an interlude; the endless sea of knowledge was his eternal destination.
The silhouette of the "Eternal Seeker of Knowledge" twisted slightly in the starry sky. The next moment, it vanished without a trace, leaving only some uncalmed spatial ripples in its original place as it embarked on its maiden voyage to pursue knowledge and fulfill its mission.
(End of Chapter)