Chapter 394: First Voyage Test
The first warp jump of the Eternal Seeker of Knowledge did not pursue extreme speed or vast distances. The core mission Ryo set for it was continuous long-term operation, comprehensively testing the overall stability and subsystem coordination of this new ship, which integrated multi-party technologies, in a true faster-than-light environment.
The destination of this voyage was an inconsequential barren star system, but the journey itself was of vital importance.
The warp state lasted for about one standard Terran month.
During this time, the interior of the Eternal Seeker of Knowledge was like a high-speed, precision timepiece.
Ryo's massive body was directly connected to the ship's main cogitator array for most of the time. Behind his crimson optical lenses, massive data streams surged like a waterfall.
He monitored the minute changes of every critical parameter.
The logic core and autonomous decision-making system provided by Nexum performed excellently during continuous operation. Its intelligence level was indeed stabilized within a safe threshold that was both highly efficient and did not touch the red line of Abominable Intelligence.
Even during a minor spatial particle stream disturbance, it adjusted the shield parameter distribution faster than the preset program.
Graia's energy system withstood the test of prolonged high-load operation.
The energy distribution network was like strong blood vessels, accurately delivering surging power to every part of the ship.
The redundant design ensured that even if a secondary energy conduit experienced a one-in-ten-thousand efficiency decay, a backup circuit would immediately and seamlessly take over.
Lucius's sensor arrays continuously collected peculiar physical readings between the material universe and the warp bubble interface. Their high precision provided Ryo with a wealth of invaluable first-hand data.
At the same time, its optimized command link ensured absolute clarity and stability of the ship's internal communications while in the warp state, without any delay or distortion.
The various facilities provided by Mars also underwent preliminary testing.
The miniature forge successfully manufactured some spare parts during the voyage, proving the reliability of its basic manufacturing capabilities.
The environmental maintenance system of the biological laboratory operated smoothly, laying the foundation for potential future research missions.
The data provided by those ancient navigational instruments during the warp state formed an interesting complement and verification with the new systems.
The blackstone psychic isolation chamber built by Stygies VIII remained in a silent standby state. Its unique domain of deathly stillness was like a void at the core of the ship, completely imperceptible on the psychic level, which in itself proved the success of its design.
Of course, not everything was perfect.
As the continuous operation reached the third week, a certain non-critical servo-motor group located in the starboard third sector began to emit periodic high-frequency tremors. Although it did not affect its core function, the tremor amplitude slightly exceeded the design tolerance.
Simultaneously, a secondary heat exchanger in the backup environmental control system on the lower deck experienced a slow decay in cooling efficiency of about three percent. While completely within the redundant capacity of the backup system for the time being, the trend was worth monitoring.
Furthermore, during continuous stress monitoring of the hull structure, a specific stress sensor located at the junction of the engine compartment and the main hull transmitted data showing a difficult-to-explain, extremely faint periodic fluctuation.
Its amplitude was not even enough to trigger the lowest level alarm threshold, but because its pattern did not conform to any known theoretical model, it was specifically flagged by the system as an item to be observed.
From an engineering perspective, these issues were insignificant, far from reaching a level that would affect navigational safety, and would not even attract the attention of conventional crew members.
But they were all precisely captured by Ryo's highly sensitive diagnostic system and recorded one by one, marked as potential nodes requiring in-depth analysis, optimization, or preventive maintenance later.
Throughout the testing process, Ryo was more like a calm observer and recorder. He rarely intervened directly in the automatic operation of the systems unless certain parameters approached preset safety boundaries.
What he needed to see was the true, unembellished operational state of this ship.
A month later, exactly according to the predetermined plan, the Eternal Seeker of Knowledge precisely dropped out of the warp state at the edge of the target star system. Its slender hull appeared in an exhilarating posture near the orbit of an Imperial hive world in that system.
All core systems, including the warp engine itself, experienced no faults sufficient to affect the mission or safety throughout the long and smooth voyage.
Ryo disconnected his direct link with the main cogitator, his mechanical body emitting the faint sound of operating servo-motors on the silent bridge.
The test data for the first long-duration voyage had been fully collected, and the results met and even partially exceeded his expectations.
The Eternal Seeker of Knowledge and the various technologies it carried preliminarily proved their value and reliability.
This laid a solid technological foundation for Ryo's next plans, whether to continue in-depth testing or head to even more distant star sectors for true exploration.
This newborn ship was ready to carry his path of seeking knowledge and sail toward the broader unknown.
Even though the first long-range voyage test achieved satisfactory results, and the various data of the Eternal Seeker of Knowledge basically met or even partially exceeded expectations, Ryo did not immediately initiate deeper exploration.
After weighing the options, his logic core issued a new command: set course, return to Holy Terra.
The successful verification of the warp engine and the preliminary establishment of the new order were, in Ryo's view, not the end of the matter. On the contrary, this was merely the beginning of a much more complex situation.
Technological feasibility had been proven, but the challenges of truly integrating this technology into the Imperium's massive and ossified body were just emerging.
The Eternal Seeker of Knowledge entered the warp state once again. This time, its destination was clear: the nexus of the Imperium of Man.
During the voyage, Ryo did not relax.
On one hand, he analyzed the massive amounts of data accumulated from the first test, setting out to conduct remote diagnostics and preliminary software-level optimizations for those recorded minor issues.
On the other hand, he was also organizing his thoughts, preparing to report the test results to Rogal Dorn and discuss the next promotion strategy.
He clearly knew that returning to Terra meant stepping back into the center of the vortex of power and interests.
The success of the Crescent-class and the existence of the Eternal Seeker of Knowledge were both powerful aids and potential targets for all.
Those factions that already harbored doubts or hostility toward the revolution, be it the conservatives in the Senatorum Imperialis, the threatened members of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica and the Navigator Houses, or other enemies hidden in the shadows, would absolutely not sit back and watch the warp engine completely change the Imperium's paradigm.
This return was no longer carrying an unverified hope, but tangible technological achievements and navigational logs.
This would give supporters more confidence, but at the same time, it would inevitably make opponents more anxious, and their actions might become even more radical.
The Eternal Seeker of Knowledge sailed steadily within a stable warp state, heading toward that ancient world shrouded in the light of the Astronomican.
Ryo's mechanical body stood quietly on the bridge, his optical lenses gazing at the shifting streams of light ahead.
He knew that what awaited him on Terra would absolutely not be a simple celebration and commendation, but a new round of perhaps even more obscure and treacherous storms.