Chapter 594: Cross-Dimensional Order
Death World base, Dimensional Communication Center.
The ghostly blue energy flowed steadily within the precise ring-shaped device, maintaining a fragile connection across the barriers of reality.
After several days of attempts and signal calibration, the encrypted communication request from Ryo (main body) was finally received by WILLE, and a stable connection was established.
Misato Katsuragi's holographic image appeared in the center of the communication room. Behind her was the concise and highly efficient command center of WILLE's flagship, the AAA Wunder.
She looked even more exhausted than before, but her eyes remained sharp, and her dark commander's uniform was meticulous.
"Dr. Ryo," Misato's voice carried a trace of imperceptible caution and anticipation, "Receiving a proactive communication from you is unexpected. I hope you and... those 'guests' are doing well on your end."
She deliberately avoided the names of Shinji, Asuka, and Rei, her tone tinged with complex emotions.
Ryo (second avatar) represented the main body for this meeting. He stood tall before the communication device, his voice ringing out steadily: "Commander Katsuragi, it has been a while. They have adapted to their new environment and successfully completed their first combat evaluation mission. Their performance met expectations."
He skipped any pleasantries and cut straight to the point: "The purpose of this communication is to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation with WILLE."
Misato raised an eyebrow slightly, leaning forward a bit: "Oh? What kind of cooperation?"
"I need EVA biological bodies." Ryo's words were shockingly direct. "Not complete, pilotable EVAs, but biological skeletons stripped of their core soul marks, in a 'blank' state."
"They can be clones of Unit-01, Unit-02, or any relatively complete EVA biological structure you can provide."
Misato's pupils contracted slightly, shock and disbelief flashing across her face.
"EVA biological bodies... Do you know what you are asking for? This is a core technology that NERV, and even SEELE, regard as the highest secret! Furthermore, stripping the soul mark... how is that even possible?" Her voice unconsciously raised a few pitches.
"I will handle the technological feasibility." Ryo's tone did not fluctuate at all, as if stating an established fact. "What you need to provide are 'empty shells' that have undergone basic genetic tuning and possess standard EVA biological activity."
"I can provide the specific technical requirements and usage safety protocols."
He paused briefly, letting Misato digest this information before throwing out his bargaining chips: "In exchange, WILLE will receive the following resources: First, continuous technical support, including but not limited to maintenance and optimization of your existing EVA units, further improvements to the Dummy System, and countermeasures analysis against potential SEELE technologies."
"Second, material assistance. I can provide WILLE with a batch of high-energy-density power units, high-performance alloy materials, as well as advanced medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. All of these will help you maintain survival and combat capabilities in that world on the brink of collapse."
"Third, when necessary, I can provide limited, non-direct-combat cross-dimensional support."
In the holographic projection, Misato fell into silence.
Ritsuko Akagi quickly walked up beside her, communicating rapidly in a low voice. She was clearly also analyzing the shock value and possibilities of this proposal.
Requesting EVA biological bodies was tantamount to demanding one of the very foundations of WILLE, and indeed humanity's, fight against the Angels and SEELE.
However, the exchange conditions offered by the other party, especially the stable energy and supplies, held immense temptation for WILLE, which was struggling with severe resource scarcity.
"Why?" Misato looked up, her gaze sharp as she looked at Ryo's image. "What do you need these 'empty shells' for? To build more... 'EVA-Titans'?"
"Yes." Ryo admitted candidly. "I need them as the core of war weapons. In my world, we face threats that are entirely different from the Angels, but equally severe."
"EVA biotechnology, combined with my mechanical and energy technology, can create extremely valuable strategic assets."
He did not detail the specific situation of the Warhammer universe but emphasized the urgency and strategic value of the request.
"Does this mean we would be indirectly participating in the wars of your world?" Ritsuko interjected, her tone serious.
"What you are providing are raw materials, not combat personnel. I bear the usage and responsibility for the final products." Ryo drew a clear line. "This is a transaction. WILLE provides the biological templates and cultivation environment, and I provide technology, resources, and survival guarantees. Each takes what they need."
The communication channel fell silent again, save for the faint sounds of equipment from the background of the WILLE command center.
Misato and Ritsuko were evidently engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
Handing over EVA biological bodies carried extremely high risks, involving the very core of their ethics, security, and technology.
But if they did not accept, WILLE might never obtain such stable and high-quality external assistance, leaving their prospects bleak in the long struggle against SEELE.
After a long while, Misato took a deep breath, as if making up her mind: "We need time for internal discussion and technical evaluation. We cannot give you an immediate answer."
"Acceptable." Ryo responded. "I will give you five standard days. The initial order requirement is: ten standard EVA biological skeletons. If the cooperation is reached, the first batch must provide at least one 'blank body' for experimentation within a month."
He sent over a more detailed list of technical parameters and a proposed resource exchange catalog.
"This is the preliminary cooperation framework and resource list for your reference."
Misato received the data, quickly skimming the specifications for the energy units, the performance parameters of the alloys, and the list of medical equipment. Her expression grew increasingly solemn.
The materials offered by the other party were indeed urgently needed by WILLE.
"We will consider this carefully. In five standard days, regardless of the outcome, we will give you an answer," Misato finally said, her tone recovering the calm of a commander.
The communication ended.
Aboard WILLE's flagship, a heavy silence enveloped the command center.
Misato and Ritsuko exchanged a glance. Both saw the same heaviness reflected in each other's eyes, along with a complex glimmer of having seen a possible path out of their desperate situation.
The decision they were about to make would tie WILLE's future to an unknown cosmic faction, carrying equally massive risks and opportunities.
"We need to begin the technical evaluation immediately," Ritsuko was the first to break the silence, her voice returning to the calm of a chief scientist. "Especially the 'blank body' concept proposed by the other party; we need to verify its feasibility."
Misato took a deep breath, gathering her decisiveness as a commander once more: "Agreed. At the same time, have the logistics department start taking inventory of our stockpiles and needs, prioritizing a list of the most urgently needed supplies. We must be fully prepared for any outcome."
Just as WILLE began operating at high efficiency due to this major decision, Ryo's second avatar, far away on the Death World, had already synchronized the complete communication log and analysis report to the main body.
The data stream crossed dimensions and was instantly received and processed by Ryo's main body, seated in the laboratory on Necromunda.
Within his logic core, the process priority representing the "EVA-Titan Mass Production Plan" was significantly elevated.
WILLE's intentional response was a positive signal, but the final agreement had not yet been finalized, and the supply channel for the biological cores was still not completely secured.