Osiris' mechanical body stood before the screen projecting the final design. His crimson optical lenses swept over the lines that encapsulated countless arguments and "practical" outcomes. He did not hesitate for long, and calmly gave his name:
"The Novamoon-class."
He paused briefly, seemingly accessing an ancient data archive, then explained in his even synthesized voice: "In the records preserved on Holy Terra, dating back to when humanity had not yet left its ancient home, the moon in the night sky exhibited cyclical phases of waxing and waning. People used this to define the unit of time called the 'month.'
Among the various phases, the 'New Moon' symbolizes the beginning of a brand-new cycle, representing the starting point of hope and renewal."
He looked at the Sages present, his data stream steady and clear: "This vessel carries new technology and is born under a new order.
Named the 'Novamoon,' it signifies a new beginning for the Imperium's interstellar navigation and future development. May its wake, like the New Moon guiding the calendar, inaugurate a new era for humanity."
"The Novamoon-class..." Archmagos Vox repeated softly, a flicker of understanding passing through his human eye, followed by a binary confirmation of assent.
The other representatives, both from the Alliance and Mars, also expressed their approval in their respective ways. The name, which contained profound classical symbolism, precisely aligned with the current historical juncture, and avoided any bias that might trigger a new round of controversy, was undoubtedly an excellent choice acceptable to all parties.
Thus, against the backdrop of the Mechanicum's internal power structure being reshaped, the first demonstration vessel—carrying the Warp drive technology and the collective wisdom of all parties—was formally named the Novamoon-class cruiser. It symbolized the end of an old age and foreshadowed a new one, full of unknowns and possibilities, quietly emerging among the stars of the Imperium of Man, much like the slender yet hopeful New Moon in the night sky.
Following the symbolic ceremony where the production license for the Novamoon-class cruiser was granted to the major participating Forge Worlds, the first technical rollout under the new framework officially began. In the orbital shipyards of Mars, the keel of the first standard Novamoon-class vessel was immediately laid, its massive hull structure beginning to take shape under the starlight.
It was at this juncture that Archmagos Vox, the Overseer of Neksum, made a suggestion to Osiris that carried considerable political weight.
His multi-treaded chassis drew close to Osiris, his data stream transmitted at a relatively private frequency: "Osiris, the Forge Ship you ordered from Neksum is now mostly complete in its main structure. If we adjust the final construction plan now, there is a full opportunity to convert it into the first commissioned Novamoon-class cruiser."
Vox's mechanical tentacle made a gesture of weighing options. "You surely understand better than I the symbolic significance and potential influence of having your flagship designated as the 'first vessel.' What are your thoughts?"
Clearly, Archmagos Vox, on behalf of Neksum, showed a strong desire to secure the historic and politically significant honor of the "First Novamoon-class." This would not only greatly enhance Neksum's status in the new order but also further strengthen his alliance with Osiris.
Osiris' processor quickly evaluated the proposal. His originally ordered Forge Ship was based on the traditional Lunar-class framework, a generation behind the Novamoon-class in performance. Upgrading it to the first Novamoon-class would be a substantial improvement in both naval performance and symbolic significance as a technological flagship. The advantages outweighed the disadvantages.
"Agreed," Osiris replied concisely. "The performance increase meets my requirements."
It was at this moment that the Martian side, which had been on the defensive during the negotiations, unexpectedly demonstrated a rare generosity.
A Martian Archmagos responsible for naval construction matters intervened in the communication, his vox-caster carrying a deliberately cultivated, grand and generous tone: "Since this vessel will carry such important meaning, Mars is willing to offer its full support. We propose that this unfinished hull be transferred to Mars' highest-specification dockyards, where we will bear all subsequent conversion costs and resource consumption."
He paused slightly, then threw out an even more tempting condition: "Furthermore, we will open Mars' ancient starship components vault to Fabricator-Magos Osiris. Amongst the technological relics and special weapon systems from the Dark Age of Technology housed there, he may find valuable items suitable for installation on this 'first vessel.' This is both a gesture of respect for the technology's creator and a demonstration of Mars' sincerity for deep cooperation within the new order."
This move by Mars was undeniably shrewd. Through generous investment and opening up secret caches, they attempted to partially pull the construction leadership of the "first vessel" back to Mars, thereby showing goodwill to Osiris, easing the previous adversarial relationship, and securing an advantageous position in the new balance of power.
Seeing this, the representatives of the other Forge Worlds immediately recognized the potential influence and technical exchange opportunities involved, and they opportunistically offered their own contributions. Vladimir Magos of Gryphonne IV promised to provide an enhanced energy core and shield generator; Thorn Magos of Lucius stated he could optimize its detection and fire-control systems...
In an instant, Osiris' yet-unnamed flagship became a focal point that various parties competed to invest in, using it as a platform to showcase their technical prowess and express their commitment to cooperation.
Osiris calmly received the proposals and promises flooding in from all sides, the red light of his optical lenses remaining steady as ever. He knew clearly that this ship was no longer just a warship; it was a political symbol and a technological demonstration window. The convergence of resources and technology from all these factions would undoubtedly create an unprecedentedly powerful flagship, but it also meant he needed to skillfully balance all their demands.
"Thank you for your support, gentlemen," Osiris finally responded, his synthesized voice still level. "I accept this conversion plan."
For him, the improvement in his flagship's performance was the primary consideration. As for the minor political debts owed to the various Forge Worlds involved, he did not mind them, so long as they did not obstruct the final goal.
"Excellent," Archmagos Vox immediately replied, his voice carrying a hint of metallic resonance and satisfaction. "Neksum will transfer your incomplete Forge Ship to the Martian dockyards with the utmost speed. We look forward to its rebirth there."
The matter was thus settled. This was not a complex political game, but rather a friendly exchange under the new framework of cooperation, driven by shared interest and technical zeal. Osiris gained a more powerful flagship and some additional benefits, Neksum secured a stake and honor in the "first vessel" project, Mars demonstrated a cooperative stance and gained an opportunity to exert influence, and the other Forge Worlds seized the chance to leave their technical mark on this highly symbolic project.
A unique construction project, integrating resources and technology from multiple factions, was about to commence in the Martian dockyards. This "first vessel," destined for greatness, carried the attention and expectation of the major factions within the Mechanicum from the moment its conversion was decided.