"Magos Osiris?" Weiss' voice was gentle, carrying a carefully modulated, comfortable resonance, but the subtle, inhumanly precise pauses exposed its synthesized nature. "How may I be of service?"
"Magos Weiss," Osiris ignored the other's almost perfect mimicry and cut straight to the chase. "Regarding the gene-seed repair project for the Imperial Fists Legion's 'Swift Levy' warriors, the Phase One technical blueprint has been completed by me and submitted to Primarch Rogal Dorn."
Weiss' image leaned forward slightly, his overly clear eyes flashing with focused light.
"A project personally overseen by the Primarch... this is of immense significance," he precisely controlled the tone to convey both reverence and interest.
"Indeed." Osiris' synthesized voice was steady. "However, the specific execution of the project, including subsequent physiological monitoring, organ cultivation, gene calibration, and even surgical implementation, requires a long-term presence on Holy Terra and a substantial investment of time for microscopic operations. This fundamentally conflicts with my core exploration schedule."
Alvaro immediately grasped Osiris' intention.
A fleeting, well-timed expression, a mixture of surprise and honor, crossed his face. The expression was simulated with extreme naturalness, but the duration and precision of the shift were unnaturally perfect.
To take over a project personally overseen by a Primarch and for which an initial blueprint was created by someone of Osiris' stature was an opportunity he might not encounter for centuries.
"Are you suggesting..." His voice remained level, but his internal processing core was clearly racing to assess the immense potential benefits this task would bring.
"I intend to entrust the specific execution and subsequent data collection work of this project to you," Osiris confirmed. "You will serve as my fully authorized representative on this project, reporting directly to Primarch Dorn and his designated Imperial Fists Apothecaries.
You must strictly adhere to the technical plan I have provided. No unauthorized 'innovation' or deviation is permitted."
"Of course! Absolute adherence! Magos Osiris, thank you for your trust!" Weiss' response was swift and firm, the simulated emotion full and genuine.
"I swear by the Omnissiah that I will execute your plan with perfect precision. Every step, every parameter, will be rigorously observed and recorded. It is a profound honor to participate in such a crucial endeavor."
Osiris transmitted a highly encrypted technical data packet.
"This contains all the technical details required for Phase One execution. Report immediately to me if any unexpected situation arises that falls outside the scope of the plan."
Weiss quickly received and confirmed, his posture akin to accepting a holy relic. "Understood! I will begin immediately. Please rest assured, there will be no errors."
The communication ended.
Osiris had successfully delegated this time-consuming task.
For a Bio-Magos like Alvaro Weiss, who had been dormant for a long time and was eager to prove his ancient worth on a higher stage, this commission was nothing short of a substantial gift, enough to revitalize his decades of quiet research.
Having concluded the review of the "Iron Guard" project and the Imperial Fists commission on the Neksum Forge World, Osiris did not linger.
The core matters were settled. The Genesis Particle research at the Death World Base and potential dimensional exploration were his current priorities.
Before departing aboard the Eternal Quest, he exercised his authority as an Explorer Magos and a deep collaborator with Neksum to requisition a batch of biological resources.
These resources were not ordinary provisions but included selected high-quality gene templates, high-purity nutrient fluids, and specialized catalysts and stabilizers for precise biological modulation.
The resources were swiftly transported and loaded into the highly-specified, multi-functional biology laboratory that had been installed by Mars within the Eternal Quest.
Deep within the laboratory, the previously unactivated array of artificial uteri was energized. A low hum resonated in the sterile environment as pale blue nutrient solution began to fill the transparent cultivation chambers.
Osiris personally set the modulation parameters.
Unlike the previous large-scale production of basic assistants on Neksum, this objective was more specific and specialized.
The gene templates he inputted were specifically optimized to reinforce cognitive tolerance, microscopic perception, and the instinctual analysis of complex biological signals—all critical qualities required for Genesis Particle ecological research.
The modulation process proceeded simultaneously with the voyage.
Osiris remotely monitored the vital signs and gene expression in every cultivation chamber via the ship's Cogitator array, occasionally making minor adjustments to ensure the process aligned with expectations.
The scale was controlled to twenty units this time, aiming for quality over quantity, with the goal of forming a specialized team capable of immediately engaging in high-precision research tasks.
When the five days of warp travel concluded, the life cultivation in the artificial uterus array also entered its final maturation stage.
The Eternal Quest dropped out of warp and appeared in orbit of the Death World just as the modulation was essentially complete.
The warship smoothly docked at the base's orbital pier.
Osiris was the first to disembark, heading directly to the laboratory area.
Subsequently, the twenty newly born Adjusters were guided by Servo-skulls to orderly set foot on the Death World soil.
Like the previous apprentices, they were clad in uniform plain clothing, their eyes carrying the clarity of newborns and absolute obedience to instructions, standing silently in formation, awaiting further directions.
Osiris received this fresh infusion of strength in the base's core laboratory.
He dispensed with a lengthy address and proceeded directly to ability assessment.
"Articulate your understanding of the mechanism for maintaining gene sequence stability under extreme environmental stress." He directed the question to the first Adjuster in line, a young male with a quiet demeanor and focused eyes (provisionally designated Bio-Unit-01).
Bio-Unit-01 answered almost without pause, his voice steady and clear: "Reporting, Magos. The fundamental maintenance mechanism relies on the activity of repair enzymes and the integrity of the telomere structure. Under extreme stress, epigenetic modification may occur adaptively, but carries a risk of loss of control.
The intervention of the Genesis Particle likely simulates or accelerates this process. The key lies in the precise mode of interaction between the particle energy field and the genetic material, which necessitates the establishment of a dynamic model for quantitative analysis."
The answer directly addressed a core difficulty in Osiris' current research, demonstrating excellent professional aptitude and problem awareness.
Osiris tested them one by one. This batch of new apprentices universally demonstrated potential beyond the basic level in biochemistry, ecological succession modeling, and data analysis.
They would no longer need to start with identifying basic tools but could immediately participate in data parsing, sample analysis, and assisting with experimental design.
He promptly granted these twenty new apprentices access to the monitoring network of the Canyon Experimental Zone and the biology section of the base's core database, assigning the first batch of tasks: assisting in the analysis of genetic sequence mutation data of surviving organisms in the canyon, establishing a preliminary framework for the ecological succession prediction model, and monitoring changes in the nascent microbial communities.
The original apprentices would continue their respective learning and research tracks, while this new force quickly integrated into the Genesis Particle research system, becoming specialized research assistants.
Watching these new apprentices swiftly get to work—operating instruments, recording data, and performing initial calculations—Osiris' processor updated the base's human resource archives.
The research strength of the Death World had been purposefully fortified, providing a more solid technical support foundation for his next step in delving deeper into the mysteries of the Genesis Particle.