"Our situation isn't—too bad."
"A small number of aggressive organisms were found within the wreckage of the crashed Mechanicum Ark, but they have all been eliminated by us."
"Most of this battleship's functions are damaged, including its life support and energy systems. We have already established a landing zone, and the external storm has stopped, so we can provide landing guidance for the fleet."
It carefully controlled 'Topaz', trying its best to portray the situation as safe.
In these hundred years, it had learned cunning.
Just like now, it knew very well how tempting the mineral veins on this world were to these humans. It only needed to appear harmless, and these foolish creatures would eagerly walk into the trap!
A hundred years ago, the mechanical fleet that came here was like this; a hundred years later, it would be no different!
Greed was the greatest weakness of these creatures.
What's more, it still held an absolute advantage. Humans, so far, did not yet know that the ocean covering world CV-7721 was, in essence, a 'creature' with a collective symbiotic consciousness!
And this was its greatest advantage.
The Cocoon of Ten Thousand Machines saw the massive fleet and the vast territories of the Imperium of Man in these humans' memories. It was confident that once it escaped this accursed world, it could infiltrate human society and gradually devour this civilization!
The communication channel remained silent for a long time.
But it didn't care; it was extremely patient. In the evolutionary process of billions of years, it didn't mind this amount of time. From Julius, the brilliant Archmagos who created it, it had learned patience!
A moment later, a steady voice returned from the communication channel.
"Understood, Delta Squad. Please send your coordinates, wait patiently, and provide landing guidance for the fleet."
Excellent, they fell for it!
The Cocoon of Ten Thousand Machines was delighted. The pink ocean covering the entire world, that countless collective consciousnesses in symbiosis, seemed to sense its emotions, stirring up waves.
"Delta Squad——received."
"We will send our coordinates and provide safe guidance for the fleet's landing."
It manipulated the stiff "Topaz", skillfully pressing buttons on the instrument panel to send the coordinates.
It was only one step away from escaping this world, devouring more humans, and evolving into a higher-level existence!
Once those foolish humans landed their fleet, it would repeat its trick, carefully infiltrating.
Once it controlled the ship, it could enter the wider universe.
In Topaz's bloodshot eyes, a flicker of excitement, agitation, stiffness, and bulging veins shone. On its dead-gray face, a twitching smile appeared.
"None of you will escape!"
Meanwhile, on the forward reconnaissance vessel suspended in orbit, an argument erupted.
"You, are you mad?!"
Igus, the Tech-Priest, stared at Alfonso in shock, expressing extreme horror and opposition to the order he had just given.
"Do you know what you're doing?!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing." Alfonso crossed his arms over his chest, turning his head slightly downwards, his gaze falling on Igus, and said calmly.
"Magos Igus, this is an order issued by me as the supreme Commander of the forward reconnaissance vessel. You have no right to interfere."
"No, absolutely not!"
Igus glared, furious sparks erupting from his android eye, his voice suddenly rising several octaves.
"In the name of the Tech-Priest, the Martian Mechanicum, and the Emrys family, I order you to stop this damned reckless behavior! Do you know what's on this world? That's an Adamantium mine! What if your macro cannon strike destroys the Adamantium mine? Do you know how great a loss that would be for Merlin?!"
The reason for their argument was simple.
Just now, as soon as Alfonso finished telling the other party to provide landing coordinates, he immediately turned around and told the astropath to transmit the coordinates back to the "Excalibur" and requested the mothership to target that location for a real-time, devastating macro cannon barrage!
Yes, you heard right!
Alfonso requested the mothership to launch a macro cannon strike at the coordinates provided by Delta Squad!
Igus' reason for protesting was actually very easy to understand. Although the macro cannon of a cruiser was not as powerful as a lance, it was definitely not something an Adamantium mine could withstand. What if this strike completely destroyed the Adamantium mine?
Moreover, he completely failed to understand Alfonso's logic. Delta Squad had already proven their identity, so why still carry out a macro cannon strike?
"Lord Alfonso, I need a reasonable explanation." Igus said in a deep voice.
"The value of this Adamantium mine is enough to give the Emrys family a lofty status and unimaginable wealth in the Imperium. You are absolutely not allowed to destroy it because of a little, baseless suspicion!"
He was Carol's disciple. Although he did not hold power, in terms of status, he could indeed question Alfonso.
Magos Igus' questioning, Alfonso looked at him indifferently.
"Magos Igus, I can understand your emphasis on this mine, but—this is our fundamental difference."
"What do you mean?"
Igus was stunned for a few seconds.
"You only care about profit, but I care more about—safety." Alfonso continued indifferently.
"In your understanding, Delta Squad has passed identity verification, which is enough to prove their credibility, but I don't think so."
"Their communication was interrupted for a long time." Alfonso said calmly.
"Of course, this is due to the ionizing storm, but the problem is, none of us can be sure that the Delta Squad we are talking to after the ionizing storm ended is still 'human'."
"This is the first point." He paused, then continued.
"Second, the real-time imaging equipment is damaged, cannot be repaired, and there are no spare parts. This is very abnormal, and the probability is very low."
"But, this is not impossible."
Igus still thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"You're right, it is indeed possible."
Alfonso nodded, agreeing with him, then continued.
"Next, the third point, they are too eager. From the second time communication was established, they have been guiding us to land, constantly emphasizing the safety here. This is very unreasonable."
Igus stopped short.
Thinking about it carefully, it did seem a bit off!
"But, we have no evidence to prove they have a problem, do we?" Igus gritted his teeth, still sticking to his opinion.
"This is all just your speculation!"
"You're right, this is all just my speculation." Alfonso admitted it without hesitation. Under Igus' gaze, his voice was cold, as if containing chilling killing intent.
"But, we don't need evidence, Magos Igus!"
"We are an expeditionary fleet."
"We are the pioneers of humanity!"
"What kind of people do you think can become pioneers? Become Rogue Traders?"
Igus was lost in thought again.
Then, Alfonso said calmly.
"They are selfish people. Only those who are extremely self-centered, driven by profit, willing to pay any price and disregard consequences to achieve their goals, are true Rogue Traders!"
"And only such people can carve a path for humanity in the dark universe, in this unknown place far from the light of the Astronomican!"
"Lord Emrys is such a person."
As he spoke, Alfonso handed a data-slate to the still bewildered Igus.
"This is Lord Emrys' order. He has been following the developments here, including our conversation just now and Delta Squad's conversation. This is also his authorization."
On the data-slate was a cold order.
"Confirm Delta Squad's coordinates. Load three macro cannon shells. Execute a devastating strike on the target—Merlin Emrys."
Igus was bewildered.
Had he really guessed wrong?
Carol looked at Emrys on the command bridge, his figure seemingly overlapping with Horen, bringing him some comfort.
"How did you know there was a problem with Delta Squad?"
"I can't truly be sure if they have a problem." Emrys' gaze turned towards the pink world, and he said indifferently.
"But similarly, I also can't be sure that they truly don't have a problem."
"The universe is dark, cold, and selfish."
"To survive in this starfield, one must possess an absolutely ruthless, utilitarian, purely selfish, self-centered, and profit-driven heart."
"I gave them generous treatment for this very moment."
This was the true face of a Rogue Trader!
Extremely selfish, cold, ruthless, a machine driven by profit—they were the pioneers of humanity, but also the most extreme egoists!