Punishment-class Reactor

In the Freeze lands of Medusa, Ferrus Manus leads Gabriel Santor and the Iron Father deep underground.

They have used large excavators to open underground bunkers and invade the massive factory ruins buried deep beneath the ice.

Manus stood before a wall, his large silver hand pounding against it, a wall as big as the transfer deck of Voidship.

The wall is made of data equipment, and inside there is a chair with cables wrapped around it, embedded in a dilapidated niche.

Manus turned to look at Santor, his most trusted Sons of Medusa.

Santor met Gorgon's silver eyes and was stunned for a few seconds before he came to his senses.

"Gorgon, the Iron Father have conducted a preliminary analysis and determined that the debris here fell from space. They are searching it for anything useful."

"Not enough," Manus said in a deep voice, his leaden tone echoing as he slammed his large silver hand against the wall.

"It allows people to connect to Archives through neural interfaces in the spine."

"Through this virtual Thought Space, ultra-high-speed data transmission and simulation can be achieved."

Santor looked at Gorgon with admiration; only he could discover the function of a mechanical creation through simple observation and tapping, without any restoration.

He stared at the data equipment and cables that made up the wall and asked, puzzled.

"This is a major discovery; it can not only handle the massive amounts of data generated in warfare, but also simulate combat scenarios."

"With this, isn't it enough for us to win the contest?"

Manus's silver eyes were deep. "There's no absolute certainty."

"If Nimrod is a being like me, he likely believes that to ensure victory, he must find the origin of Garuda."

His silver-coin-like eyes looked at the Mechanical Eagle flying in from afar.

The Mechanical Eagle were cast from gray steel and brass, and the Medusan named them Garuda according to their local mythology.

Ten Garuda flew to Manus's side.

They fluttered around Manus, emitting piercing cries.

Manus's silver eyes shimmered like liquid. "They can't find it."

Santor had served Gorgon for a long time, and he could detect a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Gorgon, I think this wall is enough for us to win the battle."

At the same moment, after listening to the briefing from "The Spirit Medium" Adams, Nimrod spoke to "Deduction Cadets" Arsena Dunn.

"Arsena, which location do you consider to be the most valuable?"

The "Deduction Cadets" didn't answer immediately, he said.

"Sir, to ensure the accuracy of my reasoning, I need to review the materials first."

Adams took out his Data Slate and sent the information he possessed to the Primarch, the Primarch's Attendants, and the Tech Sergeant Gabriel.

After reviewing all the materials, the "Deduction Cadets" spoke.

"My lord, I believe the buildings referred to by the ghosts, such as the Noble Ghost, are the most valuable relics."

"Furthermore, the ruins he mentioned should have been built by Xenos before humans arrived at Medusa."

"Based on the available information, its value cannot be determined."

Nimrod slightly, acknowledging the "Deduction Cadets's" logical reasoning.

"Let's go to those human ruins."

He then said to the "Spirit Medium," "Summon the ghost to lead the way."

The "Spirit Medium" took out Spirit Crystal from his person and recited a summoning incantation in Dunnish.

"I summon in my name, the spirit residing in the crystal in my palm, to appear and be at my command!"

A chilling wind suddenly arose, and a ghost dressed in magnificent robes appeared before the crowd.

The Noble Ghost glanced timidly at the tall, black giant; as a ghost, he could feel an immense pressure.

The "Spirit Medium" spoke in an ethereal tone, issuing orders to the Noble Ghost.

"Lead the way to the oldest building you have ever constructed."

The Noble Ghost walked around for a while before recognizing the direction and taking a step forward.

The group followed the Noble Ghost for more than forty kilometers before a majestic iceberg came into view.

Looking into the distance, the overall outline of the iceberg can be seen.

Unlike most icebergs in the world, and even the icebergs of Fenris, this iceberg appears unusually strange.

The iceberg is of varying heights and has an extremely irregular shape.

It's like a mischievous child kneading an irregularly shaped toy.

The Noble Ghost suddenly stopped and began to mutter to himself.

"It's called Mount McKenna Blacksnow, the result of a war that broke out Oldest One colonists vying for control of Sthenelus."

"Archaeologist," Gabriel asked curiously.

"Black Snow?"

The Noble Ghost was lost in ancient memories, and only spoke after a dozen seconds.

"The large amounts of carbides or sulfides ejected into the atmosphere at extremely high temperatures after a nuclear explosion, and the products that fall after cooling, are called black snow."

The "Archaeologist" and the "Deduction Cadets" exchanged a glance. He looked at the iceberg ahead and said in astonishment.

"If what you're saying is true, then it's a terrible war."

"The spirits I command do not lie," the "Spirit Medium" said.

Nimrod knew the ghosts were real, but he was always puzzled; by any measure, the Medusa System was unsuitable for human habitation.

Is it worth fighting over such a galaxy?

Why are you fighting over this galaxy, paying such a huge price?

The Noble Ghost glanced at him timidly and spoke.

"We discovered the remains of Xenos here, and a war broke out over it."

Nimrod's eyes were deep as he thought about the environment of the Medusa System, the fragments floating in the void, and the Xenos ruins of Medusa.

He also thought of the silver wyvern Arsinos, which was suspected to Shard of the Void Dragon, and which was released when it was smashed into the Mount Karash Blacksnow by the Ferrus Manus incubation pod.

[If Arsinos is indeed Shard of the Void Dragon, Medusa might be one of the worlds where the Necrons sealed him.]

As he pondered, the Noble Ghost drifted into memories, and he continued.

"A protracted war broke out over the control of the ruins, and that's how McKenna came to be."

"After discovering Xenos ruins in the far north of Sthenelus, I landed here and built a base underground in the mountain to facilitate the excavation of the Xenos ruins."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the foot of Mount McKenna Blacksnow.

The Tech Sergeant felt the place was unusually cold, and they had to keep swinging the Mechanical Arm on their backs to prevent Mechanical Arm from freezing and affecting their use.

Those with Beyonder Pathway, known as "Death God" under the Necron Lord, are even more suited to this path.

The group followed the Noble Ghost along the winding road until they arrived at a large metal gate.

"The Spirit Medium" asked the Noble Ghost.

How to open the door.

The Noble Ghost walked to the gate, pondered for a dozen seconds, and then spoke.

"It needs to be opened with a key."

The "Spirit Medium" then asked, "Where is the key?"

"I don't know where the key is. It used to be on my servant, but I don't know where his body is or if the key is damaged."

Gabriel walked to the gate, his Mechanical Arm swinging quickly and carefully, using a metal drill to remove the years-old ice that covered the gate's surface.

The Tech Sergeant did not proceed further. After carefully tapping the metal gate terminal a few times with his mechanical probe, he turned to the Primarch and spoke.

"Do not apply force to the door; it is at least five meters thick, and forcibly opening it may activate the device's defensive mechanisms."

"In fact, it is ten meters thick." The Noble Ghost's tone was tinged with pride.

"Even if the Voidship launched an orbital bombardment of McKenna, it would survive."

"It was originally the wreckage of a Voidship. My technicians modified the Void Shield to provide protection for the entire base."

"If the attack fails and the defense mechanisms are triggered, the entire base will be destroyed."

The Tech Sergeant frowned and asked.

What powers the defense facilities?

The ruins were built during the "Dark Ages," thousands of years ago, and the power arrays of ordinary defensive facilities should have long since become ineffective.

"Punishment-class Reactor." The term uttered by the Noble Ghost was unfamiliar to the Tech Sergeant.

Nimrod felt a sense of familiarity, and it took him a moment to remember.

The Punishment-class Reactor is a unique reactor used on the "Iron Hands" ships.

Compared to the Plasma Reactor used on most Imperium ships, the Punishment-class Reactor can supply more energy, giving the "Iron Hands" ships a more powerful Weapon Array and powering the automatically recharged Void Shield.

Perhaps this technology originated from the ancient ruins right before our eyes.

Therefore, the relics before us are of considerable value.

Nimrod thought of the explosion caused by the Punishment-class Reactor; even if he survived, his offspring would suffer heavy casualties. He asked.

"Brute force won't work, Gabriel. Can you open it?"

"Father, I need time for further testing."

The "Archaeologist's" mechanical probe slid rapidly across the gate's terminal before he spoke ten minutes later.

"Father, I can, but I'm not sure how long it will take. This is the first time I've seen something so complex and incredible."

"The code within the main gate generates sub-ciphers, which in turn require specialized decryption."

"It reproduces like an ecosystem, constantly changing, responding to my invasion by evolving into more complex systems."

Nimrod realized that he and Ferrus Manus had not agreed on a specific time, and although neither of them would resort to unscrupulous methods to excavate one site after another indefinitely, the Old Man in Yellow would not allow such a situation to occur.

But he believed in the "Archaeologist '" abilities, and the Punishment-class Reactor was a discovery he wanted and that could potentially win him victory, he said.

"Let's begin, break through the defenses as quickly as possible."

"As you wish," the Archaeologist said excitedly, also interested in the code that forms the ecosystem.

As the "Archaeologist" led the "Savant" to begin deciphering the code, Nimrod ordered the 4th Regiment Shadow of Order alert before speaking to the "Spirit Medium."

"Take your spirit with you; I still have questions to ask him about that Xenos ruin."

He, along with the Primarch's Attendants and the "Spirit Medium," left the gate area and stopped after walking a kilometer.