This planet.
There were enough Xenos to go around, more than they could eat. By making use of the Grid's ability to merge them into its network, they could process the creatures into chemical batteries and temporarily ease the planet's power shortage.
This was a feature of the Stellaris Template's Grid, one of three ways a machine species could deal with organic life: exterminate it, turn it into a collectible, or make it into batteries and integrate it into the Grid.
Cisrain was using the last option to get through the early stages.
Three Gamma Planet days later.
The entire planet was bustling with activity under Cisrain's leadership, with humans and Xenos working side by side.
One Xenos after another was captured and sent to the Battery Processing Center. There, they were processed into chemical batteries and integrated into the Grid, supplying the factories with a steady stream of power. The electricity stored by those factories was then used to power the facilities that produced canned Xenos.
[Please stand clear. Biological battery loading.]
[Loading... Battery No. 00079 integrated successfully. Battery No. 00045 has degraded. Please replace it promptly.]
A processed biological battery was being inserted into a mechanical device connected to the Grid.
Once the synaptic connection was made, the Xenos convulsed. It was now officially supplying power to the battery.
This Xenos, too, was integrated into the Grid.
During their three days of leave, Cyrus's squad had spent their time capturing Xenos. They had certainly seen a thing or two.
The planet under Cisrain's management had shown them that not every Xenos had to be killed.
Sometimes, live Xenos were more useful than dead ones.
These troublesome Stinger Bees, for example, were now being loaded into chemical batteries to generate power. That was far more useful than simply killing them. Their electricity could be used to make delicious Wasp Canned Food, or charge their kinetic weapons.
These batteries were a little like the wetware used by the Adeptus Mechanicus in the Imperium of Man.
As Chaos corrupted electronic machinery, they had developed hardware that connected human bodies to machines. Put simply, people served as data-processing centers for the machinery, protecting certain machines from Chaos corruption.
"I wonder how they managed it."
"Such a remarkable governor."
Talon pushed an entire Xenos battery into the enormous machine. The Grid above it immediately crackled with electricity.
"If they suddenly came up with a way to use an entire planet as a battery one day, I wouldn't be surprised."
"Though by then, they'd probably have other energy sources and wouldn't need these batteries."
"All right, once we've installed this one, we'll move on to our new assignment. I hear Governor Cisrain even saved us a house on his homeworld, Utopia."
"What? Yalta, you actually want to live there?"
"If we really can put an end to the chaos in this world, maybe I'll become a lumberjack, build myself a bed, and lie down for a whole day."
Cyrus frowned. "It's about time. Stop chatting. There's more important work waiting for you. Once you've replaced the batteries, report back to the Research Station."
His squadmates' lax attitude made him uncomfortable.
They were starting to slack off.
Slacking off would only dull their vigilance.
Perhaps life here was simply too comfortable.
And comfort had no place among the Astartes.
In front of the Skyship.
A post office worker came running over, gasping for breath.
"Lord Talon, I've finally found you. Here's your letter for today."
"Another one from her."
"What's that, Talon?" A battle-brother walked over and spotted the letter. "Oh? Our hero got another letter today?"
"Yalta, are you asking for a punch?"
Yalta took the letter from the post office worker. "Don't get mad, Hero. Seriously, maybe you should see what she wrote. There's no harm in reading it."
Talon snatched the letter back from him. "I'm not interested. And don't go snooping into other people's private business."
He handed the letter back to the post office worker. "Tell her I won't read her letters. I don't have time for them, either. If she really wants to do something meaningful, she shouldn't waste her time on this. She should first think about what she can do for this world. And don't bring me any more letters. I'm busy."
"Hero, you're so heartless."
"I'm doing it for her own good. Ordinary people who are too weak-willed can't survive in this world."
His squadmate shook his head in disappointment and left. Talon turned to go.
"Enough fooling around. The captain's waiting for us."
[Skyship closing. All engineers, please fasten your seat belts.]
Beep beep beep.
[Hatch sealed. Pressure stable. Fuel sufficient.]
[Initiating ascent.]
The Skyship shuddered, then headed toward the Research Station in near-Earth orbit.
Out in space, an exploration vessel had safely returned from a dangerous region.
Loaded with technology, weapons, and an industrial system, the research vessel would carry hope as it helped Gamma expand, building its third and fourth colonial star systems and creating a battle bastion for Gamma World.
At the center of the Research Station.
The Astartes were lined up to receive their new Power Armor.
There were no Servitors from the Adeptus Mechanicus, only scientists from the Gamma administration.
Using machines, the scientists removed the Power Armor piece by piece, revealing the Astartes' modified bodies beneath. These warriors had undergone nineteen rounds of genetic modification, and their bodies were covered in dense scars from surgery.
In some places, their flesh had to connect closely with the Power Armor. In a sense, the armor was their skin.
Clang!
Piece by piece, the Power Armor was reassembled.
The heavy armor looked like Terminator armor, but weighed less, making it easy for them to wield the Terminator suits that symbolized the Emperor's honor on the battlefield.
"The weight's definitely lower. This armor is hard enough to withstand Bolter armor-piercing rounds. Compared to Terminator armor, its agility has improved considerably."
"It's missing the blessings of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and it no longer bears the Purity Seal."
"There are advantages and disadvantages. It also has a force-field shield, but it uses a lot of power, so we'll have to conserve it."
"Everyone, we've upgraded your armor, and we've upgraded your weapons to match."
"Besides your standard Auto Bolt Rifles, we've also equipped each of you with an additional sniper rifle."
As they admired their new Power Armor, Brown had four soldiers bring over the sniper rifle they had just developed.
Even with exoskeletons, the four soldiers struggled to carry the rifle.
They opened the rifle case.
The Astartes' eyes lit up.
"Gauss Rifle!"
"That's right, a Gauss Rifle. A single hit will disintegrate even the kind of Power Armor you wore before."
Once the book is available, I'll set up a group. Please follow the updates; Tuesday's numbers are crucial to whether we get recommended. I'm working hard to stockpile chapters, and I'll give everyone a surprise when it goes on sale.
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