As data was gradually collected, the audio analysis and language logic were steadily refined. Once the Nano-Swarm in the Sentinel's hand stopped shifting, a voice with a few grammatical errors sounded from its audio array.
"We now can communicate."
Hearing the strange intonation and error-riddled speech, Turisen loudly launched into a barrage of complaints.
"Ancestors above, what kind of bizarre way of talking is that? Even children speak better than these oddly shaped Iron Clanks."
"Aren't you supposed to be Ironkin? Why did you attack us?! Ancestors above, we're brothers!"
Before Nart could stop Turisen, the other dwarf had already started rattling on.
Thump!
A short, thick arm swung out, delivering a slap to the back of his head.
"Shut up, idiot, for the ancestors' sake. These Iron Clanks aren't Ironkin! I've heard that incomprehensible language he was speaking earlier. It's the language of that Imperium in the Milky Way."
Iax, controlling the Sentinel, did not respond.
He needed to gather enough language samples to analyze their conversation more effectively.
Only a third of any given passage could be translated. The remaining two-thirds required linguistic associations and guesses based on the current conversation, generating various possibilities and choosing the most likely one.
After reining Turisen in, Nart turned toward the towering Automated Sentry.
"I'm glad we can communicate on a basic level now. I recognize that you come from that enormous Imperium, but we aren't in Imperial territory. Why did you attack us?"
"No attack, only curiosity. More data and information useful to me."
Nalt held his head. Damn it, communicating like this was maddening.
During the conversation that followed, however, he clearly noticed that the other party's Natan was rapidly improving, with errors in the language being corrected constantly.
Only then did Nart and Turisen finally understand something.
"Ancestors