Chapter 485: STC
Following the transport shuttle's successful docking with the Eternal Seeker, Ryo immediately ordered the STC system transferred to the specially prepared, dedicated compartment.
This compartment, located in the core sector of the warship, had undergone emergency modifications. Its thick, armored walls were covered with newly installed energy conduits and data ports, and the air was thick with the scent of ozone and coolant.
Suspended by anti-gravity platforms, the massive, spherical STC system was smoothly moved into the center of the compartment.
Tech-Priests used heavy securing clamps to firmly anchor the system's base to the deck before commencing the energy system docking procedures.
Thick primary energy cables were connected to the STC system's input terminals, while secondary energy conduits were routed into its various auxiliary units.
"Energy connections complete. Preparing for system initialization test," the lead Tech-Priest reported, his mechanical fingers flying across the control panel.
Ryo stood before the main console, his optical lenses fixed on the energy readings. "Gradually increase the energy supply, beginning at five percent output."
As the energy input gradually increased, the STC system began to emit a low hum.
The patterns on the surface of the spherical main body lit up in sequence, radiating a soft white glow. The mechanical arm arrays surrounding it vibrated slightly, emitting the hissing sound of hydraulic systems activating.
When the power reached fifteen percent, the core unit of the STC system fully activated.
Several holographic projectors came to life, projecting complex three-dimensional structural blueprints into the air.
The sound of circulating materials emanated from within the material synthesis cauldron, and the indicator lights on the diagnostic instruments blinked rhythmically.
"All primary functional modules of the system are responding," the Tech-Priest's voice carried irrepressible excitement. "Energy flow is stable within expected parameters."
However, further testing quickly revealed issues.
Although the system's central processing unit was still operating, its response speed was significantly below standard values.
Long delays occurred during database queries, and several advanced functional options were greyed out and unavailable.
"Multiple instances of data corruption detected," the Priest responsible for system analysis reported. "Approximately forty percent of the database is inaccessible. The core Machine Spirit is unresponsive; it appears to have entered some form of dormancy."
Ryo pulled up the system logs, discovering that the last complete entry was from over seven hundred years ago.
Subsequent records were intermittent, with massive blocks of data displaying as corrupted.
Evidently, during the long ages it was controlled by House Van Saar, this precious system had been operating without proper maintenance.
Despite this, the foundational manufacturing functions of the STC system remained intact.
During the testing process, the system successfully generated complete manufacturing blueprints for a suit of standard power armor based on directives, including detailed specifications and assembly procedures for every single component.
The material synthesis unit also proved its capability to produce various specialized alloys and composite materials.
After inputting the materials, the STC system rapidly printed out the standard power armor. Its functionality and quality vastly exceeded the mainstream products of the same type currently used by the Imperium.
"Radiation level monitoring indicates that the radiation leakage during system operation exceeds safety standards by four hundred percent," the environmental monitoring Priest cautioned. "Prolonged exposure will cause severe damage to unprotected biological tissues."
Ryo and all the Tech-Priests appeared unconcerned by this warning.
In the dogma of the Adeptus Mechanicus, radiation was viewed as a blessing from the Omnissiah, a natural byproduct of a technological holy relic's operation.
The Skitarii's equipment was already specially shielded for radioactive environments, and the Tech-Priests' own mechanical augmentations granted them exceptionally high tolerance to it.
Looking at the myriad of faults and damages listed on the system status report, the Tech-Priests could hardly conceal their heartache.
A senior Priest couldn't help but express his indignation, "House Van Saar is utterly unworthy of possessing such a holy relic! They couldn't even perform the most basic maintenance!"
This anger was not directed at the STC system itself.
On the contrary, every member of the Adeptus Mechanicus clearly understood the precious value of this system—it was currently the Imperium of Man's only known complete, operational STC system.
During the Golden Age of the Great Crusade, the Imperium of Man had discovered a handful of still-operating STC systems.
However, all these precious discoveries were utterly lost during the Great Heresy.
To prevent Warmaster Horus's forces from acquiring one of them, Loyalist forces had to detonate that complete STC system with their own hands.
The other few relatively complete systems were also destroyed or lost in the fires of war.
Since then, the STCs discovered by the Imperium were mostly fragmented design blueprints or incomplete sub-systems, known as STC fragments and templates. They could only be used to retrieve design schematics left behind by humanity during the Dark Age of Technology. They could no longer, as legends told, have the STC system's AI provide users with customized STC templates.
A complete, functioning STC system had become the stuff of legend.
Ryo clearly realized that if the Mars Headquarters and the Imperium's upper echelons learned he had obtained a complete, operational STC system, the shockwave caused by this news would be no less than his previous invention of the Warp Drive.
This not only meant the ability to restore a massive amount of lost technology but also represented a reconnection to the technological lineage of humanity's Dark Age of Technology.
"Initiate full diagnostic procedures," Ryo ordered. "Log all available functional modules and assess the feasibility of data recovery. Prioritize the repair of sub-systems related to manufacturing functions."
The Tech-Priests immediately threw themselves into the work.
Diagnostic probes connected to the system's various interface ports, beginning a detailed scan of every functional module's status.
The data recovery team attempted to repair the corrupted database blocks, while the engineering team began formulating a detailed maintenance plan.
Over the next several hours, the compartment was filled with the sounds of operating machinery and the synthesized voices of Tech-Priests exchanging data.
Operating at full power, the STC system emitted a steady glow, occasionally exhibiting slight fluctuations due to the instability of a certain sub-system.
Ryo stood before the main console, receiving the continuous stream of testing data.
Although the system had numerous defects, the foundational functions it displayed were already staggering enough.
Just the partially restored manufacturing capabilities alone were sufficient to drastically elevate the equipment standards of the Eternal Seeker and its affiliated forces.
More importantly, this system provided unprecedented technological support for his research projects.
Whether it was the research into Lady Astartes's legacy or the gene-seed optimization project, both could now achieve breakthrough progress with the aid of this STC system.
When the first complete system assessment report was presented before him, Ryo began planning his next move.
He needed to organize a dedicated technical team responsible for the STC system's daily maintenance and further repairs. Simultaneously, he had to establish strict security protocols to ensure this priceless treasure would not fall into the hands of others.
The cogitator arrays of the Eternal Seeker began operating at maximum capacity, processing the massive amounts of data streaming from the STC system.
In this cold expanse of space, a technological holy relic connecting humanity's glorious past and possible future was slowly awakening under the meticulous care of the Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priests.