After sending off Maine's crew to scrounge construction materials and placing Sasha in cryogenic medical suspension, Cairo refocused his attention on that dark-gold dodecahedron—the dimensional transport device.
The workshop returned to its usual order and quiet, only equipment's low hum and servo-skull scanning sounds breaking silence.
The energy core ran steadily, providing ample power.
With relatively stable energy supply secured, Cairo had successfully completed basic "charging" for the dimensional transport device. Its internal energy readings had recovered above baseline threshold.
Beneath the dark-gold surface, those living-organism-like flowing patterns glowed brighter and more rhythmically.
But that didn't mean he could fire it up on a whim for casual dimensional tourism.
Through this period's deep analysis, Cairo had gained profound understanding of this Dark Age relic.
"Random transmission... risk coefficient too high, practically suicidal." He muttered to the hovering servo-skull, fingertips absently tracing the transport device's cold surface.
Last time's accidental jump from the Warhammer universe here was lucky, but statistically improbable events couldn't guide action.
In the vast multiverse, odds of dropping into a stellar core, gravitational singularity, or some dimensional god's backyard far exceeded finding a survivable world.
His research focused on parsing coordinate data stored in the transport device.
Through complex energy spectrum analysis and information reconstruction, he'd successfully isolated and preliminarily decrypted two relatively stable coordinate parameters already recorded in the device.
"Coordinate Alpha," Cairo called up the first coordinate's energy signature, comparing it against this cyberpunk world's fundamental physical constants. "...Confirmed. This is current world's coordinates."
That verified the transport device's recording and positioning functions. So the other coordinate...
"Coordinate Beta." His optical lenses focused on the second coordinate parameter, data streams scrolling rapidly through his vision. This coordinate's energy signature was more... "turbulent."
"...Estimate ninety-two point seven percent probability this coordinate points to my original Warhammer universe."
The instant he reached that conclusion, Cairo's cognitive core rippled with complex fluctuation.
The Warhammer universe—that hellhole filled with endless war, dark gods, genocides, and insane ideologies—was what he'd desperately tried escaping.
Without the dimensional transport device, going back would be the worst choice. Complete failure.
But... what if he could come and go freely?
That thought struck like lightning in darkness, sparking an entirely new idea.
"If I can enter or leave at will..." Cairo mused quietly, mechanical tentacles tapping the workbench in rhythmic beats. "Then returning to the Warhammer universe wouldn't be the worst choice anymore, but potentially... an extremely valuable option."
Simple reason—that universe, though insanely dangerous, also harbored unimaginable technological treasures and massive military might.
As a Tech-Priest just one step from Magos title, Cairo wasn't completely destitute in the Warhammer world.
He owned his own laboratory, a certain number of Skitarii soldiers, loyal servitors, plus technical reserves and research results stored in some safe sector forge world.
During last time's accidental transport, he'd been conducting dangerous ruin excavation—couldn't possibly bring his entire estate along.
If he could return to the Warhammer world and bring his personal assets through dimensional travel, that would massively boost survival odds in unknown worlds.
After all, according to his latest research, the dimensional transport device wasn't limited to transporting just himself.
"Energy input and transport mass/volume show positive correlation." He called up energy calculation formulas. "With sufficient energy, I can carry more matter through transit. A small Skitarii detachment, even... more."
That prospect gave him cold excitement.
Carrying a loyal army equipped with Warhammer world advanced weaponry for protection when exploring or "resource harvesting" other unknown worlds would qualitatively improve security.
Rather than heavily relying on local merc muscle like now, which added uncertainty and risk.
His ambition expanded further.
If he could solve energy issues and gain stronger transport capabilities, the goal wouldn't just be a Skitarii force anymore.
"A cruiser-class forge ship..." Cairo's mind conjured Imperial Navy's massive, brutal, fortress-like warship silhouettes.
If he could possess his own forge ship with cross-dimensional navigation capability—what power that would be!
It meant bringing an entire mobile base into other worlds, possessing overwhelming firepower, production lines, and absolute security guarantees.
Even facing high-risk worlds, he'd have sufficient confidence.
Then cross-dimensional transport's significance would completely transform.
From a forced random jump seeking home, into an active, powerful strategic tool.
He could scavenge technology and resources from relatively "safe" worlds, then bring them back to the Warhammer universe to trade for higher status, more resources, stronger technology.
The Warhammer universe's calcified yet incomparably deep technical foundation combined with other worlds' imaginative tech trees might spark unexpected brilliance, even help him gain unprecedented influence within the Mechanicum.
Of course, all this built on two foundations: complete mastery of the dimensional transport device, and near-ocean quantities of energy.
Renovating the underground facility would create a safe, stable research environment to thoroughly crack the transport device's mysteries—especially how to more precisely locate new coordinates and safely construct transport channels.
Energy was the cornerstone realizing all ambition.
He glanced at the quietly hovering dimensional transport device. Beneath that dark-gold shell seemed to hide infinite possibilities.
Returning to the Warhammer world was no longer a feared endpoint but potentially an opportunity-rich new beginning.
What he needed was preparing sufficient "luggage"—armies, resources, technology—then cautiously opening that door to the sea of stars.
The servo-skull quietly recorded its master's current contemplation and planning, blue light in eye sockets flickering steadily like a calm star in the night sky.
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