Chapter 269: Natural Food
Soon, two Service Servitors assigned by Ignis arrived on time. They slid silently into the living area and unloaded the first batch of upgraded supplies.
The sight before them drew everyone closer—no longer uniform gray sealed packages, but linen sacks printed with rough textures containing flour and legumes, emitting a faint aroma of grains.
Sealed metal cans contained processed synthetic protein bases. Although still industrial products, they at least had the form of ingredients.
Several bottles of dark-colored fermented alcoholic beverages labeled "Amasec" were carefully placed in the corner. There was even a small batch of dehydrated vegetables and basic seasonings, including salt, pepper, and several kinds of dried herbs.
Most surprising was the set of portable heating stoves and basic cookware. Though simple, it meant they could finally cook for themselves.
"Come on, come on, make way!" Jackie immediately sprang into action, rolling up his sleeves and displaying the street survival wisdom unique to Heywood.
He directed Pilar and Rebecca to separate the flour and water, put David in charge of the stove fire, while Dorio began processing the dehydrated vegetables.
Even Kiwi, who usually kept to herself, silently took over the task of organizing the seasonings.
Valerie stood slightly further away, watching this busy scene, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turning up.
She picked up a can of synthetic protein base, expertly opened the seal, and began marinating it with an appropriate amount of water and seasoning—this action made her feel momentarily as if she were back in the well-equipped kitchenettes of Arasaka Tower.
Before long, the unique aroma of cooking food wafted through the living area for the first time—the toasty smell of flour baking on the heating plate, and the warm scent spilling from the pot as the stew bubbled.
This smell, full of life, formed a strange contrast with the surrounding cold metal walls and the machine oil scent perpetually lingering in the air. Yet, it made everyone feel a long-lost warmth, a sense of reality of "living."
When simple stew and baked flatbread were distributed to everyone, the atmosphere reached a climax.
Maine took a bite of the steaming flatbread, squinting in satisfaction. Rebecca sipped the stew in small mouthfuls as if tasting a delicacy. Pilar had impatiently poured himself a cup of Amasec; despite frowning at the unique bitterness, he smiled and took another sip.
"This is ten thousand times better than nutrient paste." Jackie spoke indistinctly with his mouth full of food, making everyone laugh.
In this corner originally filled only with the sounds of mechanical operation, relaxed and cheerful conversation rang out for the first time, occasionally bursting into genuine laughter.
The effect of this improvement in living conditions was immediate.
Not only Jackie and Valerie, but the morale of the entire Maine squad was significantly boosted.
Rebecca no longer spent all day curled up on her bunk, and Pilar noticeably talked more.
Even the usually steady Maine had his brow unfurrowed while enjoying this simple yet heartfelt meal.
The sense of oppression and irritability caused by extreme environmental discomfort was effectively alleviated. Their initial resistance to the work they needed to cooperate on also faded.
When Joric observed through monitoring data in the laboratory that the team members' various physiological indicators were stabilizing and stress hormone levels were dropping significantly, his logic core confirmed a fact: appropriate material guarantees could indeed optimize the team's work state.
This satisfaction of seemingly irrational needs unexpectedly became an effective catalyst for improving project efficiency.
Meanwhile, in the core laboratory, Joric had already sent the organized, massive technical data package regarding the "Iron Guard" project to the receiving port designated by Fabricator Locum Volks via the highest-level encrypted link.
Almost simultaneously, he received a confirmation message from Ignis—the Cybernetica Maniple containing two Thanatar-class siege-automata had been officially transferred out of the Forge World's core armory and was being escorted by a dedicated transport team to his designated reception point at the Death World Base.
The gears of power began to mesh precisely and accelerate with the conclusion of the agreement.
He stood before the main console, his crimson optical lenses gazing at the holographic projection of the dark red power armor wrapped in layers of wireframes and data streams.
The massive war machine of the Forge World, silent for so long, had begun to emit a low hum of preheating due to the injection of this technology.
A huge chain of interests was engaging before his eyes. The potential energy of politics and economics began to flow like a connected circuit.
The "fuel" he invested had been successfully ignited. Next was to observe how vigorously this flame would burn, and what light and heat it could bring to him, and to the entire Forge World Nexum.
His thinking core did not dwell on the status quo but immediately turned to specific planning for the next step. The data interface connected to the console again, and a series of new commands were rapidly issued:
"Notify Tech-Priest teams 'Delta-7' and 'Epsilon-3'. The project launch meeting will be held in Standard Hour 3 at Analysis Room 7. Require them to bring professional assessment tools and preliminary resource lists for their respective fields."
"Enable Level 3 Laboratory Area access authority for Valerie and Jackie Welles, limited to the Power Armor Testing Zone, Basic Maintenance Bays, and designated Living Areas. Synchronously elevate the priority of their physiological data monitoring to 'Project Key Personnel' level."
"Connect to the Death World Base main control system. Plan the deployment scheme for the Cybernetica Maniple upon arrival. Prioritize reinforcing the defense of the ruin entrance and the alert network of the core area containing the Dimension Teleporter. Thanatar-class siege-automata are to be deployed at strategic nodes to form crossfire."
Commands were silently recorded and distributed by Servo-skulls.
Joric could feel a small network of power and execution centered on him, focused on the "Iron Guard" project, rapidly weaving and taking shape.
He was not just the provider of technology, but the engine and helmsman of the entire project.
He pulled up the internal map and resource allocation chart of the Forge World, his gaze landing on several semi-idle testing grounds and auxiliary processing workshops.
These would all be gradually activated and utilized under his authority as the project advanced.
The agreement with Volks brought not only profit sharing on paper but also leverage to mobilize the colossal power of the Forge World itself.
Next was to lift the heavy hammer and begin the true forging.
Although there was no expression on Joric's metal faceplate, his steadily burning crimson optical lenses seemed to reflect the scene of roaring production lines and taking shape of steel colossi in the future, as well as the storm sweeping through the entire Imperial military equipment field that would follow.
(End of Chapter)