Chapter 469: Radiation Signal
The transport shuttle flew steadily through the lower stratosphere of Necromunda. Below lay an endless, ashen expanse of polluted clouds, blanketing the planet's tortured surface like a filthy rug.
The sensor arrays on the exterior of the hull fired scanning pulses downward at a fixed frequency according to pre-set protocols, collecting foundational environmental data such as geological structures, radiation levels, and atmospheric composition.
These data streams flowed silently into the onboard cogitator arrays. After preliminary processing, they were presented on the main console's screens in the form of concise charts and numerical values.
Magos Ryo's massive mechanical body was secured in the command seat, maintaining a direct connection with the transport shuttle's data systems.
The majority of his processing cores were in a low-power operational state, maintaining only routine monitoring of navigational parameters and environmental data.
This was a routine reconnaissance flight aimed at supplementing and perfecting the region's database, as well as establishing a more precise geographical reference frame for potential subsequent exploration missions.
Suddenly, a persistent stream of anomalous data triggered the alarm thresholds.
A parameter zone on the control console shifted from a steady green to a glaring yellow, while related data entries began scrolling through the high-priority logs.
Ryo immediately elevated the computational priority of his processing cores.
His optical lenses focused on the anomalous data: the radiation level readings.
This was not the typical diffuse background radiation with fluctuating intensities commonly found around hive cities. Instead, it was a radiation cloud with relatively clear boundaries and an intensity that remained stably high.
Its energy signature also appeared anomalous. Spectral analysis indicated it was not generated by the decay of common industrial isotopes found in hive cities, but rather seemed to be the result of a continuous leak or conversion from a specific energy source.
"Tag the coordinates of the anomalous zone," Ryo's synthesized voice rang out in the cabin, breaking the prolonged silence.
"Tagged. Coordinate sector K-7 through L-9," the onboard cogitator responded instantly, simultaneously highlighting the outline of that zone on the navigational star map.
It was located on the edge of a known, vast radioactive desert, but its radiation signature exhibited distinct differences from the surrounding environment.
"Initiate preliminary analysis protocols. Cross-reference with known radiation source models," Ryo commanded.
Data streams surged rapidly.
The cogitator arrays accessed the databases, cross-referencing the captured radiation signature against thousands of stored known radiation source models, including hive city reactor leaks, industrial waste accumulations, weapon testing residues, and even the known energy signatures of certain specific xenos technologies.
The comparison results returned swiftly: all match rates were below fifteen percent.
"Assessment of natural formation probability is below two point three percent. Match rate for industrial leak signatures is below eight point seven percent," the cogitator reported the analytical findings.
Ryo's mechanical fingers input a series of commands on the control panel. "Filter out known model interference. Focus on the anomalous spectral signature for independent analysis."
An independent analysis report was quickly generated.
The report indicated that the morphology of the radiation cloud was not the result of natural diffusion. Although its edges were blurred, the entirety maintained an inexplicable cohesive state, as if constrained within a certain range by an unknown force.
The radiation intensity fluctuations in its core area were minuscule, displaying an unnatural stability.
"The probability of artificial intervention or an artificial radiation source has been elevated to eighty-seven point four percent," Ryo recorded this judgment in his internal logs.
This radiation cloud acted like a massive, unnatural marker, pointing toward whatever might be hidden beneath it.
What could continuously emit such high-intensity, uniquely characterized radiation, yet remain unrecorded by the conventional monitoring networks of the Imperium or the Adeptus Mechanicus?
Was it an undiscovered ancient ruin? The site of a forgotten disaster?
Or... some sort of operational facility possessing a powerful energy source?
"Adjust course, approach coordinate zone K-8. Maintain safe altitude," Ryo ordered.
The transport shuttle's engines emitted a faint sound of power adjustment. The hull banked slightly, closing in on the target area.
As the distance closed, more sensor data was gathered.
Besides radiation, faint, rhythmic energy fluctuations were also detected. They resembled the low-frequency operational harmonics of some massive equipment, but the signals were exceedingly weak, masked by the powerful background radiation noise.
"Initiate multi-spectral deep-scan protocols. Prioritize penetrating scan bands, focus on the area beneath the core of the radiation cloud," Ryo issued the critical command.
Conventional scanning could only detect the surface. To peel back the truth hidden beneath this veil of radiation, more powerful penetrating scanning methods were required.
The large scanner array on the transport shuttle's ventral hull began adjusting its output mode.
Multiple scanning beams of varying frequencies and properties were fired simultaneously. Like invisible probes, they shot toward the radiation cloud below and the deeper subterranean layers.
Some of these beams excelled at analyzing material composition, some could penetrate certain thicknesses of shielding, and others were exceptionally sensitive to specific energy fields.
The screen displays on the main console began to shift.
Under the deep scan, the internal structure of the initially blurry radiation cloud image started to faintly reveal itself.
The data indicated that the radiation sources were not uniformly distributed but exhibited a certain directionality, as if emanating from one or more concentrated point sources.
"Massive metallic structural returns detected below," the cogitator reported its preliminary findings. "Structural outlines are non-naturally occurring. Assessed to be artificial constructs."
"Energy fluctuation signal strength increases marginally with proximity. The signal sources overlap with the locations of the metallic structures."
"Faint, non-standard residual communication signals detected. Signal patterns are encrypted; unable to decrypt."
Piece by piece, the information aggregated into Ryo's processing cores.
A high-intensity, unnatural radiation cloud with anomalous signatures; massive artificial metal structures hidden beneath it; rhythmic energy fluctuations and encrypted communication signals broadcasting from within the structures.
Piecing these clues together pointed to a definitive conclusion: beneath this desolate wasteland lay a hidden, active faction or facility of unknown technological tier, desperately striving to conceal its own existence.
Ryo's optical lenses locked onto the blurry outlines of those massive metallic structures gradually being sketched out by the deep scans.
Its scale far exceeded that of an ordinary wasteland settlement or a small research station. This was absolutely no coincidence.
"Log all sensor data, encrypt and archive at the highest priority," Ryo commanded, simultaneously beginning to plan his next move.
Simple remote scanning could no longer satisfy the intelligence requirements.
He needed closer observation. He needed to understand the nature, technological level, and defensive capabilities of this hidden faction.
The transport shuttle continued to circle at a safe altitude. The multi-spectral deep scans persisted, attempting to excavate more secrets from within that radioactive fog and metallic barrier.
The journey to find Junktown and the STC had, because of this unexpected discovery, entered a substantive phase.
(End of Chapter)