Chapter 727: Project Progress
The communication connected, and a mechanical face surrounded by data streams appeared in the holographic projection.
"Greetings, Magos Ryo. By the order of Archmagos Zhor, I am inquiring about the confirmation of resource delivery for the first phase of the Collegia Titanica's Titan Guard cultivation project, as well as the expected subsequent cultivation progress." The other party's voice was rigid and direct.
"Resources received, preliminary verification passed. The initial fifty units of cultivation vats have entered the prefabrication stage. It is estimated that within thirty standard days, the foundational implantation and cultivation initiation for the first batch of one hundred candidates will be completed," Ryo responded, simultaneously transmitting a concise progress schedule.
"Archmagos Zhor has expressed concern regarding the progress. Given the increasingly urgent demand for Titan auxiliary infantry in the frontier sector wars, he hopes your side can compress the cultivation cycle as much as possible, provided quality is guaranteed. The relevant supplementary resource application has entered the approval process and will be delivered shortly." The other party conveyed a sense of urgency.
"Understood. The optimization process inherently includes efficiency enhancements. Under the premise of ensuring stability, the possibility of accelerating cultivation will be evaluated. I look forward to the arrival of the subsequent resources." Ryo's answer demonstrated a cooperative attitude while emphasizing the prerequisite of quality and reliance on resources.
The communication ended. The pressure from the Collegia Titanica was direct, but they had also provided corresponding resources in exchange. This was very fair.
Ryo rapidly incorporated the new time pressure factor into the project planning model, fine-tuning the priorities of some non-critical paths.
Almost simultaneously, an internal laboratory alarm sounded softly. It was not a danger alarm, but an early warning for a parameter deviation.
"Warning: Test Subject B-15. Psychic radiation absorption rate exceeds the expected model by five percent. Black Carapace precursor cell activity is abnormally elevated. Intervention and observation are recommended," the monitoring Tech-Priest reported.
Ryo's attention instantly focused. His mechadendrites pulled up B-15's detailed real-time data and historical records, conducting a rapid comparative analysis.
"Suspend psychic radiation for B-15. Intensify monitoring of his vital signs, particularly neural activity and cell division rates. Extract reserve bodily fluid samples for analysis. The remaining test subjects are to continue with the original protocols," he ordered swiftly.
The appearance of unexpected variables in experiments was the norm; the key lay in promptly identifying, controlling, and analyzing their causes. This in itself was part of the data.
The laboratory was once again immersed in the low hum of instruments and the quiet clamor of data streams.
Ryo's main body acted as an anchoring pillar, processing various information and requests from within the experiment, collaborators, and even the distant worlds of his avatars.
The codes of genetics, the forms of life, and the paths of enhancement were being meticulously deciphered, adjusted, and reshaped in this cold and precise facility.
Every step was accompanied by risk and the unknown, but every step also led to more powerful possibilities, a more solid foundation, and a broader future.
For Ryo, whose thirst for knowledge and desire for control were equally intense, this process of steadily advancing on the boundaries was in itself a unique satisfaction.
Thirty standard days quietly slipped by under the constant lighting of the Eternal Seeker's laboratory, amidst the faint sounds of slowly circulating nutrient fluid, and between the collection and comparison of countless data points.
The gene-seed micro-adjustment cultivation phase for the second batch of test subjects passed smoothly.
In the cultivation vats, newly formed enhanced organ tissues pulsed rhythmically in the nutrient fluid. The vast majority of their physiological indicators fell within the preset safe and optimized ranges.
Test Subject B-15, who had previously shown anomalous psychic absorption, had the abnormal activity of his Black Carapace precursor cells gradually level off after radiation was suspended and monitoring was intensified. It did not trigger an uncontrollable mutation or rejection reaction; instead, he demonstrated a stronger initial neural interface adaptability than his peers.
This anomaly was recorded in detail as a precious data point, providing new reference material for subsequent related experiments.
The first batch of custom-built Titan Guard cultivation vats for the Collegia Titanica had also completed prefabrication, and their foundational environmental calibrations were finished.
Ten candidates, selected from the list provided by the Collegia Titanica, had already entered the initial adaptation and foundational enhancement phase.
The specialized adjustment plans tailored for them—including the cultivation of enhanced electromagnetic-sensing nerve endings, the injection of anti-interference endocrine regulators, and preliminary deep suggestions of Omnissian dogma—had all been initiated according to plan.
The progress met expectations. Although slightly more complex than the general optimization project, no insurmountable technical hurdles had been encountered.
Ryo's main body stood before the main console, reviewing the latest comprehensive reports. His crimson optical lenses swept over lines of data, his logic core rapidly evaluating the health status of various sub-projects.
"Gene-seed optimization phase two: physiological stability pass rate for the first batch of micro-adjusted test subjects reached 92.5 percent, exceeding the expected baseline. Specific enhancement indicators are beginning to show; requires subsequent awakening and live-combat testing for verification."
"Titan Guard cultivation line: initial infrastructure and preliminary adjustments complete. Candidates exhibit good adaptability with no severe rejection reactions. Resource consumption aligns with the plan."
"STC fragment decryption sequence Beta-4497: discovered an ancient algorithm fragment partially matching the synthesis pathway for neural enhancement catalytic enzymes. It has been submitted to the auxiliary logic engine for deep comparison and simulation deduction; may optimize existing catalyst efficiency by three to five percent."
The results were tangible. However, he did not experience any emotional fluctuation akin to "joy" because of it; he merely recorded them as normal milestones in the plan's advancement.
His attention was focused more heavily on those minor deviations, potential bottlenecks, and future resource demands.
For example, the next batch of resources promised by the Collegia Titanica had not yet arrived. Although there were tracking records of the approval process, any delay could affect the continuity of the cultivation line.
He instructed his subordinates to send a polite inquiry to Mars.
Or, for instance, the regular reports from the Death World base mentioned that systematic surface exploration of the Predator homeworld (now designated 'Resource Planet - Predator') had fully commenced. Initial returns indicated abundant mineral reserves, especially several rare elements used for high-end alloys and energy weapons.
But simultaneously, the large-scale, sustainable extraction of biomass from the Predator captives had hit a bottleneck. Under conventional stimulation methods, the secretion of 'Yautja Prime' varied wildly between individuals and showed a tendency to decay over time.
This required a more meticulous physiological regulation plan, or the development of an environment that could better simulate their natural hunting-excitement state.
This might require the support of the bio-psionic analysis technology previously promised by Ulthwe, or the investment of more of his own research efforts.
Ryo marked this information as "Requires Coordination," preparing to submit a formal request for technical support during his next communication with Elandir.
Simultaneously, he also instructed the research team at the Death World base to begin designing a series of controlled experiments to explore the impact of different environmental stimuli, social structures, and even limited combat training on the captives' biomass output.