Deep within the wasteland workshop, Osiris' massive metal body stood still before the main console, his crimson optical lenses steadily scanning the data stream scrolling across the screen.
The vast amount of information from Mikoshi had been archived by the system, and the optimization calculations for the dimensional teleporter were running concurrently in the background.
Just then, a request signal from an external communication interface caught his attention—the signal carried Militech's encrypted identifier and was automatically marked as "medium priority" by the system.
Almost simultaneously, Morris, responsible for external communications, sent a report via the internal encrypted channel: "Master, Militech's representative is requesting contact, hoping to convey their intention to cooperate through me."
Osiris' processing core immediately retrieved data files related to Militech.
This arms giant, closely associated with the NUSA government, had remained unusually silent after the Arasaka Tower was destroyed, and now, as expected, it had proactively sought him out.
This development perfectly aligned with his deductions based on the logic of self-interest.
"Connect," Osiris' synthesized voice calmly echoed within the workshop.
Morris' communication channel was rerouted to the main console.
Her voice remained composed, but the content she conveyed was significant: "Master, Militech has explicitly stated that NUSA and they have decided not to tolerate Arasaka's continued existence, and are preparing to restart the Unification War, aiming to completely eradicate Arasaka's influence in North America. They hope to establish a strategic cooperative relationship with us."
Osiris' crimson lenses flickered slightly, signaling her to continue reporting.
"They promise to provide comprehensive military support, including organized power armor units, automated robot swarms, and aerial gunship support, to bear the frontal pressure of the main battlefield.
At the same time, to counter any potential retaliatory strikes from Arasaka and to demonstrate their sincerity in cooperation, NUSA will immediately dispatch an elite special forces unit to the vicinity of the Wasteland Town, responsible for perimeter alert and defense tasks."
Morris paused briefly, confirmed the information, and then continued: "This unit is the 'Wraiths' force, which once attacked Night City during the Unification War several years ago and now effectively controls the Dogtown area.
NUSA claims that they have successfully persuaded Colonel Kurt Hansen, the commander of the unit, and his soldiers to rejoin NUSA. Colonel Hansen and his Wraiths will serve as the cornerstone of trust for both parties' cooperation."
Upon hearing this, a rare, faint trace of curiosity arose in Osiris' thoughts, which were usually dominated by strict logic.
Arasaka's fierce counterattack was already within his expectations, and the deployment of carrier strike groups and power armor units also aligned with the corporate giant's estimated capabilities.
Data acquired from Mikoshi had long revealed the upper limits of military technology in this world; Night City, constrained by the Alvin Protocol, indeed lacked proper heavy equipment, and the disabled "Chimera" in Dogtown was merely an outdated relic from the Unification War.
However, data is, after all, just data.
For him, personally observing and evaluating the "real war" in this world held unique value.
He looked forward to witnessing the true capabilities of this world's armies in regular campaigns, once they moved beyond street skirmish mode—how their tactical coordination, equipment effectiveness, and soldier quality compared to the familiar astartes Legions, Imperial Skitarii Corps, and even the Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii Corps from the Warhammer Universe.
This "on-site observation" itself was valuable data collection.
Especially the power armor units.
Although in his eyes, this world's power armor technology was crude, its energy systems inefficient, and its defensive capabilities weak, its basic design philosophy and individual enhancement approach did have merits.
If these units performed adequately in actual combat, after targeted enhancements based on the Omnissiah doctrine and Warhammer technology standards, they might genuinely serve as a low-cost, mass-producible auxiliary force, assigned to Imperial Skitarii Corps units in certain fringe star systems to deal with low-threat rebels or xenos incursions.
This would clearly be more cost-effective than deploying valuable Skitarii Corps or requesting support from Knight Houses.
Now, Militech and NUSA had proactively proposed cooperation and were willing to provide ready combat units to undertake initial defense and probing attacks, which perfectly aligned with his principle of "efficient resource utilization."
Since someone was willing to act as the vanguard, he was naturally happy to conserve his valuable Skitarii Corps and computational resources.
"Understood," Osiris' synthesized voice responded to Militech through Morris, "Tell them that we agree to cooperate in principle. However, cooperation must be built upon the strength and sincerity of both parties.
Have them immediately provide detailed equipment lists, personnel organization, training levels, and logistical support capability data for the Wraiths unit."
He paused briefly, then added in a calm tone: "Since we are partners, I don't mind 'optimizing' this dagger that is about to pierce Arasaka before the war begins.
Let me see how much room for improvement there is in the 'sincerity' you offer."
—
At the same time, Dogtown, Sapphire Tower.
This luxury hotel, built before the Unification War, had now become the core of this lawless zone, permeated with a decay and tension distinct from other areas of Night City.
Inside the commander's office in the building, the air seemed to solidify.
The burly Colonel Kurt Hansen stood with his back to the room, gazing out of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
He silently overlooked the chaotic yet resilient streetscape of Dogtown outside, clutching a recently delivered electronic document.
On the screen, President Rosalind Myers' personal signature and the national seal of NUSA were clearly visible, silently proclaiming the weight of the document.
The content of the document was brutally direct: NUSA officially recognized Hansen's "special contributions" in maintaining order in Dogtown, pardoned all his past "unauthorized actions," reinstated his Colonel rank in the NUSA armed forces, and reorganized his "Wraiths" unit back into the Army's Special Operations sequence.
Furthermore, he would be awarded a medal of honor for his military achievements during the Unification War.
However, this seemingly glorious certificate of return came with a heavy price.
In exchange, Hansen and his Wraiths must immediately and unconditionally obey the orders of the NUSA High Command.
Their primary mission was to establish a cooperative relationship with a mysterious entity and be fully responsible for the perimeter security of its stronghold, the Wasteland Town, until the full-scale military operation against Arasaka commenced.
Militech's envoy, a middle-aged man in a well-tailored dark suit with eyes as sharp as a hawk, sat quietly on the leather sofa opposite the desk.
He brought not only this document but also a cold and realistic analysis of the current situation.