The core area of the wasteland workshop was enveloped in a low hum, where time was precisely segmented into milliseconds. The control interface flowed with a cold glow, outlining Osiris' silently standing metal body with increasing clarity.
His crimson optical lenses steadily tracked the holographic projection suspended in the air, which displayed real-time updates from the outskirts of the Wasteland Town.
A team, distinctly better equipped than the local militias, was establishing defensive fortifications—this was the Wraiths unit commanded by Colonel Hansen, a former independent combat unit recently re-integrated into NUSA.
They were deployed here as a vanguard under the cooperation framework, responsible for constructing the outer defense line.
Just as Osiris was assessing the efficiency of the defense line's deployment, the workshop's airtight door silently slid open.
Morris' figure appeared in the doorway, followed by four heavy transport robots collaboratively carrying a sealed cargo box emblazoned with the Militech emblem.
"Master, the sample has arrived," Morris' voice was calm and even. "Militech's representative is waiting outside, accompanied by a Lazarus Mercenaries power armor squad."
Osiris' metal head rotated slightly, his crimson optical lenses focusing on the sealed cargo box, approximately four meters long and three meters wide: "Let them in."
As the airtight door fully opened, a middle-aged man in a Militech standard suit stepped inside, followed by five Lazarus Mercenaries, fully armored and moving in perfect unison.
The power armor of these mercenaries was clearly more advanced than the models used by the Wraiths unit outside, with faint blue energy streams subtly visible at the armor seams.
"Mr. Archmagos," the Militech representative bowed slightly, "In accordance with the agreement, we have brought the latest batch of Assault Squad-VI model samples, along with the Lazarus squad responsible for training.
Colonel Hansen's unit is currently coordinating with our technical personnel."
Through the open workshop door, the Lazarus squad could be seen conducting a handover with the Wraiths advance team on the training ground.
Two Lazarus Mercenaries were demonstrating the basic operation procedures of the power armor to the Wraiths soldiers, their movements precise and efficient.
"We look forward to your professional assessment," the representative continued, gesturing for the transport robots to steadily place the cargo box onto the analysis platform.
Osiris' crimson optical lenses swept over the Lazarus Mercenaries present, noting the unique NUSA emblem on the shoulders of their power armor: "Open it."
Morris stepped forward to operate the unlocking mechanism. With the low hum of the hydraulic system, the cargo box panels slowly unfolded, revealing the gray-black power armor secured inside.
At the same time, the Lazarus squad outside had already begun guiding the Wraiths soldiers through the power armor's startup procedure, the roar of engines igniting echoing across the training ground.
Morris stepped forward and operated the control panel on the side of the box.
With the low hiss of the hydraulic mechanism, the box panels slowly unfolded, revealing the steel giant firmly secured on its buffer supports.
A gray-black humanoid power armor, nearly three meters tall, was displayed before him.
Its armor surface was matte-finished, reflecting almost no light under the workshop's illumination.
Bulky bionic joints and thick composite armor plates formed a formidable appearance, with standard weapon interfaces on its arms exposed, revealing its modular design.
"Sample status is good; no abnormalities detected during transport," Morris added, simultaneously directing the transport robots to fully unload the cargo box.
Osiris' processor had already begun to retrieve relevant data.
This "Assault Squad-VI" power armor was the main equipment of Militech's ground forces, its design philosophy clearly leaning towards pragmatism—emphasizing firepower and protection, while making compromises in mobility and energy efficiency.
"You may return to your post," Osiris' voice echoed in the workshop.
Morris nodded slightly, her figure quietly retreating. Militech's representative and the Lazarus Mercenaries also discreetly withdrew, and the airtight door closed once more.
Now, only Osiris and this steel giant remained in the workshop.
His optical lenses meticulously scanned every detail of the power armor, from the shock absorption system on its feet to the sensor array on its head.
The technological level represented by this machine was about to undergo a review beyond this era.
"Log: Sample 'Assault Squad-VI' received, initial external scan complete, structural integrity assessed at 87.4%, with three non-critical transport abrasions," Osiris' voice resonated in the workshop, his tone carrying the focused intensity characteristic of a researcher, even with a hint of subtle interest.
A servo-skull hovering in mid-air immediately responded, its eye projecting a pale blue scanning beam, slowly circling the power armor with a continuous, monotonous hum.
"Scan confirms external armor is titanium-ceramic composite, joint drive system is high-torque hydraulic and electromagnetic hybrid, energy core is high-density fission battery, current output power stable, efficiency 42% lower than Mars Standard IV reactor," its voice was flat and devoid of inflection, each word seemingly retrieved from a fixed lexicon.
"The efficiency issue is expected," Osiris' crimson lens carefully scanned the power armor's back interface, a very light, almost sigh-like whoosh of air coming from beneath his metal faceplate. "However, the design approach of this thing is quite interesting. Look at this interface layout—
Focus on its operating mode, access the internal system, and pull up both the operation manual and the neural interface protocols."
His metal fingers lightly tapped the edge of the control panel, revealing a curiosity for new technology.
"Receiving command, attempting to decrypt encryption protocol," the servo-skull's eye beam flickered with an unchanging rhythm. "Protocol decryption complete, data extracted. Operation manual and neural interface protocols downloaded."
It paused, then continued to report in an uninflected tone: "Operating mode confirmed, driver located in sealed cockpit within the chest cavity. Movement intentions are translated into mechanical actions via a full-body sensor suit and direct neural interface system.
Feedback system simulates tactile and force sensations, enhancing control immersion."
Osiris' metal fingers swiftly tapped the control panel, calling up a detailed holographic model of the power armor, observing with keen interest the process of its internal structure being built layer by layer.
"A typical 'exoskeleton amplifier' approach, or rather, it took the 'humanoid vehicle' path. Enclosing the entire person inside, using an external frame and power system to amplify the body's capabilities—a rather clever design, though a bit simple and crude. This is indeed different from the Empire's mainstream approach of viewing power armor as wearable plate armor, right from the design philosophy."
His voice carried a clear research enthusiasm, as if admiring a cleverly crafted exotic artifact, his crimson optical lenses scanning back and forth across the gray-black power armor, like evaluating a collectible worthy of careful appreciation.