Dorn returned to his seat, his profound gaze sweeping across the thirteen young, resolute faces below.
"Sigismund," his voice, like solid rock, echoed through the hall. "Your judgment was correct. They have proven themselves worthy of the glory of the Imperial Fists."
Those words acted as the final brand, sealing the fate of the neophytes. The last vestige of doubt vanished from the hearts of the thirteen warriors, replaced by a heavy sense of belonging and a sublime mission to serve the Chapter.
"Magos Osiris's research has proven fruitful." Dorn turned his gaze toward Sigismund and continued his instructions. "This transformation process significantly improves efficiency while ensuring quality. Inform him that the Imperial Fists recognize its value and support his continued, in-depth optimization. The Imperium needs more warriors like these."
He paused briefly, his eyes scanning the neophytes once more as he issued the final arrangements: "As for them, true tempering can only be completed in the fires of war. From this moment on, they shall be under your command. Incorporate them into the battle order and deploy them to the grimmest war zones. Let them prove their worth in actual combat and fulfill their oaths to the Emperor and the Chapter."
The audience concluded. With hearts swelling, the thirteen neophytes followed Sigismund out of the chamber. From this moment, they were formally members of the Imperial Fists; their destinies were now bound to this fortress, the glory of the Primarch, and the future of mankind.
Meanwhile, back on Necromunda, Magos Osiris soon received an encrypted message from Sigismund, conveying the full extent of Dorn's approval and subsequent instructions.
The positive feedback from Holy Terra reached Osiris's laboratory via Sigismund's encrypted link. The message clearly stated Rogal Dorn's recognition of the first thirteen neophytes' quality, his support for Osiris's work, and formal authorization to deepen the gene-seed optimization research. For Osiris, this meant the project had gained the highest level of endorsement, allowing for smoother resource allocation and the expansion of research scales.
However, his logic core did not produce any emotional fluctuations like "joy" or "satisfaction." He merely viewed this as a predicted positive node in the advancement of his plan. His attention was focused more on the four eliminated candidates.
These four rejects were transferred to another area of the laboratory, one more focused on analysis and reverse engineering. They were not failures; they simply did not meet the extremely rigid, specific standards of the Imperial Fists. From a technical standpoint, their physiological transformation was successful, which made them immensely valuable for research.
Osiris's first task was to analyze why they had been eliminated.
For Candidate A (weak will), the tech-priests conducted deep brain scans and neurochemical analyses, attempting to find the physiological basis for the collapse of his mental defenses—whether it related to the secretion levels of certain neurotransmitters or the activity of specific brain regions. This data would be used to optimize future memory indoctrination and will-strengthening modules.
For Candidate B (flawed combat instincts), the focus was on analyzing neuromuscular connection efficiency, reflex arc speed, and cerebellar coordination, comparing these against data from top performers like Alvaro and Grum to find key points of divergence.
For Candidates C and D (lack of team coordination), research focused on their social behavioral cognitive patterns and mirror neuron system activity, trying to understand why the indoctrinated concepts of teamwork failed to translate into behavioral instincts.
All this research pointed toward a single goal: fine-tuning control over the transformation process, reducing uncontrollable individual differences, and increasing the "product's" passing rate and consistency. Osiris pursued more than just turning ordinary humans into Astartes; he sought the stable production of high-quality Astartes warriors tailored to specific tactical needs.
Simultaneously, based on the success of the first batch, Osiris began planning the next phase. He instructed his subordinates to expand the candidate selection range, not limited to Necromunda but also reaching out to other loyal worlds and even the recruitment worlds of certain Chapters. This would test the transformation process's adaptability and optimization effects on different genetic baselines.
He also planned to attempt deeper micro-adjustments to the gene-seed itself. For example, could certain latent genetic expressions related to loyalty, fortitude, and team spirit be enhanced? Or could specialized, optimized seeds be developed for different roles such as assault, scout, tactical, or heavy fire support?
The focus of the laboratory shifted rapidly from "proving conceptual feasibility" to "optimizing processes and expanding production." More resources were allocated; new, larger cultivation areas were planned and constructed; and a specialized research team composed of tech-priests and biological magi was steadily expanded.
Osiris knew well that the support of the Imperial Fists and Primarch Dorn was built upon the continuous output of valuable results. He had to improve constantly, providing more efficient and reliable transformation technology to maintain that support and eventually achieve his long-term goal of building his own core military foundation.
The four rejects were, in a sense, more valuable than the thirteen successes. They contained the critical data needed to optimize the next generation of "products." In Osiris's eyes, they were not failed warriors, but vital signposts on the road to a more perfect transformation technology.
The preliminary success of the gene-seed optimization project and its staggering efficiency did not remain confined within the Imperial Fists Chapter. Despite Sigismund and Dorn's efforts to control the flow of information, keen powers within the higher circles of the Mechanicus and the Adeptus Astartes caught wind of it.
The first to react was once again the Collegia Titanica—or rather, Archmagos Dominus Castian Saul himself.
After learning that the first thirteen Astartes neophytes modified by Osiris's technology not only possessed excellent physiological markers but had also received the personal approval of Primarch Dorn, Saul's evaluation of their cooperative value rose once again. The EVA Titans showcased disruptive efficiency in mechanical manufacturing; the gene-seed project proved Osiris possessed equally profound strength in the more sensitive and core field of biological genetic engineering.
An encrypted communication request of the highest level from Mars connected directly to Osiris's laboratory on Necromunda. The holographic projection once again revealed the massive mechanical silhouette of Archmagos Dominus Saul.