On the way back to Terra, the mechanical ark was a hive of activity.
Inside the colossal mechanical ark, a vast array of Tau Empire products were being disassembled and studied in the cargo holds.
Under the omnissiah's directive, these Oil Men were researching and understanding the principles of these xenos creations.
Among them, Ma Yinglong's expert team was dissecting the Tau Soldier's ubiquitous battlesuits, also known as combat mechs.
These powered combat exoskeletons, or battlesuits, typically have the letters "XV" preceding their model number, signifying "Hero's Mantle."
Following "XV" are the model numbers; the first or only digit indicates the battlesuit's weight class, and the second digit denotes its purpose.
Ma Yinglong's research primarily focused on the "XV8 'Crisis' Battlesuit."
This is the standard battlesuit for Tau Soldiers, the benchmark model among battlesuits, roughly equivalent in status to the Imperial Guard's ubiquitous lasgun and flak armor.
It is almost omnipresent in the Tau Empire's armaments sequence, and with advanced modular technology, it has countless modifications to suit various scenarios.
The battlesuit's "nanocrystalline alloy armor" can withstand most small arms fire while maintaining minimal weight, but its defensive effect against heavy weapons like assault cannons or laser cannons is poor.
The task Li Feng assigned to Ma Yinglong was simple... in Li Feng's own words:
"Figure out its small-scale energy principle for me. I want to use this to mass-produce cheap, multi-purpose individual exoskeletons.
I want to completely re-equip the entire Imperial Guard."
While the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus possess many technologies and manufactured items for energy miniaturization, they largely rely on existing stc templates.
If one were to design and produce a perfectly matched small-scale energy source for a single individual exoskeleton, it would be an incredibly difficult task.
Because the long-term technological deficit of human civilization has been catastrophic for scientific development, although Li Feng, while on Mars, transmitted many 2K-era scientific papers to them via computer, allowing the entire Adeptus Mechanicus to reconstruct humanity's technological system from scratch.
However, that requires time, and the Black Crusade of 999 is not far off.
Li Feng needs to rapidly enhance the Astra Militarum's combat power; relying solely on air and naval superiority is insufficient; individual combat power must keep pace.
This "special military operation" in Gravelax, though a great victory, also exposed many problems.
The most obvious was the ground forces, specifically the infantry's disconnect from the overall battle rhythm.
Although these Soldiers were experienced veterans of the Astra Militarum, their equipment still had many incompatibilities with the war system Li Feng had constructed.
One of these was the insufficient battlefield survivability and combat power of individual Soldiers when facing elite enemy forces.
Secondly, the infantry's marching speed did not meet Li Feng's requirements.
Although Astra Militarum Soldiers had undergone more or less physical modifications, their outdated weapon designs caused them to be excessively burdened.
Li Feng's designed laser machine gun is half the weight of the Imperial standard lasgun.
Yes, a machine gun half the weight of a rifle; the lasgun's numerous useless designs and redundant parts significantly increased the weight of the weapon equipment.
Equipping every Astra Militarum Soldier with a full battlesuit, like the Tau Empire?
That's unrealistic; the number of Imperial Guard is astronomical, and logistics and production would never keep up.
If a Space Marine' combat power is 100%, then a Battle Sisters's is around 10%, and an Astra Militarum grunt is roughly 1%.
Thus, a simplified "multi-functional exoskeleton" became the best option.
Li Feng planned to design an individual exoskeleton that could significantly increase individual strength, speed, and accommodate various functions.
Li Feng had even already handed the blueprints to the Adeptus Mechanicus, which included "new power armour for the Battle Sisters," "individual tactical exoskeletons," and "individual dreadnoughts."
The biggest improvement for the Battle Sisters's power armour was that the Sisters' leggings and bodysuits could connect to the modified interfaces on their bodies, equivalent to a low-end, wearable version of the "Black Carapace" from Space Marine' modification surgeries.
This would allow the power armour to become the Battle Sisters's "second skin" while embedding the exoskeleton inside the power armour.
The new Battle Sisters power armour is estimated to boost combat power to around 35%-50% of a Space Marine' combat power.
And that exoskeleton system was entirely designed by Li Feng based on the exoskeletons from "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare," capable of greatly increasing individual strength and speed, while also allowing modular installation of "grappling hooks," "jetpacks," "folding shields," and a series of other tactical tools. (Image in section comments)
And the individual dreadnought was practically a fusion of Fallout's power armour and Astartes power armour, designed based on the dreadnoughts from "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare," requiring no surgery, only simple training to use.
Large-caliber rotary machine guns, rocket launchers... could be modularly installed on the mech. (Image in section comments)
Astra Militarum Soldiers, with the aid of individual exoskeletons, could at least achieve 5%-10% of a Space Marine' combat power, and in the hands of "hero-level" Soldiers, such as Slaimaboh... they could even surpass regular Space Marine...
Inside the mechanical ark's research hall, the lights were bright, the equipment advanced, and the technological atmosphere was rich.
Chief Engineer Ma Yinglong's "expert team" was diligently disassembling and analyzing, each person focused on their task, their tools precise and powerful.
"We need to thoroughly understand the Tau battlesuit's energy system," Ma Yinglong stood in the center, directing the team. "This is not just about imitation, but about innovation, finding improved solutions suitable for our Imperium."
A young Tech-Priest was meticulously studying the battlesuit's energy Core.
"According to preliminary analysis, this miniature energy device uses an unknown, highly efficient energy conversion technology.
If we can crack its working principle, we can significantly enhance our exoskeleton design."
Another old Tech-Priest added, "Furthermore, the nanocrystalline alloy armor structure of these battlesuits is very advanced.
We need to develop similar materials that are both lightweight and possess high strength."
Ma Yinglong nodded, walking towards a battlesuit that was being disassembled:
"Excellent, team. Remember, our goal is not just to replicate, but to surpass.
The omnissiah demands the most powerful warriors, and this is the mission we bear."
All the Tech-Priests: "Yes, Chief Engineer!"
Ma Yinglong's face was expressionless, but he was ecstatic inside; being called "Chief Engineer, sir" felt truly good...
Meanwhile, in another laboratory, the Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priests were discussing the design optimization of the individual exoskeleton based on Li Feng's blueprints.
The data slates in their hands displayed various data and 3D models.
"We can add more modular interfaces on the existing foundation, allowing the exoskeleton to be quickly replaced and upgraded according to battlefield needs."
"Agreed,"
"Additionally, we also need to improve the energy management system to ensure the exoskeleton can operate continuously during high-intensity combat without running out of energy."
"Precisely. The messiah's Foresight provides us with immense motivation; now we need to turn these designs into reality."
At the other end, Li Feng and Fides, accompanied by six High Sisters, were reviewing the new Battle Sisters power armour prototypes.
Fides put on the power armour, feeling the increase in strength and speed.
"This is truly a revolutionary design; with enhanced strength, combat efficiency will greatly improve, and with this wearable connecting bodysuit, I don't even feel like I'm wearing power armour."
Li Feng smiled, pointing to several prototypes of the Sisters' power armour:
"This is just the beginning. I want to ensure every Sisters of Battle is equipped with these exoskeletons, fully enhancing your combat power."
Research within the mechanical ark progressed rapidly, with Ma Yinglong's team continuously breaking through in their respective fields, making innovation and collaboration key drivers of technological advancement.
As time passed, the blueprints for the new individual exoskeletons and power armour, along with their energy principles, gradually took shape, demonstrating impressive combat potential.
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