Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 551

The cold void stretched out into eternity outside the porthole, while the sensor array of the Rostov exploration ship "Stardust Probe" scanned the debris clouds at the edge of the Kuiper Belt at Imperial standard frequencies.

The ship's silhouette, like a lurking metallic insect, lay in the shadow of the asteroid. The radiation shielding layer on its hull reflected the faint light of a distant star, and the mechanical prayers etched on the deck were faintly visible in the starlight.

The servo skull hovers silently around the bridge, recording every bit in the void.

"Abnormal energy readings detected, Captain."

The sensor operator's voice carried the metallic resonance characteristic of a prosthetic limb, his fingers sliding rapidly across the oil-stained data panel. "Coordinates sector-734, local gravitational field distortion detected, amplitude approximately 0.3 standard gravitational units, exhibiting periodic pulsations—not matching any known asteroid density perturbation model."

The captain frowned and leaned closer to the main screen, where the star map was marking anomalous areas with deep red pulses, the edges flashing with warning runes: "Is it the aftermath of a warp ripple? Or a creation of chaos?"

"No, Captain."

The operator pulled up a set of complex waveforms, with strange purple pulses interspersed in the green data stream. "Synchronous capture of unnatural signals. Not Imperial standard beacons, not recognizable aberrant codes... more like sonar pulses composed of some kind of geometric shape, looping, with a stable frequency of 14.7 Hz, and with clear artificial characteristics."

The pulse signal is transformed into a three-dimensional projection on the screen—a complex structure woven from dodecahedrons and spirals. Each cycle subtly changes the angle, as if telling a cold logic that transcends language. Its geometric characteristics defy intuition and inspire awe.

"Deep scan, passive mode enabled, power reduced to minimum."

The captain's voice tightened, his right hand unconsciously resting on the explosive pistol at his waist. "Notify the ship's technical priest to prepare to record data on the unknown creation and activate the data purification protocol. All personnel to enter silence."

Thirty minutes later, a report marked with the highest level of encryption was transmitted to the Governor's Office of the Rostov Sub-Sector via a directional quantum channel.

Chen Xi stood in front of the tactical holographic console, his fingertip hovering over the red dot marked "Pioneer-IV," which was the coordinate of the abnormal signal source.

The eerie light emanating from the holographic projection reflected on his face, intertwining with the orange-red glow of the furnace outside the window that forged the world, creating a strange and unsettling scene.

"The structural analysis is complete?" he asked the sage Olegana on the other end of the communicator, with the low hum of the servo skull and the buzzing of the logic engine coming from the background.

"Preliminary passive scanning shows that the target is composed of an unknown dark composite material, with a surface covered with structural units that resemble scales or honeycomb, exhibiting near-perfect absorption characteristics for visible light and various scanning wavelengths."

The sage's synthesized voice carried a rare fluctuation, disturbed by the data stream: "The geometric shape exhibits significant non-Euclidean features—the angle between the target's right wingspan and the main body is within the allowable range of visual error, simultaneously presenting 89 degrees and 91 degrees. The logic engine repeatedly verified and confirmed that this reading violates the basic laws of spatial geometry, suggesting a classification as 'subspatial correlation' or 'unknown technological creation'."

Chen Xi's pupils contracted slightly. This counterintuitive structure only frequently appears in two situations: distorted creations corrupted by deep chaos, or... lost legacies of the dark age of technology.

The allure and potential risks of the latter hang like the Sword of Damocles over one's head.

"Defense system assessment?"

"Three gravity trap generators were detected in a low-power standby state. Their energy characteristics are completely different from those of the Empire's current Void Shields. Their waveforms are closer to the vague description of the residual signals of the 'Golden Age' stargate recorded in the 'Star Court' archives."

Oregana added, "No active weapon energy signatures were detected, but signs of high-energy plasma flow were detected inside the honeycomb structure covering the surface, suggesting a directional energy defense array or propulsion system with a response speed and energy density far exceeding the Empire's current technological level. Any active detection could trigger an unknown reaction."

Hathor, standing beside the holographic display, suddenly spoke, his voice deep and solemn, almost like an archaeologist discovering a dusty inscription: "The signal cycle is 37 minutes and 19 seconds. Database comparisons show that this is extremely close to the standard hibernation/wake-up beacon cycle of the 'Human Federation' deep space probes during the Old Night era—with an accuracy within three-thousandths of an error. This is no coincidence."

Her fingertips traced the ever-changing, cold, and precise geometric pulses projected on the screen, her gaze as focused as if deciphering a lost sacred text. "This set of geometric figures... its core configuration contains an ancient mathematical harmony, bearing a striking lineage similarity to the 'Fibonacci-Golden Angle' spatial positioning code commonly used by late Federation probes. It's there... slumbering for far too long, Captain, like a tombstone from the dawn of humanity, forgotten in a void graveyard."

Chen Xi turned sharply to her: "Hasor, are you sure? This is a relic of the ancient human federation?"

Hathor met his gaze, slowly shaking his head, his silver hair shimmering with the movement: "'Certainty' is too extravagant in the face of the dust of history, Governor. The chain of evidence points to it—the cycle precise to the second, the geometric language derived from the mathematical aesthetics of humanity's golden age, even the vague description of the 'Astral Court' of gravity trap technology… all whispering the same name. Yet…"

She paused, pointing to the unsettling non-Euclidean structure. "This distorted geometry, this perfect material absorption properties, and that plasma flow technology far beyond our comprehension... they seem to come from a side of the 'Human Federation' that we've never truly understood, a path that has gone further and more... bizarrely off track on the road of technology than any record has ever documented. It fits the Federation's 'fingerprint,' yet it transcends the 'boundaries' of our knowledge. I can only say that this is the most reasonable explanation at present, but 'Pioneer-IV' itself is a huge unknown variable."

Chen Xi remained silent for a moment, then tapped out a regular rhythm on the cold, fine gold tabletop, creating an eerie resonance with the engine hum emanating from deep within the ship.

Unknown composite materials might solve the heat dissipation bottleneck of the Psionic Knight armor, and its energy absorption characteristics are invaluable; if the gravity trap technology can be analyzed, it may even completely revolutionize the design of energy shields; the plasma flow of the propulsion system contains endless possibilities—but the abyss-like gaze hidden behind the non-Euclidean structure, and the far-from-expected "deviant" technology revealed in Hathor's words, make every temptation carry a more deadly spike.

"Command the 'Stardust Probe' to maintain absolute silence and maximum concealment distance, and strictly prohibit any form of active contact or increase in scanning power."

He finally spoke, his tone resolute: "Inform the captain that they are walking on an uncharted razor's edge. The Emperor's gaze and Rostov's fate both rest on their caution. Report any unusual activity immediately and prepare for evacuation."

He turned to the communicator: "Aurejana, assemble a dedicated analysis team under the highest level of security. Members must sign a vow of silence. Focus on assessing the potential for materials science and energy applications, and involve Grand Sage Caul as well—all raw data must undergo triple psionic purification and logical isolation to prevent potential warp contamination or cognitive hazards. Also, contact Guterres and have his Death Watch squad ready. The contingency plan is formulated at the highest threat level of 'contact with unknown high-level non-Imperial technological creations,' with the primary objective of purging any potential heretical contamination or chaotic corruption threats."

Finally, his gaze swept across the star map, where the shadow representing the Inquisitor's area of ​​activity seemed to have deepened. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "This 'Pioneer-IV' might divert the attention of some overly active 'eyes.' After all, in the realms beyond the Emperor's glory, the unknown is always more alluring, and more deadly, than the known. Let it become their new focus."

(End of this chapter)