Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 305 Heading to Earth (Eighth Update)
The arrival of Chen Yu's enormous, dark red mechanical body abruptly changed the tense atmosphere caused by the portal's anomaly.

After a brief moment of shock, Dr. Carroll's face instantly lit up with an intense excitement and enthusiasm—a state unique to top scientists when they encounter an unprecedented research subject.

She practically jogged forward, completely ignoring the other party's inhuman form and potential intimidation, and bombarded Chen Yu with a barrage of questions: "Sage! What principle is your dimensional teleportation technology based on?"
How are the differences in physical constants that may exist between different dimensions overcome? How are the energy requirements addressed? How is the positioning accuracy achieved at such an astonishing level?
Furthermore, is your kind of...mechanical life form a common form in your civilization? What kind of fusion of biotechnology and mechanical engineering is behind this?

Her questions involve multiple cutting-edge fields such as physics, engineering, and biology, reflecting her eagerness to uncover a corner of unknown knowledge.

Chen Yu's gaze was focused on Carol. Her synthesized voice was steady, but upon closer listening, one could detect a hint of recognition that she had met a "qualified communication partner": "Dr. Marcus, your question touches on the core issue."

The key to dimensional teleportation lies in recognizing and utilizing the 'folds' of the reality's structure itself, rather than brute-force tearing it apart. As for my form, it is an inevitable choice in the pursuit of efficiency and knowledge.

He then took the initiative and raised his own questions, clearly targeting the part that interested him most: "I am extremely interested in the principle of your so-called 'creation device'."

How does it achieve the macroscopic recombination of matter and the encoding of life sequences? What are its energy sources and control logic? This technology, which is almost a rule-defining process, far exceeds the scope of ordinary energy applications.

Two top scientists, one representing the Mechanicus's extreme thirst for knowledge and technology and its pragmatic transformation, and the other representing the Interstellar Federation's cutting-edge scientific research based on rational exploration and bioethics, had their minds collide fiercely at this moment.

Dimensional teleportation and the Genesis Project—one excels at crossing spatial barriers, and the other is adept at reshaping matter and life forms—surprisingly have aspects that can inspire and corroborate each other at the highest level of fundamental physics and energy manipulation.

Sparks of inspiration kept flashing during the conversation, and they both caught clues in each other's words that could greatly inspire their own research.

For a moment, the cave seemed to have become a temporary top-level academic forum, filled with highly professional and obscure terminology. Not to mention Mann and the others, even Lieutenant Savik, who was himself very knowledgeable, was somewhat confused.

However, this enthusiastic academic exchange was soon interrupted by a calm voice.

“Carol.” General Kirk stepped forward, his voice carrying the composure of a soldier and the sense of responsibility of a commander. “All details of ‘Project Genesis’ are top federal secrets. Any form of technical exchange, especially with…non-Federal members,” he glanced at the inhuman Chen Yu, “must undergo a full evaluation and formal approval by the Federal Parliament’s Security Committee. This is the regulation, and we must abide by it.”

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Carroll's burning enthusiasm for the exchange.

She opened her mouth, wanting to argue that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but faced with Kirk's serious gaze and federal regulations, she ultimately swallowed her words, her face filled with resentment and regret.

Chen Yu's mechanical head turned towards Kirk, the scarlet optical lens flickering slightly.

A palpable displeasure emanated from his face, and his voice took on a cold, metallic quality: "Bureaucratic procedures. The shackles of efficiency."

He made no secret of his disdain for this multi-layered approval process, which could be protracted.

In the Cult of Mechanics, while technology certainly has levels and authority, the flow of knowledge among sages, based on equivalent exchange or power struggles, is often much more direct.

However, Chen Yu's dissatisfaction ended there. His heavily modified core of logic quickly suppressed the meaningless emotional fluctuations.

As someone who could rise to the rank of Sage of Exploration in an environment rife with mechanical sects and strict rules, he understood all too well the necessity of such "procedures"—whether for maintaining the organization's operation or for protecting core interests.

Dealing with a massive interstellar federation and forcibly demanding its top secrets would be foolish, dangerous, and not in his interest.

“I understand your position, General.” Chen Yu’s synthesized voice regained its composure. He was no longer fixated on immediately acquiring the core data of the “Genesis Project,” but instead turned his attention to broader possibilities. “The Federation’s technology tree clearly possesses unique value. Perhaps we can begin by exploring some… non-sensitive areas. For example, basic energy theory, or materials science.” He didn’t make things difficult for Kirk, demonstrating an unexpected “understanding.”

But this is not abandonment, but a strategic shift.

He knew that once he opened the door to communication, he could use the dimensional technology he possessed, which was also of interest to the Federation, as leverage to gradually access deeper technologies; it was only a matter of time and strategy.

At this moment, maintaining a positive initial atmosphere is far more important than risking a falling out over temporary knowledge acquisition.

The patience of a wise man is sometimes more terrifying than his thirst for knowledge.

Upon hearing Chen Yu's almost understanding response, Kirk's tense nerves did indeed relax a little.

The rationality and restraint displayed by the other party made him far easier to deal with than he had imagined a "sage from another dimension" who possessed unknown and powerful technology and had a non-human form.

This gave him hope for the possibility of peaceful and orderly exchanges.

After a moment's thought, he extended a more sincere invitation: "Sage, since you are interested in the Federation's technology, and your very existence represents an unprecedented case of contact for the Federation, I formally invite you and your team members to Earth—the capital home planet of the Interstellar Federation."

There, you can engage in broader exchanges with leading scholars at the Federal Academy of Sciences, and specific procedures for technological cooperation can be discussed through formal diplomatic processes.

"Earth……"

The familiar word, spoken by Kirk, stirred up a complex data ripple in Chen Yu's processor, evoking a subtle emotional fluctuation that bordered on "reflection."

Strictly speaking, this is already the fourth "Earth" in his understanding.

The first is the blue homeland in his vague memories of his past life, a hometown full of life and warmth.

The second is the human empire's center, revered as "Holy Terra" in the Warhammer universe. It is a metal planet that has become crowded, suffocating, and filled with hive cities under millennia of war and extreme bureaucracy, a symbol of heavy faith and cruel reality.

The third is Earth, the home of Night City in the cyberpunk world, a place of despair where dazzling neon lights and deep darkness coexist, struggling amidst the crushing power of capital, the abuse of technology, and social division.

And this Earth of the Interstellar Federation... Based on his database analysis of Kirk and his team's behavioral patterns, technological level, and social philosophy, it is highly likely to be a utopian homeland that has achieved unification, peace, and prosperity, and is truly heading towards the stars.

This is the image of "Earth" that is closest to his memory of his hometown and that best reflects humanity's beautiful fantasies about the future.

This stark contrast and sense of déjà vu left Chen Yu with almost no hesitation.

He needs to witness this "ideal template" firsthand, and even more so, he needs to access the much larger technological system it represents.

(End of this chapter)