Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 315 The Genesis Project (Nine Updates)
The almost frenzied cross-dimensional academic exchange that lasted for several weeks finally came to a temporary end due to the intervention of the Federal Parliament.

The reason is simple: Chen Yu, as a mechanical priest, is powered by an almost perpetual plasma reactor, and his thinking ability is beyond that of ordinary people, allowing him to work at high intensity without interruption.

But the federal scholars are made of flesh and blood. Such a large-scale and long-lasting intensive seminar has exhausted many top experts, both physically and mentally, and has even affected the normal operation of their respective institutions and projects.

Considering long-term development and the overall scientific research ecosystem, the Federal Parliament had to politely but firmly call a halt to this "universal participation" exchange model.

Instead, a highly focused "warp drive improvement project team" was formally established. The core members consisted of a small number of top experts who had performed best in previous exchanges and whose ideas were most compatible with Chen Yu's, including Engineer Scott and several authorities in theoretical physics and materials science.

The project team was granted the corresponding authority and resources, with a clear objective: to gradually transform the theoretical ideas proposed by Chen Yu into feasible engineering and technical solutions.

Upon receiving the invitation, Chen Yu quickly conducted an assessment based on his core logic.

While large-scale communication involves a massive flow of information, it is also too fragmented.

The establishment of a special project team means that resources will be concentrated, objectives will be clear, and the depth of communication will be far greater than before, which is more in line with his goal of efficiently acquiring core technologies.

“Sure. Focusing on the advancement of specific projects is the best way to improve efficiency.” He gladly joined the project team.

However, in the brief interval just before the project team was about to officially start work, Dr. Carol Marcus found Chen Yu's temporary residence alone—a hotel suite used to accommodate alien visitors.

With the expression typical of a scientist, a mixture of intense curiosity and a hint of unease, she cut straight to the point without much small talk: "Sage, before you officially begin the warp drive project, I have a question I must ask you privately."

She took a deep breath and stared intently at the pair of scarlet optical lenses. "What are your thoughts on... the 'Genesis Project'?"

This is no small matter.

The Genesis Project is one of the top federal secrets, and its core technologies and ethical considerations are in an extremely sensitive area.

Kirk had previously explicitly refused Chen Yu's request for further investigation on the grounds of "federal secrets," and Carroll's private inquiry at this moment, as the project leader, clearly crossed the official line.

Chen Yu's mechanical head turned slightly, and the light from the optical lens steadily enveloped Carol.

He instantly calculated countless possibilities: Was this a test? Was Carroll's personal scientific fervor overriding confidentiality regulations? Or were certain forces within the Federation hoping to probe his attitude through informal channels?

After a brief silence, his synthesized voice sounded, not answering directly, but instead asking, "Dr. Marcus, in what capacity are you asking? The head of 'Project Genesis,' a scientist, or... General Kirk's ex-wife?"

His questions were sharp and direct, aiming to clarify Carroll's motives and the position he might represent.

At the same time, he was also rapidly gathering all known information about the "Genesis Project"—the device that could reshape a desolate planet into a vibrant new world, and the power behind it that manipulates the fundamental laws of matter and life, whose danger was as great as its value.

In the Warhammer universe he comes from, similar technologies are often closely associated with "blasphemy" and "chaos".

How will Carol respond? And how will Chen Yu evaluate this forbidden technology that can both create the world and bring unknown disasters?
This private meeting may have an impact far exceeding the warp drive project currently in preparation.

Carroll seemed to have been prepared for Chen Yu's sharp question about his identity.

She straightened her back, her expression becoming more formal, and said clearly, "As the chief scientist of the 'Genesis Project' and with special authorization from the Interstellar Federation Council, I am here to give you a limited project briefing and seek your professional advice."

This answer prompted Chen Yu to slightly adjust the focus of his crimson optical lens.

The Federal Parliament voluntarily authorized the disclosure of classified information? The implications behind this are worth pondering.

This may mean that, after witnessing his remarkable insight into the field of warp drive, the federal leadership hopes to apply this "otherworldly perspective" to another equally important, or even more sensitive, top-level project.

They no longer saw him merely as a technology exchanger, but began to regard him as a potential, invaluable "advisor."

“Authorization confirmed,” Chen Yu replied calmly, signaling her to continue.

His data processing core has increased the priority of threads related to the "Genesis Project".

Carroll took a deep breath and began to reveal the core objectives and basic principles of the "Genesis Project" to Chen Yu in a more systematic and in-depth way.

She explained how a special substance called "genesis particles" can be used to instantly reorganize the geological structure and atmospheric composition of a target planet through a precise, large-scale energy burst, and activate pre-set, dormant gene sequences, thereby transforming a lifeless planet into an Earth-like environment suitable for carbon-based life in a very short time.

She mentioned key concepts such as the "life seeding matrix" and the "rapid ecological succession model".

"...Theoretically, it could complete a planetary evolution process that would take millions of years or even longer in nature in just a few hours or days," Carroll concluded, her eyes a mixture of scientist's pride and a hint of barely perceptible worry. "We have verified its initial feasibility on Genesis, but...as you know, it has come at a huge cost."

She was referring to the Khan's attack, Spock's sacrifice, and the destroyed Federation starship.

After finishing his statement, Carol looked intently at Chen Yu: "Sage, based on your knowledge system, which comes from a completely different technology tree and understanding of the universe, what are your thoughts on this technology itself, as well as its potential applications and risks?"

Are we...on the right path? Are there fundamental flaws or...philosophical paradoxes that we haven't yet realized?

This is a weighty question concerning life, creation, and even the role of "God".

Chen Yu's mechanical body fell into a brief silence, with only the internal cooling system emitting a very faint hiss.

He was drawing on all relevant knowledge for comparative analysis—from the Mechanicus’s ancient tenets about “pure form” and “natural order” (though he himself may not have fully complied with them), to the disasters ultimately brought about by the dark technologies in the Warhammer universe that attempted to tamper with life and distort nature, and to the disastrous consequences of the cyberpunk world’s brutal intervention in human genes and ecology.

A moment later, his synthesized voice sounded again, his tone more cautious and serious than ever before: "From a purely technical perspective, the 'Genesis Project' is an astonishing feat. It demonstrates a sophisticated ability to manipulate matter, energy, and the code of life, and its technological level is extremely high."

(End of this chapter)