Chapter 94

Returning to our homeworld after the meeting, my fiancées headed out the Market District to begin wedding preparations. Leaving me at the house, since I had no interest in wedding planning, I decided to tinker around in my laboratory. Having Jarvis crosscheck the data we received from Primarch Guilliman with our drone data, I wanted to see how faulty the information was. While I believed Guilliman truly cared for the Imperium's citizens, the Adeptus Mechanicus was another story.

They had a vested interest in ensuring that the Imperium of Man did not advance alongside other nations. At this moment, they held a monopoly on all technology in the country. Once technological trade began to happen, the citizens would quickly realize they had been fooled by the machine cultists and turn on them in short order. To combat that, they eliminate other nation's scientists that encroach upon their territory and actively help the Administratum cause problems when other nations seek to engage with the Imperium.

'The whole bloody thing is a damn mess.', I thought, walking down into the lab with a hot cup of tea, 'I do not envy Guilliman, he will be very busy once we seal the Great Rift.'

<Sir, the data comparison is complete. If I may be so bold, either their instruments are poorly calibrated, or they purposefully provided falsified information. Some of numbers in not astronomically feasible. For example, suggests that Hadex Anomaly shrinking but anyone lives nearby would say it expanding marginally every year.>

<Master, such blatant data manipulation cannot go unpunished. If we operated off their information, without verifying things ourselves, the results could have been cataclysmic. Not every scientist has forethought to double check readings, they trust that colleagues are providing them with accurate information.>

Wholeheartedly agreeing, as compromised data on this scale could get people killed, I sent our findings to Guilliman. Informing him of the dangers such faulty information could cause, the Primarch swore to get to the bottom of it immediately. Not only could the data have ruined our chances of saving the citizens on the other side of the rift, but they also lied to his face, which was a grave mistake none of them would live to repeat. Ending the call after that, I let out a frustrated sigh as those machine cultists really pissed me off.

<So then, Master, where does that leave us? Given their willingness to lie nation's leader, it is doubtful they will make viewing the Blackstone Fortress and pylon easy for you. Worst case scenario being you wait several years while continue searching an answer themselves.>

"I figured this might occur, so I already have a backup plan. Fortunately for us there are Blackstone Fortresses in the Imperium's territory that are not all under their control. Here recently a seventh fortress was discovered on the western fringes of the Imperium, near the space station Precipice. None of the competing factions in the area have managed to stake a claim yet as its internal structure is constantly shifting making mapping impossible, and the entire structure is swarming with chaos monsters and defense drones.", I said, signing into my computer and pulling up the area map, "All signs point to this structure being a dungeon or labyrinth so I am quite happy to have a reason to explore it. Seeing as even the Imperium's best have not made it anywhere near the control room, the location is likely a Rank 5 dungeon meaning the loot inside is going to be fucking amazing!"

<I understand, Master. Shall I send drones to survey the space station and surrounding area?>

"That would be a good idea, send in several large batches of replicator nanomachine too. As the space station is on the fringes of the country, it is the survival of the fittest out there. If we need to, we will perform a hostile takeover and eliminate the idiots who do not fall in line.", I chuckled.

Leaving Luxion to dispatch several thousand drones, I turned my attention toward improving the Holtzman Shields by eliminating their fatal flaw, energy weapons. Striking the shield with most forms of energy results in a large explosion, in the weapon, shield, or both, which posed for dealing with advanced civilizations. To resolve this problem, my plan was to use preexisting technology in lightsabers to make energy weapons a none issue.

'An Emitter Matrix is used to create a tight-fitting sleeve to contain a lightsaber's plasma, but it simultaneously allows the Jedi to deflect energy weapons. Integrating that component into the shield should make my men impervious to all but the most powerful energy weapons.', I thought, pulling up the schematics, 'The problem is, I do not have room in the current shield unit to just slap it in. I will have to miniaturize it while not compromising on effectiveness and increasing the power draw by a large amount.'

Having the computer bring up 3D holographic models of both items, I took measurements to determine where I had the most space to install the component. Determining that my best option was in between the power generation and shield protector, the computer created an insulated housing model for me to work inside. Certain that the component would not interfere fear with other components now, I miniaturized the Emitter Matrix and got to work reworking its core parts to fit into its new space.

'Alright, first off I need the board to mount everything to.', I thought, scrolling through my options, 'Crystalline circuit board should do perfectly, now toss out the conventional capacitors and resistors for nanotube capacitors and crystal resistors…'

Incrementally testing the original components themselves, I determined their upper limits and made voltage adjustments where needed to allow full coverage of a person's body. Laying the parts out the way I wanted on the crystalline circuit board; the next step was creating the nanotube traces to connect all the parts together and to the Holtzman Shield itself. Once that was completed, I had Jarvis run several hundred simulations to confirm minimal operation failures.

<Sir, the simulations are complete. When using Holtzman Shield's parameters to power component, eight hundred and fifty trials I ran resulted in a failure rate of eighty three percent. The unit fails when both inner outer shields engaged at same time, delivery production insufficient.>

Scrapping the unit's capacitors and resistors, I upgraded it with nanotube capacitors and crystalline resistors as well. Swapping out the small power supply inside with a miniaturized Arc Reactor, the last thing I did was beef up all the traces to handle the substantial power output increase.

"Run the simulations again.", I asked.

Executing the new battery of tests, this time the results came back with only a two percent failure rate under the most strenuous loads. Very pleased with these results, I modified the units exterior casing and rearranged components to simplify everything while leaving myself room for future add-ons. Looking more like badges now, Jarvis slapped my Coat of Arms on it so none would be wiser as to what it was.

<Testing indicates that there is no change in performance with the new design. That said, sir, power efficiency has increased by twenty percent.>

"I did not want to make major changes to the original design, but there was no helping it. Start mass producing these improved models and get them out to my troops as soon as possible.", I ordered Luxion.

<Of course, Master.>

With protection addressed for the upcoming conflict, the next thing on my list was paying a visit to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Wanting to make my own lightsaber, even though I would likely have to return my Sith saber, I was interested in making mine out of a Dragite Gem, Ghostfire Crystal, Krayt Dragon Pearl, or a Zophis Crystal.

'I suppose I could just create my own lightsabers after getting my hands on the latest revision of components.', I thought, already planning out designs for each of them, 'Why not, haha!'

Contacting Obi-Wan, so the arrangements could be made, he told me to pay the Jedi Temple a visit in three days. Thanking him, I headed into my armory work on my armored suits.