From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 540 "Partner" "Five Major Items"

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Listening to Aoi's question, Dorn did not choose to respond with words, but nodded slightly, as if everything was self-explanatory.

His eyes were still fixed on the tunnel outside the window, but his thoughts involuntarily drifted to the adjutant beside him.

Dorn could feel that Aoi seemed to understand him more and more, even to the point where verbal communication was no longer necessary.

Aoi could read his thoughts just by some small movements or glances that he himself didn't even notice.

This kind of tacit understanding is far more "terrifying" than psychic perception because it comes from a deep emotion and long-term observation, rather than some supernatural power.

Of course, he had no resistance to this, but instead felt a subtle sense of relief.

He knew that once the elves identified their "other half", they would devote most of their energy and thoughts to the other person.

As his adjutant, Aoi was almost inseparable from him. She was always by his side, whether he was handling official business or formulating strategies.

Presumably, she used this time together to observe her every move in detail and remember every detail.

Dorn's gaze shifted slightly and fell on Aoi's profile.

Her expression was calm and focused, and her long golden hair had a soft luster under the light of the carriage, as if a ray of moonlight was cast on her shoulders.

His eyes are deep and clear, as if they can see through all appearances and reach the essence of things.

Dawn couldn't help but recall the scene of their first meeting and their shared "adventure".

At that time, Aoi was still a little "green" and "naive", and when paying the bill, he took out a jewel that was priceless to the locals in Terila.
And now, she has become his most trusted adjutant, and can even be said to be his closest "partner".

Thinking back to the countless battles and missions they had experienced together, each time, Aoi provided him with indispensable support with her wisdom and calmness.

He had never thought that he would establish such a deep understanding and trust with an elf.

But it is this tacit understanding that allows him to always feel an invisible force supporting him when facing countless challenges.

Aoi seemed to notice Dorn's gaze and turned his head slightly to meet his eyes.

There was a faint smile in her eyes, as if to say "I know what you are thinking."

Dawn did not evade the question but nodded calmly, as if responding to her silent words.

The lights in the carriage flickered slightly and the speed of the train gradually slowed down, indicating that they were about to arrive at the station.

Dorn withdrew his gaze and regained his cold and majestic expression.

The next task may be full of unknowns and challenges, but he is not worried.

Because no matter what difficulties he faced, he knew that Aoi would stand by his side and face everything with him.

soon.

The train slowly slowed down and finally stopped at the station. The view outside the window changed from the dark tunnel to the open platform.

A gentle reminder sound came from the broadcasting system in the car, and the door slid open silently.
Dorn was the first to step out of the carriage. His steps were steady and powerful, and the metal soles of his armor made a crisp sound when they hit the ground.

His figure seemed particularly tall under the light of the platform, and the Imperial Fist emblem on his shoulder armor gleamed with majesty.

He paused for a moment, then turned sideways to remind Aoi behind him:

"Let's go."

Aoi nodded, his movements light and graceful.

She followed Dawn's steps, her golden hair fluttering gently in the faint air flow, highlighting her calm and focused expression.

The backs of the two people were elongated under the lights of the platform, like two inseparable shadows, walking together towards an unknown future.

It won't take long.

The two and several Templars returned to the bridge, and the atmosphere inside the bridge was still orderly. The operators were busy adjusting various parameters, and complex data streams flashed on the holographic projection screen.

Dorn's eyes swept across the entire bridge, finally stopping outside the observation window.

The view outside the window has switched from the imperial palace of the main universe to the pitch-black universe.

Swish—shua—!
In addition, various ships that also crossed the space gate and reached Jedha's low-Earth orbit also entered the jump space one after another and headed straight for the Rebel Alliance's base, Yavin 4.

When Dorn and Aoi stood side by side in front of the observation porthole, a dazzling light suddenly burst out from the front of the Eternal Expedition, as if tearing the curtain of space.

A huge vortex-shaped channel unfolds in front of the bow, connecting the jump space and the real universe.

The edge of the vortex flickered with faint blue energy fluctuations, and countless tiny "lightning bolts" jumped in it, exuding a mysterious and dangerous beauty.

As the Eternal Expedition quickly entered the vortex, the scene outside the porthole became blurred in an instant, as if covered by a layer of gauze, but then immediately became clear again.

The faint blue light poured in through the porthole, shining on everyone's face, as if they were in the deep sea.

Streams of light shuttled through the darkness, like winding rivers.

"Father."

At this time, a member of the Imperial Fists crew stepped forward and reported respectfully and calmly:
"Forty minutes left until arriving at Yavin 4."

"okay, I get it."

Dorn's response was brief and powerful, as if he had everything under control.

After finishing the report, the crew member quickly withdrew and continued to work.

At the same time, in the living area of ​​the Eternal Crusade, Pietro was leading more than a hundred Spartan warriors through the spacious and bright corridors.

The average age of these young super soldiers is less than eighteen years old, but their expressions are cold and focused, and it is obvious that they have long been accustomed to the rhythm of military life.

Pietro first took the Spartans to the sleeping quarters in the living quarters.

The sleeping cabins here are simple and practical in design, with four people in a room. Although the space is not spacious, it is enough to accommodate these young soldiers.

While allocating sleeping cabins, Pietro briefly introduced the facilities in the living area.

His tone was calm and patient as he guided a group of newly enlisted recruits, even though he knew that the combat effectiveness of these Spartan warriors far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.

After allocating the sleeping cabins, Pietro led the Spartans to key areas such as the cafeteria, equipment warehouse and airdrop dock.

In the cafeteria, neatly arranged tables and self-service food pick-up equipment made the Spartans feel a little bit of novelty, after all, this was their first time on an Emperor-class battleship. In the equipment warehouse, all kinds of advanced weapons and equipment were displayed on the shelves, exuding a cold metallic luster, and even their exclusive armor and related equipment were sent here.

Inside the airdrop dock, the huge hatch and neatly arranged airdrop capsules gave them a more intuitive understanding.

As Pietro walked, he explained in detail the functions and usage rules of each area.

His voice echoed in the empty corridor, sounding exceptionally clear.

The Spartans listened quietly, occasionally nodding in response, with a hint of concentration and curiosity in their eyes.

Although they were already accustomed to rigorous training and combat, the scale and facilities of the Eternal Expedition still shocked them.

It took a total of more than twenty minutes for the Spartans to become completely familiar with the area.

Pietro stood at the entrance to the sleeping area, looking over the group of young warriors, and said:
"You can move freely now, but you must remain vigilant. Once the Eternal Expedition leaves the jump space, immediately go to the equipment warehouse to arm yourself and wait for follow-up instructions."

The Spartans responded in unison: "Yes, sir!"

The sound was uniform and like thunder, echoing in the sleeping area.

Pietro nodded, then turned and walked away, leaving the Spartans free to move around.

They gathered in groups of three or four, whispering about their impressions of the Eternal Crusade or discussing the upcoming mission.

John and some of his comrades went to the cafeteria to have a small meal.

For these young Spartan warriors, the cafeteria is not only a place to replenish energy, but also a moment of relaxation for them.

After all, they need to consume a lot of calories every day to maintain peak body function.

Even in a non-combat state, their metabolic rate is much higher than that of ordinary people. Therefore, eating is not only a pleasure for them, but also a necessary "fuel supplement".

In the cafeteria, soft lights shine on the neat tables and the air is filled with the aroma of food.

The self-service area displays a variety of high-calorie, high-protein foods, from grilled meats to nutritious energy bars.

John picked up a tray, glanced at the dazzling array of dishes, and then selected a few grilled steaks, fried eggs and three large bowls of century egg and meat porridge.

Several comrades also selected their favorite food and sat at a long table with John.

Although they eat much faster than ordinary people, their movements still maintain a military discipline without any mess.

In fact, even if the Spartan warriors did not eat or drink, they could rely on their strong physical fitness to persist for at least fourteen days without affecting conventional combat.

If equipped with their exclusive armor, this time can be extended even longer.

However, this is not an emergency and their stomachs are indeed a little "empty".

Therefore, John and his comrades chose to fill their stomachs without hesitation and then consider other things.

The atmosphere in the cafeteria was relaxed and quiet, with only the slight sound of cutlery colliding and the occasional whisper echoing in the air.

As for the fundamental difference between Spartan warriors and ordinary auxiliary troops, it is not only that they have been strengthened with exclusive potions, but also that they have undergone a series of complex transformation operations.

The "procedures" of these operations are extremely sophisticated, almost pushing the physiological limits of human beings to a new height.

The "birth" of every Spartan warrior is a game between science and courage, and their bodies are the final result of this game.

Before the age of fourteen, every Spartan warrior would be injected with a "dilution" potion improved from the Inquis serum every week.

This medicine can gradually enhance their body functions and lay the foundation for subsequent transformation surgery.

However, the real test begins after the age of fourteen.

At that time, they will undergo a series of reconstructive surgeries, which are divided into five major steps.

The first one: carbon ceramic bone enhancement;

It involves implanting advanced materials into the bone structure, adding special materials that make it almost impossible for the bones to break.

The second: strengthening muscles with injections;

This “plain and simple” treatment involves injecting a protein complex into muscle tissue to increase muscle density and reduce the recovery time of the lactase enzyme.

Item 3: Thyroid catalyst implant;

The procedure involves implanting small platinum balls containing a human growth hormone catalyst into the thyroid gland to accelerate the growth of bone and muscle tissue.

Item 4: Reconstruction of suboccipital capillary return pathway;
After completing this operation, the blood flow to the Spartan's retinal rods and cones can be promoted, greatly improving the Spartan's visual ability. Even in the dark, they can still see everything in the surrounding environment.

Fifth: Replace neural dendrites with superconducting fibers;
This project is to transform the biological electrical conduction mode of nerve cells into an anti-interference electrical conduction mode, so as to greatly improve the reaction ability of the Spartans and indirectly and significantly improve their memory.

Most importantly, according to the UNSC Naval Intelligence (ONI) estimates, the success rate of these five major operations is less than 50%.

The patient not only has to face the huge risks of the surgery itself, but also has to endure various possible side effects after the surgery.

Side effects include explosive bone growth leading to irreversible comminuted fractures, heart expansion and swelling, retinal detachment and permanent blindness, and direct death.

However, with the strong support of the Atlas Biological Department and the help of some pioneering technologies, Halsey and her research team successfully minimized the risks of the surgery.

During the operation, Halsey's research team used the most advanced medical equipment and biotechnology to ensure that every step of the operation was precise.

Although some Spartan warriors still have to suffer from side effects after completing the transformation surgery, the mortality rate has dropped to 0%.

This achievement not only marks another pinnacle of human biotechnology, but also paved the way for the birth of Spartan warriors.

It can be said that the auxiliary army injected with Inquis serum was simply unable to confront Sparta head-on.

However, the cost of the Spartan I of the Human Empire headed by John is also extremely high. Even a Spartan is more expensive than an Astartes.

Of course, the Spartan Phase I was bound to go through a process that consumed a lot of resources, money, and manpower.

The current Halsey team has gained sufficient experience based on nearly ten years of training in the first phase.

Once the Empire approves the official launch of the second phase of the plan, Halsey's team will be able to significantly shorten the time and resources required for the transformation, and even "compress" the age of the adaptors to between 10 and 13 years old.

After optimization based on the actual combat data of the first phase, the ultimate goal of “full-scale mass production” can be achieved when the third phase plan is launched.

By then, Sparta will gradually replace the elites injected with Inquis serum and become an auxiliary military unit to assist Astartes.

Forty minutes passed in a flash.

The Eternal Crusade successfully escaped from the jump space and arrived within the gravitational range of Yavin 4.
(End of this chapter)