Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 388 Test Successful (Fourth Update)
The Proxima Centauri system, about 4.3 light-years from our solar system, is also shrouded in a silent atmosphere of tension.

As the gateway to the heart of the human empire, this ancient star system has always possessed formidable fortifications and a rigorous surveillance system.

The massive orbital defense platform stood like a silent sentinel, the shadows of its macro cannons and light spear arrays appearing particularly eerie under the starlight.

Inside the galaxy, several planets, either modified or with massive space stations built in their orbits, form a deep defense network.

Imperial officials here had already received the highest-level notification from Terra, informing them that a crucial test would be conducted here today.

Such a close proximity makes it difficult for them to completely conceal major developments in the core region of the solar system.

However, the specific content of the test and its potential consequences remain a mystery shrouded in a nebula, unknown to anyone.

On the planet's surface, ancient hive cities, built before the Dark Ages and continuously expanded and added upon over tens of thousands of years, are mixed with magnificent churches and command buildings newly constructed during the Imperial Age, creating a strange landscape that spans a long period of time.

Deep within these buildings, officials waited with mixed feelings.

They did not know what was about to come—whether it was a harbinger of a new empire or the beginning of another upheaval.
Is it an internal rift like the Horus Rebellion, or the increasingly frequent invasions of chaos in recent years?

The unknown brought a deep unease, as well as an instinctive awe of the imperial will.

Meanwhile, in orbits on the outer edge of the galaxy, several earlier-arriving Forging Arks created a different scene.

The "Immortal Forge" of Gloria, the "Exemplary Craftsmanship" of Lucius, and other colossal ships of the Forge World are like steel mountains suspended in the void.

Unlike defensive platforms, they are not aggressive, but they exude a different kind of suffocating pressure.

All of these ark-building projects have now pushed their detection capabilities to the limit.

The massive array of oracles was fully deployed, like a giant beast opening all its sensory organs. Instead of scanning the interior of the galaxy, it focused all its attention on a specific direction several light-years away—the solar system.

These powerful sensor arrays have multiple modes and functions, and their detection range and accuracy far exceed those of conventional Imperial Navy ships.

At this moment, they were adjusted to a long-range, high-precision space situational awareness mode, with their target being the designated airspace near Mars' orbit.

They weren't waiting for a signal, but rather to witness it firsthand, recording the moment the test ship broke free of warp drive and appeared at the edge of Proxima Centauri with the most direct data.

The core processors of each Forging Ark are running at high speed, analyzing near-real-time spatial readings from distant galaxies.

They are tracking the spacetime ripples left by the test ship as it entered warp drive—ripples that should theoretically be extremely faint but do exist—and attempting to predict its precise coordinates and time window of arrival.

Throughout the Proxima Centauri system, from the anxious officials in the surface cities to the Forging Arks in orbit pushing their probes to their peak power, everyone was caught in a near-frozen wait.

Time passed by second by second, each second seemingly stretched out.

Sudden--

On the main detection array screen of the "Immortal Forge", near a preset coordinate point, spatial parameters underwent a drastic and unnatural change.

At almost the same moment, the highly sensitive spacetime instrument on the "Precision Engineering Exemplar" also detected the exact same abnormal reading.

The next second, at the edge of the Proxima Centauri system, in that void that was firmly locked onto by all the detectors, space distorted and rippled violently, like the surface of water tossed with a stone.

There was no deafening roar, no blinding burst of energy, only the silent lament of space.

Immediately afterwards, the test ship, with its sleek lines and strange engine mounted at the stern, abruptly and without warning "emerged" from the center of that distorted space, as if it had always been there, only just emerged from its cloaking state.

It worked!
Almost the instant the test ship materialized, a pre-prepared, encrypted confirmation signal was emitted from within it, simultaneously captured by all Forging Arks and the system's defense network. At the same time, the psionic spire located within the Speaker Sanctuary on Proxima Centauri's main star received the psionic beacon confirmation code from the test ship.

The Star Speaker presiding over the ceremony dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately devoted all his energy to the task. A psionic shriek carrying the concise message "Test successful, safe arrival" pierced through the veil of warp space and shot precisely toward the direction of Holy Terra at a speed far exceeding the speed of light.

The wait for Proxima Centauri has come to an end.

The result has been revealed.
-
This confirmation message from the Proxima Centauri system was captured almost instantly by the psionic array within the solar system and immediately presented to the Martian Council and the "Eternal Expedition".

In fact, thanks to the powerful Ornithometer array, the Mars team detected the space signal indicating that the test spacecraft had successfully escaped warp drive almost simultaneously with observers in the Proxima Centauri system.

However, the impact of cold observational data is completely different from that of this psionic message that transcends subspace and unequivocally proclaims "success".

"Success..."

This word was like a spark falling into scalding hot oil, instantly igniting the entire fire.

From the giant shipyards on orbit to the deepest casting temples on Earth, from the highest-ranking sages to the lowest-ranking servile laborers, all individuals connected to the data stream or information channel perceived this result at the same moment.

Uncontrollable binary cheers spread through the data network at a speed almost like a virus, with countless mechanical tones expressing shock and ecstasy in their own ways. Even the unchanging, regular, low mechanical roars seemed to have taken on a more exciting rhythm.

This is a technological breakthrough that could overturn the history of navigation for thousands of years, and is clear proof of the glory of Omnisiah!
At the same time, after this celestial message arrived, the Holy Terra also stirred up an invisible, towering wave.

The High Lords' Council, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Military Affairs... all the centers of power received this briefing in a very short time.

This is not merely another successful verification of a new technology; it signifies a fundamental reshaping of the empire's power structure, military logistics, and territorial control model.

Some saw hope, some felt threatened, and others began frantically calculating their own position in the new game.

This intense emotional upheaval sweeping across the real universe, along with the technological breakthroughs themselves challenging the laws of physics, is like throwing a mountain into the surging tides of subspace.

A malevolent warp storm, directed at the Empire and at this successful test, began to brew and gather at an unprecedented speed. The churning blasphemous energy attempted to break through the veil of reality, bringing curses and chaos to the jubilant Mars and Terra.

However, just as this chaotic power was about to unleash a tangible impact—

That cold sun, eternally burning in the subspace and guiding humanity, the source of the starlight, the embodiment of the Emperor's will, suddenly erupted with a blazing light far exceeding its usual intensity, like a supernova explosion.

This light was not warm, but carried an absolute, unquestionable majesty and power.

It was like an invisible giant sword, or an indestructible dam, sweeping across with overwhelming force, instantly scattering, flattening, and reducing the newly formed, still-developing subspace storm to nothingness.

Several faint, angry, and frustrated roars echoed from the depths of the subspace before quickly fading into the endless chaos.

Clearly, some unspeakable entity attempted to interfere with or even stifle this technological breakthrough that could change the fate of humanity. However, the human ruler, seated on the golden throne, with his supreme will, once again shielded his people and the future of the empire from the malice of the High Heaven.

The revelry and upheaval in the real universe continue, while the brief clash in the warp has come to an end.

But all the powerful who sensed this invisible confrontation understood that this was only the beginning.

The success of the warp drive is like lighting a new campfire in a dark forest; its light can guide the way, but it will inevitably attract more and more dangerous predators.

The tide of change is unstoppable, and what follows will inevitably be even more severe challenges.

(End of this chapter)