After sending off Maine's crew, who were busy gathering construction materials, and placing Sasha in cryogenic medical stasis, Osiris once again focused his attention on the dark gold dodecahedron—the Dimensional Teleporter.
Order and silence returned to the workshop, broken only by the low hum of equipment and the subtle whirring sounds of the servo-skulls scanning.
The energy core operated stably, providing him with ample power.
Having secured a relatively stable energy supply, Osiris had successfully completed the basic "charging" of the dimensional teleporter, and its internal energy readings had recovered to above a fundamental threshold.
Beneath the dark gold surface, the patterns, which seemed to flow like living things, flickered with brighter, more regular light.
But this did not mean he could activate it at will and embark on a spontaneous dimensional journey.
After this period of in-depth analysis, Osiris had a deeper understanding of this relic from the Dark Age of Technology.
"Random teleportation… the risk factor is too high, almost suicidal," he whispered to the servo-skull hovering beside him, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold surface of the teleporter.
The last accidental teleportation from the Warhammer Universe to this place was fortunate, but statistically low-probability events could not be used as a basis for action.
In the vast multiverse, the probability of falling into a stellar core, a high-gravity singularity, or the backyard of some dimensional evil god was far greater than finding a habitable world.
His research focus was on analyzing the coordinate data stored within the teleporter.
Through complex energy spectrum analysis and information reconstruction, he successfully isolated and initially deciphered two relatively stable coordinate parameters already recorded in the Dimensional Teleporter.
"Coordinate Alpha," Osiris called up the energy signature map of the first coordinate and compared it with the fundamental physical constants of the current cyberpunk world, "…Confirmed, this is the coordinate of the current world."
This verified that the teleporter had recording and positioning functions. So, the other coordinate… "Coordinate Beta," his optical lens focused on the second coordinate parameter, and data streams scrolled rapidly across his vision. The energy signature of this coordinate was even more… "noisy."
"…It is inferred that this coordinate has a 92.7% probability of pointing to my original Warhammer Universe."
The moment he reached this conclusion, a complex ripple spread through Osiris's core consciousness.
The Warhammer Universe, that desperate cesspit filled with endless wars, dark gods, racial extermination, and mad ideologies, was the place he had tried every means to escape.
Without the Dimensional Teleporter, returning would undoubtedly be the worst choice, a complete failure.
But… what if he could come and go freely?
This thought, like a flash of lightning through the darkness, gave him a completely new idea.
"If I can enter or leave at any time…" Osiris murmured softly, his mechanical tentacles lightly tapping the workbench, making a regular tapping sound: "Then, returning to the Warhammer Universe is no longer the worst choice, but could be a… highly valuable option."
For no other reason than that, while that universe was extremely dangerous, it also contained unimaginable technological treasures and vast military power.
As a Tech-Priest just one step away from the title of Sage, Osiris was not without resources in the Warhammer world.
He had his own laboratory, a certain number of Skitarii soldiers, loyal Servitor, and technical reserves and research results stored in a secure forge world in a certain star system.
During the last accidental teleportation, he was conducting a dangerous ruin excavation and could not carry all his assets with him.
If he could return to the Warhammer world and bring his personal property across with him, that would undoubtedly be a great boon, greatly enhancing his chances of survival in an unknown world.
After all, according to his latest research, the Dimensional Teleporter was not limited to teleporting him alone.
"Energy input and teleportation quality/volume are positively correlated," he called up the energy calculation formula, "As long as enough energy is provided, I can carry more matter across. A small Skitarii detachment, or even… more."
This prospect filled him with a cold excitement.
Carrying a loyal army equipped with advanced Warhammer world weapons for protection, and then venturing into other unknown worlds for exploration or "resource recovery," would lead to a qualitative leap in safety.
Rather than relying heavily on local mercenaries as he did now, which undoubtedly increased uncertainty and risk.
His ambition expanded further.
If he could solve the energy problem and gain more powerful teleportation capabilities, then the goal would no longer be just a Skitarii army.
"A cruiser-class forge ship…" Osiris's mind conjured the outline of the Imperial Navy's massive, ferocious, mobile fortress-like warships.
What power it would be to possess his own forge ship, capable of interdimensional travel!
This meant he could bring an entire mobile base into other worlds, possessing powerful firepower, production lines, and absolute security.
Even when facing high-risk worlds, he would have enough confidence.
At that time, the meaning of interdimensional teleportation would completely change.
From a means of being forced to randomly teleport to find a way home, it would transform into an active, powerful strategic tool.
He could scavenge technology and resources from other relatively "safe" worlds, then bring them back to the Warhammer world to exchange for higher status, more resources, and more powerful technology.
The Warhammer Universe's rigid but profoundly deep technological foundation, combined with the imaginative tech trees of other worlds, might spark unexpected innovations, and even help him gain unprecedented influence within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Of course, all of this was based on two foundations: complete control over the Dimensional Teleporter, and almost limitless energy.
The renovation of the underground base was to create a safe and stable research environment, to thoroughly decipher the mysteries of the teleporter, especially how to more precisely locate new coordinates and how to safely construct teleportation channels.
And energy was the cornerstone of realizing all ambitions.
He glanced at the quietly hovering Dimensional Teleporter; its dark gold casing seemed to hold infinite possibilities.
Returning to the Warhammer world was no longer the end he feared, but potentially a new beginning full of opportunities.
What he needed to do was prepare enough "luggage"—an army, resources, technology—and then cautiously push open that door to the sea of stars.
The servo-skull quietly recorded its master's current contemplation and planning, the blue light in its eye sockets flickering steadily, like a calm star in the night sky.