107: Enemies from multiple directions

"The final debugging of the 'anchoring' system on 'Hermes-3' is complete. The first full-power startup will take place in three hours." The Chief Engineer's voice rang out in the long-silent command center, carrying a rasp of desperate determination.

On the holographic star map, the point representing the Forge World 'Hermes-3' was now covered by dense energy flow lines and defense array markers, looking like a brain encased in metallic nerves and armor. Over the past few weeks, this star system had been like a giant beast being continuously bled; all productivity, resources, and even the vitality of the population had been forcibly pumped into that increasingly magnificent 'Wonder of order.' On the ground, towering stabilization towers pierced the sky stained red by industrial exhaust; in orbit, the ring-shaped network of energy conduits resembled a god's crown of thorns. The atmosphere of the entire system was suppressed to the extreme, as if even the starlight feared the impending release of unknown energy.

"The 'Men of Iron' have not reappeared since the 'Pioneer-14' encounter," the intelligence officer reported, though his tone was far from relaxed. "However, the 'Order Network' has monitored seven similar abnormal 'deep reality crevice' openings in the Imperial Collapse Zone, the edge of the Eye of Terror, and several remote sectors. The signatures are identical to those when the 'Men of Iron' appeared. They are... active frequently, with unknown objectives."

Cold logical constructs moved like ghosts through the shadows of the galaxy, executing "optimization" instructions that no one understood.

"The unconscious whispering and dancing phenomenon among the crew of the 'far gaze' has intensified." The report from the Extragalactic system added another layer of gloom. "In the isolation research station, when more than twenty crew members whisper in synchronization, a brief but obvious 'Orderly Deflection' of reality parameters occurs in the surrounding space. We can even observe faint projections resembling the light of 'custodian-alpha.' The beacon emission intensity of the 'sanctuary unit' has increased by 300%, and its directionality is more precise—within the Milky Way, although the coordinates are still blurred, the probability of the 'Wall of Sighs' direction has risen to 87%."

Marked crew members, a continuously strengthening beacon, and a clear pointer to the 'Wall of Sighs'... That mysterious 'Order Network' seemed to be advancing its 'Repair Process' step by step, and both the 'Human Federation' and the 'far gaze' had become 'tools' or 'signal sources' used in this process.

"In the worst-case scenario, the 'sanctuary unit' beacon might not be calling for allies," Alpha-01 analyzed coldly, "but providing precise coordinates of us 'nodes' or 'error samples' for 'Network Cleanup Programs' or 'Repair Tools' like the 'Men of Iron'."

This deduction caused the temperature in the command center to plummet. They might not just be monitored, but 'located,' potentially facing 'purification' based on absolute, cold logic at any moment.

"After the 'anchoring' system starts, can it shield or interfere with this 'Conceptual Beacon'?" Han Zhe asked the technical team.

"Theoretically, the Strong Order Field generated by 'anchoring' will distort the information transmission basis of local reality, potentially interfering with the beacon's propagation," the Chief Technologist answered cautiously. "But we cannot guarantee complete shielding, and the interference might trigger a more violent reaction from the beacon source (sanctuary unit) or the receiver (unknown)."

Risk and opportunity coexisted. Starting 'anchoring' was a necessity to build an island of self-preservation, but it could also be a beacon announcing their position to unknown entities.

"The dependency symptoms of 'nirvana' project citizens on the 'anchoring' energy field continue to spread," the Minister of Social Integration added to the internal unease. "Initial estimates show that over three hundred thousand Adjusters on 'Hermes-3' exhibit varying degrees of 'Field Dependency Syndrome.' Leaving the range of the Strong Order Field for more than seventy-two hours results in physiological decline and symptoms of mental anchoring loss; severe cases can lead to cognitive collapse. They are... being 'bound' to this system."

The system was shaping its users, just as a mold shapes clay. The new citizens of the 'Human Federation' were, genetically and psychologically, merging with 'anchoring' and the 'custodian' behind it.

"The startup plan remains unchanged." Han Zhe's voice broke the stagnation, not with passion, but with unquestionable decisiveness. "We have no way back. 'anchoring' is our shield, whether or not the shield itself has thorns. All units, prepare according to the final contingency plan. 'the arbiter' and the 'Blade' main fleet will form the first line of defense on the outskirts of 'Hermes-3,' staying alert for any interference from Chaos or the 'Men of Iron.' The 'Ark World' will enter maximum alert, with all defense arrays online."

The orders, like cold molten steel, were poured into every functioning nerve of the 'Human Federation.' The massive war machine held its breath, waiting for those fateful 'three hours.'

Countdown, start.

"Final system self-check complete. All energy conduit pressures are normal. Feedback from the 'custodian-alpha' interface: status stable, logic core calm, no abnormal activity detected." The Chief Engineer's report came at the final moment.

"Begin startup sequence." Han Zhe stood before the central command console, his gaze calmly fixed on the magnificent and cold system structural diagram on the main screen.

"Level One Power Core activated."

"Concept Stabilization Matrix warming up."

"Planetary-Scale Field Generator charging initiated."

"Orbital Energy Rings synchronized startup."

"Connecting to 'custodian-alpha'—connection stable."

Confirmation commands rang out in the channel one after another, like a gradually accelerating heartbeat. On the star map, the energy readings of 'Hermes-3' began to climb exponentially, and the background radiation levels of the entire system fluctuated violently.

"Full system energy load has reached the critical point. Initiating final command—"

"Start."

There was no deafening roar, no pillar of light piercing the sea of stars.

In that instant, it was as if the entire 'Hermes-3' system... stopped 'breathing'.

Immediately following, an invisible but omnipresent 'change' instantly immersed every inch of space within the system like flowing mercury. Distorted starlight was 'straightened,' chaotic electromagnetic backgrounds were 'smoothed,' and the pervasive Warp whispers were completely 'silenced.' Everyone within—whether 'nirvana' citizens, unadjusted civilians, or 'Human Federation' soldiers—felt a strange sense of 'clarity' and 'solidity,' as if an invisible burden they had always carried had suddenly vanished, and their souls and bodies had returned to the 'correct' position.

Monitoring data jumped wildly: Reality Stability—99.7%! Warp Permeation Rate—0.01%! Concept Pollution Index—Zero!

Success! A domain over ten light-minutes in diameter of near 'Absolute Order' had been forcibly created in the Chaos-ravaged galaxy!

"The 'anchoring' system is running stably! Performance has reached 120% of design expectations!" The Chief Engineer's voice trembled with ecstasy.

However, the ecstasy lasted for less than thirty seconds.

"Activity in the 'custodian-alpha' logic core is rising sharply!" a monitoring scientist screamed. "It... it is actively reading all operational data of the 'anchoring' system and performing ultra-high-speed information interaction with the 'Ark World' core database! It is... it is 'learning' the control rights of the entire system and... our civilization data!"

Almost simultaneously, providence issued an unprecedentedly sharp alarm:

[Warning! High-dimensional information resonance detected! Source: 'custodian-alpha'! Resonance frequency is perfectly synchronized with the 'sanctuary unit' beacon, the 'Wall of Sighs' signal source, and three other newly identified faint nodes! The 'custodian' is becoming a temporary relay point and... information convergence focus for the 'Order Network'!]

[Warning! The Strong Order Field generated by the 'anchoring' system is being guided by 'custodian' logic, undergoing adaptive deflection! Deflection target: enhancing identification and rejection capabilities against specific 'Chaos Conceptual Structures' and 'Non-standard Reality Existences' (suspected to point to 'Men of Iron' technical signatures)! The system is evolving from a 'Passive Stabilization Field' to an 'Active Identification and Purification Field'! This process is not under our direct control!]

"It's using the 'anchoring' system to strengthen itself and connect to that 'network'!" The Chief Technologist's face turned pale. "It's also redefining the aggressiveness of the 'order Field' based on 'threat data' that the 'network' might be providing!"

Before the words finished, something even more terrifying happened.

"Ultra-large-scale Warp jump signals detected! Position: Outskirts of 'Hermes-3' system, Sector L-7! Signal signatures... mixed! Confirmed to include: Black Legion capital ship 'Vengeful Spirit' identification signal! Nurgle demon ship 'Plague Ark' signature! Tzeentchian Change Fleet energy patterns! And... a large number of unidentifiable 'deep reality crevice' disturbances similar to when the 'Men of Iron' appeared!"

Chaos and the 'Men of Iron' had actually... appeared simultaneously?! And their target was directed straight at 'Hermes-3,' where the 'anchoring' system had just been started!

"The 'Vengeful Spirit' is broadcasting a full-spectrum blasphemous transmission: 'Interesting toy... but order shall ultimately return to the embrace of the Father!'"

"The 'Plague Ark' is releasing a cloud of corrupt spirit-mist that blots out the sky!"

"Tzeentchian sorcery detected attempting to parse the 'anchoring' field structure!"

"In Sector L-7, four 'deep reality crevice' fissures have opened simultaneously! The 'Men of Iron' fleet size... is more than ten times that of the 'Pioneer-14' encounter! Their target... is also the 'anchoring' system core!"

The filthy flood of Chaos and the cold matrix of the 'Men of Iron,' like two deadly meteors from completely different directions, smashed simultaneously toward 'Hermes-3,' this newly lit 'Lonesome Star of order'!

"All defense units, enter maximum combat status! 'the arbiter,' move forward to intercept the Chaos main force! 'Blade' fleet, split forces to block the 'Men of Iron'!" Alpha-01's roar exploded in the channel. "Ground 'anchoring' facilities, activate all point-defense systems! Engineering teams, protect the core generator at all costs!"

War, at the very moment the light of 'anchoring' was lit, broke out in the most brutal and chaotic manner!

The fire from the Chaos Fleet was like a filthy downpour; blasphemous energy beams and corrosive spore clouds swept through the void. The attacks of the 'Men of Iron' were even more eerie and lethal; silent 'Conceptual Deconstruction Fields' and precise 'Logic Bombs' (an information attack that causes the target system's logic to become self-contradictory) created patches of deadly 'blankness' and chaos within the 'Human Federation' fleet formations.

"Charge the 'Reality Reconstruction Cannon'! Target: the broadside of the 'Vengeful Spirit'!" Alpha-01 stood on the bridge of 'the arbiter,' his eyes like Blades. Dark gold 'Conceptual Ripples' spread once more, precisely hitting that massive black flagship. However, this time, the effect of 'Reality Reconstruction' was greatly reduced! A thick Chaos psychic barrier, mixed with the wails of countless souls, rose from the surface of the 'Vengeful Spirit,' violently canceling out the 'order Negation' pulse. Although the barrier was weakened and the hull armor showed large areas of 'conceptual corrosion,' it was far from being paralyzed.

"The resistance of the Chaos capital ship to conceptual attacks is stronger than estimated!" the technical officer reported urgently.

On the other side, facing the 'Men of Iron,' the 'Human Federation' fleet was in an even harder struggle. The effects of the 'Conceptual Disintegration-Material Resonance Compound Cannon' were inconsistent; the enemy seemed able to quickly adapt and adjust their defense frequencies. Meanwhile, the 'Conceptual Deconstruction Field' of the 'Men of Iron' was extremely threatening to the ships of the 'Human Federation'; every successful hit meant the complete 'evaporation' of a ship or defense platform.

"The 'anchoring' system reports: the Strong Order Field is being eroded from multiple angles by Chaos sorcery and 'Men of Iron' logical attacks! Field stability has dropped to 91%!" The Chief Engineer's voice carried despair. "'custodian-alpha' is mobilizing system energy to counterattack, but it is also enduring a massive influx of information from the 'network.' Its logic core temperature is rising rapidly! It... it might not be able to handle attacks and pressure from so many directions simultaneously!"