18: STC template found

An indescribable surge of excitement and accomplishment instantly washed away all of Han Zhe's fatigue. He practically stumbled over, throwing himself against the cold armored legs of the SCV, his palms stroking the rough and solid metal surface.

This wasn't some piece of junk cobbled together like "scavenger no. 1." This was a real Space Construction Vehicle produced by the cross-universe troop-spawning system, representing industrial power and infinite possibilities! It was his first "soldier"!

With it, resource gathering would become efficient and safe! Building a base would no longer be a mere fantasy!

"pioneer-01, initiate self-check, then... attempt to move and test the tool arms." Han Zhe's voice trembled.

The sensors on the SCV's head turned toward him, emitting the faint hum of rotating servo motors. A synthesized, neutral electronic voice spoke through the temporary speakers on the platform (attached to the "sunflower"): "Command confirmed. Executing self-check... Power system: Normal. Movement system: Normal. Tool system: Normal. Communication link: Stable. Beginning movement test."

The wheels at the base of its four mechanical legs turned slowly, driving the heavy body forward. It was a bit stiff at first, but it soon became smooth. It moved and turned slowly within a flat area of about ten square meters; while its movements weren't as agile as the blueprint described, they were exceptionally steady.

Next, the Magnetic Gripper Arm on the left unfolded. The three-fingered claw at its tip precisely picked up a piece of scrap metal from the ground, held it steadily, and then gently set it down. A blinding white light ignited at the tip of the Cutting-Welding Torch Arm on the right; aimed at the edge of another metal plate, it emitted a thin but high-temperature laser beam that silently sliced a smooth cut through the metal.

Everything was normal! Fully functional!

Han Zhe couldn't help but laugh out loud, even though the sound was muffled inside his spacesuit helmet and even caused him to cough. It was worth it! All the risks, all the sacrifices, all the suffering—at this moment, it was all worth it!

"System, using 'pioneer-01' as the starting point, immediately begin the first step of base construction: use local materials to reinforce and expand the D-4 Platform, transforming it into a safe primary operations platform and temporary shelter! Prioritize using the platform's own metal resources!"

[Command received. 'pioneer-01', initiating Base Construction Protocol: Phase One - Platform Reinforcement and Expansion. Task allocation: Scan for structural weaknesses in the platform, gather usable metal, perform welding reinforcement, and level the work area.]

The sensors of "pioneer-01" scanned the surroundings, quickly locking onto several weak spots at the platform's edge where fractures had occurred, as well as some appropriately sized metal debris scattered nearby. It took steady strides and began to work. The Magnetic Gripper Arm nimbly picked up metal chunks, while the Cutting-Welding Torch Arm sprayed a hot welding arc, fusing new materials onto the original structure. The glow of molten metal and the spray of welding slag traced brief and brilliant arcs in the darkness of space.

Watching the SCV begin to remodel the environment like a tireless worker ant, Han Zhe felt a sense of reassurance like never before. He had finally taken a solid first step in transitioning from a survivor struggling to stay alive to a builder and owner.

He sat back down next to the "sunflower" and opened his spacesuit helmet. (He had already established a basic pressurized and temperature-controlled environment here using a temporary airtight tent—quickly cobbled together from leftover materials—which, though crude, was enough to let him take off his helmet and catch his breath.) He took out his water bottle and took a precious small sip. The feeling of fresh water sliding down his throat had never been so wonderful.

Next, he would use the SCV's efficiency to frantically gather resources, accumulate points, unlock more blueprints, and build more facilities... The life support issue had to be solved as soon as possible, either by repairing the escape pod's systems or by establishing an independent life support unit on the D-4 Platform.

Just as he was planning for the future and watching "pioneer-01" work diligently, the system suddenly sent an unexpected notification:

['pioneer-01' reports: An anomalous cavity was discovered while cutting a reinforcement beam inside the platform. Non-standard metal structures and faint residual energy have been detected inside. Requesting further instructions.]

An anomalous cavity? Han Zhe's spirits lifted. "pioneer-01, cease current operations. Scan the internal structure of the cavity, attempt a non-destructive probe, and assess the risks."

The SCV stopped welding, retracted the cutting-welding torch on its right arm, and replaced it with a slender probe arm equipped with various sensors. It carefully inserted the probe into the cut gap to perform a scan.

A few minutes later, new data was transmitted back.

[Scan complete. Cavity dimensions: approximately 2m x 1m x 0.8m. Internal structure: A well-sealed, standard-sized metal box (approx. 1.5m x 0.8m x 0.6m) was found. The box surface bears Adeptus Mechanicus seals and markings. Markings are partially worn but identifiable keywords include: 'STC (Standard Template Construct) - Fragment/Copy - Engineering Auxiliary Module - Storage No.: Gamma-776...'. The box emits no active energy signals, but there is faint, shielded background radiation consistent with STC data storage core characteristics. The box is connected to complex, defunct buffering and securing devices, suggesting it was an item secretly kept or transported by this vessel (or the vessel the platform originally belonged to).]

An STC?!

Han Zhe bolted upright, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst through his chest!

A Standard Template Construct! In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, these were the technological crystallization of the Imperium of Man's Dark Age of Technology! Any single fragment was worth a fortune, enough to trigger a war! The Adeptus Mechanicus revered them as holy relics!

And he had actually discovered a box suspected of containing an stc fragment inside such a piece of junk, an anonymous wreck of a platform! And it was related to an Engineering Auxiliary Module!

What did this mean? It meant his troop-spawning system might have the chance to directly analyze, absorb, or even complete the technology within this stc fragment! It meant he might gain construction techniques that were far more efficient and advanced than the blueprints currently unlocked by the system! It might even be technology that the Imperium had already lost!

Immense joy and a simultaneous surge of wariness filled his mind. An STC was a good thing, but it was also a hot potato—a massive temptation and a potential source of disaster. The Adeptus Mechanicus's obsession with STCs was fanatical; if any word leaked out, it could bring down a pursuit beyond his imagination.

But... it was right here. Within his reach.

"pioneer-01," Han Zhe's voice was raspy with excitement, "carefully... very carefully, extract that box... in its entirety. Do not damage the casing, especially the seals and markings. Move gently."

"Command confirmed. Executing precision extraction operation."

The SCV adjusted its tool arms, switching to more precise gripping and cutting tools. Like performing surgery, it meticulously cleared away the residual structures and buffering materials around the box. Then, using steady pressure, it slowly and smoothly... dragged the metal box, which had been sealed away for who knows how many years, out of the hidden cavity.

The surface of the box was covered in a thick layer of cosmic dust and oxidation, but the Adeptus Mechanicus's cog-and-skull emblem and that blurred yet vital "STC" lettering were still clearly discernible. On one corner of the box was a complex sealing device combining electronic and physical locks, now dark and lifeless, clearly having failed due to age or the destruction of the ship.

Han Zhe walked up to the box, his fingers trembling slightly as he brushed away the surface dust. A cold sensation met his touch, carrying the weight of history and endless possibilities.

He glanced at "pioneer-01," which was waiting for instructions nearby, then at the two listless suns in the sky, and finally, his gaze fell back onto this suddenly appearing metal box that could change everything.

Base construction had just begun, and he had already stumbled upon an unexpected "treasure."

Was it a blessing? Or a curse?

He didn't know. But he knew he had to open it.

"System," he took a deep breath, "prepare for a deep scan and analysis. Target: stc storage box. Attempt non-invasive detection of internal structures and data storage status. Assess the... possibility of interaction or analysis with our system."

[Command confirmed. Initiating maximum priority scan protocol... Connecting to 'pioneer-01' sensors for collaborative analysis...]

Deep blue scanning beams emitted simultaneously from the SCV's probe and the sensors built into Han Zhe's spacesuit (he had put his helmet back on), enveloping the mysterious metal box.

The gears of fate seemed to have begun a new, unpredictable turn because of this accidentally discovered stc fragment. And in this forgotten debris belt, beside a tiny spark lit by a transmigrator and his system, a golden spark had quietly fallen—one that might just ignite a prairie fire.