19: Global Shield

The scanning beam was like an invisible tentacle, brushing over the cold, heavy metal casing of the stc storage box. Dust danced in the light, making the ancient, worn Adeptus Mechanicus imprints appear even more mysterious. Han Zhe held his breath, the exhaustion throughout his body seemingly dispelled at this moment by immense anticipation and tension. At the edge of his vision, the system's analytical data stream refreshed like a waterfall.

[Preliminary scan complete. Casing material: High-density Promethium alloy composite armor, infused with trace amounts of an unknown psychic-suppression metal (remnants of a weak psychic neutralization field detected). Structure: Multi-layered composite, including physical buffering, constant temperature, electromagnetic shielding, and... detected abnormally high-strength, multi-layered nested information encryption and logic-lock structures. Encryption method: Non-standard, a mixture of Adeptus Mechanicus Binary Cant, physical quantum entanglement keys, and... suspected Warp conceptual anchoring. Extremely complex.]

[Warning: Encountered an unknown shielding layer when attempting deeper data stream probing. This shielding layer not only blocks conventional electromagnetic and particle scans but also displays strong... omni-information suppression characteristics. All scans attempting to detect the specific data content or storage media inside the box are distorted, absorbed, or reflected. Preliminary judgment: This STC module comes with (or had attached during packaging) some kind of extremely advanced ‘Omni-Shielding’ mechanism.]

Omni-Shielding? Han Zhe was taken aback. This sounded more like a protective or concealment measure rather than the blueprints or technical data a typical stc fragment might contain.

“System, continue the analysis! Focus: What is the technical principle behind this ‘Omni-Shielding’? What is its range and target? Is it only for external detection, or is it... bidirectional? Also, try to analyze the psychic suppression field on the surface of the box; is there a connection with this shielding?”

[Deep analysis initiated... Retrieving extremely rare records of similar phenomena from the database... Comparing scan data...]

[Technical principle speculation: Based on a subversive application of the laws of basic physical information transmission. It not only suppresses conventional information carriers like electromagnetic waves and neutrinos but also demonstrates an ability to interfere with ‘quantum state correlations’ and ‘spacetime background information ripples.’ In other words, it attempts to briefly ‘detach’ or ‘blur’ the protected target from the ‘information network’ of the conventional universe.]

[Shielding range: Based on energy residue and structural analysis, theoretically, when fully activated, this shielding can take effect within a spherical space of an unknown (possibly vast) radius centered on the box. It is currently in a low-power or damaged maintenance state, but the residual effects remain powerful enough to interfere with our close-range deep scans.]

[Shielding target: Preliminarily judged as ‘non-directional Omni-Shielding.’ It blocks both external detection of the interior (such as our scans) and potential internal information leaks (such as the specific energy signatures or Warp echoes that the STC data itself might emit). It may even... to a certain extent, interfere with or weaken Warp-based detection, communication, and even the effects of certain psychic powers.]

[psychic suppression field analysis: Deeply coupled with the Omni-Shielding structure. It is not a simple psychic barrier, but rather treats psychic energy as a special ‘information/energy form,’ incorporating it into the shielding scope for ‘noise reduction’ or ‘refraction.’ Both may be based on the same core technical principle.]

Anti-Warp? Anti-detection? It could even interfere with psychic powers?

Han Zhe's heart skipped a beat. This was no simple engineering auxiliary module! This was a goddamn core technical fragment of strategic-level information warfare and anti-psychic equipment! Or rather, this STC module itself was a blueprint for an “omni-shield fragment”!

In a universe like Warhammer, where the Warp is ubiquitous, psychic detection and counter-detection are constant, and the struggle for information is white-hot, the value of such a thing... was immeasurable! It might be more precious than a battleship! No, it was precious on an entirely different level!

After the initial ecstasy came a deeper chill. Why would something like this be hidden in the wreckage of what looked like an ordinary engineering ship or a small cargo barge? Was it a secret shipment? An accidental loss? Or... a relic left after a silencing? Whichever it was, it meant that behind it could lie a power struggle involving the high levels of the Imperium, the internal factions of the Adeptus Mechanicus, or even darker forces. Once this thing was exposed, forget about him having only one SCV; even if he had a whole fleet, he would likely be crushed into powder by the various factions swarming in.

It cannot be exposed. Absolutely, positively cannot be exposed! He couldn't even let anyone know this thing had ever existed!

He looked at the metal box lying quietly on the platform, feeling that it was no longer a treasure, but a thermonuclear bomb on an informational level that could explode at any moment.

“System, assessment: With our current capabilities, is there a way to safely open this box and attempt to read or absorb the STC data inside? Note: The prerequisite is that it must absolutely not trigger any possible external alarms or information leakage mechanisms, especially not causing any abnormal fluctuations on the Warp level.”

[Risk assessment is extremely high. The box's encryption and shielding structures are integrated. Any forced physical opening or attempt to bypass the logic locks could damage the integrity of the shielding, leading to an instantaneous leak of the STC data signature (even if only for a split second), or trigger a preset self-destruct or alarm mechanism (the possibility exists).]

[Recommendation: Before possessing more powerful information processing capabilities, a more complete shielding environment, and a deeper understanding of Adeptus Mechanicus encryption methods, no invasive operations should be conducted. Current best strategy: Maintain the status quo and keep the box safely as a ‘special item.’ Utilizing its built-in residual shielding field may provide a degree of passive information concealment for our fledgling base.]