Chapter 385: Commercial Negotiation
Inside the negotiation hall of the Martian Parliament, the torrent of binary data collided fiercely with unprecedented intensity.
The air was filled with the acrid smell of overloaded processors and the sickly sweet scent of rapidly circulating coolant.
The Forge World Alliance, headed by Vox, and the parliamentary delegation representing Martian orthodoxy launched a smokeless war that concerned the future.
Archmagos Vox sat in the center of the alliance. His multi-track chassis firmly anchored to the ground. The mechadendrites behind him no longer remained on standby; instead, like a nest of snakes ready to strike, their data interface tips were tightly connected to the temporarily erected cogitator arrays, processing massive amounts of legal clauses and historical cases at an astonishing speed.
His vocal unit no longer concealed itself. Directly using an amplified, powerful voice carrying a metallic resonance, he projected precisely coded binary arguments into the entire space:
"The current technical certification and production licensing system was established during the Unification Wars of Terra, aimed at integrating scattered technological forces to serve the grand goal of the Great Crusade. No one denies its historical achievements." Vox's opening remarks carried a steadiness of quoting classics, but then his tone abruptly changed, and the data stream became sharp and highly critical. "However, the Great Crusade is in the past, and the Imperium has also experienced the turmoil of the Great Heresy. This system has gradually ossified, becoming a shackle that hinders the dissemination of the Omnissiah's glory!"
He pulled up a series of data streams, pointing to the highlighted sections: "The standard Martian technical certification process takes an average of 35.7 standard Terran years. The rejection rate for new technology production licenses applied for by non-Martian direct Forge Worlds is as high as 62%, and among these, cases rejected due to 'non-critical deviations from format and standard templates' account for 85%!"
"This is the imprisonment of knowledge! This is the murder of production efficiency!" Magos Vladimir of Graia roared as he joined the conversation. His binary code was filled with the heavy impact, like a forging hammer striking, unique to his Forge World: "Graia optimized the heat dissipation efficiency of the Mark IV melta cannon, but because the energy circuit layout had a 3% variance from the Martian standard, it was deemed 'non-standard heresy' and banned from deployment! Is this reasonable?"
Magos Thorne of Lucius added with cold, scalpel-like precise code: "Data indicates that in the past three hundred years, the proportion of new technology projects independently developed by non-Martian Forge Worlds and ultimately passing certification is less than 5%. This is not because other worlds lack creativity, but because the current patent barriers and licensing system systematically strangle the diversity of technological development. We demand that all Forge Worlds enjoy indisputable patent ownership over the technologies they independently develop, and have the right to conduct limited technology sharing within the alliance without needing Martian approval!"
The Martian Chief Archmagos's response was like a cold codex: "The unification of technical standards is the cornerstone of ensuring the logistical support and equipment compatibility of the Imperium's armed forces. Any 'optimization' that deviates from the standard could bring unpredictable risks. As the guardian of the Omnissiah's will, Mars has the responsibility to maintain the purity and stability of technology."
"Stability? Or stagnation?" Vox counterattacked immediately, his mechadendrites drawing a sharp waveform representing questioning in the air: "When xenos fleets ravage the borders, and the whispers of Chaos echo in the Warp, we refuse an improvement that could increase shield efficiency by 5% because of a standard template formulated ten thousand years ago? Is this truly guarding, or is it pedantry?"
He scanned the Martian Magi present, his single human eye flashing with an all-seeing light: "Fellow Magi, you know perfectly well in your hearts. We gather here today ostensibly for the ownership of the warp engine. But its appearance is merely a mirror, reflecting the rust and cracks that have long covered this current chain of technology!"
"We are not trying to deny the contributions and status of Mars." Vox's voice slowed down slightly, but the power within it did not diminish in the slightest. "What we demand is 'openness' and 'sharing'. We demand breaking unnecessary monopolies and establishing a fairer and more efficient technological development and promotion alliance. Mars can retain the dominant right in the research and development of its core holy relics, but it should no longer extend its tentacles into every workshop of every Forge World, strangling every tiny spark of innovation."
The negotiations entered the most intense core zone.
The alliance's goal was clear: break the absolute monopoly of technical certification and production licensing, and establish the patent sovereignty of each Forge World over its own technology.
Mars, on the other hand, stubbornly held onto the two great banners of "unified standards" and "technological purity," refusing to yield.
The clash of binary language evolved into a word-by-word struggle over countless specific technical cases and historical regulations.
Data packets crisscrossed above the negotiation table like a dense rain of bullets; every parse was accompanied by a massive computational load.
Several low-ranking Tech-Priests were forced offline due to processor overload. Their mechanical bodies emitted piercing alarms and were swiftly dragged away from the scene by attendant servitors.
Just as both sides were deadlocked, Ryo's steady speech cut into this data storm.
"Fellow Magi," his vox-caster emitted precisely modulated binary code, "what we are arguing about here should not merely be the division of power."
Everyone's data interfaces simultaneously turned towards his direction.
Ryo's mechanical body projected a clear data stream onto the negotiation table: "According to existing records, the non-combat loss rate of Imperial Navy vessels due to Warp storms has risen by 17% over the past century. The average resupply delay time for frontier worlds has increased by 38 standard days."
His optical lenses swept over the Martian Magi present, his code carrying unquestionable technological authority: "The warp engine can effectively alleviate these problems. But if promotion is delayed due to patent disputes, every standard year delayed means more Imperial worlds will fall into isolation, and more ships will be lost in the Warp."
This statement plunged the negotiation hall into brief silence.
Ryo continued to transmit data: "I support the proposal that each Forge World enjoys patent rights over its own technology. This is not only about fairness, but also about efficiency. When every Forge World can freely research, develop, and optimize technology, the technological advancement speed of the entire Imperial Adeptus Mechanicus will achieve a qualitative leap."
He paused slightly, letting the data stream settle in everyone's processors: "As for the warp engine, it should become a demonstration—proving what kind of breakthroughs an open technological environment can bring. I suggest using this as an opportunity to establish a contribution-based technology sharing platform, rather than continuing to maintain an ossified monopoly system."
A brief disorder appeared in the Martian faction's data streams.
The Chief Archmagos's mechanical eyes flickered rapidly, clearly engaged in high-intensity computation.
Ryo's intervention perfectly pulled the argument from a pure game of interests back to the essential consideration of technological efficacy.
And the data he presented on the Imperium's current state made any delay under the excuse of "stability" appear pale.
Vox opportunely took over the program flow: "What Forge Magos Ryo said is exactly the stance of our alliance. Technological progress should serve the needs of the Imperium, not become a tool to maintain privileges."
Faced with the irrefutable technical data provided by Ryo and the rare united front of the Forge Worlds, the Martian delegation showed obvious wavering for the first time.
The data streams they transmitted were no longer as resolute as before, showing signs of weighing and calculating.