Chapter 476: Intelligence
"I understand," Elias's voice stabilized, carrying a methodical clarity unique to technical reports. "The information I possess is primarily divided into three major categories: structural layout, defensive systems, and... the highest threat protocol."
He walked over to the desk. Instead of immediately unrolling the blueprints, he used his finger to trace phantom outlines on the dusty surface of the table.
"In terms of structural layout, I have the detailed spatial architecture of the core zone where the 'Ancestral Core' is located, as well as the connecting primary corridors and the ventilation systems."
"This includes the locations of entrances and exits on each level, the types of blast doors, and some of the narrow maintenance crawlspaces." Elias paused slightly, seemingly trying to recall. "This information primarily comes from the logs I made when I was still allowed to participate in the Core's maintenance work."
"Most of the foundational structures should not have changed, but I am not certain if any adjustments have been made recently."
He continued, his tone becoming more cautious: "Regarding the defensive systems, this includes the routine patrol routes of the Core Guards, the distribution of fixed sentry posts, the identity verification clearance levels for all major checkpoints, the coverage range of the surveillance pict-casters, and a few observational blind spots formed by aging equipment and structural obstructions."
"It also includes the locations of several primary defensive turrets connected to the Core's energy source and the specific distribution of their energy supply nodes."
"This information," he added, "partially comes from my daily observational logs, and the rest from conversations with personnel at other posts."
"Information like patrol routes and sentry distributions is usually adjusted by the House periodically."
"What I have recorded is the situation from over a year ago, so there may have been changes."
"However, the information regarding the energy nodes originates from the energy matrix blueprints I had access to at the time. These foundational architectures should not be easily altered."
Speaking up to here, he paused and looked up at Ryo to ensure the other party was focused on receiving the information.
"Finally, there is the 'Final Oath' protocol." Elias's voice subconsciously dropped lower. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, carrying a reverence and fear that penetrated deep into his marrow. "This is the highest secret passed down through generations of the House. Only the Patriarch and the Guardian Elders know the complete details."
He paused for a moment, as if weighing his words, his eyes involuntarily glancing toward the door to confirm the soundproofing was adequate.
"I only know that when facing an irresistible foreign invasion and the Core is on the verge of falling, the Patriarch has the authority to activate this protocol. Once executed..." He took a deep breath. "It will overload the energy connection nodes between the Core and all primary defensive systems, triggering... an uncontrollable chain reaction."
Elias's fingertips unconsciously traced the trajectory of an explosive blast on the desk: "This is not merely meant to destroy the Core itself. It is to ensure that any enemy attempting to seize it will ultimately only obtain a radioactive wasteland."
"It is said that its yield is sufficient to wipe the entirety of Junktown off the map."
His voice grew softer and softer, as if afraid of being overheard by some invisible entity: "Regarding the specific trigger mechanisms and energy routing, I only have some fragmented speculations."
"These speculations come from the incomplete records left behind by my late father, as well as the few words he uttered on his deathbed."
"The reliability of this portion of the information... I cannot completely guarantee."
He raised his head, his gaze filled with earnestness and unease: "But what I can be certain of is that this protocol absolutely exists, and its threat level is without a doubt at the highest tier."
"My father once saw the device prepared for activating the protocol with his own eyes. It was during a Core overload incident when he was forced to enter a zone that is usually absolutely forbidden to approach."
Ryo listened quietly. His processing cores synchronously categorized and conducted a preliminary risk assessment of Elias's overview.
The scope of the information met expectations. Especially the mention of the "Final Oath" protocol—although the details were blurry, its very existence was a critical strategic variable.
"The overview is clear. The information holds reference value for preliminary operations," Ryo made his judgment. "Now, display the details you possess. Prioritize marking the precise location of the STC, guard deployments, vulnerabilities in the surveillance systems, and energy relay nodes."
Elias hesitated no longer. He quickly retrieved those meticulously kept blueprints and data slates from their hiding place.
He unrolled the largest hand-drawn structural map onto the desk. The blueprint clearly marked the path leading deep into the core zone of the ship's bow.
"Here," his finger tapped a zone at the very center of the blueprint, heavily guarded by multiple concentric circles and overlapping fields of fire symbols. "This is the exact location of the 'Ancestral Core', which we call the Core Sanctum."
"It is located at the axial terminus of the bow wreckage, roughly fifty meters underground."
He then traced the tip of his pen across the map: "The permanent guard force consists of four men at the entrance of the Core Sanctum, and two men inside the internal control room."
"All are members of the Core Guard, heavily armed."
"Shift changes occur on the hour, standard time. The handover process lasts for three minutes, during which the entrance guard presence drops to two men."
"The surveillance system covers all primary corridors and entrances, leaving virtually no visual blind spots."
He drew a small circle near a branching path leading to a backup ventilation shaft. "But here, three pict-casters in this zone suffer from degraded wiring and interference from condensation leaks above. Their signals are frequently intermittent, resulting in cyclical, brief surveillance failures, each lasting about fifteen to twenty seconds."
"This is the most obvious known 'blind spot', but it is extremely unstable."
Then, his pen tip moved toward several specific locations surrounding the perimeter of the Core Sanctum. These positions were connected to the core zone and several large defensive turrets marked on the blueprint via thick energy conduit symbols.
"Most importantly, these energy relay nodes." Elias's tone was exceptionally grave. "They are not only the key to distributing the energy matrix's power to the various turrets, but more importantly, they are directly connected to the stable output circuits of the 'Ancestral Core'."
"Once these nodes are overloaded or destroyed, it will not only cause the corresponding turrets to fail but is highly likely to trigger a direct energy feedback to the Core, and even... potentially trigger the conditional parameters of the 'Final Oath' protocol."
He raised his head, looking at Ryo's unflinching optical lenses, articulating every word clearly: "The leader of the House, Patriarch Van Saar III, as well as the Guardian Elders, hold the final override to directly detonate these nodes in an emergency, overloading the Core and all primary defense systems to perish together with any invaders."
"This is the final measure to ensure the Core never falls into outsider hands and that the House retains its dignity in its final moments."
Ryo's mechanical body leaned forward slightly as more data streams flashed rapidly around the edges of his optical lenses.
The details provided by Elias—especially the direct correlation between the energy relay nodes and the "Final Oath" protocol, as well as that unstable surveillance blind spot—provided crucial tactical pivots for infiltration and sabotage operations, while simultaneously delineating the most dangerous red lines.
"All data recorded." Ryo's synthesized voice broke the brief silence. "The coordinates of the energy relay nodes, the parameters of the surveillance blind spots, and the chronological sequence of the guard shift changes will be incorporated alongside the 'Final Oath' protocol into the highest-priority threat assessment."
"Your information has significantly elevated the success probability model of this mission."
Watching Ryo finish scanning the final blueprint, Elias knew he had handed over everything he possibly could.
His value was now tightly bound to these cold lines and data.
"Next steps?" he asked, his voice carrying a trace of barely noticeable exhaustion, along with anticipation for his new fate.
"Maintain radio silence and proceed as normal," Ryo ordered, his body turning toward the door. "I will analyze the data and formulate a specific operational plan. The next contact will bring the preliminary therapeutic agents and operational directives."
The alloy bulkhead silently opened and closed once more, swallowing Ryo's massive figure.
Elias stood alone before the desk. Looking at the blueprints that carried the fate of his House and his own chance at survival, he slowly let out a breath of stale air.
He had no path of retreat left. Now, he could only wait, wait for the next directive from the Adeptus Mechanicus that would determine everything.