169: Technological Upgrade

The Great Collapse. Han Zhe chewed over the words. The sudden end of humanity's glorious civilization during the dark age of technology had always been an unsolved mystery.

The Imperial Ecclesiarchy blamed it on Warp storms and human arrogance, but more evidence pointed toward a galaxy-wide disaster that transcended conventional warfare.

Now, it seemed highly likely that this disaster was related to humanity touching the forbidden realm of space-time.

"Immediately classify the Archaeologist and the STC-Ω wreckage as Level Zero secrets, under maximum priority protection. Mobilize all available facilities on The Other Shore-1 with the strongest reality stabilization and space-time isolation capabilities to establish the Tomb of Time Research Station."

"adjudicator, you are personally responsible for the comprehensive, cautious, and phased analysis of the wreckage. providence and all relevant technical teams will provide full cooperation, but all experiments must receive double approval from both you and me." Han Zhe's orders were swift and thorough.

Research Principle: Safety First.

The primary objective was to analyze its Space-Time Shield technology and Memory Matrix reading methods, attempting to recover theoretical data from project noah. Any reckless attempts to initiate or simulate time-reversal experiments were strictly prohibited.

"Understood!"

The discovery of the STC-Ω ark wreckage acted like a powerful catalyst, injected into the Human Federation's already high-speed war machine. Despite the research being restricted by stringent safety protocols, the preliminary, peripheral analysis results were already shocking.

A sample of the self-repairing liquid metal (named temporal alloy) was successfully isolated. Its microstructure exhibited the characteristic of remembering and restoring its optimal form over time. Upon sustaining damage, it could draw extremely weak energy from the surrounding space-time background for repairs. This provided a brand-new, almost dreamlike upgrade path for the Human Federation's Living Alloy and battleship armor technology.

The principles of the Space-Time Shield were partially deciphered. It was not a simple energy barrier, but a technology that circularized or folded the space-time flow within an extremely small range around the protected object, making its local time flow different from the exterior, or even temporarily deviating from the main timeline.

Although the Human Federation could not replicate it at present, this theory greatly expanded the concept of defensive technology and provided new ideas for countering space-time attacks like the Necron Celestial Orrery.

Most crucial was the arduous reading of the shattered Memory Matrix. After the adjudicator spared no expense in computing power, combining the experience in processing high-dimensional information drawn from the gods bottle units with ancient data recovery techniques obtained from Necron databases, fragmented pieces of information began to be gradually pieced together.

It was not a complete database, but rather research logs from project noah, theoretical derivation fragments, and some hair-raising remnants of experimental records.

"...Stability verification of Time Anchors... 127th failure... observed perturbations in timeline branching..."

"...Forced solution to the Grandfather Paradox... the cost is the complete solidification of the local timeline and the loss of possibilities..."

"...Warning: Large-scale temporal interference will lead to temporal structural fatigue, accelerating the arrival of the Great Collapse's critical point..."

"...Yesterday's Return Protocol theory complete... requires near-infinite energy and an absolutely stable temporal singularity as a fulcrum... the Federation cannot provide this... maintained only as an ultimate theoretical backup..."

The scattered information outlined the terrifying depth of human exploration in the field of temporal technology during the dark age of technology.

They didn't just observe time; they seemed to have tried to intervene, repair, and perhaps even perform limited reversals. The Great Collapse was likely the catastrophic backlash triggered by this forbidden exploration—a total collapse of the space-time structure or some chain reaction beyond understanding.

"They touched the realm of the gods, or rather, they surpassed the realm of the gods." The Chief Technologist felt a bone-chilling cold after reading some of the decrypted data.

"Time—even the Warp Gods don't seem able to truly reverse or manipulate the flow of time on a large scale. But humans of the golden age almost did it."

"But they failed, and paid the price with the end of their civilization." Han Zhe's gaze fell on the real-time feed from the Tomb of Time Research Station. The teardrop-shaped wreckage floated quietly within multiple space-time isolation fields. "Their mistake is our lesson, but it could also be our ladder."

"adjudicator, based on existing analysis data, deduce potential applications of temporal technology for the Human Federation's current situation. Note: exclude any high-risk schemes that could lead to risks similar to the Great Collapse."

Deduction complete. Based on existing fragmented theories, low-risk or controllable-risk application directions for temporal technology are as follows:

1. Tactical-grade Temporal Manipulation: Develop time-stasis fields or time acceleration/deceleration field generators based on Space-Time Shield principles. Used for local battlefields to delay enemy actions or speed up our own reactions. Risk: Extremely high energy consumption, slight impact on local space-time stability.

2. Strategic-grade Temporal Observation: Attempt to construct a theoretical temporal radar to observe recent temporal echoes of specific areas or targets. Used for intelligence gathering, predicting enemy actions, or tracing the roots of events. Risk: Observation might be sensed by individuals who also master temporal technology or high-dimensional beings, and information may be distorted.

3. Temporal Anchor Defense: Targeting space-time attacks such as the Necron Celestial Orrery, develop temporal anchoring equipment to forcibly stabilize local time flow in key areas, making it difficult to Warp. Risk: The anchor itself may become a concentrated target for space-time attacks.

4. Limited Causal Interference (Theoretical): In extremely important and permissible conditions, use temporal technology principles to attempt extremely small, cautious adjustments of 'causes' for 'effects' that have already occurred and are non-fundamental. For example, modifying a tiny delay in a critical communication or influencing an accidental fluctuation in energy distribution. Risk: Extremely high; very easy to trigger unpredictable chain reactions and timeline pollution. Requires real-time monitoring and correction by adjudicator-level computing power and may incur massive energy and unknown costs.

Han Zhe silently scrutinized these deduction results. Every item was full of temptation and contained an abyss. Especially the last one, Limited Causal Interference, sounded like the ability of a deity in myth plucking the threads of fate.

"Concentrate resources on prioritizing the development of Temporal Anchor Defense Technology; this is an urgent need to counter the Necron Dynasty's next Celestial Orrery strike. Simultaneously, conduct principle verification experiments for tactical-grade temporal manipulation, which must be carried out in an absolutely closed, small-scale environment." Han Zhe made his choice. "As for temporal observation and causal interference, suspend theoretical deductions and seal the relevant data. No related research is to be conducted without my direct order."

He knew deep down that the power of time was the ultimate double-edged sword. The disastrous precedent of golden age humanity was right before his eyes. What the Human Federation needed now was practical technology to stabilize reality and win the war for survival, not to risk touching ultimate taboos that could trigger the extinction of civilization.

However, the discovery of STC-Ω meant far more than just a few potential new technologies. It was a symbol, an inspiration, and even a curse.

It proved to the Human Federation that the human race had once reached such a glorious technological peak and touched such incredible realms. This further reinforced the Human Federation's ideology of human supremacy—Look, we were once this great; we deserve to be great again, and even surpass it!

But at the same time, the warning of the Great Collapse hung over the Human Federation like the Sword of Damocles. The path the Federation was currently taking—large-scale utilization of the Warp, fusion with xenos technology, imprisoning gods, and suppressing Chaos—how similar was it to golden age humanity's exploration of forbidden space-time technology and touching realms they should not have? Was the Human Federation brewing another poisonous cup of the Great Collapse for itself?

"We have no way back." At an internal meeting of the Command Center, Han Zhe spoke decisively to the doubts expressed by some high-level officials. "The lesson from the dark age of technology is to tell us that exploration must be cautious and power must be controlled, not to make us shrink back! The universe will not become safe because of our mercy, and enemies will not stop attacking because of our restraint. Only by constantly becoming stronger and mastering every power we can grasp can we survive and realize the eternal order of humanity!"

"The discovery of STC-Ω is a god-given opportunity and a severe test. We must absorb its knowledge and avoid its mistakes. Use colder logic and stricter control to harness these powers."

"Accelerate preparations for the final liquidation of the Necron Dynasty. We will use the bones of our enemies to pave the way for digesting the legacy of the golden age. The Eye of Terror's celestial network must be repaired and expanded faster."

"Extragalactic colonization must double its output. We must grow stronger faster—strong enough to deal with any deeper malice that may be drawn by our touching of this knowledge."

Orders turned into more urgent momentum, driving every gear of the Human Federation to spin frantically. At the Tomb of Time Research Station, the analysis of STC-Ω proceeded as if walking on thin ice; in the shipyards, a new generation of battleships merging temporal alloy and Necron phase-stabilization technology began laying their keels; in the laboratories, defense modules based on temporal anchor theory underwent dangerous simulation tests one after another; and in the General Staff, the final liquidation plans for Ouroska and the Thanatos Dynasty gradually became clear and lethal under the day-and-night deductions of the adjudicator.

The echoes of the golden age's highest technology did not plunge the Human Federation into reminiscence of past glory or fear of the future. Instead, like the strongest stimulant, it aroused an even more extreme and desperate desire for progress in this cold civilization.

They were not only going to conquer everything in the present world; they seemed to be starting to covet the most fundamental river flowing above all things—time itself.