A Horus in Strange Lands (Horizon Zero Dawn SI) Chapter 33

Somewhere in the Great Wasteland, three Ammit ships were observing as hundreds of Ausar drones worked on assembling an orb-like structure made of biometal, exotic components, and materials that are extremely rare to find in this galaxy.

Once they were done with the construction, they immediately dissolved into a colossal swarm of nanites that retreated into the bodies of the Ammit ships.

{Synthetic Core complete. Initiate diagnostics.}

[Confirmed. Commencing Diagnostics]

[Quantum Tunneling Systems: Online]

[Hyperspace Navigation Systems: Online]

[Electromagnetic and Macron Shielding: Online]

[Inhibition Field: Online]

[Progenitor Artifact Systems Subversion and Interface Module: Online]

[Psuedo-Navigator interface systems: Online]

[Hyperspace Zero Point Energy module: Online]

[All Systems and Modules are functional. Ready for the next phase.]

Amun-Ra nodded in satisfaction at those words as he continued to monitor the situation from both the Virtual Space and real space through his Ammit body.

{Good. Silver? Begin the integration of the Synthetic Core into your Unit.}

[Got it. Proceeding with integration.]

The Ammit ship, which was being piloted by Vast Silver, moved towards the core as a small part of its internals were revealed with the help of nanites.

A simple Corvette-class vessel based on the Salvage Corvette designs of the Kushan moved out of the ship’s hold, moved towards the core, and integrated it into Vast Silver’s ship.

Once the core reached the center of Vast Silver’s ship, the biometal that made up the core’s structure, replacing the Progenitor Hyperalloy, started to grow out of the core like the vines of a tree and integrated directly into the ship’s energy and data conduits which were also made from the same material, allowing for seamless integration.

[Synthetic Core integration complete.]

{Alright. Now comes the exciting, and potentially dangerous part. Silver? Begin Quantum Wavefront generation test.}

[Beginning test. Core charging.]

The Synthetic Core was created based on the Ancient Core that the three virtual beings had recovered. However, instead of strictly replicating the Core, which was extremely easy for them and had already been done at the request of the Kushan in exchange for finally getting their hands on the Kushan’s core, Amun-Ra and his companions heavily modified the Core’s designs to integrate their Dimensional Gate technology while also changing many of its internal systems.

They replaced the systems responsible for the perfect integration of living flesh into the core and installed a module that would directly transmit the data to their cores, without the need for any organic being involved.

This meant that Amun-Ra and his companions would have some of the abilities that an organic Navigator would have, such as instant communication through Hyperspace across thousands of light years, the ability to ‘feel’ the layers of Hyperspace and navigate through its depths without the need for any special programs.

However, they would not get all the abilities of a Navigator, such as the ability to ‘feel’ the Hyperspace and the fabric of space and time around them, and the ability to ‘see’ the things that exist within Hyperspace like the Bentusi could.

The reason for the lack of these abilities is very obvious as these abilities can only manifest in an organic body.

Vast Silver activated the Synthetic Core, giving it the initial power required to activate the Hyperspace energy module through the built-in Fusion reactor. From there, the core supplied power for itself through hyperspace, establishing a Quantum Tunneling Event.

However, from this point on, the difference between this core and the other cores used in this galaxy is revealed.

Instead of opening a Quantum Wavefront leading deep into Hyperspace and then establishing an exit at the destination, this core used powerful Gravity generators to distort the fabric of space and time, directly penetrating deep into Hyperspace and then generating an exit at the destination.

The end result might be the same, but the process is completely different.

In the case of the normal Hyperspace cores, the power required by the cores is supplied by the ship, severely draining the ship in question and leading to the long travel times of the Short-jump cores despite their instantaneous jump capabilities.

No ship in existence is capable of continuously providing the absurdly huge levels of power required for repeated short jumps.

This is why the Far-Jump cores, such as the Ancient Cores, are highly sought after and the reason why they are capable of turning the tides of a battle for their users. Since they draw power directly from Hyperspace itself, they can not only power themselves after an initial jump start, but they can even provide power for the ship they are attached to.

However, despite this massive advantage, there are also drawbacks to the Ancient Cores, such as the initial charge requirements to activate the Core rising exponentially depending on how deep into Hyperspace it is going and how far in real space it is traveling.

Amun-Ra and his companions learned of this limitation after rigorously testing the core that they had. This is what led to their design choices in the synthetic core.

By using the Dimensional Gate technology they had, combining it with the Gravity technology of the Bentusi, and modifying the core on the fundamental level to remove all the organic life support and integration systems for streamlined machine interfaces, they cleanly sidestepped the activation power requirement completely and achieved a functionally limitless jump capability.

Of course, this is only theoretical since they still don’t dare to jump too deep into Hyperspace and end up getting invaded by whatever horrors lurk in there.

But still, right now, Amun-Ra and his companions had achieved what no one had since the Progenitors and created their own brand of Hyperspace cores.

[Core Charge complete. Initiating Jump.]

With the synthetic core charged and ready, Vast Silver provided the initial charge required to jump-start the process.

With a powerful hum, space and time distorted as a colossal, multicolored, window opened up in reality, leading straight into Hyperspace.

Vast Silver moved his ship through the wavefront as it collapsed behind him.

For a few seconds, Amun-Ra and Seth observed their communication systems where Vast Silver’s signature disappeared. However, in a matter of a few seconds, the signal appeared again.

{Silver? Status report}

[Jump successful. I am near Kharak.]

{Any anomalies? What about any unwanted hitchhikers?}

[Sensors indicate that something tried to latch onto the ship during transit but the shields held. Looks like your theory of using Macrons and electromagnetic fields was a good one.]

Amun-Ra felt relief flood his systems as he finally allowed himself to relax.

{Seth? How are things on your end?}

[Everything looks good from what I can tell. Our sensors at the edge of the system barely picked up the Hyperspace signature so we can assume that the gravitational camouflage for hiding our Hyperspace signature is working as expected.]

{Then, can we consider this a success?}

[Deffinitely. Seth?]

[Same.]

{Then, let’s proceed with the next task.}

Amun-Ra got into the virtual network and transmitted the coordinates that he managed to trade with the Bentusi in exchange for his Microwave cannons.

{Set course for Balcor. I want that dreadnought called Sajuuk.}