"Cloned soldiers?" The supervisor was momentarily stunned.
"Exactly," Selene replied as she projected a hard light screen. Detailed data and information about the xenomorphs appeared in front of the middle-aged supervisor.
She explained, "The xenomorph species possesses a unique DNA reflex phenomenon. When facehuggers infect and parasitize different hosts, the resulting xenomorphs inherit the traits of their hosts.
"For example, xenomorphs that use humans as hosts are collectively referred to by the Intelligence Department as 'drones.'
"Drones can be further divided into worker and soldier castes, responsible for nest-building, nurturing, and combat.
"Facehuggers can also parasitize lower mammals such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Xenomorphs birthed from these animals resemble dogs and are referred to as 'messengers.'
"Messengers are incredibly fast, excel at infiltration and stealth, but are also more likely to fall into traps due to their lack of the intelligence drones possess."
"Understood." The middle-aged supervisor nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the hard light screen Selene had generated. He agreed, "This time, we used facehuggers to infect and parasitize D-class personnel modified with cloned tissue technology. The resulting xenomorphs could potentially surpass both xenomorph guards and even the xenomorph queen in strength.
"But—" His tone changed abruptly.
"We still haven't found a perfect way to control the xenomorph species," Selene interjected, continuing his thought. "Therefore, xenomorphs cannot currently be deployed as biological weapons for the company or the Empire. Any mishap could lead to a catastrophic infestation."
Selene already had a "perfect" solution in mind: having her absolute superior, Emperor Samuel Young, assume the role of the "Xenomorph King."
Given Samuel Young's unparalleled psychic abilities, it was theoretically possible for him to override the hive mind of the xenomorphs and command them all.
However, if Samuel Young personally took on this task, it would signify a failure on her and the Bioengineering Division's part. For this reason, Selene was determined to explore every possible avenue before resorting to such measures.
Their discussion also touched on the "cloned tissue" technology being used. Since the gates to four parallel universes had opened over a month ago, the Bioengineering Division had been studying the Trench Crusade rituals, knights, and church nuns for a similar duration.
Using blood and tissue samples from the knights and nuns, as well as records found in frontier towns occupied by the frontline forces, they had successfully replicated something akin to "saintly flesh" — termed the Emperor's Flesh.
Samuel Young had authorized the core Bioengineering Division team to use his blood and tissue samples. These samples were used to clone incomplete, tumor-like masses for classified experiments.
It was through relentless experimentation with these cloned tissues that Alexia had originally developed the first ideal genetic seed.
Building on this, Selene and the supervisor's research team combined the knowledge and samples obtained from the Trench Crusade universe with Samuel Young's clones. After countless high-intensity experiments, they successfully cultivated the Emperor's Flesh, which still resembled a grotesque tumor-like mass in appearance.
However, the Emperor's Flesh was fundamentally different from earlier clones.
Its blood and tissue could transform individuals with exceptional physical resilience and mental fortitude into superhumans akin to knights of the Trench Crusade.
Moreover, individuals who consumed the Emperor's Flesh far outperformed the knights from the Trench Crusade in every measurable way—faster, stronger, and more durable.
D-class personnel who survived the brutal trials in the Akla District were prime candidates due to their proven resilience and determination. Those who failed would have already fallen in the trials, becoming little more than test subjects for Atlas' latest weaponry.
Many of the D-class personnel who underwent these trials were also prototypes of cloned soldiers, further ensuring their suitability.
Recent experiments involving D-class personnel, facehuggers, and xenomorphs had validated the research team's success in replicating and improving cloned tissue technology. However, the process for producing Emperor's Flesh remained complex and far from scalable, unlike the genetic seed. This explained why the proposal for a "Battle Nuns" project was deferred by the supervisor.
Before officially proposing the project to the Empire, Selene and the team sought to cooperate with the Heretic Inquisition to cultivate a batch of battle nuns loyal to the Emperor. These nuns would then be tested in real combat to demonstrate the project's feasibility.
Still, Selene and her team hadn't figured out how to remove the oath curses binding the knights. The golden scriptures engraved on their bones were beyond the capabilities of their technology to erase. These curses were tied to supernatural forces, impervious to conventional surgery.
Only an exceptionally powerful psychic, wielding even greater supernatural power, could counteract or erase the curse imposed by Heaven's forces.
Selene and the team considered Samuel Young the top candidate for this task, followed by Hera, the Greek Chief God within the Inquisition. Although Hera's psychic abilities were inferior to Samuel Young's, she was more than capable of temporarily suppressing the effects of the oath curses until the Dark Angels' 1st Company and the Inquisition could eradicate both Hell and Heaven.
Consequently, knights captured and imprisoned at the "13th" frontline base were placed into a baby-like slumber under Hera's psychic influence. Meanwhile, the team utilized advanced Imperial technology to treat their damaged throats and lungs, replacing severely injured parts with superior prosthetics.
As for the nuns who had consumed saintly flesh but were not bound by oath curses, they underwent "faith correction" under the Inquisition.
The nuns began to comprehend the true mission of the Empire and its treatment of its subjects. Compared to life in the Trench Crusade universe, life under the Empire was a paradise.
Although the nuns acknowledged that the horrors of their universe were primarily due to Hell's invasion, they grew skeptical of their allegiance to Heaven. From a broader perspective, Heaven and Hell seemed more interested in perpetuating a stalemate than genuinely aiding humanity.
This realization caused a shift in their loyalties. The first to turn was Sister Isabella de Caruette, who had been rescued by the Soap Battalion. She chose to cooperate with the Empire and would soon undergo a custom operation from the Bioengineering Division to become the first nun to consume the Emperor's Flesh.
Selene predicted that the Emperor's Flesh would override the influence of the saintly flesh within Isabella. If successful, the same procedure could be applied to the slumbering knights, reducing Heaven's grip on them.
Meanwhile, engraved scriptures on their bones would require the Dark Angels and the Inquisition to eliminate Heaven itself to fully lift the curse.
At this moment, Selene's violet-glowing eyes flickered again, and the hard light screen before the supervisor shifted its contents.
"Frontline Base 15's Bioengineering Division has a deeper understanding of xenomorph physiology," Selene explained. "The specimens we are experimenting on, including these facehuggers, were all developed by them.
"If we collaborate with multiple Bioengineering Divisions to refine cloned soldier capabilities, we can prevent the Research Division from monopolizing future projects."
Selene, a replication of Alexia's AI, inherited Alexia's dedication to biological research and was determined to restore the Bioengineering Division's dominance in Imperial projects.
The supervisor reviewed the details on the screen: "Silicon-based exoskeletal structures," "densely insulated internal bone framework," and "fullerene-ammonite composite cellular sensory organs." These characteristics made xenomorphs the so-called "perfect organism."
Their internal skeleton and external silicon-based exoskeleton enabled them to withstand light weaponry at close range and survive extreme conditions, including outer space. Their acidic blood functioned like a "biological battery," allowing them to operate without oxygen for prolonged periods.
These features and more made xenomorphs unparalleled as bio-weapons, albeit difficult to control.
The supervisor finally spoke. "Selene, are you suggesting cloned soldiers be enhanced with xenomorph traits and abilities?"
"Exactly," Selene affirmed as her gaze turned toward the sealed observation lab. Inside, D-class personnel wrapped in facehuggers were being moved to incubation pods. Nearby, restrained juvenile xenomorphs were studied under strict supervision.
"We may even cultivate a xenomorph queen loyal to the Empire," Selene mused. "Such a queen could command all xenomorphs in service of the Emperor and the Empire."
The supervisor nodded cautiously. "We might require the Dark Angels to ensure the safety of the early research phase."
Selene assured him, "Once the 1st Company completes its mission in Hell, two squads will secure the project."
With that reassurance, Selene prepared to depart, leaving the supervisor in charge of overseeing the experiments.
As she walked away, she stated, "I will accompany the 1st Company and the Inquisition to Hell and seek pathways to Heaven. During my absence, I trust you to manage the project."
The supervisor hesitated but ultimately agreed. Selene exited, her focus resolute as ever.
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