I had just finished connecting and troubleshooting the Skitarii leg, the rite of blessing on my lips and my BH-R01 spewing holy idols on it when Dominus Solvexa spoke through the noosphere.
Along with the command there was a whole section of subtext, both emotional, limited though it was, and context of what I needed to do. So I knew the door she was referring to was the one at the far end, which the enemy adepts retreated through.
With a ping, Snuffles and my BFGs fell into formation around me, covering me as I moved to stand in front of the door control. Like always, I used one of my BH-ATs as a bridge to protect my mind and connected to the machine spirit controlling the doors.
And there was definitely a machine spirit.
It wasn’t truly speaking but I could feel the hate and anger it spewed at me. It harmlessly washed against the firewall of the BH, but if it had been worse or I left it connected too long, it could corrupt the BH.
I automatically went through the rites; my time working with the Techseer had helped tremendously. Not really increasing my skill, although I had learned some tricks I didn’t know, but mostly on the expected rituals to use. Many of them I would have anyway, but a few like the Rite 2462NU8790CXD981, which dealt with understanding and mirroring spirits, I would have never tried.
To my detriment, too, as the rite was incredibly effective.
I had no idea how, you could bet some more sparks were going into the machine spirit fragment, but once done, it was almost as if the door went 'ohh you're alright, I like you' and calmed down, almost tripping over itself to help me. I unlocked the door but didn’t open it.
I had no intention of being anywhere near the door when it did. I left my BH connected to it so I could open the door from a safe distance and moved back into position.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came on the expedition. I had read reports about the Mechanicus precision and coordination but I wasn’t sure how that would translate in practice.
Very well it turns out… some of the time.
Either way it was weird if effective. Every member of the expedition was linked together by a data tether allowing instant communication and transmission of data. This allowed each member of the expedition to be positioned precisely where the commander wanted them.
The enhancement needed to track and use all this data must be incredible. The ones I had seen in the forge world came with too many downsides, like cutting away portions of your brain but I had ideas how to make some without that drawback.
After seeing them in action they had risen up my priority list.
My BFGs and I moved back to our stations within the centre of the party and waited for the signal.
I felt a ripple come through the noosphere as Skitarii Alpha Ro shifted our position several inches to the right. I didn’t see the reason for it, but I had seen his orders pay off several times already, so I didn’t doubt him.
I didn’t know if it was just Dominus Solvexa or all Dominus's had the same set up. But during operations, i.e the entire time we had been down here, the servitors broadly came under his control. What to shoot and where to stand. That sort of thing. I had some finer control over them.
Like the power distribution, I could shift power to and from the shields when needed. Which theoretically allowed me to increase the power going to the las guns to strengthen the shield. I didn’t do it, the chaos of the battle was far too great to risk it.
Or I could offer suggestions for a better position for my servitors and if my reasoning was valid might be listened to.
This happened more at the start of the expedition, by this point they knew better.
At first the servitors could take their own initiative, limited as it was. Or I could still direct mine. That changed in the last ambush. First when Dominus Solvexa activated a command basically overriding the controls of the servitors. It effectively made her the administrator and locked everyone else out.
For adepts it basically told us to follow her orders to the letter, as we would a Fabricator Lord.
This was only further enhanced by whatever Magi Dominus Dimuaas and Tech Lord Greg-420 did. They used their own override codes. It wasn’t directed at us, although it did affect us, and more at the enemy servitors.
It was hard to explain. On the surface it was just a command code, telling everyone who heard it to follow their orders. But underneath it there was a sort of virus or program that forced compliance. It didn’t affect the expedition as we were already under Dominus Solvexa code which superseded it.
But it should have commandeered control of any Adeptus Mechanicus that heard it. It utilised a backdoor or access codes that I hadn’t noticed until now that was built in too all code.
It gave me some ideas. Not to mention I needed to make sure none of my stuff would fall to it. I hadn’t tested it, but I was pretty sure I was still in control of my servitors.
Solvexa said.
Reaching out I nudged the BH. With a clunk the door slowly opened on well-oiled hinges.
++Advance++
With that command through the noosphere we started moving as one. The few remaining servitors went first then the BFGs with the adepts. I was glad Snuffles was still in the rear. I made sure I was well covered by the conversion fields of the BFGs as well as funnelling all excess power to the shields.
The response was instant.
A hail of lass bolts and slugs tore through the servitors then slammed into the shields which held… just. Although there weren't as many shots as I had expected. The shields bursting into brilliant flashes as it converted the kinetic energy into light.
We stepped into a workshop. It was two stories, with the upper levels overlooking the main floor we entered on. There was everything from advance machinery on the upper floor to crucible forges on the left and some form of genetics lab on the right. With large tanks with various stages of humanoid growth floating within.
The combat servitors were scrambling to get into position, with more marching out of various doors every second. Again not as many as I was expecting.
In the far back the two adepts surprisingly still here, linked to some cogitators at the far end of the workshop. They were clearly panicked, obviously not expecting me to get through the door so quickly. We moved into the room, most of the adepts using the conversion shields as cover then as they spread out the concentration of fire decreasing.
The enemy adepts inexperienced or panic started showing, since the line of fire and firing arcs were great when focused at the door. But now we were further into the room started to catch allies in the cross fire.
This only got worse when we split ranks. With four Skitarii, Dominus Solvexa and Magi Dominus Dimuaas heading straight for the adepts. Something they clearly noticed and tried to compensate for… badly, only causing more chaos in the rest of the room and disrupting their formation further.
Something the rest of the adepts and Skitarii, not to mention my BFGs took advantage of. With the decreased fire on the shields, I could lower their strength and increase the power going into the guns, allowing the heavier ones to begin firing once more.
With the lack of focus we could pick apart the enemy servitors with ease. A pattering of blue zizzerling shots raked over the enemy frying many of them. The room was getting torn up as well. The tanks had been hit and were now leaking the dark gloopy fluid onto the floor.
The half formed humanoid figures, thrashing for a moment before dying.
On the other side, work tables were upended. Papers, arcano tech and tools scattered as a grenade went off. The deep blast echoing around the room, to join the deafening din of combat.
We were working through them when a sharp warning came from my BH-MS. I ignored my human instincts (to turn and look) and instead looked through the auspex data to see the machine coming to life. It was massive, several times larger than my BFGs and significantly more armoured.
Its right side looked almost complete, fully armoured and armed, its arm ending in a large cylindrical gun that I didn’t recognise. It left side however was mostly unconstructed. Armour plates missing, revealing large swaths of its internals. The left arm was disconnected. Its heavy tank tracks lay unassembled around it.
But it was mobile.
The half constructed machine, flared to life. Its right arm swivelled towards me. The weapon glowing an ominous orange.
I threw myself forward past my second BFG, cranking their shields up to their max as I did.
The room dimmed as the blinding beam flashed across it. The charging of the shields wasn’t fast enough for the first BFG. The super-heated shot blasting straight through it. Vaporising the servitors head, and upper torso. Sending it staggering back to crumple to the floor.
The second just managed to super change it shields in time and held. They collapsed, steam hissing from the generators as they vented heat. I was glad in that moment I had armoured them so much. The occasional slug or bolt pinged harmlessly off its armour plating.
I would have a few seconds before the shields would come back online. Needless to say the war machine was the main priority.
Orders came in agreeing with me.
++Kataphron Battle Servitor: Kataphron Destroyer Variant++
++34% Operational++
++Weapon: Volkite Culverin++
++Priority Target++
The nearest Skitarii and adepts along the right side changed course, making a beeline for it.
It needed to be put down before it could fire again.
Needing no encouragement, Snuffles leapt forward as well. With the BFGs shields down I pushed all excess power to the guns. This allowed them fire as fast as possible. The hit BFG was badly damaged but miraculously not destroyed. My design had come through. Even though its head and upper torso was gone, many of the crucial components and bioware were still safely buried lower in its chest.
It only had its flamers and one of the lower arms still operation. That would be enough, and I sent that it charging forward, its sawblade screaming. The six armoured legs carrying it deceptively fast across the seventeen metres to crash into the battle servitor.
I rolled further under the operational BFG. Dodging the few shots aimed in my direction. The BFGs programmes adapting perfectly to the situation and contorted itself. Bringing its legs in to provide me as much cover as possible now that it shields were down. All the while raining fire on the Kataphron servitor.
Even locked down in scaffolding, with only its upper body manoeuvrable, it was impressive. Not just its size but the punishment it could take. It rapidly span, dislodging Snuffles and swatted away an adept who couldn’t move out of the way fast enough. It used its complete right arm like a club. A powerful one at that, considering the dent the adept left behind in the wall.
Then it was too late. Its gun had charged once more. Twisting it pointed it off in the distance, at Solvexa and the others still charging the enemy adepts.
Warnings were already flaring and I could see them brake off the assault to move out of the way. It was unneeded. My injured BFG sprang forward, its six legs extended to land its full weight on the arm. The combat servitor strained but couldn’t support it and the arm was wrenching down.
The shot scorched the floor, burning a deep gash in it and revealed the level below. The smell of ozone heavy in the air.
The BFG jammed its one remaining saw blade into the weapon and then vanished in a fire ball. The weapon malfunctioning and exploded, taking much of the BFG and the combat servitors right side with it. Even then the Kataphron servitor was still operational. If barely.
But without its weapon it was no threat.
My active BFG spun turning its attention to other targets. The air shimmered in front of it as the shields came back online.
I sighed, heart still hammering away in my chest. But no time to rest. Springing up, I stayed behind the legs and took pot shots at the enemy. Most of my attention was on my auspex. I did not want another surprise.
It seemed unlikely, particularly as the resistance, limited as it was, fell apart. The two adepts were slain. One seemingly during the fighting, the other killed himself rather than be captured.
I would later find out he had a kill switch that someone else activated. It made me glad mine was already blocked off, so the same could not happen to me.
As the final servitors fell the room became still. The smell of burnt flesh and grease filled the room, wafting from the scattered remains of the servitors around the room. The occasional spark from fried circuitry or the steady pumping of coolant onto the floor, was all that seemed to break the silence. In the noosphere was another matter.
It was alight as information passed across the group with new orders flowing in.
Dominus Solvexa said. With it came the specifications. My BFG parked itself by the door we came through, guarding it. Snuffles on the other hand moved to another open door, securing that. The adepts and I had more freedom and so we started to clear the room. And if we looked through the remains as we did who could blame us.
I was especially interested in the Kataphron Battle Servitor. It seemed like a good next step to take for my BFGs. As I searched the room for any other hidden enemies my mind kept turning over the fight and how it went down. It didn’t register at the time, but the BFG had no programmes to do what it did. I, nor anyone else had given it the orders to sacrifice itself like that, so how had it done that?
Unfortunately, there was not enough left it to take it apart, but I still had its data and software just before the end. I copied it and would look through it later. Something had definitely happened to it. Was that its machine spirit? But if so, how had it gained one. I couldn’t detect anything different with the other BFG.
Did it get one as well? If so why?
It was all fascinating and I could wait to find out the answer. If I could deliberately create them how would that work.
All food for thought, but for now I turned my attention to clearing the room of danger.
We had taken surprisingly few casualties in taking it. Most of our servitors were down, but we didn’t lose another other member, which when considering we were pushing into a fortified room was impressive.
Well apart from the guy that caught the Kataphron Battle Servitor. He was very dead, most of his organs, including brain liquified by the force of the blow.
I mostly put this down to surprise. They had clearly not been ready for us. We also had far superior units.
The Skitarii that had attacked us before was a large reason we had taken so many casualties.
They had been impressive.
Most of them were just that much better than the elite gangers of the hive. More accurate, stronger, faster and fearless. With their main strength of coordination, able to work as one. But they weren't heads and shoulders better.
It was the three veterans that were far beyond human.
Almost fully mechanical. They moved faster than most humans would be able to react. Acting with a ruthless precision. I saw one receive a fatal injury and manage to take a its killer with it.
Even as impressive as they were I couldn’t help but be... disappointed? No that was right. Surprised maybe? These were the main forces of the Mechanicus, their unstoppable foot infantry and with all their access to technology they were only marginally better than PDFs forces.
From the reports and stories I had read I was expecting more somehow.
Now again, it was their coordination that was scary, but that was still hampered by the commander. I noticed a significant decrease in effectiveness when the lead enemy adept was killed.
The room was cleared and secured with a practiced ease, all of us moving with perfect efficiency. Calculated by Dominus Solvexa or the skitarii leader Ro-44/em28.
Now the room was secure I could turn my attention to some of the stuff I wanted too, namely the cogitators. I still wanted to dig around the Kataphron Battle Servitor but the Tech Lord was now standing over it, his few remaining acolytes hovering around him.
So the cogitators it was, although I made a note to investigate the Kataphron pattern when I got home.
I started with the ones around the Kataphron Battle Servitor in the hope I would find more data on it. The area around it was trashed, as expected. But it was mostly just cloning stations, with vats of half-grown humanoids within them. Some human but others I didn’t recognise.
I connected to the cogitator using one of my few surviving BHs. Most of them had been destroyed, but they had all preformed admirable. I had dozens of ideas on how to improve them having learned a lot in the last few weeks.
For example the gun servitors were good in principle, but I had found them next to useless in actual combat. So they would need to go through a huge change.
It was just as well I used the BH. As soon as I connected I was attacked by a wave of scrapcode. My firewalls and protocols managed to fight it off but if it had been me connected, I could have been injured quite badly.
Some of the viruses had managed to penetrate deep into the systems and would have done irreparable harm.
But I was in.
The data was fragmented and corrupted. Someone had tried to purge the systems, scrambling them as much as possible. I took a data dump of it all anyway. Making a careful copy for myself and then sending it over to Solvexa.
As I was downloading it I glanced through it. It looked like from the vague parts I could see it was trying to combine the human genome with some I didn’t recognise. Obviously xeno but what they wanted out of it I wasn’t sure. They were trying to create the ideal vat grown warriors.
An interesting premise and one I might use in the future, but needless to say, it was incredibly heretikal.
There wasn’t much else of interest so I moved on, heading for the workshops. There were already adepts picking amongst the debris, with most of it already sorted into logical and tidy piles.
Draxus Malor, approached me. He said, indicating the cogitator.
Nodding I moved over to it, once more using the BH's mechadendrite to connect to it.
Like before, when I connected I was aggressively attacked by scrapcode. Even prepared for it this time it would have done massive amounts of damage. It seemed to be targeting energy storages, like power cells, with the idea to fry them or force them to go critical.
The BH survived it all but not unharmed. It was clearly overheating, the battery no longer able to absorb the heat as it should. Before it could fry itself my fail safes kicked in and shut itself off, plonking onto the table. Scooping it up I tucked it under one arm to be repaired later.
Directing another of my BH-MS, I connected once more. Having already broken through we weren't attacked again and I could download the data un apposed. Once more I made a private copy and then sent one to Enginseer and Solvexa. Someone had tried to purge like the other one, although not nearly as well.
There wasn’t much that I was particularly interested in.
I was poking around, crouching to dig through the remains of a servitor. I wanted to see how they were put together to see if they had any new ideas. When Solvexa told me to come to her, they had some cogitators they wanted unlocked and without Ar-60e3 that fell to me.
Confirming I stood and headed over. I found myself in a command centre of sorts. It had a good view of the rest of the workshop with multiple monitors and cogitators.
Domnious Solvexa, Tech Lord Greg-420 and Magi Dominus Dimuaas standing over a cogitator bank.
Greg-420 said. His mechadendrite hovering near a connector.
Solvexa said. Her face carefully blank.
Nodding at Solvexa I directed a BH to connect to the cogitators. As expected, it was immidediatly attacked, but it was the most sophisticated and aggressive one yet. I was barely half way in when it was too much and the BH sparked and dropped to the table.
I once more picked it up, moving it out of the way and sent the next to connect. I would put the fried one with the others in Snuffles side bag.
I carried on where I left off and cracked its protections. With the data dump downloaded it was sent to all three of them. It of course went without saying that I took a copy for myself.
I told them.
Solvexa said, with a clear dismissal.
I walked away, browsing the data as I did. Like the others someone had tried to purge it. Some of it was records of transfers and security codes which I carefully noted. Not that I expected them to be useful, they were likely to be changed if they weren't already.
It was the early records that attracted most of my interest, made several decades ago. Huge portions of it was corrupted but enough was preserved that once passed through my defragging programmes could be read. It clearly referred a prediction.
'From their slumber on Nusquam Fundumentibus, the crawling tide of mandibles stirs, and the bloated fleet sails toward Solar, gnawing the bones of worlds in its wake'
I was about to dismiss it, but then it dislodged a long forgotten memory. Didn’t 40K have space bugs, or was I thinking of a different IP? Xenomorphs? No that was Aliens I knew that one. Tyrranids! That was it.
So maybe the predictions weren't baloney after all. It was enough for me to keep searching. Many of the predictions were too corrupted to read but another one stood out.
'After the thirteenth Crusade bleeds upon Cadia, the Black Fortresses rise in the Maelstrom, and the web of stars shall tear, leaving the galaxy gaping with a rift no light may bridge'
Now that one I knew happened. I had no idea how or why, but I distinctly remember that.
Or at least it sounded like the rift.
I made myself useful by helping clear up the workshop, cataloguing everything but otherwise focused on the information which referred to itself as the Moirae Predictions. Mostly based around the believe that the Omnissiah was speaking to them through micro-fluctuations in the Astronomican's beacon.
These micro-fluctuations were then interpreted into the prophesies that the Moirae believed in. It didn’t have what happened to them or why and I would need to investigate later. But I was definitely intrigued. ---ANWe now have the Moirae prophesies which act as effectively in world deus ex machina, if anyone read and understood. Or at least that is how I am going to use them that way. With them I can have Big E letting the MC know about interesting events that he can take a part in. So on that note, I would love some recommendations. I have plans already and some event that I want the MC to take a part in, but have anyone got any cool ideas or event that would suit the MC.
If you have any please put them on here or on discord. ---Imperium: Hive Cities Scavenger (Tier 2) - IIWarrior (Tier 3) - VIImperium: Hive Cities Danger (Tier 2) - IIIHuman: Hand to hand (Tier 2) - IIITerra Federation: Technician (Tier 3) - XTerra Federation: Software (Tier 3) - VSharpshooter (Tier 3) - VISelf (Tier 3) - XIReverse Engineering (Tier 2) - IImperium: Canine Handling (Tier 2) - IVAkashic Throne (Tier 1) - IBlade Mastery (Tier 3) - VIIPhysics (Tier 1) - 11Glyphcraft (Tier 2) - IIBlueprints (Tier 3) - IIIActing (Tier 1) - IMathematics (Tier 1) - XIBiology (Tier 1) - XTeaching (Tier 2) - IIMachine Spirit (Tier 1) - IChemistry (Incomplete) - VII