I sat in quiet contemplation in the darkness of my workshop. The only sound was the gentle hum of the vibrations through the walls and the faint hiss as the servo skulls moved, going about their tasks.
Kellen and Lysa had fallen asleep, with Lysa curled up to Snuffles as was the norm. The dull rumble of his snoring mixed with her quiet mumbling as they slept. I could still pick it up crystal clear through my auspex, even in the other room.
If I wanted, I could pick out the sound and movement of the servitors walking past the entrance of my sanctum. It was always ticking along in the background, always available to me.
I counted down the seconds. At two, I felt the familiar warmth blossom through my body as the six new sparks settled into place.
I sat further back into the chair, an actual comfy one for a change. It was probably one of the only three on the planet. It was hard metal and economic designs otherwise. I, on the other hand, still liked my creature comforts. It wasn’t quite as good as a spinning chair, but it was sinfully comfortable.
Back to my plans, which had changed numerous times over the years.
At first I intended to get my foundation and then specialise, but as time went on and I realised how much information they were giving me, that had changed. Before anything else, I pushed the final sparks for the Engineering fragment. Two sparks vanished, and in their place a wave of information ran over me.
Different from what I had been expecting.
It made sense in hindsight. I already had all the formulas and theory down. So none of that was new; instead, the knowledge cast its net far wider rather than deeper. There were some new semi-heuristic formulas, but I could have derived them myself if I needed to.
No, the bulk of the information came in the form of relevant models, design considerations, redundancies, and something that had never been heard of in the Imperium of Man—safety features. It even had parts on system integration and style, which were particularly useful.
So while it wasn’t a huge deluge of information, it was incredibly valuable nonetheless. I could already pick up on ways and things I would change for my servitors going forward.
When it settled down, I turned my attention back to my mind and the final four pulsing sparks.
So my plans. I truly thought that efficiency was the best option, which would be to keep stacking the foundation fragments. The plan was to put all my sparks towards maths, getting it to tier 2. With that, it should decrease the cost of all the other sparks and, in time, would get me the same results as specialised sparks.
I was fine with waiting. I could be patient, or so I thought.
That no longer seemed to be the case.
A few weeks ago a warp storm sprang up, cutting us off from the rest of the Imperium. That wasn’t a problem in and of itself.
We had no idea how large the storm was; it could just be our sector or most of the segment, there was no way to tell, but it seemed like a big one. We were lucky that warp travel was still possible within the sector, like we were in the eye of the storm.
But even so, it was more dangerous to travel. I knew there had already been nineteen ships missing. They might not be destroyed and appear centuries in the future or past, but even so, it was disruptive.
A few short weeks after the storms started, it was already causing delays. Again, not a major problem for me.
The disrupted supply lines were neither here nor there; it was the general instability that concerned me.
Skitarii legions and Domini had left the forge world in force, putting down rebellions and securing key locations, like mining worlds. With us cut off from the outside world, a large number of resources were no longer imported from locations outside of the sector, which forced the forge world to look to new locations.
New mining outposts sprang up by the dozen, and existing ones were further developed. Each one was now crucial to the forge world's ability to produce, hence the added security for them.
For the uprisings, there had only been a few minor ones, but it was a troubling trend. Funny enough, my hive world was a beacon of stability, the recent Inquisitors' purges having culled much of the disruptive elements. Even the forge world was not exempt.
I had seen an increase in chatter within the Moirae Schism adepts I was tracking. The same for the smaller sub-faction. Even ignoring them, the tension was universal. Not oppressive but definitely noticeable. An interesting stat was the increase in the number of servitors going rogue.
There were always some, but there was a massive uptick since the storm had arrived. It wasn’t just servitors affected; machines too were playing up more.
I had a look at them, and it was the machine spirits affected in some way by the warp. According to my diagnostics, the hardware and software themselves were all fine, and none of the machines should be affected, so I had some clear examples where the machine spirit was overriding scientific logic.
My fellow adepts were feeling it too. I had an increase in the number of favours asked of me. Both by fellow Collegex members to break into rival adepts' sanctums or adepts, invariably Forge Masters, in settling machines. My machine whisperer status had spread, and as I calmed and repaired each one, I became more and more recognised.
All this accumulated into a not-so-safe forge world. Hence, my changing in priorities, necessitating a change in plans.
I had several areas I wanted to improve upon. In fact, it was very similar to what I planned years ago. The two I was sure on were my software fragment, pushing that up to tier 4 and then my machine spirit fragment. I wanted to get it to at least tier 2, but realistically would probably push it to tier 3 as long as it didn’t take too many sparks.
It would depend on what information it gave me. It was becoming very clear by this point that I was having an effect on machine spirits in some way, and I wanted to find out why. There was also my BFG servitor that somehow gained a machine spirit, or at least looked like it, with it behaving in ways I hadn't programmed.
Not to mention the aforementioned machines of the forge world.
Clearly, I didn’t understand them enough.
That left the final branches I was contemplating—bionics and the crafting fragment.
The crafting one would have to wait for a bit longer, but I would try to form it before I went back to my foundational fragments.
On the other hand, I still wasn’t sure if a Bionics fragment would be worth the sparks. I could already build bionics on par with most other magi in the world. This would only improve in time as I experimented and learned from my mistakes. Also, once I cleared up a few other mysteries, which I had a few promising experiments running for, I would be able to build the advanced bionics from the hive, which were heads and shoulders above what most anyone else in the forge world could make.
But if the forge world was becoming unstable and therefore dangerous, could I risk waiting? The bionics could well save my life and, more importantly, my allies and, again, even more importantly, the kids and Snuffles. Not to mention it covered pretty much everything I did, from servitors to the Skitarii.
The more I thought about it, the more tempted I was. I had four sparks left over, so I had room to experiment. Especially if the sparks went further than normal with my previous knowledge, as I hoped they would. More to the point, I wanted to do this now while I was still slowly creating my bionics, rather than when I had already finished making them.
Coming to a decision, I stood and headed for the workbench and cut a sliver of metal into a coin shape. On one side, I engraved a cog the other, an image of the Emperor.
I smoothed out the edges and then flipped it.
Cogs would be sticking to the foundation fragments.
It clattered to the table, cog side up. I knew as soon as I started to try to find reasons to do it again.
With a small breathe I placed a spark into a new fragment, Bionics. I was incredibly careful when sculpting it, making sure it was broad enough to cover everything I needed but no more.
As it slotted in, I could feel it sparking off my already present fragments as well as the knowledge I already had. Both from the blueprints and the reverse engineering I had done.
The fragment blossomed in my mind, far brighter than I expected. By the feel of it, I guessed it was right at the peak of tier 1 and would only need the smallest nudges to get to tier 2. Without conscious though I slotted in another, pushing it to the middle of tier 2.
The influx of knowledge was greater this time, but still manageable.
It didn’t really introduce any new information, just laid it out clearer and filled in some of the blanks. Mostly around design philosophies and best practices. Still, it wasn’t a major jump, and while there were some things I would now do differently for my bionics, there was nothing majorly wrong with them, which I was happy to see.
Two sparks left over.
I put one more into Bionics. Unfortunately, while it pushed it closer to tier 3, this time the spark wasn’t helped as much by my previous knowledge. Still not a great loss. Before I could second-guess myself, I put the final spark into the fragment, pushing it over to tier 3.
This time, there was a greater influx of knowledge. With ideas and theories I had not come across.
With the new knowledge, I would guess I was just touching on what humanity could make during the peak of the Dark Age of Technology. Some of the gaps I had been trying to fill were filled, and I was a step closer to being able to create the advanced bionics. I would need to step into tier 4 to truly unlock bionics from that era, but this alone put me at the very peak of what the Mechanicus could create with a few rare exceptions.
More importantly, I didn’t need STCs to make them, so I could design my own, which was the most important part.
Before I could dive further into the rabbit hole of redesigning our bionics, I received a large data packet.
Solvexa had been called home.
---
"Aleric! Have you heard?" Tyr said as he came charging in. I was within Solvexa sanctum, preparing for her return. She had planned to stay out for another year, but with the storm, that changed.
She had sent a long data packet containing reports, logs, specifications and her thoughts on the last year of fighting. She had lost three of her Skitarii and many more servitors. The three lost Skitarii were the purely average ones, so it wasn’t a great loss in the grand scheme of things.
I'd been spending my time going through all the reports and the Skitarii measurements, planning out what to build for them. I'd already decided to make my own; they wouldn’t use much of my new knowledge, mostly using already-created templates.
But it would give me a way to test some of my newer ideas.
It would also allow Kellen and Lysa a chance to make some bionics, giving them some exposure. It would all be good practice for them.
I also had to take into account some of Solvexa's preferences. For example, a few of the bionics were more niche, like longer legs, that sort of thing. Since it was for her, I had been able to make use of her resources, which was good, since I was still using mine to create my bionics.
As much as I hadn't wanted to, I had gone back and reworked the ones I had already made, improving them with my new information. They weren't significant improvements, but they were improvements—mostly around ergonomics and efficiency.
For example, the cranial implants were stacked slightly differently to reduce heat and spread the load on my mind, making them that much better.
"Tyr!" Lysa said, waving at him from her seat at the cogitator, her legs kicking up. "You’re here! Help me with this." Like seemingly everyone, she had Tyr wrapped around her little finger. He automatically changed course to help before seemingly remembering himself.
"Sorry Lysa." Tyr said, turning back to me. "Do you know why Solvexa is coming back early. She said she would be gone for at least another year."
I sometimes forgot he had far less access to the information I did.
"She has been restationed here on the forge. She will be taking over guarding some key locations."
"Do you know which? And is that because of the Legions deployed?"
"Yeah. In light of a lot of the forces being sent out into the sector they are trying to force out several new legions of Skitarii early to fill in the gaps. That includes recalling adepts."
"What about where she is stationed?"
"Not sure, but nearby I think." I lied. I knew exactly where she would be stationed. She had asked me to help her; we both had to call in some favours, but we managed, and she would now be on rotation to guard several prestigious locations. Like the high value data vaults and the Magnovitrium Prime.
Although she would only compliment the forces for the Magnovitrium Prime. Viel's forces would still provide the majority of the defences.
This was partly to stop her, and by proxy, me, from getting sent to some random outpost in the middle of nowhere. Part of the reason I think Viel was willing to help me. But also, the accolades of doing so were worth it.
I would have told him, but Solvexa had asked to hold off until she had started. Before then other adepts might manoeuvre themselves to block her.
"Good, that’s a relief." Tyr said, shoulders slumping. Before brightening, almost bouncing in place. "That work around you showed me is amazing. Were there any other machines that you could do the same for?"
"One or two, none quite as impactful as that, though." I said with a small shrug.
"Any little bit. Thanks. I owe you."
"Yes, you do." I said with a laugh.
"Anyway, I want to get back to my fabricating." He said, already turning and vanishing off into a workshop.
He had been coming here for the last few weeks to build his bionics. An upgrade for his arm and eyes, as well as upgrading his mechadendrites. I had helped him here and there, mainly providing some of the different blueprints I had access to.
But that was all the help he wanted. Which, while I didn’t agree with, I could understand.
It was a rite of passage.
He was here instead of in Archmagos Telok sanctum because of how the Archmagos was behaving. I avoided him where I could, so I didn’t know him well, but even to me, he seemed more unhinged than usual. His experiments were becoming, if it was at all possible, more extreme.
More to the point, I heard his skirting very close to the line of which was considered heretical. Even for an Archmagos, who therefore had more leeway, he seemed to be going a step too far.
Tyr just felt uncomfortable around him now, which he never used to.
There was nothing I could do apart from keep an eye on him, something I was already doing to make sure Snuffles was never anywhere near his vicinity. I did check, and he didn’t seem to come into contact with the Moirae adepts.
At least not that I could tell.
I did have access to his sanctum, thanks to Tyr, not that he knew that was what I was doing at the time. But the Archmagos entered areas I didn’t have access too so I couldn’t be sure.
With Tyr gone, I turned my attention back to the task at hand, finishing designing the replacement augments and equipment.
Solvexa had been able to get supplies while she was out there from the purpose-built space station, in geosynchronous orbit around the death world. But it was all basic stuff, so it needed to be changed out regardless since it didn’t meet my standards.
Hours past and I was making good progress when Kellen pinged me for help. I got up to look over his shoulder as he worked a particularly fiddly ritual to repair a damaged las rifle. He was already past the traps and red herring I had set, which I was pleased to see.
Before we could get far, a warning flashed through the noosphere.
Someone had tried to enter my sanctum… through the noosphere and in person.
Warning Snuffles by the door, I dived into the noosphere and charged to my sanctum.
I arrived too late.
It only took me a few seconds, but the trespassers were gone. In a fraction of a second, I scanned the sea of data around me, and I couldn’t see anything out of place. My firewalls worked like a charm, considering the dissipating code around me, I'm pretty sure my defences killed at least two individuals.
Possibly three.
Now I was secure, I moved onto the physical realm.
This was less clean. The door had been opened using the credentials of a higher priest to get access. They weren't counting on my paranoia and the secondary alarms, which they didn’t disable before entering.
That triggered the automatic defences.
Patching into the auspex of the room, the entryway was shredded. The BFGs curled up on either side of the door had activated—showering the doorway and beyond in las fire. I counted two adepts, four still bleeding acolytes and most concerning of all, several Skitarii.
They hadn't made it far into the room, my guard doing their job.
First, I checked Tyr, and once I was sure he was safe in his private workshop here in Solvexa sanctum, I sent a warning to Ferrix-Omicron and Xaldris. They were Viel's right hand and head of his security and needed to know.
I got a response immediately from Ferrix, a brief confirmation as well as a dense stream of data gave context to his blunt reply. With one last look at my room to make sure there was nothing in there that shouldn’t be seen and put it on lockdown.
Opening my eyes, I checked the auspex outside the room for any movement. It was all calm and quiet, but that didn’t put me any more at ease.
Snuffles had received the same warning from the alarm as well as the one I sent as soon as I realised something was wrong and moved to a better location to cover the door.
Lysa and Kellen were looking at me concerned, clearly detecting something was wrong.
"Lysa, Kellen, could you join Tyr in his workshop." I needed to get them out of the line of fire if something went down. I also sent a warning to Tyr as well. I would send one to Solvexa, but she was in transit to us and was still several days out.
Still, I set an automatic message to send when she entered the forge worlds noosphere range.
It was a tense ten-minute wait. I forced myself to stay relaxed, just monitoring the corridors. Finally Xaldris came back to me for the all clear. They were investigating but had found no others in the area. He did warn me they were increasing the threat level and fortifying Viel's section of the forge city.
I already knew they were investigating, able to see them through the noosphere as they picked apart the adepts that had tried to force their way into my sanctum.
---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) - XIGlyphcraft (Tier 2) - IIBlueprints (Tier 3) - IIIActing (Tier 1) - IMathematics (Tier 1) - XIBiology (Tier 1) - XTeaching (Tier 2) - IIMachine Spirit (Tier 1) - IChemistry (Tier 1) - VIIIEngineering (Tier 1) - VIIBionics (Tier 3) - IIII