Deus Ex Mechanicus

7/31/2019 Deus Ex Mechanicus

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Grittysandcrunchedunderfootandacold,stingingwindblewmoreofitintotheirfacesastheystepped

downtothelandingground.Patchworkfiguresofsteelandfleshwererollingtowardsthemonarmored

treads;LakiusandOsilwaitedbytheshipandmadenosuddenmoves.

'Seethere,Osil:theExploratorshaveinvokedalasermeshfortheprotectionofthecamp.How

powerfulwouldyousayitis?'

'Isee

three

transformation

engines

on

this

side

of

camp.

Assuming

the

same

number

on

the

far

side

I

wouldestimate10to20gigawatts,father.'

Thefigurescamecloser.TheywerePraetorians,bionicallyreconstructedwarriorservitorsofthe

MachineGod.Theircadaverousfacesgazedstonilyfromanestoftargetingscopesanddatawires,gun

barrelsandenergytubestrackedLakiusandOsiluntiltheyhalted.Achestmountedspeakeronone

crackledintolife.

'Twolifeformsidentified.Classifiednonhostile.Pleasefollow,FatherLakius,AcolyteOsil.'

Theyfollowedapairoftheheavyservitorsbetweenlowbuildingsofprefabricatedarmourplaspaneling

towardsacentral

command

sphere.

Osil

pointed

to

one

of

the

smaller

structures

which

had

its

panels

foldedbacktocreateaworkshoplitfromwithinbyweldingarcsandshowersofsparks.

'Whatworksarebeingundertakenthere,father?'


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Lakiusrepressedachillsensationofforeboding'Theyarereinitiatingservitors,Osil.Evidentlytherehas

beensomeaccidentormishapwhichhasrenderedtheunitsnonfunctional.'Heforboretocommenton

therowofreadycasketsoutsidetheworkshop,containersfortechpriestswhosebiologicalcomponents

werefitonlyforincorporationintonewservitors.Severalpriestsmusthavediedherealready.

ThePraetoriansmotionedthemintothecommandsphereandremainedonguardoutside.Insidewasa

sceneofbarelyorganizedchaos.Wiringcascadedfrompanelsandconduits,devicesofahundredtypes

thrummed,buzzedandsparked,screenplatesflickeredandscrolledthroughendlesslinesofscripture.A

robedpriestdetachedhimselffromagroupclusteringaroundthecentraldaisandaddressedLakius.

'AdeptDanzager,yourarrivalhasbeengreatlyanticipated.IamAdeptNoam,LexmechanicMagos

Tertius.Ihavethehonorofanalyzingandcompilingdataonthisexpedition.'Noamwasgauntand

emotionless,onlyhislackofbionicenhancementandpriestlyrobesmarkinghimapartfromthe

servitors.Twootherpriestsgatheredbehindhim.Noampointedtoeachinturnandpronouncedtheir

roleswithtonelessefficiency

AdeptSantos,artisan,responsibleforcampconstructionandmaintenance.'Arotundmannodded.He

washeavilyrebuiltwithasubsidiaryliftingarmathisshoulderandamassofdiagnosticprobesinplace

ofhislefthandandeye.

AdeptBorr,runepriest,extrapolationandtheory.'Borrwasslightandnervouslooking,andseemedto

beon

the

edge

of

speaking

when

Noam

cut

him

off.

Noam

and

Borr

evidently

didn't

get

along.

Noam

gesturedtotheotherrobedfigureswithinthechamber.


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AdeptsRenallaird,KostasandAdsoareengineerslikeyourself,theirareasofexpertisecoveringthe

mysteriesofgeneration,auguryandmatriculation.AdeptVirtinnianisabsentia,attendingtothe

servitorsatpresent.'Renaillard,KostasandAdsolookedupbrieflyastheirnameswerementionedand

gaveaperfunctorynodbeforebendingbacktotheirwork.

'BlessingsoftheOmnissiahbeuponyouall,'Lakiussaid.AmItoassumethatyouaretheleaderofthis

expedition,AdeptNoam?'

'No,ExploratorMagosPrimeRestonEgalhasthatblessing.Hewillbejoiningusshortly.'

'CanyoutellmewhyIhavebeensummonedherethen?Iknowthatthisisanimportantundertaking;

afterall,ithasalreadymademelateformyownfuneral.'

IfNoamunderstoodthejokehemadenosign,butBorrgrinnedbehindhishand.Noamreplied,'Yes,

youwerescheduledfordisseminationattheterminationofyourlastassignment.ApostwiththeOfficio

Assassinorum,Iunderstand.Youmustbedisappointedthatyouremgramscannotyetbejoinedwiththe

MachineGod.'

'Intruth,itismybeliefthatIservebetterasalivingbeingthanacollectionofmemoriesandservitor

wetware.'

'Understandable,andverybiological.'SomethingclosetodisdainwaspassedacrossNoam'sfeatures

whenhesaidbiological.'Iseethatyouhaveneverconsideredundertakingtheunctionofclearthought.'


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'Theunctionofclearthought?Whatisthat,father?'blurtedOsil,forgettingthatheshouldbeseenand

notheardamongstsuchadepts.

Noamrepliedsmoothly,apparentlynottroubledbytheacolyte'sgaucheness.'Thefullutilizationof

cerebralmassisasimplematterofisolatingourthoughtsfromtherigorsanddistractionsofemotion

hunger,fear,joy,boredomandsoforth.Thisweknowastheunctionofclearthought.'

'Acommonsurgicalpracticeamonglexmechanics,'LakiustoldOsil,'whoserenownedcognitiveabilities

areenhancedthereby.'Atthepriceofbecominganemotionlessautomatonhethoughttohimself,

beforeadding

more

diplomatically,

'In

my

own

role

as

engineer

Ihave

always

found

crude

emotions

suchas'fear'and'pain'tobeusefulmotivatorsundertherightcircumstances.'

'Indeed?'Noamsaid,warmingtohissubjectmatter.'Studiesofstress

'Splendid!Thismustbeournewexpertincryostasis!

Noamwascutoffbyanewcomerwhohadlurchedintothechamberlikeananimatedscarecrow,all

ganglingarmsandlegs.Hisnarrow,vulpinehead,scrawnyneckandthinbodyconspiredtocomplete

theillusion.HegrinnedvoraciouslyatLakius.'Nowyou'refinallyhere,wecangetonwithit!Splendid!'

Lakiusboweddeeply.'MagosEgal,Ipresume.'

Part1Continued(section2)

'That'sright.Iseeyou'vemettheothersandNoam'sabouttotreatyoutoasermon!'


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MagosEgalwinkedconspiratoriallyatLakius,bouncingupanddownonhisheelsasifhecouldn't

containhisdelight.Lakiuswasastonished.Hewasusedtoacertainamountof...eccentricityamong

seniormembersoftheMechanicus,Exploratorsinparticular,butEgalseemedtobevergingontheedge

oflunacy.

'You

come

highly

commended,

you

know!

Highly

commended!

Two

centuries

of

experience!'

Almostfiftyaboardasinglecraft,servicingasinglesarcophagus,Magos.Admittedly,thatwasofalien

designanditsfailurewouldhavebroughtaboutmyimmediatedissemination butIcannotimagine

howImaybeofservicehere.'Intruth,Lakiushadastrongandunpleasantsuspicionexactlywhycryo

stasiswasofinteresttothisfamedExplorator,buthewishedtohearitsaidoutloud.

'Youcan'tguess?Ibetyoucan,butyouwanttohearitanyway!You'reasharpone!Ilikethat.'Egal

grinnedlopsidedly,'Doyouknowwhatthisplaceis?'Egalthrusthisarmsoutwardstoencompassthe

wholeworld.

'Naogeddon...adeadworld.'

'No!'Egalthrustupafingertomakehispoint.'Notdead,sleeping!Sleepingthesesixhundredmillion

years!'Lakius'sstomachunderwentaqueasylurch.

Egalcomposedhimselfalittleandwenton.'Letmebeginatthebeginning.Oversixhundredmillion

years,ago

arace

we

know

as

the

necrontyr

arose

and

spread

across

the

galaxy.

What

little

we

know

of

thesegiantsofprehistoryhasbeenlearnedfromahandfulofsocalleddeadworlds,likethisone,

scatteredattheveryfringesofthegalaxy.Oneachworldstandvast,monolithicstructureswhichhave

remainedallbutimpenetrabletoeverydeviceatthehandofMan.Theleveloftechnologyevidentin

theirconstructionisalmostincomprehensibletousandmanyExploratorshavebeenlostwinningthe

fragmentaryknowledgewedohave.


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'OnmyfirstexpeditiontoNaogeddon,wegainedcertainmeasurementsandcalibrationswhichare

singulartothedeadworldsoftheouterrim,theseancientseatsofthenecrontyr.Thesehaveenabled

myselfandAdeptBorrtofashionadevice...akey,ifyouwill,whichcanunlockthesestructureswithout

awakeningtheiroccupants.'

AdeptBorrhadgrownincreasinglyagitatedasMagosEgalspokeandnowheinterjected,'Magos,the

lastattemptcausedanexponentialjumpinattacks'

Noamcuthimoffsmoothly.'AdeptBorr,thoseprojectionshavenotbeenverified.

AdeptSantoshasconfirmedthecurrentthreatiswellwithinthecapacityofourdefensestocontain.'

'Thecurrentthreat,yes,butifthingsgowrong'

AdeptSantosseemedaffrontedbyBorrsimpliedcriticism.'Wehaveafifteengigawattlasermesh,

twentyarmedservitorsandstormbunkersbuiltoutofcubitthick,Titangradearmourplaspanels.What

couldpossiblygowrong?'

Egalhadpassivelywatchedtheexchangewithfatherlyhumorandaslightgrin,butnowhebecame

animatedagain.'Ahyes!Speakingofwhich,Ibelievethey'reduetoattackanytimenow.Stations,

everyone!'

Lakius'squeasystomachlurcheduptowardshismouth.Sirenswailedsecondslater.


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'Youmeantheyattackatthesametimeeveryday?'

'Well,everydusk.Strictlyspeaking.'

Lakius,OsilandBorrwereinanobservationgalleryatthetopofthecommandsphere.Asarunepriest

adept,Boffwastrainedtopiecetogetherfragmentaryinformationandmakespeculativetheorem,

somethingakintoblackmagictomosttechpriests.Assuch,Borrhadexplained,hewasdetailedtomake

observationsoftheirattackers,trytounderstandtheirtactics,strengthsandweaknessesandthenfeed

effectiveprotocolstothePraetorians.

'Ithoughtitwasalreadynight,'Osilsaid.

'No,Osil,it'salwaysthisdarkbecauseofthedustintheatmosphere,mostofthesuns'lightisreflected

backintothevoid,'Lakiusreplied.AdeptBorr,whataretheseattackers?DespiteAdeptSantos's

reassurances,Inoteanumberofcasualtieshavealreadybeenincurred.'

'Theyappeartobemechanisms:humanoid,skeletal,mostassuredlyarmed.Wehavenotbeenableto

secureoneforstudy,despitestrenuousefforts.'

AndIdidnotnoteanastropathadeptamongthosespokenofsofar.'


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Hesitantly,BorrlookedupatLakius.Histattooedfacewasunderlitbythegreenlyglowingglassofthe

augursbeforehim,buttoLakiusthesicklypallorwasunderwrittenbyadeeperfear.'AdeptArraius...

disappearedpriortotheveryfirstattack.I IfearMagosEgalhasnotfullythoughtthroughthe

implicationsof

this

site.

There

are

machine

spirits

here

which

have

functioned

continuously

for

six

hundredmillionyears.'

Borrwouldhavecontinuedbutanalarmbeganchiming,quietlybutinsistently.

Theaugurscreenflashedanddisplayedagridwithmovingicons,Borrglanceddownandsaid,'The

Praetorianshave

spotted

something.

We

should

have

it

at

any

moment.

There,

eight

energy

sources

six

hundredmetersoutonthewestside.We'llhavevisualsoon.'Anotherglassflashedanddisplayedicons.

Borrwasallbusinessnow,hisfearsforgotteninhisdevotiontohiswork 'Eightmore,atsixhundred

andclosingfromthesoutheast.They'retemptingustosplitourfire,Iexpect...yeshereitis,athird

groupatsixhundredmetersnorthwaitingtoseewhichwaywego.'.Outside,thedarkskieshad

deepenedtoanimpenetrable,inkyblacknesswhichthepowerfularclightsofthecampbarelykeptat

bay.

BorrfedattackvectorsandcoordinatestothePraetorianswhileLakiusandOsilclusteredaroundan

augurglass.ThelasermeshwasshownasaraggedlineofXsrepresentingthegroundbasedrefraction

spines.Redtrianglesapproachedinserriedlinesfromtwodirectionsandheldbackonanotherangle.

ThePraetorianswererepresentedbycogshapes,inrespectfortheirselflessdevotiontotheMachine

God.

ThePraetoriansweremovingsouthwestandanexchangeoffiresoontookplaceacrossthelasermesh.

The

tiny

bolts

flying

back

and

forth

on

the

glass

was

eerily

echoed

by

the

flashes

visible

through

the

observationports.Morefrighteningwerethesnapsandboomslikedistantlightningthatcamerolling

acrossthecompound.

ThemassedfireofthePraetorianswasoverwhelmingthesouthwestgroup,theredtrianglesdimmedin

quicksuccession,somedisappearingaltogether.OnlytwoofthePraetoriancogsshowedthesolidblack


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ofnonfunction,butevenasLakiuswatchedoneoftheredtrianglesbrightenedmomentarilyandits

shotturnedanothericonsolidblack.Onthewesttheenemywasatthelasermesh,advancingthroughit

inatightwedgeanddestroyingthespineswithtightlycontrolledsalvoes.Redlinesflickeredacrossthe

interloper'sprogressasdetectionbeamswerebrokenandthecontinuousenergyflowofthemesh

jumpedtofulloutput,searingthroughtheranks.Timeandagaintheiconsdimmedbutrecovered,they

wouldsoon

break

through.

The

northern

group

began

to

move.

'Thenorthgrouparecoming,'Lakiussaid.

'Isee

them.'

MostofthePraetoriansturnedwest,leavingasmallgrouptofinishoffthetatteredsoutherngroup.

Theartificial

lightning

storm

was

getting

closer.

Osil

was

not

paying

attention

the

Rlass

anymore.

The

scenesunfoldingoutsideinplainsightfrozehim.Strayshotsflashedintothecamp,explodinginsparks

orgougingglitteringweltsinSantos'sstormbunkers.

SeveralPraetorianswereinview,drivingparallelwiththelasermeshandfiringatsomethingoutof

view.Morecameintoviewfromthecamp,closinginaroundthespectralaliencohortforcingitswayin

fromthewest.Thefoewasterribletosee,theirshiningmetalskullsandskeletonstoosymbolictobe

missed.Here

is

Death,

they

had

been

built

to

communicate,

in

any

language,

across

any

gulf

of

time

and

toanyrace.

Thatwasnottheworstofthem.Theseharbingersseemedinsomehorriblesensetolive.Eachwasa

mechanism,tobesure,butonewithafierceanime,liketheidolofsomeferocious,primitivegod.Not

onlyweretheydeath,buttheymanifestedahorriblesenseofpassion,evenjoyintheirwork.As


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machinespiritstheywerethemostobsceneperversionsLakiushadeverseen,andinwardlypartofhim

wepttoseesuchthingscouldstillexist.

'Father,'Osilsaid,'thenortherngroup...

LakiuscouldnttearhiseyesawayfromthebattlebetweenthePraetoriansanddeathmachinesbelow.

Theenergyweaponsofthealienswerefrighteningintheirpotency,theiractinicboltsvisiblyflaying

throughwhatevertheystrucklayerbylayerlikesomeobscenemedicalscancompressedintoa

heartbeat.Thewarriorservitorsfoughtbackwithplasmafireandarmorpiercingmissiles,cuttingdown

theskeletal

apparitions

one

by

one,

but

four

more

servitors

had

been

cut

down

by

the

enemies'

deadly

accuratefire.

Borrusedthesametacticagain,thebulkofPraetoriansbrokeoffandwheelednorth.Asmallgroupwas

lefttofinishoffthealienmachineswhichkeptstubbornlyrisingafterhitsthatwouldhavestoppeda

dreadnought.LakiuswasgratefulforBorr'sobvioustacticalskill.Ifeitherthewesternorsouthern

groupswerenotcompletelyeliminatedthefoewouldundoubtedlygetafootholdinsidethecamp.The

troublewas

the

Praetorians

moving

north

to

parry

the

third

thrust

numbered

only

six;

for

the

first

time

theywouldnotoutnumbertheenemy.

'Borr,setthenorthernfaceofthemeshtomaximumsensitivity,'Lakiussaid.

'Butthespineswillfirecontinuously,dissipateintothewindblowndust!'

'Micadust,'Lakiuscorrected.


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Borrgrinnedandbeganariteofsupplication.

THEPRAETORIANSfoughtwellonthenorthernside.Theyusedastormbunkertonarrowtheanglesso

theyonlyfoughtpartoftheenemyatonce.Clatteringforwardonarmoredtreads,asalvoofmissiles

scorchedacrossthevoidblackskyandcutdowntwoenemymachinesastheyemergedfromthelas

mesh.Lightningcrackdischargesofplasmaburnedanother,butacriticaloverheatdamagedoneofthe

servitorsashisshouldermountedplasmacannonsufferedmeltdown.

Fivefacedfive.Thestormbunkerwasbeingtorntopieces,itsadmantiumsheathimpossiblyburning

withmetalfires.Withagroanitcollapsedinonitself,revealingmoreofthefoeattheinneredgeofthe

mesh.ThePraetorianslosttwooftheirnumberforonlyoneoftheenemy.Threearmoredservitors

wereleftagainstfourskullfacedkillers.Thealiensgrinnedtheirhideous,fixedgrinsastheystepped

forward.

Withoutwarning

the

laser

mesh

crackled

into

frenzy

of

discharges.

Gigawatts

of

energy

were

dissipated

intotheswirlingdustparticles,pointlesslyscatteringtheirpowerinflashesofheatandlight.

Theflasheswereharmless,butpowerfulenoughtotemporarilyblindtheopticsofthenearbyskeleto

machines.TheirfireslackenedmomentarilyandthePraetoriansusedtheopportunitytohaltandletrip

witheveryweaponintheirarsenals;boltershells,missilesandplasmacarvedthroughthesilhouetted

enemy.

Osilgapedatthescopes.Amomentagohehadthoughthewasgoingtobekilled,butinsteadtheyhad

won.


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pursuitofsacredknowledge;theindividualweighednothingagainsttheCultMechanicus.Butwasthis

sacredknowledgeorsomethingancientandtainted?

Allset?'MagosEgaltrilledtoRenaillard,whonoddedhisassent.'Placeseveryone!Lakius,youstand

withmeandwecanallchanttheliturgyofactivationtogether'Chantinginchoraltones,Egalmadea

seriesofconnectionsandstaticstartedtojumpfromthegenerator,accompaniedbyarisinghumming

noiseandthereekofozone.Theblackstoneshimmered,glitteringlikequicksilverasitstartedto

deformawayfromthespiraledneedleofthegenerator.

Anarchwasappearing,tallandtapering,ofperfectdimensionsandstraightness.Withinitsanglesthe

stonewrithedandcoiledlikealivingthingbeforefadingawaylikemisttorevealthemouthofa

corridor.Theperfectaliensymmetryofitwasmarredonlybytheheadandshoulderofapraetorian

whichappearedtobesunkintothewallonthelefthandside mutetestimonytothepreviouslyfailed

attempttopenetratethestructure.

Unperturbedbyitssilentbrother,thefirstPraetorianmovedintothecorridor,itspowerfulfloodlights

piercingthedarknesswithin.Osilgasped,theoutershellofthestructurehadmadehimimaginethe

insidetobethesame,unadornedstone.Butthelightspickedoutcomplextraceriesofsilverymetalset

intoeverysurface;walls,floorandceilingtwinkledwithcapturedstarlight.Amurmurofwonderrose

fromthegatheredtechpriests.MagosEgalgrinnedwithdelight.

`Yousee!Asimpleadjustmentofthreedegreeswasallittook!Quite,quitefascinating!Ihaven'tseen

anythingquitelikethissincethemoonsofProximaHydratica!hechuckled.Lakiusfeltrelieved;the

Magos,wasevidentlymoreaccomplishedthanheappeared.Onebyone,tradingsensorcablesand

power

threads

behind,

the

techno

magi

entered

the

alien

structure.

Thecorridorwithitsrichsilverfiligreesslopeddownandaway.Afteradozenmetersitdroppeddownin

kneehighstepsforanotherhundred.ThePraetoriansstruggledtonegotiatethegiantsteps,laboriously

erringthemselvesovereachone.TheslowprogressgaveLakiusampletimetoexaminethesilvertraced


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corridorwalls.Theywereundoubtedlydepictingscriptinalanguageofsomeform.Spinesandwhorls

marchedinapparentlyformedfromcontinuousdualstrands.Thelinesandstrandsofciptcrossedand

recrossedupanddownthewalls,acrossthefloorandonhighinfrozensinewaves,creatingthe

sensationthatthealienlanguagewassomehowconveyedbythetotalityofwhatwasbeforehim,rather

thanitsindividualelements.

AdeptNoamwastakinginputfromacadaverouslookingscanningservitor,alongumbilicalconnecting

itsoversizedeyelensestoasocketinthelexmechanic'schest.

Borrwasnearby,puzzlingoverahandheldauspex.

'Canyoumakeanythingofit,AdeptBorr?'Lakiuswhisperedtotherunepriest.Thesepulchralquietof

thenecrontyrmonolithseemedtodemandsilence,asifnoisewouldmanifestallofitsinvisible,crushing

weighttopunishtheimpudentinterlopers.

Byunspokenagreementnoneofthepartyhadbrokenthatbroodingsilencewithmorethanaharsh

whispersincetheyhadentered.

No,I'mnotsurethatit'ssupposedtobereadinthehumanopticrange.Setyourviewpiecetoread

magneticresonanceandyou'llseewhatImean.'

Lakiusfumbledwiththefocusingknobontherimofhisartificialeye,tuningittoscanelectromagnetic

frequencies.The

corridor

was

bathed

in

it,

every

whorl

and

spine

was

atiny

energy

source

which

glowed

withmagneticforce.Theoveralleffectwasdizzying,likewalkingthroughaglasscorridoroveraninfinite

gulffullofstars.AfteratimeLakiushadtoresethisvisiontoblankitout.


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Afteranhourofdescentthecorridorflattenedoutandthentwistedsharplytotherightbeforebeing

blockedbyaportalofblackmetal.ThetwoleadPraetorianshaltedbeforeit,theirfloodlightsdarkly

reflectedintheglossymetaloftheobstacle.Threegeometricsymbolsweremarkedonitatknee,waist

andshoulderheight.

'Shouldweuseweaponsfire,Magos?'OneofthePraetoriansasked,itsplasmacannoneagerlyswiveling

intothereadyposition.MagosEgalshookhishead,steppinguptothedoorwithNoamfaithfully

shadowinghimwithhistraifingservitor.

'No,no,'

Egal

muttered

'I'm

sure

it's

asimple

matter

of...'

He

touched

the

metal

of

the

portal.

Lakius

flinchedslightly,fearingsomeancientnecrontyrdeathtrap.Nothinghappened.'...understandinghow

totriggerthesesymbols.'

ApregnantsilencefellbehindEgal'swords.Noambegananalyzingthesymbols,crossreferencingwith

allthedatahestoredinhismachineenhancedbrain.

Lakiussoftlyletoutabreathhebeenholdinguntilheheardanewsound,alowbuzzwhichrosequickly

toahighpitchedwhine.Itsoundedhorriblylikeaweaponchargingup,itscapacitorsbeingfilledto

maximumbeforeitunleashedanatomizingblast.

HairsroseonLakius'sneck.Thesigilswereflickeringwiththeirownlightnow;theirghostlyfingersof

energycouldbefelttangibly.ThePraetorianssensedittooandwenttoathreatresponse,readyingand

chargingtheirownweaponswithahissofservosandwhineofcapacitors.

Lakiusfeltasurgeofpanic,asifhestoodbeneathagianthammerwhichwouldsmashdownatany

second.Hewantedtorunbackupthecorridorbuthiswaywasblockedbythetworearmost


18/29

Praetorians.Theywereagitatedlyswivelingbackandforthwiththeirbalefultargetingeyeslitasthey

searchedforenemies.Oneofthemturnedfarenoughtospotitscompanionanditsrubyeyeirises

downintoapinpointasitlockedontarget.ThePraetorian'splasmacannoncrackleduptoafullcharge,

acompressedlightningboltwhichwouldannihilateanythingwithinmetersofitsimpactpoint.

Osilwasgibberingwithfear.

Lakiuswasshoutingoutcommanddogma:'Praetorians!Audioprimuscommand!DeusexTerminusest.'

Thecannonfired,asearingflashandthunderclapwhichtorethroughtheotherPraetorianandsent

whitehotshrapnelscythingdownthecorridor.OsilbravelyshoulderedLakiustooneside,savingtheold

engineerfromafierydemise.Shoutsandanotherroarechoedfromneartheportal,awavefrontof

scorchingheatwashedbackupthecorridor.ThenearbyPraetorianswiveledroundandtrainedits

plasmacannononLakiusandOsil,itseyeglowedwithsinglemindeddeterminationtodestroyasit

narrowedatthem.

'ErgosVeriatexcommen!'Lakiusshoutedhoarsely'Shutdown!'

ThePraetoriansaggeddownonitschassislikeapuppetwithitsstringscutandthecrisiswasoveras

suddenlyasithadbegun.Theeeriesilencefelllikeacurtainwhichwasbrokenbythecrackleoftiny

fires,the

pfink

of

cooling

metal

and

the

groans

of

Osil

as

he

writhed

on

the

blood

slick

slabs.

Metal

splintershadstruckhiminhissidewhenhesavedLakius.BytheblessingsoftheOmnissiah,thewounds

werenottoodeepandAdeptBorrshrivedthemwithasomaticwelder.


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AdeptRenaillardhadnotbeensoluckyandashardofsmolderingcasinghadstruckhiminthethroat,

almostshearinghisheadoff.SmokerosefromthesmolderingremainsofthetwoPraetoriansnearest

theportal.Noam'sservitorhadbeendestroyedintheexchangeoffireasthetwodestroyedeachother

butMagosEgalandtheLexmechanicwereunharmed.

Asophisticatedformoffaeranfield,'Noamexplaineddispassionately.

'ItwascutoffwhenIcompleteddecryptionoftheportallocks.'Afaeranfieldinterferedwithbrain

functions,inducing,amongotherthings,extremefearresponsesandseizures.Lakiuscouldn'thelpbut

thinkthe

lexmechanic

sounded

alittle

smug.

Clear

thought

indeed.

Beyondtheportalthecorridorappearedtocontinueasbefore.OsilwassorelyhurtinspiteofBorr's

ministration,andLakiusundertooktheritualstorebootthesolitaryremainingPraetoriansothatitcould

carryhimbacktothesurface.Osilprotestedweakly,butLakiusspokeafewquietwordstohimbefore

sendinghimonhisway.TheyoungacolytelookedverymuchlikeachildclingingtothePraetorian's

widebackandLakiusprayedthatnothingwaswaitingbackthereinthedarknessforthem.Withonly

fourtech

priests

left

in

the

expedition

it

seemed

dangerous

to

Lakius

to

push

on,

but

the

Magos

insisted,convincedtheywereatthevergeofabreakthrough.

PART2

EGALSBREAKTHROUGHprovedtobealabyrinth.Thecorridorsplitandthensplitagainandagain

tobecomemany.Thedifferentwaysslopedsharplyupanddown,somenarrowingtoslitstoosmallfor

evenaservomat

to

enter.

Within

three

turns

Lakius

felt

thoroughly

disorientated.

The

marching

hieroglyphsonthewallsseemedtohintatothercorridorsIyingjustoutofsight,showingoutlinesof

otherlabyrinths,turnings,deadendwhichwerejustoutofphasewiththemselves.IntheMechanicus

doctrinetheportalalonewouldhavebeenthesubjectofmonthsofcarefulstudybeforefurther

advancewasmade.Thetwistingsofthisalienmazewouldconstitutealifetimesworkwithstudiesof

geometryandnumerology.


20/29

MagosEgalwasinnomoodtolinger,though,andhesetNoamandBorrtocalculatingapaththrough.

AdeptNoam'svastanalyticpowerwasdirectedentirelyontobuildinganaccuratemapofthe

interweavingpassagestheymovedthroughusingdirectobservationphasicscanning,micropressure

evaluationandtactileinterrogation.

AdeptBorrusedhiscarefully,learnedartsconjectureandintuitiontounderstandtheunderlying

structureofthemaze,andtodeterminewhatkindofxenomorphiclogicwouldguidethemthroughit.

Lakiuswasreducedtodoingtheworkofaservitor,spoolingoutpowerthreadandinvokingmarker

pointsateachjunctionsothatNoamcouldtickthemoffonhismentalplan.Thespool'smetriculator

showedlessthanathousandmetersleftofitsfivekilometerlengthwhentheyfoundanotherportal,

thoughthetermseemedinappropriateforthegargantuanmetalslabsconfrontingthem.

Thegleaming,baroquelyetchedmetalstretchedupintothedarknessfurtherthantheirhandlights

couldreach.Thecorridorangledawayineitherdirection,followingsomeinnerwallbutleavinga

sizeablevestibulethatthefourExploratorsnowoccupied.Theyweredwarfedbythenewbarrier,

renderedsoinsignificantthattheopeningofthosetitanicgatescouldonlyforetelltheirdoomatthe

handofsomethingancientandmonstrous.AdeptNoamdidnotevenflinchashesteppedforwardto

begindecipheringthelockingglyphs.

Lakius'smouthwasdrywithfearastheadeptbegantracingthefirstglyph.Helookedbackalongthe

corridor,surehehadheardsomescuttlingnoise.Thetwinklingsilvertracerieshurthiseyes,mechanical

andorganic.Ittookhimamomenttorealizethatshapesweremovingacrossthem.Silvery,glittering

shapes.

'Watchtherear!'Lakiusshoutedandheftedhispersonalweapon,anancientandbeautifullycrafted

lasermadebyOrtisianofArkeness,whosespirithehadlongtendedto.Itsangryredlashwassharpand

true:itcaughtashape,whichblewapartinablindingflashwhichspokeofminoratomics.Theothers

crouchedon

their

spindly

legs

and

then

leapt

forward,

buzzing

down

the

corridor

like

aswarm

of

metallicinsects.

Eachwasthesizeofaman'storso,flattenedattheedgeslikescarabsandfringedwithviciouslooking

hooksandclaws.Theywerefastbutsoaggressivethattheyimpededeachother'sprogressasthey

rattledandbouncedoveroneanother.Borr'sboltlauncherjoineditsroaringsongtothehissofLakius's


21/29

laser.Theircombinedfireclaweddownthreemoreofthesteelyscarabs.Nonetheless,LakiusandBorr

hadtobacktowardsthedoorstokeeptheirdistanceasmoreswarmedforward.

'Keepthemback!'shoutedEgal.'Noamalmosthasit!'

Theirbackswerealmostagainstthedoorsalready.Lakiusfocusedallhisattentionontrackingand

eliminatingthemachinescarabs,hislaserflickeringfromonetoanotherinadeadlydanceof

destruction.Buttheywerestillgettingcloser.Onescarabduckedbetweentwoofitsfellowsatthepoint

oftheirdestruction,andsurgedforwardwhilethetechpriestswerehalfblindedbytheexplosions.The

machine'sscrabblingclawsrippedBorr'sbolterfromhishandsbeforeitsmomentumcarrieditover

Lakius'shead.Itbouncedoffawallandarroweddownamongstthepriests.

LakiusflinchedawayandsawitclampontoAdeptNoam'sbackevenashecompletedthelastsigil.

Surgicalsharphooksrippedintothelexmechanicasthetwinportalsbegantoslowlyseparate.

'Couldsomeoneremovethis?'Noamaskedcalmly,likeamanbeingtroubledbyawasponasummer's

day.I

Thescarab

exploded

like

aminiature

nova

and

Adept

Noam

was

gone,

consumed

in

an

actinic

fireball

whichknockedLakiusflat.Herolleddesperately,purpleafterimagesflashinginhisvision,earsfilled

withtheroarofdetonation.Heexpectedtofeelthedreadweightofoneofthemachineslandingonhim

atanysecond.

OSILLAYGRIPPEDtoanoperatingtablebysteelbands,thearmsofanautochirurgeondelicatelysliced

athisskin,pullingforthsteelsplintersandsuturinghistornfleshtogether.Painblockersnumbedhis

bodybuthismindwasracing.FatherLakiushadtoldhimtopreparetheirsacredcargoforrelease.Such

adangerousundertakingwasnormallyonlymadeinresponsetoasignalfromtheAdeptusTerraon

distantEarth.

To

begin

the

investiture

of

the

living

weapon

the

ship

carried

in

cryo

stasis

without

the

initiationcodewastantamounttosuicide.Iftheassassin'scryptwasopenedwithoutreceivingthe

preparatorymnemonicsandemgramsspecifyingitstargetitwouldkilleverythingitfounduntilitwas

destroyed.

FatherLakius,heconcluded,mustprivatelybelievethingshadgonevery,verywrongindeed.


22/29

LAKIUSFLINCHEDassomethinggrippedhisshoulderandstarteddragginghimbackwards.Herealized

someonewastryingtopullhimtosafetyandkickedhislegstoscrambleacrossthefloor.

Momentslater,Lakius'svisionclearedenoughtoseethathewasbeyondthedoorsandthattheywere

closing.Thedarkslitofthecorridoroutsidenarrowedrapidlyastheysmoothlyswepttogether.He

pointedthelaserstillgrippedinhisshakinghandbutnoscarabmachinescamethroughthegapbefore

itsealed.

'Splendid!Theyarewithoutandwearewithin,'MagosEgal'svoicesaid,closetoLaidus'sear.

Hescrambledtohisfeetasquicklyashecould,fearfullylookingaround.Egalstoodnearbyandbeyond

himthechambertheyhadenteredcouldbeseeninitsfullmajesty.Huge,angularbuttressesmarched

awaydowneitherwall,thefloorslopedgentlydownward.Frostypillarsofgreenishfightshonedown

fromanunseenrooftorevealrowuponrowoftaHblockscoveredinangularalienscript.Theairhelda

chillandthesilenceofthelabyrinthoutsidehadgivenwaytoagentlesusurrationlikewavesagainst

distantshore.

'Where'sAdeptBorr?'Lakiusdemanded.Egalturnedawayfromhisaccusinggaze,lookingoffdownthe

cyclopeanchamber.

'I'msorry,Ihadtoshuttheportalorthescarabswouldhavekilledallofus,'Egalseemedgenuinely

repentant.HecouldnotevenmeetLakius'sgaze.

'Youjustlefthimoutside!'Lakius'sangrywordsrangholloweventohim.Theyoungrunepriestwas

deadandrecriminationswouldnotbringhimback.Theyweretrappedatthecentreofthemonolith

now,the

heart

of

the

ancient

structure.

The

Mechanicus

trained

academic

in

him

was

already

studying

thechamber,tooawedbythestorehouseofalienarchaeotechtogivethoughttothecostalready

incurred.Therowsofmanhighblocksseemedfamiliar,somethingaboutthem...understanding

blossomedwithanowfamiliartangoffear.


23/29

'Thesearecryostasismachines,'hewhispered.Metriculationmemochipsinhisopticviewercalmly

extrapolatedthatthechamberheldoveramillionofthem.

'It'swhatIbroughtyoutosee.TheyresemblethecryocryptoftheAssassinorumvesselyouarrivedin,

dotheynot?Thebestisatthecentre,thesearejust...servants.Comeandwemaylookuponasightno

livingthing

has

seen

in

six

hundred

million

years.'

EgalmovedoffdowntheslopeandLakiusnumblyfollowed.Theypassedblockafterblock,each

glitteringwitharimeofancientfrost.Thefloorgotsteeperuntiltheyhadtocrawlonhandsandknees,

grippingtheblockstolowerthemselvesdowntoaflatcircularsectiondominatedbyanimmensestasis

crypt.Itwasasarcophagusinform,itstopmoldedintoarepresentationofwhatlaywithin.Lakius

expectedtoseeamaskofdeathlikethemachinewarriors,butinsteadfoundvividliferenderedin

polishedmetal,beautifulbutinhumanandcruel.Rowsofsigilsaroundthefidshonewithaninnerlight,

anditfeltwarmtothetouch.

'Itsalreadybeenopened,'saidLakius.'Helpmemovethelid.Ineedtoseeinside.'Betweenthemthey

managedtoturnthehuge,heavylid,swivelingittorevealtheinterior.Thesarcophaguswasempty.

Egalseemedunsurprised;infact,hewasdelighted.'Splendid!JustasIhadhoped.'Hereacheda

ganglingarmintothesarcophagusandbroughtoutasilvery,metallicstaff.

'LakoniusdescribedanartifactlikethisintheApocryphaofSkarros.Hespokeofasymbolofmastery

bornbythelordsofthenecrontyr,calledthe'staffoflight".'Heheftedtheornatedeviceinbothhands.

Ashedidso,anintensebluewhitefightflaredinthesymbolatthetopofthestaff.'Withthis,weneed

fearnodenizenofthisedifice;withtimetheycanevenbetamedandmadetoserve.'

'Butwhatoftheoccupantofthecrypt?'Lakiusasked,nervouslynotingthemaniacalgleaminEgal'seye.

'Thelordandmasterofthisplacethatwe'replunderingfrom?Ifearinourcurrentcircumstanceswe

could

scarcely

fend

off

any

kind

of

attack

and

that

artifact

is

more

likely

to

draw

one

to

us,

we

should

go

whilewestillcan.'

'Verywell,butthestaffoflightcouldbeoursalvation.Itwouldbemadnesstoleaveitbehind.'


24/29

OSILLIMPEDtowardsthelandingfieldwheretheirshiplay.Hehadagonizedgreatlyaboutwhetherto

accedetohismentor'srequest.ByImperialandMechanicuslaw,theactivationofoneofthelethal

membersoftheOfficioAssassinorumwithoutproperauthorizationwastreasonofthehighestorder.

Deathofthefleshwouldbeasecondaryconsiderationbesidetheterriblepunishmentsthatwould

entail.

ButOsilhadspentalmosttwentyTerranyearsinthecompanyofLakiusDanzager,studyingthetaskshe

wouldonedaycontinuewhenthefatherwasgatheredtotheLibrariumOmnissiah.Hehadimaginedhe

wouldspendtherestofhislifeaboardtheageingcutter,maintainingitssystemsandpreparingitscargo

ofImperialvengeancewhenitwasrequired.Thatwasnotgoingtobethecasenow.Osilhadlearned

enoughofLakius'sclaritytounderstandthattheExplorator'sexpeditionwaswoefullyinadequateinthe

faceofthealienterrorsofNaogeddon.FatherLakiusfearedtheworst,thattheywereaboutto

unwittinglyunleashsomethingsoterriblethathebelievedonlyanadeptoftheEversortemplewould

haveachanceofstoppingit.Andsotheassassinmustbeprepared.

LasteditedbyTallarn;12102008at11:24PM.

Part2Continued(theend)

MAGOSEGALstrodeaheadconfidentlythroughthelabyrinth,thrustingoutthestafflikeatorch,its

fiercelightburningbacktheshadowsandsettingthehieroglyphsaflamewithbluewhiteflashes.Lakius

scuttledalongbehindhim,jumpingateachnewscraping,slitheringnoise,jabbinghispistoltowards

eachnewvagrantglitterofsteelasitflickedoutofsightbehindacorner.Thedenizensofthelabyrinth

weredogging

their

heels,

giving

back

before

the

circle

of

light

from

the

staff

and

closing

in

behind.

Afterwhatseemedlikeaneternitytheyreachedthefirstportalwheretheyhadfallenfoulofthefaeran

field.ThemeltedwreckageofthePraetoriansandRenaillard'sbodyweregone,thecorridorclearexcept

forthepowerthreadstrailingoffintothedarkness.MagosEgalwantedtostopandinvestigatebut

Lakiusfearedsomeassaultwouldtakeplaceiftheylingered,andurgedhimtopresson.Thesoftscrapes

andscratchesofmovementwerebehindthemnow,butfollowingcloselyallthetime.Astheystartedto

climbthestepsLakiuslookedbackandcaughtsightofdozensoftinylightsfloatinginthegloom.They

looked

like

blue

fires,

seemingly

cold

and

distant,

but

drifting

forward

in

pairs,

the

twin

eye

lights

of

murdermachinesontheirtrail.

Thecoolgreylightoftheoutsideseemedblindingaftertheblacknesswithin.Theedgesofthephasicrift

inthestructure'soutersheathwerewaveringalarminglyandtheyranpasttheentombedPraetorianto


25/29

stumbleoutontothegrittydustofthesurface.IttookLakiusamomenttogainhisbreathandhelooked

uptoseeEgalmakingadjustmentstothephasegenerator.

'You'reshuttingitdown,Itrust,'said,Lakius.

'Quitethecontrary;I'mstabilizingitsowecanusethesameentrywaytogobackin.'

'ThatswhatIthought,'Lakiussaid,andfiredhislaser.

EGALDARTEDAWAYfromLalkius'slaserwithinhumanquickness.ButLakiushadbeenaimingatthe

phasegenerator'spowercouplings,andthehitwasmorespectacularthanhehadimagined.The

keymachinedetonatedandthenimploded,ahaloofwhitehotflameflashingoutwardsforamoment

beforeitwasdraggedback.Araggeddistortionveilskatederraticallyoverthemachine,crushingit

smallerandsmallerasittriedtosuckeverythingnearbyintoit.Egalhadbeenblownclear,butwasleft

wrestlingtoholdontothealienstaffoflightasitwasdrawninexorablytowardstherift.

'Helpme,Lakius.Ican'tholdit!'Egalshoutedoverthepiercingshriekofairbeingannihilatedinthevoid.

LakiusleveledhislaserattheMagosandshothimintheheadwithoutreplying.Egalfellbackclutching

hisface.

The

staff

plunged

into

the

rift

and

exploded

with

acrack

of

lightning.

Ozone

hung

heavy

in

the

airasLakiusbackedawaythroughthelasermeshspinestowardsthecamp.Hesparedaglanceforhis

treasuredweapon'sindicatorjewel,andsawitwasdim.Hislastshothadbeenatfullstrength,enough

topunchthroughplasteel.MagosEgalwasstillmoving,standingup.

'Haveyouanyideahowharditwastogetthistextureright?'hedemandedindignantly,indicatingthe

sideofhisfacethathadbeencaressedbyasteelburninglaser.Charredweltsrevealedglitteringmetal

beneath,quicksilvercurvesthatbetrayedaninhuman,yetfamiliar,anatomy.Lakiuskeptmovingback,

thefigureofthethingthathadpretendedtobeEgalwasgettingreassuringlydistant,dwarfedbythe

solidblack

base

of

the

alien

structure.

A

pair

of

Praetorians

came

rattling

forward

from

amidst

the

storm

bunkers,balefullyscanningLakiuswiththeirtargets.

'Onelifeformidentified.Classifiednonhostile,'oneconcluded.


26/29

Themagosthingwasatthelasermesh.Itleaptsuddenly,astoundinglycoveringthehundredmetersto

LakiusandthePraetoriansinasinglesomersaultingbound.

'Onelifeformidentified.Classifiednonhostile,'theotherpraetorianstated.

'Surelyyoudidn'tbelievetheseclatteringtoyswouldbeabletoidentifyme?'theEgalthingsmiled.'I

hadthoughtyouoneofthemoreintelligentspecimens.'

Lalkius'smouthwasdrywithfear,buthemanagedacurtnodofacceptancebeforecryingout

'Praetorians!Audioprimuscommand!Overwatch!'ThePraetorianslockedtheirweaponsontothealien

witheyeblurringspeed,theirsimplebrainsentirelydevotedtoobliteratingthefirstrapidmovement

theysensed,

'YouforgetthatIspenttimerepairingservitorsafterthelastbattle.Itookthelibertyofupdatingtheir

commandprotocolsatthesametime,'Lakiussaidwithmorecouragethanhefelt'

Thethingsmiledmorebroadlystill,andslowlycockeditsheadtooneside.ThePraetorians'weapons

trackedtheminutemovementfaithfully.'Goodforyou,LakiusDanzagerYoureallyareacleverone.

HowdidyouknowIwasn'thuman?'

Lakiushesitatedforamoment.Thethingbeforehimexudedanalmostprimalsenseofpoweritwasat

hismercyforthepresent,buthisinstinctstoldhimitcouldpounceonhimatanymoment.The

Mechanicusinhimyearnedtolearnwhathecouldaboutitwhilehishumanityscreamedouttodestroy

it.Hiscuriosityoverpoweredhisinstinctsforamoment.

Iwasntsure,buteitheryouwerethethingfromthecryptoraninsaneExploratorwhowasbenton

unleashingsomethingunspeakableupontheworld.WhenIunderstoodthat,mychoicesbecameclear.

Howdid

you

replace

Egal?

Did

he

wake

you

in

there?'

Icy

daggers

caressed

Lakius's

back

as

he

talked

to

thething.Itssilverandfleshsmilewidenedevenfurther.

WhatmakesyouthinkIreplacedhimatall?Ihavetravelledagreatdistancesincemyfirstwaking,

walkedinmanyplacesthathavechangedsoverymuchsinceIsawthemlast.''Whatwereyouseeking?'

whisperedLakius.


27/29

Thething'sferocioussmilewasspreadalmosteartoear.'Knowledge,mostly.Iwantedtoknowhowthe

galaxyhadfared,whowasleftaftertheplague.Youcan'timaginemysurpriseonfindingyourkindand

thekrorkscatteredeverywhere.I'veseenyouhumanstryingtoforgeanempireinthenameofacorpse;

Ihave

seen

your

churches

to

the

machine.

Racially,

your

fear

and

superstition

are

most

gratifying.

You

makeexcellentsubjects.'

'Youarenecrontyr,then.Youwentintostasistoescapeadisease.'

'No,yourlanguageisinefficient.Theplaguewasnotadiseaseanditcouldn'tharmus,but...'The

necrontyrlifteditsheadbackasifdreamingoflonglosttimes.'Itwaskillingeverythingelse.'Itlooked

backatLakius.Andno,IamnotaNecron.Youmistaketheslaveforthemaster.Youllunderstand

betterwhenItakeyoubackinside.'

Itleapt.ThePraetoriansblazedintoitwithlasersandplasma,theirboltslashingatthethinform.Lakius

wasmomentarilyblindedbytheorgyofdestruction,andhefledtowardsthecommandcentreinthe

hopeoffindingreinforcements.Helookedbacktoseeasilveryfigurerippingpiecesoutofonethe

Praetorians.Theotherbattleservitorwassmolderingnearbythefigurewavedapieceofcarapace

jauntilyatLakius.

'Sorry,Lakius,Icouldntresistit,'thethingcalled'Myraceraisedwhatyoucall"melodrama"toahigh

artformbeforeyouwereevenevolved.ItchuckledandtoevisceratingthePraetorian

LAKIUSWASspinningthelocksshutonthecommandcenterhatchwhenhesensedapresencebehind

him.Heturned,tooterrifiedandwearytofightbutwantingtoseehisnemesis.Healmostdiedofrelief

whenhesawitwasOsil.

Osilits

'Iknow,father,Iwaswatchingonthemonitor.'


28/29


29/29

Therewasaflashoutside,andsecondslateratitanicroar.TheblastwavefromtheAssassinorum

vessel'sPlasmareactorgoingcriticalwasasecondbehindthat.

'Don'tworry,Icansaveyou.'Thethinggrinnedagain.

Noneed,'gratedLaldusanddosedthelastconnection.

Adomeofshimmering,bluishlightsprangintobeing.ItfilledthehatchwaywiththeNecronmaster

frozenatitscentre.Itwasacharcoalblacksilhouetteintheglareoftheplasmaflashbeyondthefield.

Therestofthearmoredcommandcentreshookandrattledalarminglybutheld,itsvulnerablehatch

protectedbyLakius'simprovisedstasisbubble.

AftertheblastwavehadpassedtherewasalongmomentofsilencebeforeOsilasked.'Father,won't

theOmnissiahbeangrythatyoumistreatedallthoseMachineSpiritsmakingthefield?'

'Letitbeoursecret,Osil.DeusExMechanicus.TheEmperorwatchesoverus.'

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Deus Ex Mechanicus