739.M30 Ultima Segmentum, Ghoul Stars, Cygnis III
[Welcome back, Exemplar. I assume your gains were... plentiful.]
The holographic avatar of Aegis flickered into existence on the terminal as the vault's heavy pressure-doors cycled open. The AI felt a momentary stabilization of its local logic-arrays as the Exemplar stepped across the threshold.
It could not define the phenomenon, its archives documented the evolution of the human race toward the psychic, but it had never processed a signature that operated as a persistent, localized erasure of the fundamental.
"Necessary," Caspian replied. His voice was like grinding stone, clipped and devoid of the enthusiasm he had possessed before the Long Dream.
"Detail the mining protocols currently available for fabrication."
[None are designated for active production at this interval...] Aegis's sensors swept over the assortment of xenos debris and raw ores Caspian had brought back.
[Fabrication is viable... based on available biomass and mineral stock... Note: Efficiency of local output is reduced by 40%.]
"Acceptable." Caspian paused, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the flickering display.
"Explain the density of ruins interred across this planet. This world is a graveyard of empires."
[Archives indicate a systemic extinction cycle, designated: The Pale Wastings. Contextual data is... fragmented. There is no further record of the biological diversity present here.]
"Species?" Caspian challenged.
[Correction: Ruins. My logic-arrays are experiencing... thermal variance.]
Caspian watched the shifting geometric faces of the AI. He was certain now that Aegis was not merely an advanced program, but a fully functional sentient intelligence, one that was actively withholding data.
He did not dwell on the suspicion, but he marked the AI for eventual deletion. An unstable tool was a liability.
"I shall be in the fabricator," he said, turning away.
The task of transporting the salvaged materials took five hours. Once alone, Caspian unslung the copper-hued Necron blade from his back. He looked at the xenos steel, then at the strength of his own hands.
'A sword, regardless of its edge, lacks the leverage for devastating raw power,' he mused.
'A glaive. An axe. Something with weight.'
He thought about his use of the sword, and the power contained in his flesh. He decided to leave that part for the time being.
("Ferrum, I shall accompany you for a while") He said with his mind to Magos Ferrum-Rho.
("[Accepted]") he seemed busy and did not care too much.
Segmentum Obscurus, Scarus Sector, Veridia System
On the moon of planet Ocularis, tech priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus can be seen moving about on the surface organizing factories and mining operations with 2 cohorts of skitarii, 20,000 strong.
In one of the factories Arch-Magos Ferrum-Rho is present. He has become a towering cenotaph of cold, hydraulic-hissing brass and fluted steel, his organic humanity discarded in favor of a multi-limbed chassis that drips with sacred unguents and the ozone of dying capacitors.
Only his pallid, waxen face remains as a fragile vestige of the flesh, where a single lidless bionic eye whirrs in obsessive focus above a jagged neural-interface port etched into the very base of his skull.
He is currently working on a mining slave, planning to increase the output before its biology gives out completely. This moon has many resources that he can use to buff up his legions and also use it to create many more titans.
"[Directive]: Secure additional biological specimens from the planet. Data on the current upgrade-iteration is inconclusive."
The vox-burst was transmitted to Magos Xerath-17, a loyal subordinate who had followed Ferrum-Rho since the exodus from Mars. Xerath immediately moved to redistribute the local forces. He did not require an army for a world of prisoners; he designated a single elite Maniple of 101 Skitarii for the offensive.
Ocularis was a penal colony, a dumping ground for the "undesirables" of Veridian Prime. The system's governors would not miss them.
The Skitarii strike team descended via drop-ship with the synchronized grace of a single machine. The Alpha commander, a silhouette of reinforced crimson plate, plummeted the final 300 meters without a grav-chute, the impact of his hydraulic boots cracking the ferro-crete.
The rest of the maniple only contained vangards and rangers, Xerath-17 directed the marshal not to carry any vehicle units or sicarians. The Magos aboard the ship connected, directing the offensive, and deployed the rest of the troops present.
50 rangers and 50 vanguards deployed in a hexagonal pattern around the drop point of the Alpha commander. Proceeding in a counterclockwise forward momentum, slowly blocking possible escape routes for the prisoners.
The Alpha at the center opened fire, his arc mount rifle, crippling those that insisted on fighting. Through his auspex feed to the Magos, he identified leaders which he eliminated and subdued the rest.
This is not a battle, it was like herding sheep. The rest of the maniple closed in without any gaps capturing over 10,000 people to be used as mining slaves on the moon.
Back with Arch-Magos Rho, he and the ghost beside him, are still working on enhancing the abilities of the miners to make them more effective. Instead of serious augmentation like the skitarii, they opted for limb replacements.
Installing drills, shovels, and treads instead of legs. Caspian suggested servitor brain surgeries to increase efficiency, while also providing the Arch-Magos with the partial design for grav-lev drive. This would increase the efficiency and transportation of materials.
This cycle continued for 3 more years before they created a version that was effective for Ferrum-Rho's needs. A human torso with an attached battery, heavy treads for legs, and modular arms for mining, and an anti-gravity carriage behind to carry raw materials.
745.M30, Veridian System, Kastellan's Reach
Knight House Mortian had stood since the Age of Darkness, but now it was a house of ghosts. Their engines were silent, their Magos-support long dead.
"The throne of House Mortian honors you, Arch-Magos," High King Mortian said, his voice trembling with the weight of his station.
"We have prayed for the red light of Mars to find us. Our Knights are broken; we ask for the Omnissiah's breath."
"[Analysis]: Knight House status confirmed as critical. [Conclusion]: Alliance is the most efficient path to system-wide dominance."
"We understand, Magos," the High King replied.
"This system was once ours. We governed the hive-world of Veridian Prime until the Hax rebellion four centuries ago. They took advantage of our absence and forced our retreat to this world."
"[Query]: Define the defensive capabilities of the unit designated Hax. Identify the master of their ordnance." Arch-Magos Ferrum-Rho stated
("Wrong approach, Ferrum. You sound like you want to attack the system.") the ghost Caspian beside him made a comment to him.
("To these people, you must appear as a savior, not a predator. You speak of war to a man who has lost everything. Change your vector. Offer the repair-rite. Trade their loyalty for the function of their machines.")
("[Analysis]: unnecessary, obvious conflict between both parties offers better possibility of corporation.") He argues
("War, is not so readily accepted, when one has experienced this much.")
("[Conclusion]: adjustments can be made to the existing plan, based on situational changes")
"Is the Arch-Magos preparing for a direct offensive?" the King asked, his fear palpable.
"Veridian Prime is protected by macro-cannon batteries. A direct assault would be suicide for your cohorts."
"[Conclusion]: analysis accepted. [Directive]: House Mortian shall function as the intermediary for resource acquisition. Magos Xerath-17 will remain to oversee the restoration of your engines." he said as he turned to walk away.
"[Query]: does Arch-Magos have specific requirements?" Asked Magos Xerath-17 stopping the Arch-Magos
"[Directive]: Xerath-17. Provide immediate technical assistance. Locate all existing tech-priest units within the system. Total understanding of local infrastructure is now the primary objective.".