Adeptus Mechanicus (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

On the enormous Ork warship, several members of the Adeptus Mechanicus were sprawled out.

Perhaps they could be called mechanical men. Beneath their crimson robes, no flesh and blood could be seen anymore.

Only mechanical appendages of various sizes, some tentacle-like, others more like sophisticated mechanical arms.

"Hiss-ha~ Hiss-ha~ This is the smell! This is the smell!!"

"This is 100% Ork technology! These crude lines, this illogical wiring, even this stench of foul machine oil~"

"Hiss-ha~ Hiss-ha~ It's truly wonderful!!"

Kelbor Hal lay on the Ork warship, constantly inhaling the scent emanating from the air.

He continuously tapped and fiddled around, sometimes lost in fascination, sometimes in madness, and occasionally even falling into depression.

The others around him were greedily possessing the Ork warship just like him.

"Are these things what Sixth Brother told us about, the high-ranking leaders of the Martian Adeptus Mechanicus?"

Francis's mouth twitched, and he looked at the people on the warship, who seemed to be suffering from a mental illness, with a strange expression.

"...Uh, yeah. Didn't you see? The Warlord Titans on their warship?"

Leman Russ twisted Francis's head and pointed towards the warship.

At this moment.

On the deck of the Apocalypse-class Battleship, multiple Warlord Titans were arrayed.

These super war machines, second only to battleships, stood dozens of meters tall, their bodies covered in heavy alloy armor, each piece meticulously calculated and designed.

Their bodies were embedded with all sorts of weapon systems, from high-energy laser cannons to gravity cannons, from particle beam emitters to plasma missile launchers, each weapon capable of changing the tide of battle.

And beneath the enormous shadow cast by the Apocalypse-class Battleship, countless "Oblivions" gathered on the ground.

They were even lower than the Servitors who only knew how to obey orders, mere mechanical zombies.

Their bodies were replaced with dirty, rusted machinery, and the parts of their brains responsible for consciousness had been completely removed, leaving only the "wetware" capable of executing commands.

It was less like machinery embedded in flesh and blood, and more like flesh and blood embedded in machinery.

It was likely that even if all the flesh and blood from tens of thousands of "Oblivions" were removed, they couldn't assemble a few complete bodies.

"Gulp~ He's making quite a show. Who is he in the Adeptus Mechanicus?"

Francis swallowed, smelling the fishy stench produced by the fusion of rust and flesh.

"He seems to be some kind of General. He said if they didn't let the Adeptus Mechanicus research this, they would consider reducing production."

Thinking of this, Leman Russ felt a headache coming on.

Magnus was also looking around, but he couldn't help but frown when he saw the "Oblivions."

"Who brought these people here? It wasn't the Adeptus Mechanicus priest on your ship, was it?" Francis was a little confused.

However, someone immediately ran over and excitedly replied, "That's right! Lord Francis, it was me who sold you out!"

Leman Russ: "..."

Soon after, the priest led a few high-ranking officials from the Ork warship over.

"Reporting, General, this is Lord Francis. I personally saw him pilot the Ork warship and bring us here from the Ork planet that day."

The priest knelt before the General, not daring to rise.

"Hello, I am the Martian Forge Master—Kelbor Hal. You can call me Kelbor."

"Our Adeptus Mechanicus is very interested in Ork technology. Francis, are you willing to assist us in our research?"

Francis looked at the Martian Forge Master, who was as tall as himself, and felt a strange sensation.

The other party was incredibly strong, and his facial expression was very stiff, as if he were only wearing a human skin mask.

"Hello, General. Perhaps your subordinate is overthinking things. I just happened to trick the Orks into helping me start the warship; I can't use Ork technology myself at all."

At this point, Francis had completely returned to his human form.

Seeing Francis deny it, the priest immediately became agitated and shouted, "General, believe me, I'm telling the truth... Ahhhhhh~"

Before he could finish speaking, multiple mechanical appendages on Kelbor's body had already plucked out the priest's brain.

Then, entangled by dozens of mechanical tentacles, he extracted all of the priest's memories.

"Now, I can confirm. You can indeed use Ork technology," Kelbor said, raising a stiff smile, his eyes frantically changing numbers.

"Hahaha~ Maybe I remembered wrong. It seems I do know a little. But we need to return to Terra, and I'm afraid we don't have time."

Francis scratched his head, unexpectedly unable to get out of it.

"We can help you quickly repair the Hrafnkel, and even prioritize building you a battleship of the same class, how about that?"

Kelbor's voice came from behind the human face; after saying so much, only his lips had moved slightly.

"Hiss hiss hiss~"

This offer was too tempting; Francis was somewhat moved.

Although the Ork warship could still be used, only he himself could operate Ork things.

He couldn't possibly pilot a warship every time they went to war! A Primarch, reduced to a mere ship pilot?

More importantly, if he remembered correctly, the name Kelbo'tharr belonged to the Adeptus Mechanicus leader who supported Horus during his rebellion.

If only he could, hehehe.

Francis's eyes flickered, and finally, he decided, "General, may I have a word in private?"

???

Not only Kelbo was stunned, but Leman Russ and Magnus were also bewildered.

Seeing the confused expressions on Leman Russ and Magnus's faces, Francis patted their shoulders and said, "This is core technology. You don't understand technology, so letting you listen would only harm you!"

The few people around Kelbo were also singled out by Francis and told not to follow.

They were going to have a "technical discussion" between just two people.

To facilitate the demonstration of Ork technology, they went to an Ork warship.

The interior of a warship was likely filled with various holes, corners, and cracks, which would typically be stuffed with chattering Gretchin slaves and busy tech-boys.

After they continuously breached six rooms, the seventh room only had some cracks.

"Francis, you must have something else to discuss with me, right?" Kelbo stared intently at Francis's retreating back, smelling a conspiracy.

"As expected of a Martian Forge Master! I do have something else to discuss with you," Francis suddenly turned around and asked.

"Do you have a dream?"

Kelbo: "??? Huh?"

This sudden topic change didn't even register with Kelbo's cybernetic implants.

"Don't you want to understand the Abominable Intelligence Technology of humanity's Golden Age?"

"Don't you want to obtain more STC Templates from the Dark Age of Technology?"

"Don't you want to master the incredibly wondrous Ork technology?"

Francis posed these soul-searching questions to him. How could Kelbo not want these things?

After all, the core tenet of the Adeptus Mechanicus was to view knowledge as the most sacred entity, believing all beings or artifacts possessing knowledge were divine.

"Yes! Of course, I do! Do you have a way to make the Emperor allow us to research Abominable Intelligence Technology!"

Kelbo's entire body of machinery rumbled.

"Of course!"

"There's no way."

Francis waved his hand. How could the Emperor ever allow the Abominable Intelligence Technology that destroyed humanity's Golden Age to reappear?

Clang!

"You can't joke about knowledge."

Dozens of mechanical appendages instantly extended from Kelbo's body, and weapons like the Annihilation Ray Gun, Detonation Blast Gun, Plasma Pistol, and Power Axe all aimed at Francis.

Francis: "..."

"Don't get agitated, I haven't finished. I said if you cooperate with me, I can give you Ork technology."

"Furthermore, I can also secretly get you some technology related to Abominable Intelligence. Once the Emperor abdicates later.

Then I'll be the one in charge! I'll give you as much as you want."

Francis gestured with his hands, as if drawing a large, round cake.

"Why should I believe you? How can you prove you'll be in charge later?"

Kelbo put away his weapons. In truth, he was starting to believe.

"Don't you see all those Adeptus Custodes and Sisters of Silence outside?"

"Have you ever seen a Primarch receive such treatment? Not only having other Primarchs follow him but also bringing so many of his personal guards?"

Hearing Francis's explanation, Kelbo thought it made sense.

Then Francis continued in a low voice, "Let me tell you a secret, don't tell anyone."

"!!!" Kelbo immediately perked up; he loved secrets.

Francis whispered in his ear, "Actually, the Emperor hid me because he was afraid I'd get hurt. The rest, you should understand."

"Those who understand, understand!"

"Hiss hiss hiss~" Kelbo's modified brain whirred at high speed; this was an overwhelming amount of information!

Before he could fully process it, Francis grabbed him and headed towards the bridge.

"Come! To show my sincerity, I'll teach you a bit about using Ork technology right now."

"Watch closely!"