On Calth's Orbital Defense Platform, Adeptus Mechanicus Sage Trick was performing routine maintenance.
He sat at the raised console in the center of the command room, his body connected to the platform's main control system by several thick data cables. Like silver tentacles, they extended from the ports along his spine and disappeared into the interface array beneath the console.
His eyes were closed, but deep within his consciousness, tens of millions of data streams flooded through his processors, being sorted, compared, analyzed, and finally compiled for processing.
Those streams contained power allocation reports, void shield status updates, sensor array scan results, and weapon system diagnostic logs.
Every corner of the Orbital Defense Platform, every system's operating status, was under his watch.
His fingers occasionally traced gentle motions through the air, calling up a data stream that required particular attention. He examined it carefully, then archived or forwarded it.
His expression was calm and focused, like a conductor immersed in a complex composition, directing this vast steel orchestra.
"Father Trick." A voice sounded beside him, interrupting his thoughts.
Trick opened his eyes and turned his head to see a Mortals officer standing beside his console, holding a dataslate with a hint of confusion on his face.
The officer pointed to a set of readings displayed on the dataslate and said, "These readings came from section 45 of our Orbital Defense Platform's zone A. There's a slight anomaly here."
Trick's gaze settled on the readings, and his augmetic eye swiftly scanned and analyzed them.
A moment later, he waved a hand and said evenly, "I see it. It's just interference caused by a Solar Flare. Nothing to worry about. Orbital platforms are frequently affected by Stars' activity, especially at this time of year, when Solar Flares become noticeably more frequent."
"It's