By the time a lone Strike Cruiser bearing the insignia of the Adeptus Mechanicus broke out of the Warp Route near Ultramar's northern sector, Cawl had made thorough preparations for the operation ahead.
Given the decline in mortal troops' combat effectiveness upon entering the Pariah Nexus, Cawl assembled a batch of Armed Servitors and several Lucius-pattern Battle Robots, then sought out Iax for a simple test.
After taking control of them one by one, Iax immediately cracked the control systems of every Servitor present.
Cawl then discovered for the first time that these automatons, normally so stiff and dull-witted, could actually coordinate in combat.
With another of his ideas proven correct, Cawl contacted the nearby Adeptus Mechanicus almost immediately.
Fortunately, this was Ultramar.
The prosperity of the Five Hundred Worlds was no empty boast.
Even the local Adeptus Mechanicus was extraordinarily wealthy.
Cawl assembled nearly an entire regiment of these expensive Armed Servitors alone. In the process, the local Adeptus Mechanicus cleared out a large stockpile of old weapons. As for the cost...
This was Ultramar.
See that big blue fellow over there, a whole size larger than an Ultramarine? Go settle the bill with the Imperial Treasury.
After transferring control to Iax, Cawl also procured a small squad of Lucius-pattern Battle Robots.
These highly capable creations of the Adeptus Mechanicus possessed formidable ranged firepower and sturdy armor. They could mount Lasguns and energy cannons while also fitting additional Cutting Blades and Mechanical Claws to their limbs.
Although they lacked energy shields of any kind, their mobility and armor protection gave them excellent battlefield survivability.
Yet once Cawl had fully integrated these automated forces and handed them over to Iax, he immediately began to wonder whether the claim that the Men of Iron had departed after their defeat was utter