"The Ancestor Core is the foundation of the Leagues, the source of our heritage and wisdom! Not just anyone has the right to visit it."
Clad in Power Armour, Gisente rejected Iax's request without hesitation.
But such an answer could not deter the will of one of the Men of Iron.
Especially when Iax believed their ancestor might be one of the Men of Iron.
Information about the history of humanity and the entire Milky Way held a powerful appeal for Iax.
"I am not asking for your opinion, Votann. Tell me where the Ancestor Core is."
Sensing the change in atmosphere, the surrounding Hearthkyn and Ironkin immediately went on guard. Caution was essential when dealing with something they did not understand.
The Ironkin openly raised the beam cannons and stubby, twin-barrelled Bolter cannons mounted on their mechanical arms.
The Dwarfs cautiously raised their oddly shaped Boltguns, L7 Missile Launchers, and Energy Conversion Rifles, keeping a wary eye on the Automated Sentry standing before Gisente.
"I have to say, you really do speak like an Ironkin. I forgive your insolence. Now you have two choices. First, leave on your own. Second, I use my Chainaxe to smash you and your ship into scrap, then throw you out with the rubbish."
"Threats and intimidation are measures used to avoid losses when both sides are evenly matched. Their prerequisite is parity in strength."
As Iax spoke, swarms of Heavy Drone Fighters descended from the sky. Arcs of light flickered faintly at the muzzles of their onboard plasma cannons.
"You, however, do not meet that prerequisite."
Iax cared nothing for what these Votann thought. More transports hovered above the camp, and large numbers of identical Sentinels jumped straight down to the ground.
Faced with mechanical bodies that suddenly outnumbered everyone in the camp,