First contact

Deep underground, Iax had no idea that a team from the Adeptus Mechanicus had already set out to try to contact the faction he represented.

Even if he had known, though, it would not have mattered.

Since the Ravens had been released, they had completed a preliminary scan of the entire Hive City.

Whether or not the many machines were active, their technology and components had already been scanned by concealed scanners and transmitted back to Iax's data core.

Although his size limited his core processing unit, leaving it less efficient than shipboard intelligence hubs and other large analytical terminals, it was still capable.

His specially optimized core, however, possessed unparalleled coordination capabilities.

Every mechanical unit in the Maintenance Center was under his control, and he could draw on the processing power of every intelligence core.

This vast computing network, together with Iax's own specialized algorithms, allowed him to calculate all the data he needed with ease and speed.

"Hmm, none of the small or medium-sized equipment in this building poses a threat to me. As long as the heavy weapons don't lock onto me, there won't be a problem."

Watching the data being continuously analyzed within his core, Iax was not at all concerned about any threat it might reveal.

After all, his main body was still thousands of meters underground. Unless they used large-scale weapons of destruction, they posed no threat to him.

"Beep. Ravens have detected a party heading toward the surface Shatterer turret. Identification based on appearance and heraldry: Adeptus Mechanicus."

As the remote signal came in, Iax connected directly to one Raven's optical scanner and carefully studied the approaching convoy.

"The Adeptus Mechanicus? According to the core database, most of them are augmented humans. These fanatical human engineers favor mechanizing their bodies. Perhaps I'll soon get to see this branch of descendants of the so-called creator race."

Iax was rather looking forward to the arrival of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Meeting them in person would be difficult, however. The relentless orbital bombardment had devastated parts of the surface, and several automatic lifts leading aboveground had suffered severe damage. To return to the surface, Iax might have to launch himself through the warehouse's tube deployment system, just like the Ravens.

Screech!

As the braking system locked its tracks, the Skimmer transport slowly came to a halt. The first to emerge from its rear compartment was none other than Alonas, commander of the Skitarii.

"Bishop, we've arrived."

Like the other Skitarii around him, Alonas stepped out of the passenger compartment and craned his head curiously, carefully examining the enormous defensive structure that had suddenly emerged from the mountainside.

"I've never seen a design like this. It seems to bear traces of certain pieces of equipment, but I can't find a match in my memory banks. Perhaps you can identify its origins, Bishop."

As he spoke, Alonas turned to Moran, who had just stepped out of the passenger compartment.

Moran did not answer Alonas's question. Instead, he carefully studied the great cannon, its barrel still raised. Multiple scanning devices operated within his modified electronic eyes, repeatedly examining the enormous machine before him.

After searching his repeatedly expanded memory core, Moran finally confirmed that the construct before him did not belong to any known weapon type registered by the Imperium or the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Realizing that it might be an ancient relic weapon, perhaps even a local sacred artifact, Moran grew so excited that strings of incoherent High Gothic spilled from his mouth.

Even Alonas, standing right beside him, could barely make out a few phrases involving the Omnissiah, praise for the God-Emperor, and devout gratitude.

"Bishop? Are you all right?"

With good intentions, Alonas cautiously shook Moran, who had fallen into a state of fervor.

Unable to focus on his observations while being shaken repeatedly, Moran turned angrily toward Alonas.

"Damn it, why are you still standing around? Take your men and investigate that defensive structure at once, but be careful! Do not open fire without cause, and above all, do not damage anything! All of this is a blessing from the Omnissiah!"

Alonas's thoughts briefly stalled at the inexplicable outburst, then he immediately began carrying out Moran's orders.

His repeatedly modified body and brain made him incapable of feeling resentment or dissatisfaction toward the official middle and upper ranks of the Adeptus Mechanicus. A monitoring module inside his brain constantly adjusted his hormone secretion to control his emotional responses, suppressing and eliminating all displeasure and anger.

"Form up. Spread out and investigate. Use of any offensive equipment without authorization is prohibited. Combat Servitors and armed Servitors will accompany the search teams. Armed Servitors are permitted to withdraw first if necessary."

Compared with ordinary Skitarii personnel and standard Combat Servitors, the four more advanced armed Servitors in the party were even more valuable.

Whether Skitarii or anything else, they were all the private property of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Even a bishop could not squander them at will, much less Alonas, who was merely a commander.

These armed Servitors were usually made from experienced criminals or combatants who had transgressed against the Adeptus Mechanicus. Their minds were stripped away, leaving only powerful combat instincts and some of their fighting skills. Their weapons were equipment ordinary soldiers could not wield, and some could not even be used by standard Astartes warriors.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

While Alonas was still directing the party to spread out, several streaks of light suddenly erupted from the edge of a nearby hill.

More than a dozen Skitarii and Combat Servitors were blasted into fragments in an instant.

"Enemy attack! All personnel, engage!"

"Incoming bolts detected! Target identification complete! Renegade Death Guard!"

The armed Servitors, whose targeting systems incorporated Auspex scanners, identified the attackers almost instantly.

Issuing mechanical warnings, several armed Servitors immediately raised their heavily armored limbs.

Shielding their vital areas with one arm, they immediately returned fire with the Heavy Bolters mounted on the other. Great gouts of flame burst from the muzzles, while flames trailing from the bolts propelled them swiftly forward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A string of sparks erupted along the edge of the hill, while still more bolts skimmed past it and flew into the sky.

Several dark figures dodged the bolts and began running swiftly in erratic patterns, constantly leaping and shifting their bodies as they closed on the party.

The Skitarii and Combat Servitors, having undergone basic augmentation, were barely affected by variations in the surrounding light. In their enhanced vision, the dark green Power Armour and the foul fluids constantly dripping from those bodies gave off an unbearable stench.

The bolts fired continuously by the moving green figures easily tore gaps through the Skitarii formation.

The ground was all but drenched in the small quantities of blood and vast quantities of machine oil spilled by the Combat Servitors and Skitarii.

Moran, the bishop, had ducked back into the transport's passenger compartment the moment the gunfire began. Protected by its thick, finely crafted armored hull, he directly seized control of the armed Servitor responsible for operating the Skimmer transport's weapons.

Watching through the targeting system, Moran stroked his metal chin with a mechanical hand, looking somewhat curious.

"Plague Marines? Dropped by that Strike Cruiser in orbit earlier?"