Anthony was awakened. Before entering the stasis field, he had still been on the Chapter's homeworld. Now he was on Terra.
The stasis field enclosing him aboard the Eternal Mountain had been transferred to an Imperial transport ship of the highest specification, then delivered to Terra's Honour Ceremony preparatory facility. An Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus and a Techmarine would awaken him together.
This was an awakening ritual of the highest order. Almost no Dreadnought failed to awaken under such circumstances.
The Emperor's Icon watched over the Dreadnought. All around stood exquisitely crafted instruments blessed over thousands of years, their machine spirits powerful and loyal. Even the floor beneath him was blessed divine steel engraved with countless inscriptions.
Curling smoke from sacred incense candles enveloped the Castaferrum-pattern Dreadnought. Ten members of the Adeptus Mechanicus chanted hymns to the Omnissiah in unison, while precision-built mechanical arms from Mars slowly lowered Anthony's sarcophagus into the Dreadnought chassis.
The Archmagos began reciting his own names and titles. Every one of that long list of honours was illustrious, but before he could finish, before he could utter, "...Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus from Mars, calls upon you to return," Anthony had already awakened.
Seeing a completely unfamiliar member of the Adeptus Mechanicus standing right in front of his face, Anthony instinctively punched him.
The enormous Ion Annihilator slammed into the Archmagos's "face." Having blessed countless unruly machine spirits, the Archmagos had come prepared. A spring-loaded plate shielded his face, buckling and twisting as it barely stopped the blow and saved him from being sent sprawling.
The Techmarine hurriedly spoke up. "Anthony, it's us!"
Anthony withdrew his weapon and looked around. His spirits immediately lifted. "Brother, what mighty warship did we loot this time?"
"Brother Anthony, this is Terra. This was Terra's awakening ritual.