Warhammer: Dark Knights

015.M36

Anvilus IX - Segmentum Tempestus

You stepped out of the Eternal Vigilance onto the busy starport. You currently wearing another power armor, the Mk VIII that Nine also custom-build for you. It was larger and heavily reinforced, offering more protection.

Standing there, waiting for you, was Archmagos Nine with 4 tech-priest standing behind him. From markings on their robes and trim, they all are clones of him.

"Nine," you said as you walked up to him. "I have returned from Kar-1."

"Indeed." Nine nodded, while turning towards the large door into the space elevator that connected to the main forge city. "I hear that the mission is a success and you are happy with the data that have downloaded." He continues as you all walking towards the elevator.

"Yes, at least from what I can understand," you said. "Unfortunately, Nine-002 couldn't determine what's hidden in the encrypted data, nor confirm if the unencrypted STC patterns can still be constructed." You sighed as the group stepped into the elevator.

As the door close, and the elevator starting to move downward, you turned towards Nine with a hard disk in hand, handing it to Nine. "All the data are in this hard disk. I hope that you have time to work on it."

"Of course." Nine said with two of his arm extended, gently taking the disk from your hand. "No tech-priest would ever claim to be too busy when presented with the opportunity to uncover lost knowledge."

After he the disk in a safe spot, he turned his head towards you. "There actually three good news for you."

"Oh," You said with one of your eyebrow raise a little. "What's the good news?"

"You still remember that you keep insisted I to send explorer into the ruin?" He ask.

"Yes." You said, smiling a little. "You finally send someone into the ruin then."

On Anvilus IX, there are four forge cities and one forge temple. When the world is conquer by the Dark Mechanicum, only the main forge city still stay somewhat intact with the rest of the cities and the temple have reduce to ruins. When Nine reclaim the world, he only repair three forge cities, include the main one and the forge temple. The smallest forge city, however, was left abandoned and untouched.

You suggested to Nine that an exploration team should be sent into the ruins of this small city to uncover anything valuable. According to the remnants of the records about the cities and temple, this small forge city produced items other than Land Raiders. This piqued your curiosity and drove you to encourage Nine to investigate further.

"So, what did your explorers manage to recover?" you asked.

Nine's bionic eyes gleamed brightly, showing his excitement. "We found a lot," he said with a small nod. "Blueprints, parts of advanced machines, and pieces of equipment from the Great Crusade. But the best part is the potential. We've just started exploring, and there are still some areas that might have complete systems or even STC fragments."

"But I'll need time to figure out their uses," Nine added as his bionic eyes dimmed back to normal. The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open, revealing a long corridor. "Now," he said, stepping forward, "if there's nothing more, I need to get back to uncovering more technology."

As you all exited the elevator, Nine and his clones turned left and continued down the corridor. "As for the other two pieces of good news," Nine said, without stopping or turning back, "you'll find the details in a report waiting for you in your chamber."

As you watching Nine leaving, you heard a familiar voice. "Hello, young master."

You turned your head toward the source of the voice and saw Selina, your maid from the time when you were still a normal human. She was the one you had promised to find when you had the chance. It was a promise you had only partially fulfilled. You hadn't been there to meet her when she first arrived on the forge world or even when she settled in. Your duties had kept you out in the void, completing missions, and even when you did return, you left again far too quickly.

"Hello, Selina," you said, a warm smile spreading across your face. Your voice carried a gentleness you hadn't realized you still possessed. You knelt down to her level, so she wouldn't have to look up at you, allowing both of you to speak eye-to-eye.

"Looks like you've grown a lot since we last met," Selina said teasingly, a small smile on her face. Yet, her eyes betrayed her true emotions, filled with warmth.

You chuckled softly. "I suppose I have," you replied, your voice warm. "Though I doubt you ever thought I'd end up like this when you saw me again."

"Let's talk at my chamber." You said, while standing up and gesture towards the direction to your chamber. "There's something I want to give to you."

Selina nodded, a small smile on her face. "Of course." she said softly, falling into step beside you as you began walking down the corridor. The sound of your armored boots echoed against the cold metal floor, contrasting with Selina's lighter footsteps.

While both of you walk toward your chamber, you both talk about what happen in this period that you haven't meet. Most of the talks come from Selina, talking about what happen to House Aurelius after you're leave the world, what happen when she arrive at the forge world and you just listen to her.

As you walked, you glanced at her face and noticed she hadn't changed at all. She still looked like a girl in her 20's, just as you remembered. It felt like time had stopped for her.

Then, you suddenly remember a rumor whispered back at the Aurelius palace. Some people said Selina was a witch or something similar because she never seemed to age. She looked the same as the day she joined the House as a maid for your mother. That was over 86 years ago, and your mother had passed two years after you were born.

But, Richard, the original owner of the body trusted her and didn't question her about this rumor. Because, before her, also your mother now, at her dead bed, have tell you that no matter what the other said about Selina, you can always trust her. Even when the others want to harm you, Selina will always protect you and help you in what ever things you want to do.

So, now, you trust the her words on Selina, just like Richard once have, After all, she's the only one that you can talk freely without caring about identity or responsibility like with Nine and the members of the Dark Knights.

As for her non-aging situation, you decide to ignore it as long as she is still loyal and didn't show sign of corruption on her.

"Here we are." You said as the door of your chamber slide open. "This is my chamber."

Both of you enter the chamber and the door shut silently behind you. "Sit down." You said, gesture towards a chair in front of your desk. "I need to get the things first."

Selina nodded and sit down on the chair, watching as you enter an adjoining room. Moments later, you returned, carrying a power sword and a small box in your hands.

As you set the box down on the desk, you unsheathed the sword, its blade is dark just like your own power sword. "This is the power sword that I personally crafted for you." You said. "You can use it to defend yourself from danger and strike any who try to harm you." You held it out toward her. "Its black color symbolizes that you're a friend of the chapter and a friend of mine."

You sheathed the sword and open the small box. Inside, lay a small Conversion Field generator that been designed in shape of necklace, with the chapter badge hanging from it. "This is a small Conversion Field generator that crafted by Archmagos Nine on my request." You said, while holding it up for her to see. "It can provide you protection when I or the others not around you."

As you finish the introduction for them, you handed the necklace to Selina. "I hope this gifts can make you less angry at me for not meeting you sooner." You said with a sly smile.

"Of course." She said, smiling as she took the necklace and put it on. After finish adjusting it, she looked at you with warmth and gratitude in her gaze. "Thank you for the gifts, Atharion."

You smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like Nine has told you about my matters."

"Do you think that I won't try to know what happen to you from the others?" Selina said, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness.

You just laugh lightly to the responses. "The ever-caring Selina."

After about 30 minutes of talking, Selina stands up to leave. She walks toward the door, the power sword at her side and the necklace securely around her neck.

As the door close down after Selina exit the chamber, you lean back toward your chair. A sense of calm washes over you, knowing that Nine indeed keep his side of the deal and Selina is well. It's a small relief, but it's enough to settle your mind for now.

Now, it's time to look at the report that Nine told you about. Turning towards the cogitator, you type in the necessary command to unlock it. The screen flicker to life, displaying multiple reports that hasn't send to you when you out in the void. You scan through the reports quickly, all the same with most of the report you receive before, like mission updates, intelligence briefs, chapter situation summaries and request for help from various places and individuals.

After scrolling through who knows how many reports, you finally find the report you wanted. With Nine personal badge on it, marking the report come from Nine personally. You quickly click on it, eager to see what's the good news he didn't share with you during the elevator ride.

The report contain the research results and the early analyses on the blueprints, systems and machines that first discover and more easier to understand. As you reading the report, a smile begins to form on your face, growing unconsciously with each paragraph.

First, the cooling system idea you shared with Nine actually works. This system is center around the rare crystal originate from Fenris, the homeworld of the Space Wolf. They use the crystal to power their helfrost weapon that can fire a beam of sub-zero energy that can instantly encase enemies in blocks of ice close to absolute zero, even colder than the vacuum of space. This makes the crystal perfect for cooling systems. For example, the terminator armor, allowing it to support a larger and stronger power generator to make it more mobile. While the current prototype is too large to fit into the armor, it's only a matter of time before the design is refined. For now, it can be used effectively on ships or vehicles.

The only thing that intrigue you is that the crystal that Nine get his hand on come from the Rogue Trader. As the rare crystal only come from most remote corners of the Fenrisian wilds, you can only guess where did they found it as the Space Wolf won't willingly share these crystal.

You can only hope that you can meet the Space Wolf in the future. So, you can propose a deal that you prepare for them, offering advanced Terminator armor equipped with the cooling system in exchange for more of these rare crystals.

Lastly, the early analysis of the items recovered by the explorer team has revealed some promising discoveries. Among the five more intact and readable blueprints, one stands out as particularly intriguing. It depicts a piece of advanced medical equipment capable of healing any wounds, provided the subject's vital organs are still functioning. In cases where the organs have sustained damage, the device can stabilize the injuries temporarily, giving the subject enough time to undergo organ replacement surgery. While the exact size of the equipment is still uncertain, its potential impact is significant. If it is small or can be reduced in size, it could greatly benefit the chapter serfs and normal human that serving your chapter.

Next, three blueprints contain the information on Spartan Assault Tank and its variants, Typhon Heavy Siege Tank and Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer. Spartan Assault Tank which is design by Mars for the Legions to transport Terminators, because the Land Raider Proteus that use by the Legions in early stage of Great Crusade cannot transport Terminators.

Typhon Heavy Siege Tank design by Mechanicum on the request of Perturabo during the Great Crusade. It is design to be use during siege and have a powerful siege weapon, Dreadhammer Siege Cannon. Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer, a rare experimental variant that design to mount a Neutron Laser Projector, a powerful but unstable weapon.

For this, Nine can only promise the Spartan Assault Tank and Typhon Heavy Siege Tank can build once he finish to restoration of the blueprint. Because, while Neutron Laser Projector is powerful, but the instability of it is a great worries and with there are other vehicle can fit into its role, Nine didn't want to waste time on trying to build the Projector.

Next, the last blueprint contain the information for the Javelin Attack Speeder. it serve the same role with all the land speeder are, swift and mobile vehicle that the space marine can use to do hit and run tactics. But, the Javelin is larger, and more heavily armed and armoured than the land speeder. Other than this obvious difference, the most unique thing that separate them both is the gravitic nullification plates, allowing the Javelin to use heavy weaponry that usually can be found on heavy tank destroyer.

However, the gravitic nullification plates are very complex, making the Javelin a difficult vehicle to build. The good news is that the blueprint includes detailed instructions for the plates, which should make the process faster and a bit easier. Even so, Nine estimates it will take around 200 to 300 standard Terran years before the Javelin can go into full production. The only way to speed up the process significantly would be to find the complete STC template for it.