Chapter 128: Crafting Apprentices
By standard Mechanicus doctrine, a high-ranking priest—especially one ascended to the rank of Magos—was expected to establish their own circle of apprentices and a direct retinue of Tech-Priests.
These aides were not just for research assistance or administrative tasks; they were a fundamental component of a Magos's power base.
Yet Joric, now a Magos Explorator, commanded only the Skitarii Vanguard led by Ignis. In terms of a technical cadre, he was virtually alone.
The root of this anomaly lay in his early history, and the cold, brutal nature of the internal power struggles within the Mechanicus.
Shortly after his initial ascension to Tech-Priest, before he could build his own following, his faction—specifically his mentor and their associated network—was engulfed in a ruthless internal purge.
His mentor was accused of research that touched upon vague and dangerous boundaries of Mechanicus dogma.
These accusations involved non-standard analysis and application of ancient Xenos technology. Although his mentor maintained the purity of his research and his faith in the Omnissiah, in the war of factions, this became a lethal weapon for his rivals.
The struggle ended in the total defeat of their faction.
Joric's mentor was stripped of all titles and honors and subjected to a severe punishment: all his precious mechanical augmentations were forcibly removed, leaving only a broken, organic husk.
He was then sealed within a specialized stasis field, becoming a "living statue" displayed in the Penitence Gallery.
Mechanicus technology ensured his biological functions were halted in near-eternity, but his consciousness and senses were deliberately preserved.
He was trapped forever in an immobile shell, acutely aware of his helplessness and confinement, enduring the endless contrast between his past glory and present shame.
This torment, far longer than death, was the standard Mechanicus method for deterring "heretics" and failures.
This catastrophe taught the young Joric a heavy lesson, showing him the lethal undercurrents beneath the Mechanicus's halo.
Because of this, he remained cautious about building a large technical team throughout his subsequent career, preferring to work alone rather than become entangled in complex personnel networks.
Although the situation was different now, that caution born of past lessons still influenced his decision regarding the formation of a core team.
As a member of that faction, Joric was naturally implicated.
However, the network he had carefully cultivated within the Mechanicus system in his early years played a crucial role at the critical moment.
A powerful figure intervened on his behalf during the purge.
Based on past favors and recognition of Joric's personal ability and potential, this patron used their influence to offer limited defense and guarantee for him.
Ultimately, Joric was characterized as a "young priest misled by his mentor but fundamentally loyal and possessing valuable technical skills," allowing him to escape the core charges.
He avoided the fate of being turned into a servo-skull or suffering worse punishments.
This near-death experience gave him an unforgettable understanding of the power struggles within the Mechanicus.
The servo-skull fashioned from his former classmate was a silent, constant reminder of the ultimate price of a political misstep.
Because of this, after the incident, he leaned more towards independent research, staying away from factional vortexes, and for many years had not taken on any apprentices to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
The servo-skull hovering near his neck had once been a classmate, a fellow student under the same unfortunate mentor.
That classmate had been talented academically but failed to find protection during the factional struggle. He was executed, and his skull repurposed as a servo-skull—in a sense, "utilized to the fullest."
This cold metal construct constantly reminded Joric of the cruelty of internal Mechanicus struggles and the ultimate fate awaiting the defeated.
Through this ordeal, Joric deeply understood the vulnerability of individuals without a power base in the high-level machinations of the Mechanicus system.
After the incident, he actively chose a low profile and marginalization, focusing on overlooked, low-risk archeotech exploration projects, far from the center of power.
He maintained a relatively cordial relationship with Fabricator-Magos Vhorx based on past ties and mutual benefit, but cut off deep communication and cooperation with most other colleagues.
As for taking apprentices, before the incident, he lacked seniority; after the incident, wary of internal Mechanicus relationships and wishing to avoid attention and trouble, he shelved the idea completely, maintaining his solitary status.
But now, the situation had changed.
He was officially ascended to Magos Explorator, possessing independent authority and resources, and would soon command his own Forge Ship.
Whether managing the impending warship, maintaining its complex systems, advancing core research like dimensional transit, or coordinating resources and missions between different worlds in the future, he and Ignis alone were far from sufficient.
He needed a core team composed of individuals with technical capability and absolute loyalty.
Given past lessons, he held deep-seated doubts about recruiting from the existing Mechanicus system.
The complexity of background checks, the possibility of other factions planting spies, and the uncertainty of loyalty were all potential risk sources.
After repeated weighing by his logic-core, he concluded that the most reliable, lowest-risk solution was to "manufacture" the necessary assistants himself.
This was not an impractical fantasy.
Within the Mechanicus knowledge system, Joric possessed an unusually deep accumulation in the fields of bio-engineering and mechanical integration.
This was thanks to the specialization of his early faction.
Joric had once been fortunate enough, through faction connections, to participate in auxiliary work related to the legendary "Lady Astartes" (Amar Astarte) research project. Although only on the periphery, he was exposed to some peripheral concepts and applications of the Imperium's top-tier genetic engineering technology.
In this sense, Joric could barely be counted as having "studied under Lady Astartes."
Although his faction was later purged for touching other sensitive areas, the solid foundation in advanced bio-modulation technology laid during that special period was preserved and became an important part of Joric's knowledge base.
He had also, during an exploration mission to a lost colony, successfully analyzed and partially restored ancient facilities related to genetic modification technology, earning the temporary title of Genetor.
This experience was undoubtedly a strong proof of his capabilities in this field.
(End of Chapter)