Seeing that the threat had temporarily subsided, Morlan's cerebral processes began to cycle actively once more.
"The attacks by these two automatons must have been triggered by some kind of automatic counter-attack protocol. I have heard that many ancient machines possess self-defence functions. But why did they attack the Plague Marines first and not us?"
Even as Morlan frantically cycled through possible theories, the two Automated Sentry-Troopers took up positions on the flank of the Adeptus Mechanicus contingent.
The entire scouting party had originally consisted of nearly a hundred personnel, several Battle Servitors, and close to a hundred Combat Servitors. Yet, fewer than ten Plague Marines had easily decimated the entire force. Excluding the four Battle Servitors destroyed by the Sentry-Troopers, over half of the Skitarii were dead, and only a handful of Combat Servitors remained.
Encountering Adeptus Astartes in the field without heavy fire support was invariably a brutal slaughter. Even if Morlan could have escaped aboard the Triaros, everyone else, including Commander Alonas, would have been left to die on the spot.
As the Skitarii contingency nervously held its position, high in the Hive City, the supervising Magos utilized the footage relayed by the Servo-skulls to minutely examine the two Automated Sentry-Troopers.
"A creation of the Golden Age? The style is highly consistent. To find such a surprise here, this was wholly unexpected. The armaments are worthy of intense study; their destructive power is extraordinary. If we can secure the technical knowledge behind them, what is even a mere Astartes? Technology is the true path, the ultimate truth! Praise the Omnissiah!"
Just as Morlan had mused, the supervising Magos was not here for any trivial reason but to assess the specific situation of this Hive City and decide whether to transfer the technological data stored within it. Besides the Triaros, the facility also contained a copy of the Chimera Armoured Transport pattern template, originally derived from a certain Forge World.
The reason this concealed Hive City had not been immediately abandoned was its relative proximity to the Great Rift. Such vital vehicle patterns could not be manufactured too far behind the lines, as the time for transference would be too long. Yet, building them too close to the front risked destruction or pillaging.
The location in the Segmentum Obscurus was relatively suitable, and this particular planet was originally unpopulated, with its single Hive City having been secretly established by the Adeptus Mechanicus themselves. Intended purely for clandestine production, it had unexpectedly become an important manufacturing centre for heavy wargear.
Even though the Adeptus Mechanicus itself did not deeply concern itself with the wars between the Imperium and the heretic traitors, a stable environment was more conducive to the excavation of ancient technology and technical research. Given the choice between the communicable Imperium and worlds wholly controlled by the powers of the Warp, the former was the clear choice.
Furthermore, the interwoven nature of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Imperium meant that remaining completely neutral was utterly impossible.
But now, this Hive City had been exposed to enemy eyes.
The sudden arrival of the Traitor Strike Cruiser was a clear warning.
Evidently, while the facility might sustain production for a while, its critical data and information needed to be relocated. Moreover, the current attackers consisted of only a single Strike Cruiser, but more Traitor forces would undoubtedly follow.
Though Vostroya was not far away, it was an Imperial world, and the Adeptus Mechanicus would never stoop to pleading with the Imperium for aid. They might, perhaps, seek support through cooperation, but begging for aid?
Unthinkable.
They would sooner abandon the entire Hive City.
The Magos's auxiliary cogitator core was cycling at high speed. A nearby comm-unit began to ring insistently.
A Servo-skull lazily drifted over, and its mechanical claw picked up and connected the communication.
"What news?" the supervising Magos inquired impassively of the person on the other end.
"Magos, the orbital explosions have attracted the attention of a nearby Imperial Navy vessel." Reported the Skitarii communicators on the other side.
"Imperial Navy? Here? Why?"
"We have confirmed their query. This fleet is en route to Vostroya to transfer new Astra Militarum recruits. It consists of two transport vessels and one Lunar-class Cruiser. They approached to investigate after detecting the abnormal orbital explosions."
"Inform them that their assistance is not required. Tell them to resume their own duties."
Hanging up the communication, the supervising Magos returned to the open viewing platform, gazing at the immense, unconcealed cannon turret in the distance.
"This place must not be discovered by the Imperium. Otherwise, I will lose the opportunity to study this ancient technology. Damned Imperial protocol, so many restrictions."
The approaching Imperial Navy, after receiving the Adeptus Mechanicus's communication, said nothing further and immediately changed course, but they still reported the incident to the nearest Imperial institution. The existence of an unrecorded Hive City and the suspicion that the Mechanicus was operating clandestinely on an uninhabited world were duly logged and forwarded.
Not even the Adeptus Mechanicus could ignore Imperial law. All cities and planets, once confirmed to be within Imperial territory, were legally required to pay tithes. Failure to do so was considered rebellion.
And an independent Hive City constructed by the Mechanicus?
That was a coveted prize, a settlement with no Planetary Governor or Imperial Administrator to claim it. While the Adeptus Mechanicus often proved difficult for ordinary Imperial nobles and administrative personnel to deal with, the prospect of a brand-new city not yet under Imperial management was not an opportunity to be lightly dismissed.
The supervising Magos was fully aware of what would happen next. As a person of sufficient standing, he had dealt with such matters before.
But it did not matter. He only needed to complete his research before the administrative personnel, slowly dispatched by the lethargic Imperial bureaucracy, finally arrived.
Ancient technology. A creation of the Golden Age.
A rare smile bloomed on the Magos's face. Even though most of his mechanical replacement organs were incapable of expressing emotion, the sense of excitement emanating from him was palpable.
…
On the periphery of the turret installation, Morlan and his retinue watched the two Automated Sentry-Troopers with mounting tension.
"Sssssh, ssszzt… Hello?"
The Sentry-Trooper's vox-caster, which had not operated for countless millennia, unexpectedly crackled to life. Axion, listening through the other automaton, confirmed that the amplifier was functional.
"Greetings. I wish to ask a question. I trust you can provide an answer."
Although the voice was distorted, everyone present understood the words clearly.
Yet, only Morlan and Alonas truly comprehended the full meaning.
Axion had posed the question in High Gothic. The average Skitarii or Astra Militarum recruit dealt only with Low Gothic, and having originated from the common populace, they rarely had the opportunity to learn this language of Imperial officialdom. Complex High Gothic was primarily used among the nobility, and even affluent commoners would not bother to learn it. Within Imperial institutions, the script appeared almost exclusively in formal, written documents.
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