Just as the Iron Warriors fleet began to rapidly disengage from the planet and flee towards the Great Rift, Thien realized the critical flaw in the enemy's initial strategy.
The enemy possessed four vessels, two cruisers and one battleship and frigate, and did not need so long to destroy the battleship they were aboard.
Instead of unleashing full firepower, the traitors had maintained distance and exchanged fire for a prolonged period, clearly indicating a hidden objective.
This particular battleship was not a vessel belonging to their Black Templars Chapter; their presence aboard it was purely coincidental.
For a common Imperial battleship to be coveted by the traitors, the object of their desire was most likely the vessel itself.
Upon seeing Axion effortlessly destroy the enemy ships, Thien ignored the shock and immediately took his battle-brothers aboard a Thunderhawk Gunship to return to the vessel.
Although the distress signal had been heavily jammed, it was clear the enemy had initiated a Boarding Action. To allow the enemy to seize an Imperial battleship right under their noses, while remaining idle, would almost certainly result in a summons before an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus.
The best outcome in such a scenario would likely be an assignment to the Deathwatch for a lifetime of penitent service.
The moment the Thunderhawk Gunship lifted off, a faint, azure warp-jump light flashed within the rear compartment.
Axion's towering, squat figure appeared, crammed and curled up inside the gunship.
The sudden, added mass caused the Thunderhawk Gunship to pitch violently, nearly crashing.
"Greetings. Why the sudden departure? Are you displeased with my small assistance? You have yet to answer my questions."
Thien's eyes nearly bugged out of his helm upon seeing Axion suddenly materialize before him.
"What in the name of the Omnissiah was that? An untargeted, random translation technique? Or did you place a translocation beacon on our conveyance ahead of time?"
Axion attempted to stretch his cramped form. While the Thunderhawk Gunship was not small, it was still constricting for an Iron Man whose frame exceeded four metres in height.
"This is a technology called Experimental Short-Range Warping, allowing for directional jumps. It permits direct translation to a specified location within several hundred metres."
"I was unsure of the internal structure of your small box, so I curled my body before translating myself in, lest I puncture your conveyance outright."
A Black Templar Techmarine, whose pauldron bore the symbol of a cog and sword, asked with curiosity:
"Why 'puncture'? If it were untargeted translation, wouldn't you just embed within the solid matter?"
"Brother Farien, I understand your curiosity about these technologies as a Techmarine, but do not pry casually into the technological secrets of others."
Thien moved beside Techmarine Farien and patted his helmet, all while carefully observing the ancient mechanical construct that was currently wedged inside the compartment.
"It is not a strange question. Short-range warping is not simple translation technology. It is more akin to collapsing the body's spatial volume into a material singularity, then transferring the singularity before re-expanding it. The volume of the matter changes. Standard translation technology, however, is similar to a form of spatial shearing. Should the target location already contain solid matter, the issue of material embedding you mentioned would occur."
"And I am certain that the material composition of my body far exceeds that of… Hmm, what is this conveyance called?" Axion stretched a mechanical finger, pointing at the metal hull beneath his chassis.
"Are you referring to this vessel we are aboard? It is a Thunderhawk Gunship."
Techmarine Farien answered, watching Axion's finger tap the hull.
"A Thunderhawk Gunship? Hmm, a Thunderhawk. Quite interesting. Well, my body's composition is far too robust compared to the Thunderhawk Gunship's hull. If I did not contract my body, then upon spatial re-expansion, I might puncture the hull and drop straight through. After all, I had no measure of its internal dimensions."
His curiosity satisfied, Farien, seeing that Axion did not seem averse to conversation, cautiously posed a question.
"If possible, could we be equipped with this technology?"
"Enough!" Thien interrupted Farien's inquiry.
"Do not covet technology you do not understand! Even if such technology were obtained, it would have to be submitted for Imperial scrutiny and verification of its safety. Do you realize the risk you court with such a suggestion?"
Axion somehow felt he was growing accustomed to being interrupted.
Was this a peculiarity of this era—the abrupt termination of another's discourse?
Nevertheless, Axion answered Farien's question.
"If you can provide me with a detailed set of historical data, I can provide you with this technology. It is not a major undertaking."
Axion's words caused Thien to stagger slightly.
"You mean, this jump-technology can be provided?"
Every Chapter recovers ancient artefacts, but acquiring advanced technology from them is extremely difficult.
Furthermore, most devices must be handed over to the Adeptus Mechanicus for study, to derive the underlying principles, and then to undergo secondary development and fabrication.
Yet, after tens of thousands of years, the research into lost ancient technology remains agonizingly slow, and many antique constructs cannot be properly analysed. Even less can their technological principles be understood.
This ability to instantly enter a combat zone was clearly superior to conventional translation technology.
If they could recover and submit it to the Chapter, it might genuinely lead to troops instantly flashing onto the battlefield, providing an unprecedented element of surprise in combat.
Moreover, this ancient Sapient Machine clearly possessed a wealth of technological data from the Age of Technology.
Understanding this, Thien decided to offer a tempting promise to lure Axion away.
"If you can provide some practical technology and data, once this situation is resolved, I can attempt to apply for permission to take you back to the Chapter's Monastery Fortress. It houses the Chapter Archives, which might offer some assistance to your historical inquiry."
Hearing of a potential new source of historical information, Axion seemed pleased.
After all, the more sources of data acquired, the easier it was to correct subjective recording errors.
"Bleep. Is this Sergeant Thien? The enemy is advancing rapidly inside the vessel. They deployed a significant number of renegade Astartes. The Astra Militarum cannot deploy certain heavy equipment inside the ship, and other weapons are struggling to land hits on these highly mobile enemies. We require immediate reinforcement."
Hearing the sudden communication, Thien's expression grew grim. He strode to the front of the gunship and slammed his fist against the cockpit door.
"Return immediately! If necessary, find a segment near the Bridge and blast a small hole in the hull! We must reach the location before the traitors assault the Bridge!"
"Understood!"
The battle-brother piloting the Thunderhawk Gunship instantly confirmed Thien's command.
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