41K RPG : Into the Eye

[Pcm979]

Gyllia nodded. "You aren't the only one who feels that way. Unfortunately, the High Lords of Terra would disagree. So here we are, on the Eastern Fringes, doing what we can."

She stopped in front of a large door, easily capable of admitting a Land Speeder. They swung open soundlessly. Inside was a cathedral, richly upholstered and dominated by a statue of the Emperor. In the middle of the room was a large white box, its surface reflecting the yellow lights from above. Hundreds of niches lined the walls, each one containing a Cogitator and a keypad.

"This is the database." She said simply.

----------

Pater bowed politely, yet mechanically. "It is no trouble. A brief checkup would be advantageous. If you would follow me?" He stepped towards the door.

[SirNitram]

"By Russ' blade, there must be more data here than in most planets..." Malkamar breathed deeply. "What is it all? Inquisitorial records?"

[Pcm979]

Gyllia smiled. This was going to be amusing. "Not precisely. It's a Golden Age Neural Interface Teaching Machine. Everything in this ship was built according to its' specifications."

----------

After reaching the main living area, Pater assigned someone to settle Nathan in and started back towards the bridge.

[Caz]

The woman was headed from the bridge to the living area, and coincidentally spied Pater. She turned and fell into step beside him.

"There was a man brought aboard," she said, the normal deadpan of her voice raised a bit with curiosity.

[Pcm979]

"There were quite a few men brought aboard." Pater noted. "The census is yet to be completed. However, I assume you are referring to Inquisitor Talstrem. It... Is a very long story. You may recall that he died fifty years ago. It seems Inquisitor Gix has managed to cheat death."

[Caz]

She eyed him as though not sure whether or not to believe him.

"So I'd heard. It's true, then."

Her gaze lowered to the floor, and she spoke up only after a careful moment of deliberation.

"And I'm assuming what happened earlier was a direct consequence of his actions," she said of the destruction of Gix's vessel.

[Pcm979]

"Direct? Not exactly. But a consequence nonetheless." Pater bagan to explain. "It appears the Eldar which attacked us on Ophelia informed a Monodominant Inquisitor of Gix's more... Unconventional experiments."

[Caz]

"Unconventional?" she said with an abashed chuckle. "Bringing a soul over from there," she said quietly, "that could have had severe consequences completely aside from any sort of Inquisitorial reprimand."

She put a finger to her visor for a moment, pausing in thought.

"It's a dangerous game," she said.

[Pcm979]

"That is an understatement." He replied, the closest he came to amusement. "Now the immediate crisis is over, we must simply" he paused, underscoring how ironic the word was in this context, "keep our close-minded friend from discovering Jolan or boarding any of our ships."

[Caz]

"With all respect, sir," she said, "I'm starting to wonder as to whether or not we're tempting a greater enemy than the Tyranids..."

[SirNitram]

"Neural interface." Malkamar repeated the words blankly. "Neural is a reference to the tissues of the brain, interface is how we work with a machine. You're not seriously suggesting this thing allows interaction between man and machine on a direct level, for teaching the secrets of the Golden Age? That'd.."

The Tech-Captain suddenly realized something. "...That'd be a reflection of the great Standard Template Constructs. By the Emperor and all his Primarches, you're not kidding, are you.."

[Pcm979]

"You will change your mind when you encounter your first Tyranid." He said, utterly unreassuringly.

"We have managed to keep our machinations secret for half a century, Cantor." He reminded her, not unkindly. "One just has to be careful."

[Pcm979]

"Neural interface." Malkamar repeated the words blankly. "Neural is a reference to the tissues of the brain, interface is how we work with a machine. You're not seriously suggesting this thing allows interaction between man and machine on a direct level, for teaching the secrets of the Golden Age? That'd.."

The Tech-Captain suddenly realized something. "...That'd be a reflection of the great Standard Template Constructs. By the Emperor and all his Primarches, you're not kidding, are you.."

Gyllia shook her head, still grinning. "Not in the slightest. This is only a copy, too." She noted. "The original was discovered by a Lord Inquisitor more than fifty years ago. We haven't turned it over to the mainstream Mechanicus because they'd squander its' potential."

[Caz]

She nodded, kept her head bowed a bit. "Forgive me, sir," she said, "I know that my knowledge of the universe's mechanics is far from complete, as all I know I've learned through reading."

[Pcm979]

Pater nodded. "Soon, you shall have ample opportunities to rectify that situation." He paused in front of the bridge door, mind filing through the correct procedure to follow in this situation. Eventually, he spoke.

"Even Inquisitors have an incomplete understanding of the universe." He pointed out. "We also make blunders. Today's incident should illustrate that, if nothing else."

[Caz]

She listened to him, knowing that she'd gain nothing by interrupting. After he'd finished speaking, she said:

"Thank you, sir. In these last few months, I've already learned more than in my entire time spent at the Schola. I just hope that what I've learned will aid me well when my assistance is requested."

[Pcm979]

He nodded. "Your performance has been more than adequate so far."

[Caz]

"That is all I aim for, sir," she said. "If I were to fail you, I would fail Lord Ronathal as well."

[Pcm979]

Pater silently noted her remaining attachment to Tyran. "Indeed." He said noncommitally, irising the door open and stepping inside. Clearly, Théo could enter if she wished, but their little chat was over.

[Caz]

She followed silently, wishing only to observe. After all, if she was to one day be in this position, it was best she learned by example rather than trial and error.

Cantor had a feeling that the margin for error on a mission such as this was infinitesimal.

[SirNitram]

Gyllia shook her head, still grinning. "Not in the slightest. This is only a copy, too." She noted. "The original was discovered by a Lord Inquisitor more than fifty years ago. We haven't turned it over to the mainstream Mechanicus because they'd squander its' potential."

"OF course. It's Machine-Spirit must be worshipped and appeased with small burnt offerings... By the Emperor..." Malkamar drew in his breath. "It explains how you all did it. How you managed to build these things."

[Pcm979]

As usual, the bridge was quiet. The crew was minimal, mainly Servitors and advanced Cogitators. The ship's navigator was also its captain. Pater ran a tight ship with a small crew.

The main Holoprojector was showing a closeup of their region of space, with Pater's, Prius's and the other Inquisitor's flotillas grouped roughly around the debris that had once been the Eternal Will. Portions of the ship were still large enough to be recognisable as they spun slowly in the void of space.

"Status?" Pater asked, stepping up to the projector.

"No changes, my Lord." Njal said from his station. "I've established communications with the other fleet, but I can't get through to anyone of importance."

Pater grunted. "Inform them that I positively identify the Eldar as the same one from Ophelia."

"At once, my Lord."

[Pcm979]

"Of course. It's Machine-Spirit must be worshipped and appeased with small burnt offerings... By the Emperor..." Malkamar drew in his breath. "It explains how you all did it. How you managed to build these things."

Gyllia nodded. "When we first activated it, we burned out five Cogitator-stacks just processing the data. It took us a very long time to get where we are today. But where we are- The information here has been directly responsible for some of the Inquisitor's key victories against the Tyranids. Engines three times as fast, and half the size. Cannon that can rupture a Void Shield on a comparable craft in a single salvo. And the medical knowledge, too."

[SirNitram]

"If you can do those things, you can likely shrink power generation quite a bit, couldn't you?" Malkamar mused quietly. "...Sorry. A design wish I've been thinking about since before I was completely Astartes. This is.. All a bit much. A teaching device, though. It can pass on it's knowledge.. Absolutely mind-blowing..." He shakes his head. "The Inquisitors weren't kidding. They could change it all. The fate of the Tyranid swarms, everything."

[Pcm979]

Gyllia nodded. "It's a lot of power in a person's hands. Now you know why the Inquisitors are so suspicious of each other." The last words were said a little glumly.