Inside the brightly lit rotunda, deep beneath the Twin Islands base, illumination blazed from every angle.
The floors, walls, and ceilings were densely covered with prayers praising the Emperor's psychic power. High Gothic script wrapped around every surface. Low Gothic reinforcing it. Protection through devotion layered thick as armor.
Nearly two-thirds of the entire Intelligent Control Corps stood at full readiness, ammunition loaded and weapons hot. Hundreds of robots arranged in defensive formation.
They ford a circle surrounding the edge of the rotunda, creating a ring of firepower facing inward. Overlapping fields of fire.
More automatic servo robots carrying lta bombs and heavy stubber guns lined up in the passages outside the hall, secondary defensive layer waiting. If sothing breached the inner ring, outer defense would engage.
At this mont, prayer scriptures played repeatedly from the Intelligent Control Corps' internal speakers. Overlapping voices creating a constant drone. "The Emperor protects. The Emperor watches. The Emperor endures."
Nolan, wearing his white wolf fur cloak that provided comfort rather than warmth in the temperate base, passed through the Intelligent Control Corps with solemn expression.
His face was set. Determined. This was serious business. No room for error.
He walked straight to the statue of the Emperor located in the center of the rotunda, positioned at the focal point. The effigy stood completed now.
When Nolan arrived at the predetermined location, when he stood directly before the statue, he stopped.
He stared at the Emperor statue before him. It seed filled with psychic energy fluctuations, power radiating from bronze and gold. Not imagination. Real presence. Divine attention focused.
Then he opened the simulator interface without hesitation. Decision made. Point of no return approaching.
In an instant, the surrounding air seed filled with a series of low humming sounds. Vibrations. Reality bending to accommodate sothing that shouldn't exist here.
The tremors intensified.
Just above the tal floor covered with prayer inscriptions, directly before the Emperor's feet, space warped.
A black lighthouse whose full appearance had not been fully revealed slowly rose from unknown void! Erging. Manifesting. Growing.
The structure possessed a pyramid-shaped spire that glead with strange light. Dark. Cold. Ancient beyond asure.
And just the spire alone, which exuded cold and hard luster like polished obsidian, almost reached the top of the dozens of ters high ceiling of the rotunda! The structure was imnse. Overwhelming. Impossible.
At this mont, Nolan squinted his eyes against the strange emanations. He stared at the huge blackstone creation that seed completely integrated with the tal floor, as if it had always been there. As if reality rembered it now.
He couldn't help but take a deep breath. Awe. Fear. Wonder mixed equally.
This black lighthouse standing before him was the beacon that could breach dinsions. The Pharos Lighthouse. Gateway to hell and heaven both.
And based on information in Nolan's knowledge, drawn from simulations and downloads, this was significant beyond words.
The Pharos Lighthouse was a super space beacon built by the Necrons using blackstone technology. Xenos engineering at its finest. Technology that predated humanity by millions of years.
And it was completely unaffected by the power of the Warp. Immune. Absolute. The reason it was built from blackstone rather than any other material.
"Most of the Intelligent Control Corps has been stationed here." Nolan's internal monologue ran through security assessnt. "With the Emperor's statue always watching, there shouldn't be any problems, right?"
The question hung unanswered. Hope rather than certainty.
"If there is ti, I should have Raditus manufacture a few super-yield nuclear bombs and install them around the hall periter. Hundreds of lta bombs as the final safety device isn't enough. Not nearly enough."
Nolan, who squinted his eyes against the lighthouse's emanations, glanced back and forth. He surveyed the unmoving Intelligent Control Corps positioned around the chamber.
Their weapon muzzles and chanical tentacles were always ready to engage. Vigilant. Tireless. Loyal because they couldn't be anything else.
With thoughts spinning through contingencies and worst-case scenarios, he solemnly perford an eagle salute in the direction of the Emperor's statue. Right fist to left breast. Reverence. Respect. Prayer.
Then he walked out of the rotunda without looking back, leaving the lighthouse under divine and chanical guard. Trust placed. Dice cast.
According to Nolan's original plan, according to initial base design, the rotunda should have been the location where Procellas, the ship machine spirit, would be permanently stationed. Central position. Maximum influence.
It was a pity. Compared with the preciousness and danger of the Pharos Lighthouse, compared with a gateway between universes, artificial intelligence didn't seem like an important thing anymore. Priorities shifted. Plans adapted.
Moreover, the Pharos Lighthouse was probably more attractive to the Emperor and His interests than any artificial intelligence could be. Strategic asset. Unique capability. Divine attention inevitable.
After Nolan left the deep underground of the base, after ascending through security checkpoints, after returning to the base hall proper, news arrived.
A ssage from the Second Son Island foundry reached him. Completion notification. Results ready for inspection.
Soon after receiving the alert, Nolan stepped into transport. He crossed to the warr island, entering the foundry hall with anticipation building.
At this mont, the servo skull Raditus, driving its anti-gravity engine, was flying toward him in characteristically erratic manner. Bobbing. Weaving. Barely controlled enthusiasm.
"Aha, respected Primarch, after the hard work of , Raditus, and the boy Doom..." The title for Doom had evolved to sothing almost affectionate. "Your Terminator armor has been successfully manufactured!"
Before Raditus's words finished, before the tech-priest could elaborate, Nolan stepped forward eagerly.
He saw at a glance the huge tal creation with ceramite steel shell that had not yet been painted. Raw. Unpainted. Beautiful in its brutal functionality.
At this mont, the three-ter-high Terminator powered armor stood high on the casting platform like an immovable fortress. Massive. Imposing. Radiating nace even inactive.
If the previously updated Terminator power armor had only possessed so simple aesthetic elents of the Cataphractii Terminator variant, this new iteration was different entirely.
The current Terminator armor, just looking at it from the outside, was completely like true Cataphractii Terminator plate!.
Before Nolan could start questioning Raditus about specifications, before inquiry could form, Raditus suspended in mid-air imdiately launched into eloquent explanation.
"Lord Primarch, this Iron Cavalry Terminator has cost us trendous effort. Blood, sweat, and sacred oils! If you are still not satisfied, then there is nothing we can do..." The protest was token. Pride radiated from every word. "Haha, let start with the tal fra, the foundation of everything."
Raditus's optical sensors brightened. "Although the adamantine skeleton of an ordinary Terminator is very strong, compared to the Uru tal skeleton you already possess from the Destroyer wreckage, it is still not befitting your noble status as Primarch."
The skull drifted closer. "So, under the suggestion of Doom, we planned to use Uru tal and adamantine to conduct so material fusion experints. The goal was forging a special alloy that combines the advantages of both materials."
Then ca revelation. "However, maybe because the Uru tal originated from the Destroyer wreckage, or maybe because Doom perford extensive witchcraft during the forging process..." Raditus's tone carried wonder. "In short, the Uru tal and adamantine accidentally stimulated so internal energy and produced a special transformation that we have never seen before and cannot currently replicate!"
The implications were staggering. "Not only has the sturdiness of the skeleton been improved several tis over base materials, but the weight has also been reduced significantly! This special alloy, which we're calling Uru-gold, even possesses strong immunity to witchcraft attacks!"
Raditus bobbed excitedly. "Of course, whether it provides resistance to magic specifically, we don't know yet. Untested. But the anti-witchcraft properties are confird!"
The servo skull, driving its anti-gravity engine in circles like an oversized chanical fly, continued the technical briefing.
"After finishing the most basic and most important tal skeleton, our next task beca easier with the foundation established. Brand new electro-fiber bundles and carefully adjusted servo devices were installed. Full-power refractor field for energy protection. Very important life support device and many detection systems successfully loaded..."
Then ca special feature. "The life support device is not filled with ordinary dical fluid as standard." Raditus's voice carried pride. "It contains panacea that Connors specifically requested to liquefy! Concentrated healing essence suspended in suspension."
The implications were imdiate. "In other words, even if you suffer a fatal injury, you can be revived on the spot with full health restoration! Instantaneous healing from mortal wounds!"
"However..." Raditus's tone shifted. "The above features are just the basics, standard improvents. The place where our true genius is evident concerns the servo robot arms! The six-ard configuration!"
Enthusiasm built. "Doom ingeniously used Antarctic vibranium to cast four servo chanical arms and the power armor's hand plates. As long as you activate the decomposition force fields connected to each limb, you can completely transform into a terrifying lee monster while wearing the Terminator armor! Six-ard death dealing destruction!"
Reality check followed. "However, this lee capability is only one ans of survival after you've exhausted ammunition in extended engagent. The Gauss blaster and multi-barrel lta provide primary firepower. An ion rifle serves as sniper weapon for precision work. Plus the storm bolter for sustained fire. Together they provide you with amazing long-range firepower coverage!"
Raditus wasn't finished. "If you still think the firepower is insufficient, the shoulder platform of the Iron Cavalry Terminator can also be equipped with a cyclone missile launcher for area saturation, of course..."
At this mont, Nolan, who had been staring at the six-ard Iron Cavalry armor with growing appreciation, temporarily interrupted Raditus's continuing exposition.
He took a deep breath, chest expanding. Satisfaction radiating. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Very good. Very good. Even far beyond my imagination..." His voice carried genuine pleasure. Then curiosity. "By the way, Raditus, have you seen the armor painting sche of the Salamanders Legion in past records?"
Hearing Nolan's inquiry, the servo skull suspended in air seed slightly stunned. Optical sensors dimming montarily in confusion.
"Uh... Lord Primarch, what do you an exactly?"
Nolan's smile widened. Decision made. Tribute planned. Honor given to the Fire Drake whose weapons he now carried.
"That's right! Raditus, paint this thing green for !"
Salamander green. The color of Vulkan's sons. The XVIII Legion. Fire and forge and faith.
The armor that carried the Dawnbringer and Heart of the Furnace would wear the colors of their original owner.
Appropriate. Respectful. Right.
Raditus's optical sensors flared bright with surprise. Then acceptance.
"Green it is, Lord Primarch. Salamander green. For Vulkan and the Emperor!"
And in the foundry, amid heat and hamrs, the Iron Cavalry Terminator would be reborn.
Six-ard. Green-plated. Ready for war.
The Primarch was almost prepared. Soon, very soon, Tetim would burn.
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