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 imdiately took his battle-brothers aboard a Thunderhawk Gunship to return to the vessel.
Although the distress signal had been heavily jamd, 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 outco in such a scenario would likely be an assignnt to the Deathwatch for a lifeti of penitent service.
The mont the Thunderhawk Gunship lifted off, a faint, azure warp-jump light flashed within the rear compartnt.
Axion's towering, squat figure appeared, cramd 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 na of the Omnissiah was that? An untargeted, random translation technique? Or did you place a translocation beacon on our conveyance ahead of ti?"
Axion attempted to stretch his cramped form. While the Thunderhawk Gunship was not small, it was still constricting for an Iron Man whose fra exceeded four tres in height.
"This is a technology called Experintal Short-Range Warping, allowing for directional jumps. It permits direct translation to a specified location within several hundred tres."
"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 helt, all while carefully observing the ancient chanical construct that was currently wedged inside the compartnt.
"It is not a strange question. Short-range warping is not simple translation technology. It is more akin to collapsing the body's spatial volu into a material singularity, then transferring the singularity before re-expanding it. The volu 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 ntioned 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 chanical finger, pointing at the tal 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 asure of its internal dinsions."
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 sohow felt he was growing accustod 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 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 an, this jump-technology can be provided?"
Every Chapter recovers ancient artefacts, but acquiring advanced technology from them is extrely difficult.
Furthermore, most devices must be handed over to the Adeptus chanicus for study, to derive the underlying principles, and then to undergo secondary developnt 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 elent 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 so 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 so assistance to your historical inquiry."
Hearing of a potential new source of historical information, Axion seed 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 equipnt inside the ship, and other weapons are struggling to land hits on these highly mobile enemies. We require imdiate reinforcent."
Hearing the sudden communication, Thien's expression grew grim. He strode to the front of the gunship and slamd his fist against the cockpit door.
"Return imdiately! If necessary, find a segnt 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 confird Thien's command.
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