Underground base.
Nolan turned and departed from the foundry with a deliberately calm expression, his posture controlled and measured. He showed no outward sign of the confrontation that had just concluded, maintaining the professional demeanor expected of leadership.
Behind him, the foundry workshop returned to its state of continuous, roaring operation once again. Machinery resumed its endless cycles, servo robots went back to their tasks, production lines reactivated with familiar rhythms.
But this time, everything had fundamentally changed for the facility's master.
The previously autonomous Raditus was no longer working for the unauthorized Cybernetic Corps that it had been obsessively focused on, the secret project that had consumed so much productivity. Instead, the chastened servo skull was now extremely determined to execute any and all orders from the Primarch with absolute precision and no creative interpretation.
Of course, Raditus's immediate first step was to repair the melted and broken mechanical devices on its own damaged body. The anti-gravity engine needed complete reconstruction. The manipulator clamps required replacement. Without functioning equipment, the Tech-Priest couldn't perform its duties.
Only after restoring itself to operational status could it continue to shine and contribute meaningfully for the entire team's benefit.
On the inclined road that led upward from the foundry level to the first floor of the base, where the main living areas and command spaces were located, Nolan walked with measured steps.
He squinted his eyes against the transition from the foundry's harsh work lights to the corridor's softer illumination, ascending slowly while his mind worked through recent events.
In fact, he did not experience significant emotional fluctuations at this moment. His actions in the foundry had been calculated, necessary, executed exactly as planned. No rage, no excessive force beyond what the lesson required.
Because ever since the end of the brutal slum war against the Blood Coven nest, the operation that had exposed so many tactical weaknesses and strategic vulnerabilities, he had been constantly reflecting and summarizing. He'd been thinking extensively about implementing a new tactical doctrine that would let the Cybernetic Corps replace the Gang Dogs for frontline battlefield operations.
The human Gang Dog teams would gradually transform into elite special forces units, something closer to the legendary Stormtrooper commandos. Small, highly trained, capable of surgical strikes rather than sustained combat.
After all, each qualified Gang Dog operative required tremendous amounts of time and substantial financial investment to train properly. The enhancement surgeries alone were expensive. The tactical education was extensive. The equipment was costly.
If such valuable personnel were simply used to fill frontline positions in meat-grinder battles, thrown away as disposable assets, that would be unconscionably luxurious and wasteful. It was poor resource management, the kind of mistake that lost wars.
As for the actual, deeper reason why Nolan had punished Raditus so severely and made absolutely certain the lesson would be remembered permanently, that went beyond mere tactical considerations.
On the surface, obviously, the punishment had been delivered because the Tech-Priest directly disobeyed explicit orders. Chain of command had to be maintained. Insubordination couldn't be tolerated.
But in reality, the true offense that had triggered Nolan's fury was that Raditus had subconsciously demonstrated a complete, casual disregard for human life. The servo skull had proposed converting living Gang Dogs into servitors as though discussing spare parts inventory.
That attitude was unacceptable. That mindset was poison.
"The Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus still desperately need proper supervision and ethical oversight," Nolan muttered to himself as his thoughts continued turning slowly, processing implications and planning next steps. "Fortunately, Raditus's natural nemesis and perfect counterbalance is about to return to the base."
Nolan continued walking steadily toward the first floor, a slight smile playing at his lips as he contemplated David's imminent arrival.
The Man of Iron would restore proper order to operations.
Accompanied by the subtle, familiar sound of mechanical valves slowly turning and heavy gears engaging, sounds that spoke of security protocols being properly followed, something shifted at the base's outer perimeter.
On the boundary of the underground passage that connected to the outside world, a massive metal door began slowly rising on its tracks. The barrier was tremendously heavy, designed to withstand significant force, and moved with ponderous but steady momentum.
At this moment, Nolan stood waiting with a genuine smile brightening his features. He straightened his back to full height, assuming a posture of formal welcome. His hands clasped behind him in a gesture that somehow managed to convey both authority and warmth.
He stared forward expectantly, watching the metal door rise inch by inch.
When the barrier had finally opened completely, revealing the passage beyond in its entirety, a familiar figure stood framed in the opening.
A two-meter-tall form constructed entirely from black metal was presented clearly in his field of vision, the body's surface reflecting the corridor lights in subtle patterns.
That was David, the Man of Iron who had departed the base for what felt like far too long.
"Welcome home, David!" Nolan called out, his smile widening until it couldn't help but reveal his sharp fangs. Genuine pleasure infused his voice with warmth.
He looked at the familiar silhouette of his oldest companion and most trusted administrator with open affection.
"Haha, it has indeed been a long time, my Lord." David's response carried amusement through its mechanical vox-system. "I suspect you missed me significantly more when I was helping you process and handle all the tedious matters that accumulated around you, am I correct?"
David stepped forward into the base proper, crossing the threshold with his characteristic measured gait. The blue light in the optical sensors on his metal head kept flashing in patterns that Nolan had learned to read as indicators of mood and focus.
In one of the Man of Iron's metal hands, gripped carefully, was a metal box that appeared quite heavy despite David's casual handling. The container looked substantial, reinforced, designed to protect valuable contents.
Hearing the teasing tone in David's mechanical voice, recognizing the gentle mockery for what it was, the smile on Nolan's face seemed to grow even brighter and more unguarded.
He swayed his tall body forward and stepped toward David with the easy confidence of greeting family. He raised one palm and brought it down heavily on David's shoulder, a gesture made slightly absurd by the fact that the shoulder in question was always solid and cold metal rather than warm flesh.
But the meaning transcended the physical reality. It was welcome, acknowledgment, genuine happiness at reunion.
"Yes, absolutely!" Nolan admitted freely, laughing. "The documents and files that Imperial Heavy Industries requires me to personally review and approve every single day are simply dazzling in their volume and tedium. Mountains of paperwork. I have been desperately looking forward to your return and the blessed relief it would bring."
His expression shifted, curiosity replacing amusement as he noticed the container.
"Hey, David, what exactly is in that box you're holding? It doesn't look light even for you. What did you bring back?"
Looking at Nolan's genuinely puzzled eyes and curious expression, David shook his metal head slightly in a gesture that was somehow both mechanical and affectionate.
The blue light in its optical sensors flickered through a complex pattern as it stared at Nolan and spoke with respectful formality.
"It's nothing particularly important or urgent, just various uncommon metal minerals and some unusual plant samples I encountered during my exploratory surveys. Interesting specimens that might prove valuable."
David paused, then continued with what might have been pleasure in its voice.
"Didn't you occasionally mention to me before this assignment that you needed to collect certain uncommon special substances for your miracle? Materials that were difficult to source through normal channels? I made a point of picking up these things whenever I encountered them during resource surveys, thinking you might find something useful among the collection."
"Ah, thank you so much for remembering that offhand comment and taking the time!" Nolan's expression became more serious, more genuinely touched by the thoughtfulness. After listening to David's explanation, he blinked slowly, processing the gesture's significance.
He took a deep breath and met David's optical sensors directly.
"David, truly, thank you. That was very considerate."
"My Lord, this is simply what I should do as a matter of course." David's response was immediate and sincere. "After all, I am your loyal steward. Anticipating your needs and fulfilling them is my purpose and my privilege."
After those words concluded, David and Nolan began walking together toward the base hall, their strides naturally synchronizing. Companionship established over years made the coordination automatic.
At this moment, the heavy metal security door behind the two began its slow closure, sealing the outside world away once more. The barrier descended with the same steady momentum it had risen, locks engaging with soft clicks.
Even the previously dim underground passage gradually illuminated with bright lights as David's return triggered automatic systems coming back online. The Man of Iron's presence was recognized by every connected system in the base.
The next moment, David's mechanical voice, having taken over administrative control of the underground base's operations again with seamless efficiency, seemed to reveal more active emotions than it typically displayed. Something almost like eagerness colored the artificial tones.
The Man of Iron carried the extremely heavy metal box without any visible strain and turned its head toward Nolan walking beside it. The question came with obvious interest.
"My Lord, I received reports during my return journey. I heard that Raditus encountered some difficulty again? Got into trouble of its own making?"
"Indeed." Nolan's response was frank, matter-of-fact. "It played word games with me and expanded production of the Intelligent Control Corps without proper authorization. Although I must admit the units' quality is genuinely impressive, far exceeding basic standards, I still punished the servo skull severely."
He continued, wanting David to understand the full reasoning.
"Because what truly makes me deeply unhappy is not Raditus's actions themselves, the unauthorized production or even the deception. It's the underlying attitude that every member of the Adeptus Mechanicus seems to share as standard doctrine. That extreme, casual indifference to human life as though people were merely components to be optimized or replaced."
Nolan subconsciously adjusted his hands behind his back, the gesture helping him organize his thoughts as he explained his philosophy to David in calm, measured tones.
"It's not that I haven't seriously considered using the 'miracles' to find other Tech-Priests to replace the servo skull entirely. Bring in someone new without Raditus's flaws. But I'm genuinely afraid of summoning even more inhuman individuals who would be worse."
He sighed quietly.
"After all, this callousness toward human life is an extremely common norm throughout the entire Mechanicus culture. It's baked into their doctrine and training. Those Magos who extensively transform themselves into machines through radical augmentation are almost no longer human in any meaningful sense. How much genuine loyalty they could maintain to me personally rather than to abstract principles is a serious question I cannot answer with confidence."
David, who had been listening attentively to every word, slowly shook its metal head in a gesture of agreement and understanding. The blue light in its optical sensors pulsed steadily.
"Your concerns are entirely justified and reasonable, my Lord. Raditus may possess an occasionally abrasive personality and a tendency toward unauthorized initiative, but its fundamental loyalty to you personally can be guaranteed without question. That's worth preserving."
David's tone became more reassuring.
"Moreover, the harsh lesson administered this time has definitively taught Raditus your absolute bottom line, the boundaries it must never cross. This experience may well change its underlying thinking patterns and operational style for the better, producing lasting behavioral modification."
The Man of Iron made a formal promise.
"My Lord, please don't worry unnecessarily about this situation. I will pay considerably more attention to Raditus's activities in the future and ensure it doesn't receive opportunities to make similar mistakes. Supervision and guidance, not replacement."
Nolan, who had been squinting thoughtfully while David spoke, nodded slightly in acceptance of these assurances. He said nothing further, trusting David's judgment completely.
Afterward, the two returned successfully to the brightly lit base hall, emerging from the corridor into the more open communal space. The familiar environment welcomed them back.
An automatic servo robot that had been squatting patiently in its designated corner position quickly stepped forward on mechanical legs to formally welcome the arrival of both its ultimate commander and its direct supervisor. The construct's movements conveyed something that might have been pleasure at David's return.
At this precise moment, a loud shout absolutely saturated with surprise and genuine joy erupted from elsewhere in the hall.
"David! You're back!"
A strong figure suddenly launched itself through the air with remarkable speed, moving fast enough that the motion blurred. Like an arrow released from a drawn bowstring, the form flew quickly in David's direction, covering the distance in seconds.
David turned its metal head slightly, tracking the incoming trajectory with perfect precision. With blue light flashing rapidly in its optical sensors, it stared at Jessica, who was floating and maneuvering through the air rather than merely jumping.
Even the Man of Iron's normally steady mechanical voice seemed to add considerable emotional fluctuation, warming with what could only be interpreted as affection.
"Miss Jessica, my sincere congratulations on your complete recovery from your serious injuries." David's tone carried genuine pleasure. "And I see you've developed the ability to fly. That's a remarkable advancement. Your powers continue to evolve."
A brief pause, then David added something that made its motivation clear.
"Oh, and I should mention that there are some beautiful and genuinely rare seashells in the box I brought back from my travels. Those are small gifts I specifically prepared with you in mind, thinking you might appreciate them."
"Really? You remembered to bring me something?" Jessica's eyes curved into happy crescents, her entire face lighting up with unguarded delight. "Thank you so much, David! You're the best!"
Jessica, practically radiating joy, let out a burst of pure, uninhibited laughter that echoed through the hall.
She suddenly maneuvered her suspended body into a graceful somersault, showing off her newfound aerial control with obvious pride. The movement was smooth, controlled, executed with the confidence of someone who'd been practicing extensively.
Then she floated directly in front of David without her feet ever touching the ground, hovering at exactly his eye level for convenient conversation.
She immediately began urging the Man of Iron to open the container and show her the gifts right now, her enthusiasm completely undiminished by any concept of patience or decorum.
A few meters away, Nolan, who had been walking steadily toward the metal round table to resume his usual position, slowly withdrew his observing gaze from the heartwarming scene.
While he shook his head in fond exasperation at Jessica's childlike excitement, a gentle smile appeared unbidden on his lips. The expression was soft, unguarded, the look of someone watching people he cared about being happy.
However, at precisely that moment, everything changed.
A slight sound accompanied by distinct bursts of air friction and displacement cut through the ambient noise. Then came something else: lots of bright golden sparks flying and sputtering in all directions, spraying across the metal floor.
A small portal with a diameter of only half a meter suddenly manifested on the metal deck of the base hall. The circular gateway appeared without warning, without permission, without any of the security protocols being triggered beforehand.
Reality tore open in their most secure space.
The very next second, Nolan's expression shifted instantly to cold alertness. His eyes hardened, all trace of gentleness vanishing as tactical assessment took over.
He quickly drew the plasma pistol from his waist with practiced speed, the weapon coming up in a smooth arc. His finger found the trigger as the muzzle tracked toward the intrusion.
Simultaneously, responding to instantaneous commands from David the Man of Iron transmitted through base systems, every automatic servo robot in the surrounding area extended their mechanical tentacles in unified motion.
The constructs quickly stepped forward in coordinated formation to physically block Nolan's position from the portal, creating a barrier of metal bodies between their commander and the unknown threat.
Immediately afterward, Jessica, who had been acting playfully affectionate with David just seconds before, also reacted with commendable speed. Her expression shifted to stern focus in an instant, all traces of childish excitement replaced by warrior readiness.
She floated higher into the air with obvious intent, gaining altitude for tactical advantage. Her eyes fixed themselves on the portal's location with absolute concentration.
She positioned herself condescendingly above the potential threat, prepared to launch what she'd apparently decided to call a "battle of justice from heaven" upon whatever emerged from the unauthorized gateway.
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