Axion's unrestrained scanning was immediately detected by both the Dark Angels and the Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus. However, the two Magos showed no outward reaction.
The Dark Angels beside them, conversely, appeared intensely vigilant.
"Ancient construct, what was your action just now?"
A deep, commanding voice emanated from the helmet adorned with gold trim.
Hearing the challenge, everyone turned to look at Axion.
Thien stepped forward.
"Dark Angel, are you overly sensitive? The ancient construct Axion is indebted to my battle-brothers; he single-handedly annihilated thirty Iron Warriors traitors. I believe he is distinct from the abominable intelligence we recognize! I challenge your accusation against him."
In the matter of 'archaeology,' the Dark Angels were certainly amongst the foremost practitioners.
As the First Legion, they were the earliest of the Space Marine Legions to be founded, and they possessed a vast trove of esoteric knowledge. Their understanding of artifacts from the Golden Age and even the Dark Age of Technology was the most profound.
Every Dark Angel knew these ancient technologies held unimaginable power.
The many secrets preserved within their own ranks contained the strength to fundamentally overturn the entire Imperium.
The First Legion was a blade intended not just for external enemies, but for internal ones as well.
The Inquisition and the Officio Assassinorum were tasked with monitoring Imperial institutions, but they were ill-equipped to handle certain threats posed by the Space Marines.
While they were not without means to neutralize such dangerous warriors, leaking information to the Dark Angels was often a simpler course of action.
These warriors, loyal to the Emperor, were also masters of secret-keeping.
By revealing such intelligence, the Dark Angels could naturally investigate the circumstances.
Ultimately, they would take the necessary action for the Emperor and the Imperium.
Before the First Legion, no secret remained a secret; all intelligence would fall under their purview.
The First Legion—No Secrets.
From the moment Axion first boarded the Indomitable, covert channels had transmitted intelligence to the First Legion, the Assassinorum, the Inquisition, and the Mechanicus.
These organizations were not as slow to react as the Departmento Munitorum.
It was through the cooperation of these agencies that the Munitorum was able to issue a solitary mission document to the Indomitable in such a short time.
The significance of a cooperative Abominable Intelligence was profoundly complex for the entire Imperium.
The terrifying technology it embodied was coveted, and its overwhelming combat strength was revered. Had previous Iron Men encountered by the Imperium not been purely abominable, killing indiscriminately once uncontrolled, Axion's particular qualities would not have been given such attention.
An ancient machine-mind: rational, non-murderous Artificial Intelligence.
The Dark Angel ignored Thien's question, staring straight at Axion.
Axion replied without evasion.
"I was confirming whether these 'humans' align with the parameters I have on record for your species."
"You had best harbor no secrets or deceit."
The helmets worn by the two Dark Angels were clearly enhanced with specialized technology, but they had only sensed Axion's scanning activity, not the full implication of his analysis.
Trained by the First Legion's Interrogator-Chaplains, their standard response was to incapacitate a target for interrogation. Their ceramite-clad hands instinctively went to the weapons at their hips.
Sensing the suspicion and malice radiating from the Dark Angels, Axion's form instantly blurred. Super-Acceleration status activated, his movements exceeding the reaction capability of the assembled Astartes.
The triangular blades that sprang from his arms, covered in the pale gold of the Particle Oscillation Field, were poised to cleave the two Dark Angels in half.
Thien, however, had immediately acted on instinct the moment the Dark Angels spoke.
He could not prevent Axion's action, nor could he match Axion's incredibly fast movement.
Therefore, he focused on his 'cousins.'
He kicked one Dark Angel aside and simultaneously used his strength to shove the other Dark Angel violently to the side.
Axion had not utilized his short-range jump, but had run to close the distance, giving Thien the briefest window to act.
The rapidly descending blades instantly cut through the space where the Dark Angels had stood.
"Pfff!"
With the sound of spurting blood, an arm and a leg were instantly severed from Thien's body.
"Thunk."
The ceramite-sheathed severed limbs dropped heavily onto the metal deck, issuing a dull impact.
Thien grunted as he fell, his transhuman body immediately began rapid hemostasis, hormones flooding his system to suppress the pain.
The two Dark Angels, reacting belatedly, drew their Plasma Pistols, aiming to retaliate against Axion.
But Axion casually slashed off their weapon-gripping arms. He then bent down and helped the dismembered Thien rise.
The blood spilled on the deck visibly congealed into clots.
The wound sites on Thien's body had ceased bleeding; the flesh at the severed joints writhed violently, blood vessels contracted, and muscles tensed as his internal regenerative mechanisms rapidly began operation.
"Why did you save them? I detected suspicion and malice in their emotional signatures."
Axion's flat, synthesized voice was laced with confusion. His red-flashing electronic eyes stared fixedly at Thien, whom he was supporting.
The two Dark Angels, who had their arms casually sliced off by Axion, helped each other stand, but they remained silent and motionless. Their directive was to recover the ancient construct, not to destroy it.
The reality was that they could not even track the automaton's movements. While anger surged, maintaining rationality was paramount.
The loss of an arm was not a fatal wound for an Astartes. Their earlier suspicion and hostility had indeed stemmed from their own arrogance.
But now they understood why the Black Templars, a Chapter equally known for its pride, had displayed such humility before Axion.
Before the other Black Templars and Imperial Navy guards could make any move, the dismembered Thien, supported by Axion, used his remaining hand to halt everyone.
Having read the briefing, they had all harbored doubts as to whether the ancient construct had truly dispatched thirty Iron Warriors in a near-instantaneous manner.
They doubted no longer.
Given that the being could sever Power Armour, even the thick shoulder pads, with a single strike, had the Black Templar Sergeant not intervened, there would have been four half-severed Dark Angels on the floor.
Such injuries were beyond the power of even the First Legion, with all its secrets, to treat easily.
Thien struggled to stand, using his remaining hand to forcefully remove his helmet, looking earnestly at Axion.
"This may be the price I must pay. My Dark Angel cousins may harbor ill-will, but that is not sufficient reason for you to kill them. They possess far more intelligence. Perhaps you can rely on them to find the history you seek."
Axion paid little attention to the disarmed Dark Angels, but he recognized the genuine goodwill emanating from Thien.
"Perhaps I owe you a debt this time. I do not favour owing anything to anyone. The Iron Men are not proficient in bio-science or medical technology, but I can fabricate a mechanical bionic limb for you as compensation for my apology. However, you will have to find someone to interface it with your body yourself."
At this, the eyes of the two Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus nearly glowed with intensity.
A powerful and efficient ancient machine-construct, possessing independent consciousness, not prone to the confusion and slaughter of the Abominable Intelligence, and capable of manufacturing ancient technology.
This was nothing less than a manifestation of the Omnissiah, the Machine God!
The two could barely restrain themselves, beginning to chant the binary canticles of the Mechanicus.
Others present might not understand their chanting, but for Axion, binary programming language was a core component of his being, and he instantly comprehended the full content, leaving him utterly bewildered.
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