“Function”

Wrote this little ficlet about my Explorator character ‘Techpriest 77′ from a Rogue Trader game I was in around 2012-2013ish. Just uncovered the draft in a pile of notes after getting bit by the Warhammer bug again and thought I’d post it here.

NOW

VAGABOND-CLASS FREIGHTER 'EQUINOX' ROGUE TRADER VESSEL BONDED TO THE ROXTON DYNASTY SIX WEEKS OUT FROM FOOTFALL STATION

"Is he alive?"

Lord-Captain Roxton stood in the ruins of the auxiliary enginarium, surrounded by the detritus of the failed mutiny.

Hours ago, some scabrous bilge-rat by the name of Krooker had gotten it into his head that he could take on the scion of a Rogue Trader House and come out clean. He'd been preaching rebellion amongst the plasma conduit crews for days, and finally escalated when he murdered a chief petty officer and took one of the ship's enginseers hostage. Krooker'd demanded the Equinox return to Footfall station, claiming the laws of the void had been broken in the vessel venturing into the edges of the Koronus Expanse.

Roxton's grandfather had shown him how to deal with mutineers. The Lord-Captain had been fully prepared to vent the engineering compartments and give Krooker and his conspirators to the void, but his Explorator had objections.

The Rogue Trader watched that same Explorator now. The hunchbacked techpriest shuffled forward to kneel over the fallen enginseer that had been hit by lasgun fire when they took back the compartment. His red robes shifted as a mechadendrite snaked forward and connected to a node on the enginseer's temple. A string of binary blatted from underneath the low hanging red hood.

"Techpriest? Is the enginseer alive?"

The hood shifted in Roxton's direction, two amber points visible in the shadows. More machine language echoed from the aging vocoder bolted onto the techpriest's clavicle, before stuttering out as he reconfigured his voicebox to standard Imperial.

"Does it live, Lord-Captain Roxton?" Techpriest Seventy-seven asked.

* * *

THEN

GOLIATH-CLASS FACTORY SHIP 'DELTA-AJAX NINER ("CELESTIAL COLLECTOR")' ADEPTUS MECHANICUS VESSEL

"Initializing."

It was the first word he said, and at the same time he tried to open his eyes, but his flesh eyes were no longer there.

"Beginning acti~bzzzt~vation and diagnost~bzzt~ sequence," he continued, but the words didn't come from a mouth anymore. Instead they were issuing from an ancient vocodor a servitor was affixing to his neck. He couldn't see the automaton in the traditional sense, but a visual sensor had winked on at the end of a questing mechadendtrite that uncoiled from his machine harness. That data streamed in and took a moment to process.

A voice echoed from somewhere behind him, filtered through its own machine voicebox.

"Damage to organic components is consistent with containment failure of Mark XXXV Magnacore Pattern Plasma Gun issued to 512th Cadian Orbital Defense Regiment. Enginseer Adept, was the weapon recovered?"

The darkness behind him was too deep to see the asker of the question. The pict-capture sensor on the mechadendrite was a newer model and the picture was a green-tinged haze in his vision.

"Wh-wh-wh~bzzt~. Where am I? Who am I?"

"Your moniker record was not recovered from the orbital defense station. However the inception code of your cyber-mantle is Seventy-seven-dash-three-eight-seven-seven," a soft squeal of ones and zeros accompanied the statement, and the voice continued. "Query repeats: Was the weapon recovered?"

Half-remembered images swirled around his head. Seventy-seven? Weapon?

"I...I was assisting Guardsman Zev. The plasma gun, it ~bzzt~it..."

"As Engineseer attached to the Cadian 512th, the keeping of the Omnisiah's holy technology was your responsibility. Was the weapon recovered after fusion containment failed?"

The swirling images in his mind were moving faster now, coalescing into the edge of panic.

"Containment failure?"

Behind him, the voice blatted out a dissatisfied string of code, "Cognitive abilities have degraded due to damage to organic components. Preparing calculus logi upgrade. Bring forth the cortex implants."

Panic rose fully now. Sharp and urgent.

"Wait! I ~bzzt~ I can still...~bzzt~"

"The Rite of Pure Thought will commence soon, Brother Seventy-seven. The sacred cranial circuitry will replace the weakness of the flesh, and you will rejoice in your newfound freedom."

His hastily installed vocodor trilled static now, too overwhelmed by his jumbled thoughts to translate words.

"Peace, Brother Seventy-seven. Your inception code will be re-entered in the Liber Adeptus Mechanicus, and you will serve the Omnissiah."

Servo-skulls drifted forward and began the work. Seventy-seven's vocodor continued to hiss and buzz as the magos behind him directed their progress.

Later. Much later by the record of his internal chronometer, Seventy-seven became aware of more as his systems were brought fully online. The panic was gone. The fear was gone. There was barely any emotion at all now. Just the filtered calculations of his implants as they took in data and processed it.

Newly-installed visual sensors replaced the eyes the exploding plasma gun had burned away, and his auditory pickups rebooted to hear the magos reporting on him to his superiors.

"Systems have been activated and engaged," the magos relayed. "All operations are now within normal parameters, high one. Cortex implants have been installed, Mars-pattern. Tertius Standard Template Construct."

The higher ranking mechanicus techpriests gathered around to examine Seventy-seven, "Does it live?."

The magos sent a stream of code hissing through his voicebox.

"It functions."

Electronic voices rose around Seventy-seven in exultation.

"Cog and Gear! Praise the Omnissiah!"

* * *

NOW

"Does it live, Lord-Captain?" Techpriest Seventy-seven asked again.

Roxton huffed impatiently, "That's what I asked. The whole reason we came down to these decks is to rescue your enginseer. Is he alive?"

Seventy-seven dropped his hooded gaze down to the fallen mechanicus adept. After a moment he decoupled his data ports from the still body and rose stiffly to his feet.

"Organic processes have ceased to function. The flesh was weak. I will order the remains sent to the crew reclamation facility to salvage the Omnissiah's holy tech from the corpse."

"Emperor's bones! What a waste!" Roxton snarled as he turned on his heel and stalked off.

Seventy-seven dropped his gaze again to the dead Enginseer as he sent his servo-skull familiar to begin preparations.

"It does not function."

If you're a Warhammer 40,000 player looking to start a new army or expand an existing one, you might want to consider getting a Combat Patrol box. These boxes contain a selection of miniatures from a specific faction, along with a rulebook and other essential accessories, all at a discounted price compared to buying the items separately. Not only do they provide great value, but they also offer a good starting point for players who are new to the game and unsure about what units to choose. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Combat Patrol boxes and what makes them such a popular choice among Warhammer 40,000 enthusiasts. 10 ) Space Marines Combat Patrol - This box is a great starting point for any Space Marines army. It includes an Intercessor Squad, Assault Intercessor Squad, Outrider Squad, and a Primaris Captain. The Intercessor Squad is a solid core unit that can be used for holding objectives and providing suppressing fire. The Assault Intercessor Squad is a close combat unit that excels at assaulting enemy positions. The Outrider Squad is a fast-moving unit that can be used for flanking maneuvers and harassing enemy units. The Primaris Captain is a strong hero unit that can buff nearby units and deal significant damage in combat. 9) Necrons Combat Patrol The Necrons are a unique and intriguing faction in Warhammer 40k. They are an ancient race of robotic beings who have awoken from a long slumber to reclaim the galaxy. Their lore and aesthetic are both fascinating and appealing to many players. This makes the Necrons Combat Patrol box a great choice for players who are interested in the faction or looking to expand their existing Necron army. 8) Adeptus Mechanicus Combat Patrol The Adeptus Mechanicus Combat Patrol box is a popular choice among Warhammer 40k players who are interested in the Adeptus Mechanicus faction. The box contains 15 miniatures, including a Techpriest Enginseer, Onager Dunecrawler, Kataphron Destroyers, and Skitarii Rangers. One reason why the Adeptus Mechanicus Combat Patrol box is so good is that it offers a great value for its price. The total value of the miniatures in the box is around $140, but the box is priced at $77, which saves players some money compared to buying the miniatures individually. Another reason why the Adeptus Mechanicus Combat Patrol box is so good is that it provides players with a playable force in the new Combat Patrol format. This format is designed to be smaller and more accessible to new players, making it an ideal starting point for those interested in the Adeptus Mechanicus faction or Warhammer 40k in general. 7) Tyranids Combat Patrol The Tyranids Combat Patrol box has been recently released for Warhammer 40k, and it is ideal for new players to the Tyranids faction or to those who have been playing since Hive Fleet Behemoth was first sighted . It comes with 43 Tyranid models, mostly core options, and offers good value for a decent price. the box includes the best troop choice, one of the best HQs, and an extra box of horde units that are free, making it a great choice for those wanting to build a horde-based army. The box also includes the Synapse Tyranid Warriors, which can help corral the other units on the battlefield, cheap and disposable Rippers as a speed bump for the enemy, and a customizable Hive Tyrant with many options. 6) Death guard Combat Patrol The Death Guard army has a unique and distinctive aesthetic that many players find appealing. The miniatures included in the Combat Patrol box are beautifully sculpted and detailed, with a grotesque and decayed look that perfectly captures the essence of the Death Guard. Overall, the Death Guard Combat Patrol is a great choice for players looking to start a resilient and deadly Death Guard army, with a unique aesthetic and a good mix of units to build from. 5) T'au Empire Combat Patrol

The T'au Empire Combat Patrol box is considered by many Warhammer 40k players to be an epic starting point for building a T'au Empire army. There are several reasons why this box is so popular and highly regarded. The box contains a good mix of units that provide players with a solid foundation for building a T'au Empire army. The core Fire Warriors Strike Team is a versatile and effective troop choice that can lay down withering storms of pulse fire while claiming objectives. The T'au Ethereal on Hover Drone is a powerful leader who can provide valuable buffs to nearby units and has a fast move speed of 10", gaining the Fly keyword. The box also includes a number of other units such as Ghostkeels, Stealth Suits, and a Commander, which allow players to customize their army and experiment with different playstyles. 4) Chaos Space Marines Combat Patrol A Master of Possession, Chaos Space Marines, a Venomcrawler, and a Greater Possessed. The Master of Possession is a support unit that can buff nearby units and deal damage with its spells. The Chaos Space Marines are a solid core unit that can be used for holding objectives and providing suppressing fire. The Venomcrawler is a heavy support unit that can be used to take out tough enemy units. The Greater Possessed is a strong hero unit that can deal significant damage in combat. 3) Blood Angels Combat Patrol The Blood Angels Combat Patrol is unique because it includes units that are exclusive to the Blood Angels chapter, such as the Sanguinary Guard and the Baal Predator, as well as a mix of intercessors and infiltrators. Additionally, the impulsor transport vehicle, which reflects the supercharged rhino engine of the Blood Angels, is often selected as the Blood Angel-specific unit in the Combat Patrol. The Combat Patrol serves as a "generic" core to start from, and there are many ways to build out an army from it, as well as potential to use it as a starting point for a completely different chapter 2) Ork Combat Patrol The Ork Combat Patrol box is an excellent choice for players who are looking to start a new Ork army or add some new units to an existing one. There are several reasons why the Ork Combat Patrol box is considered to be one of the best out there. Firstly, the Orks are a fun and entertaining army to play. They are known for their quirky and humorous personalities, as well as their love of violence and destruction. This makes them a favorite among many Warhammer 40,000 players. Secondly, the Ork Combat Patrol box contains a great selection of units that can be used to create a well-rounded army list. You get a Warboss, Nobz, Boyz, and a Deff Dread, which can be used to create a balanced mix of close combat and shooting units. The Warboss is a powerful hero unit that can buff nearby units and deal a lot of damage in close combat. The Nobz are a tough and durable elite unit that can dish out significant damage in melee. The Boyz are a swarm unit that can overwhelm enemy positions with their sheer numbers. The Deff Dread is a heavy support unit that can take out tough enemy units with its powerful weapons. 1) Drukhari Combat Patrol The Drukhari Combat Patrol box is awesome for several reasons. First, it offers a great value for the price. You get four different units, including Kabalite Warriors, Wyches, a Venom, and a Succubus, which can be used to create a variety of different army lists and playstyles. Additionally, the miniatures included in the box are highly-detailed and well-sculpted, making them a joy to paint and collect. From a gameplay perspective, the Drukhari are a highly mobile army that specializes in hit-and-run tactics, using their speed and maneuverability to outflank and outmaneuver their opponents. The Kabalite Warriors are a solid core unit that can provide long-range fire support, while the Wyches are a close combat unit that excel at tearing through enemy units in melee.

The Venom is a fast-moving transport that can be used to ferry troops around the battlefield, while the Succubus is a powerful hero unit that can dish out significant damage in close combat.

Welcome citizens of the Imperium

This will be the diary of my Dark Heresy character, Sniper Guardsman Garrit Canto, in our group we have currently have Pollonia - a techpriest sage (Cogsworth), Uri Acadi - A guardsman medic (Rookie), Icarus Erioch - A noble psyker (Blue blood) and Acaidi - A techpriest seeker (Nickname tbc). This is the team as it stands now, though we may end up with more members later down the line, if so I’ll introduce them in time.

Updates will likely be sporadic, but I should have the first session’s entry up soon. My knowledge of 40k is somewhat limited, as is that of our gm, so please forgive any inaccuracies or things that look a bit off, we’re doing our best!

The banner art comes from Nomad-77 of Deviant Art https://nomad-77.deviantart.com/

I haven’t been able to find the icon’s origin, I got it off of the wiki for the Tanith first-and-only http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Tanith_First-and-Only, but I’d much appreciate it if anyone who knew the source could let me know. Thanks!

Hope you enjoy and I look forward to posting soon!