Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 169 Completing the Orbital Defense System
"Iron Warriors?"

On the high wall of Moneta Castle overlooking the starport apron, Alexis Pollux, who was as tall as a miniature version of the Primitive, looked at the brightest star in the night sky and said in disbelief.

Beside him, Macragge's field commander Auguston felt a little awkward. This Astartes, who was considered tall and burly among the Ultramarines, felt a sense of frustration in his heart.

In the Ultramarines Legion, he was always the one looking down upon his battle-brothers on any occasion, except for the Primarch.

In front of this Imperial Fist of exaggerated size, Auguston felt inferior about his own size for the first time.

Pollax... The Imperial Fist, what on earth did he eat to grow up?

Even Ogston, wearing the Star II Terminator Armor, was still a head shorter than Pollax.

Beside them, several important assistants and officers of the city guard were accompanying them attentively. They had just finished their work reports and were now quietly waiting for the guidance of the two adults.

Roboute Guilliman personally ordered Auguston and Pollux to work together to improve Macragge's orbital defense system to prevent any danger from happening again.

After checking the defenses of Moneta Castle, Pollax looked at the only twinkling star in the sky and fell into deep thought.

Because of the Primarch's order, some confidential information of the Ultramarines Legion began to be partially opened to Polux, including the star thousands of light years away.

Sosa, and the mysterious Pharos device.

The technological artifacts on that distant star illuminated Macragge, guiding the loyalists to the Macragge system.

"This is a great achievement, Auguston. You have found a way other than the Astronomican to guide navigation in the Warp, and there is nothing wrong with that." Polux turned his huge body and stared into Auguston's eyes.

"But you let an Iron Warrior control the lifeblood of such an important New Star Torch. Oh, yes, not just an Iron Warrior, but also a Warsmith."

"Before the Fourth Legion rebelled, I had heard of his name: Barabas Dantioch, one of the Tridents, the most trusted son and advisor of the traitor Perturabo."

The assistant beside Auguston nodded, what Pollax said was right.

"It was the Primarch who gave the order. He sent Dantioch to activate the Pharos, and work with the mortal advisor Roshi to study it and crack it." Auguston said.

"Dantioch was the first legionnaire to arrive at Macragge. He had just retreated from the Citadel of Wounds and blew up the traitors."

"But he's an Iron Warrior? An Iron Warrior!" Pollux's voice rose.

He felt incredible as he looked at the indifferent attitudes of the Ultramarines and mortal officers around him.

"Any questions, Captain?"

Facing the Imperial Fists' repeated questioning, a mortal officer asked back under pressure.

Plax was speechless for a moment. Those were the Iron Warriors, one of the most powerful legions among the rebels. Don’t these Ultramarines know that the Iron Warriors have betrayed them?

The Imperial Fist had a brand new arm hanging on his chest with a healing sling. It was not a simple mechanical replacement arm, but an arm transplant cloned by a pharmacist in the laboratory using Polux's genes.

For a powerful warrior, no matter how strong the mechanical arm is, it is difficult to compare with the original arm that is made of flesh and blood. For an important Imperial Fists captain like Pollax, Guilliman would naturally not be stingy with the consumption of materials.

"Polax, calm down. I know you and the Iron Warriors don't get along, but..." Auguston stretched out his hand to soothe them. "Dantioch is a loyal man who is trustworthy. I don't need to repeat his deeds."

"But, but that's the fucking Iron Warrior!"

Polux wanted to retort that the interface between his new arm and shoulder was painful because of the change in blood flow caused by the drastic fluctuations in his emotions. The Son of Dorne didn't care about this little bit of physical pain at all. He just couldn't accept living with an Iron Warrior.

"What is the specific situation of Pharos, what principle is it based on, and is it possible to replicate it?"

"These are higher secrets, Alexis. I have no right to disclose them to you." Ogston coldly refused to answer. The Imperial Fist warrior took a deep breath and reasoned with himself, thinking this was reasonable.

It is normal for the Ultramarines to choose to keep secret the magical technology that can light up the starry sky in such a chaotic and destructive storm.

But how the hell could the Warsmith know and fully master that kind of technology?

At the mention of Dantioch, Pollax's blood began to boil. The commander who had calmly commanded the Battle of Farr and dealt a heavy blow to the Iron Warriors ambush fleet became irritated.

The moment Pollax turned his head, Ogston, who had a cold face, suddenly showed a malicious smile. When the Imperial Fist turned back again, he returned to his icy appearance.

"Brother Auguston, I think I saw you laughing at something, what happened?"

Auguston looked straight ahead, not maintaining eye contact with Pollux.

"Of course not, Brother Pollax," said Macragge's field commander. "We are professionally trained and do not usually laugh."

"Okay, I must have read it wrong. Let's continue with the safety inspection and review of the emergency plan report."

The Imperial Fists' keen intuition seemed to detect that there was something odd about the Ultramarines commander in front of them, but they didn't think much about it.

In the translucent sling shell on his chest, layers of nutrients and growth hormone colloid covered the body of Polax and the cloned arm. It was still growing intensively, the bones had not yet completely connected, the flesh and blood were stretching, and one could see that the palm, where oxygen-rich blood was flowing, was a distinct scarlet color.

"How does it feel, this arm?" Auguston asked.

"The prognosis is good. In two days, we will be able to rule out the possibility of autologous rejection, and it should be usable normally in a week."

Polux tried to move the arm with satisfaction, and the nerve and muscle reflexes were normal.

He found that the Ultramarines' biotechnology seemed to be stronger than that of the Imperial Fists, and if the legion pharmacists were to operate it, it might take a longer time to recover.

Auguston nodded, then motioned for an assistant to come forward.

The mortal assistant handed the data tablet report to Pollax.

"These are the results of the inspection within three days. They have made it into a complete report, which can be read more easily."

The Imperial Fists simply scanned the contents of the data pad at a speed that was too fast even for the Ultramarines who were skilled in data calculations.

Polux looked far up at the huge starport in the sky, and then at the shadows cast by the warships that still looked extremely huge even tens of thousands of kilometers away.

"Not enough, Auguston. A simple plan check is not enough. You are too careless."

The Imperial Fists' comments immediately aroused Auguston's dissatisfaction. He retorted: "You didn't even look at the contents of the data board carefully. Those details——"

"You can read the details later, but I have already seen the huge loopholes in your orbital defense." The Imperial Fist pointed to the huge airport and orbital platform.

"I know that you have built a large number of star fortresses and skyports in the Macragge system, and even the battle planet Amatra is patrolling between star systems."

"But, that nearby starport is a huge and dangerous loophole. Its existence threatens the safety of Macragge."

Auguston stepped forward and questioned, almost leaning against Pollax.

But the Imperial Fists did not give in at all. He ignored his broken arm which was still healing and wrestled with the Ultramarines with swords drawn.

Both sides were extremely stubborn and confident people, and Auguston felt that this arrogant outsider should be taught a lesson.

(End of this chapter)