Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 585 Rebuilding the Legion
With a deep hum, a solemn black combat-type redemption mech was pulled into the hall by a towing platform.

It is more rugged than the ordinary Dreadnought, with its armor covered with restraint nails and the Inquisition's mark. Its core restraint chamber is open, and its interior shimmers with a cold blue light.

Gastaff's remaining body trembled violently inside his power armor, emitting intermittent electrical hissing.

Two tribunal technical priests stepped forward, protected by the skulls of the combat servos.

One of them precisely pierced the nerve inhibition probe into Gastaff's neck interface in an instant, and the high voltage current completely stiffened his body, forcibly locking his consciousness in conscious pain.

The adamantine restraints were released, and Gastaff was roughly dragged out of his tattered power armor and strapped to the cold adamantine restraint frame.

Immediately afterwards, the neural probe of the servo surgical arm precisely pierced its bio-interface.

The powerful data stream, like an invisible steel brush, forcibly stripped away the core of his consciousness; at the same time, the image of the tattered banner of the 114th Cadian Regiment, along with the list of 31,422 fallen soldiers and fragments of battle records, were transformed into scorching nerve signals, permanently imprinted in the deepest recesses of his consciousness.

The consciousness data, stripped and marked with eternal shame, was transmitted at high speed via hardwire and permanently imprisoned within the Redemption Mech's specially designed core processor unit—a cage that only provides a one-way sensor input and combat command output channel.

After the genetic seed was removed from Gastaff's worthless biological remains, they were discarded into a biochemical processing container like scrap parts.

The heavy adamantite hatch of the Redemption mech slammed shut under the drive of the servo motor, cutting off the last ray of light.

A deep engine hummed, and its single-eye sensor lit up with a constant, relentless red light.

"Redemption Unit INQ-114-Malleus, activated. Combat protocol ready." The cold, mechanical announcement echoed through the hall, marking the end of Gastaf Mor as an individual and the beginning of him as an eternal instrument of combat torture.

Ferrus stared at the closed hatch, his right fist, covered in liquid metal, clenching silently.

The air was filled with the lingering scents of ozone, burnt circuits, and the faint spiritual energy left by a forcibly torn-away consciousness.

The brutal tempering that reforges the steel hand, accompanied by the low hum of this living instrument of torture, has already begun.

Chen Xi's gaze, like the most sophisticated scanner, slowly swept over the representatives of the various clans standing solemnly below.

Ulrich bowed his head deeply, his posture conveying complete submission to the Primarch's authority and tacit acceptance of the verdict, his data cables drooping low.

Vilidian Ironfather's helmet turned slightly, his electronic eyes fixed on the redemption mech that had just closed and was exuding an ominous aura. The flashing frequency of the eyes showed that its processor was processing everything in front of it at high speed, assessing the technical details and punishment logic. His body posture revealed a complex tension followed by relaxation, a mixture of relief and lingering fear.

The other representatives' metallic faces were hidden beneath helmets or masks, but the subtle sounds of servo joint adjustments and the delicate changes in their postures revealed shock, contemplation, a profound awareness of the Primarch's ruthless methods, and a recognition of the heavy price that such eternal punishment entailed.

The Skree clan representative, his face ashen—or at least pale—remained silent, while a heated debate and division of power likely raged on their internal communications channels.

Chen Xi quickly completed the assessment in his mind: the deterrent effect of this trial far exceeded expectations.

The public representatives of the extremists have been completely eliminated, and their followers have been strongly deterred.

Traditionalists have clearly submitted to the original authority. After being strongly deterred, the rational side of the technocrats has begun to dominate, and they are more inclined to accept the established facts and procedural outcomes.

This cleared the most direct obstacle for the most crucial subsequent actions.

Felus slowly stood up. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the hall, carrying an undeniable power to reshape the organization: "Gastaf Mor's betrayal stemmed from a distortion of the Legion's core spirit."

We've become too obsessed with cold logic and mechanical perfection, forgetting the flesh and blood that should be protected beneath the iron fist. This distortion must be corrected.

Her gaze swept over every Iron Father present: "The Empire is not merely cold steel. The fusion of flesh and machine, the unity of will and logic, is the true essence of the Iron Hand bestowed by the Emperor."

Kralada Keep will immediately begin receiving and deploying Prototype Space Marine technology. This is not a choice, but the necessary path for the Legion's rebirth. All clans must cooperate fully.

Her words were not rousing or inciteful, but rather an unquestionable command and a clear plan for the future.

Original Forging technology—representing the power and adaptability of a new era for the Empire—will be a key tool for her to reforge her legions and mend the cracks in logic and flesh.

Chen Xi added in a timely manner, his voice still calm: "The Tribunal will oversee the deployment process of the original casting technology to ensure that it conforms to Imperial standards and the overall interests of the Legion. At the same time, the full investigation into the Orpheus Sector incident will continue to be carried out in depth, and any chain involving dereliction of duty and betrayal will be completely severed."

Ulric Ironfather was the first to bow in response: "The Lakuan Clan obeys the Primarch's will and fully cooperates with the Primarch's plans."

After a brief calculation, Velidian Ironfather also issued a confirmation signal: "The Valan clan will provide technical support to ensure the efficiency and security of the deployment process."

Representatives from other clans, including agents of the Skree clan, also began to send signals of submission, though some of these signals may have been hesitant or heavy.

Feralus nodded slightly and waved his right hand, which was covered in liquid metal, gently: "Meeting adjourned. Clan leaders, prepare to receive technical briefings and deployment plans."

With varying emotions, the Iron Fathers left one after another amidst the silence or low hum of the servers.

Only Ferrus, Chen Xi, and the INQ-114-Malleus, the Redemption mech that stood silently with its single eye flashing a constant red light, remained in the hall. Its engine emitted a continuous, low hum, as if warming up for the impending, endless battle.

Chen Xi walked to Felus's side and reported in a low voice: "The initial deterrence objective has been achieved. However, the reshaping of minds is far more lengthy and difficult than the physical transformation. The extremist factions hidden within the Skree clan, and even in other clans, still require continued attention and guidance."

Felus's gaze fell upon the deep passageway outside the hall, leading to the fortress's furnace and forge, and also to the future of the Legion.

“I know.” Her voice was low and firm. “Tempering has already begun. Only under the heat of flames and the weight of the hammer can steel be freed of impurities and reborn. This is only the first step.”

The long, blood-stained, and arduous tempering process of reforging the steel hand, accompanied by the heavy roar of the engine starting up for the first time inside the Redemption Mech and the constant red gaze, officially began its irreversible prelude.

The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but the returning Primarch has raised its hammer, determined to reforge this lost legion into the blade the Emperor desires.

(End of this chapter)