Inside the brightly lit rotunda, deep beneath the Twin Islands base, illumination blazed from every angle.
The floors, walls, and ceilings were densely covered with prayers praising the Emperor's psychic power. High Gothic script wrapped around every surface. Low Gothic reinforcing it. Protection through devotion layered thick as armor.
Nearly two-thirds of the entire Intelligent Control Corps stood at full readiness, ammunition loaded and weapons hot. Hundreds of robots arranged in defensive formation.
They formed a circle surrounding the edge of the rotunda, creating a ring of firepower facing inward. Overlapping fields of fire.
More automatic servo robots carrying melta bombs and heavy stubber guns lined up in the passages outside the hall, secondary defensive layer waiting. If something breached the inner ring, outer defense would engage.
At this moment, prayer scriptures played repeatedly from the Intelligent Control Corps' internal speakers. Overlapping voices creating a constant drone. "The Emperor protects. The Emperor watches. The Emperor endures."
Nolan, wearing his white wolf fur cloak that provided comfort rather than warmth in the temperate base, passed through the Intelligent Control Corps with solemn expression.
His face was set. Determined. This was serious business. No room for error.
He walked straight to the statue of the Emperor located in the center of the rotunda, positioned at the focal point. The effigy stood completed now.
When Nolan arrived at the predetermined location, when he stood directly before the statue, he stopped.
He stared at the Emperor statue before him. It seemed filled with psychic energy fluctuations, power radiating from bronze and gold. Not imagination. Real presence. Divine attention focused.
Then he opened the simulator interface without hesitation. Decision made. Point of no return approaching.
In an instant, the surrounding air seemed filled with a series of low humming sounds. Vibrations. Reality bending to accommodate something that shouldn't exist here.
The tremors intensified.
Just above the metal floor covered with prayer inscriptions, directly before the Emperor's feet, space warped.
A black lighthouse whose full appearance had not been fully revealed slowly rose from unknown void! Emerging. Manifesting. Growing.
The structure possessed a pyramid-shaped spire that gleamed with strange light. Dark. Cold. Ancient beyond measure.
And just the spire alone, which exuded cold and hard luster like polished obsidian, almost reached the top of the dozens of meters high ceiling of the rotunda! The structure was immense. Overwhelming. Impossible.
At this moment, Nolan squinted his eyes against the strange emanations. He stared at the huge blackstone creation that seemed completely integrated with the metal floor, as if it had always been there. As if reality remembered it now.
He couldn't help but take a deep breath. Awe. Fear. Wonder mixed equally.
This black lighthouse standing before him was the beacon that could breach dimensions. The Pharos Lighthouse. Gateway to hell and heaven both.
And based on information in Nolan's knowledge, drawn from simulations and downloads, this was significant beyond words.
The Pharos Lighthouse was a super space beacon built by the Necrons using blackstone technology. Xenos engineering at its finest. Technology that predated humanity by millions of years.
And it was completely unaffected by the power of the Warp. Immune. Absolute. The reason it was built from blackstone rather than any other material.
"Most of the Intelligent Control Corps has been stationed here." Nolan's internal monologue ran through security assessment. "With the Emperor's statue always watching, there shouldn't be any problems, right?"
The question hung unanswered. Hope rather than certainty.
"If there is time, I should have Raditus manufacture a few super-yield nuclear bombs and install them around the hall perimeter. Hundreds of melta bombs as the final safety device isn't enough. Not nearly enough."
Nolan, who squinted his eyes against the lighthouse's emanations, glanced back and forth. He surveyed the unmoving Intelligent Control Corps positioned around the chamber.
Their weapon muzzles and mechanical tentacles were always ready to engage. Vigilant. Tireless. Loyal because they couldn't be anything else.
With thoughts spinning through contingencies and worst-case scenarios, he solemnly performed an eagle salute in the direction of the Emperor's statue. Right fist to left breast. Reverence. Respect. Prayer.
Then he walked out of the rotunda without looking back, leaving the lighthouse under divine and mechanical guard. Trust placed. Dice cast.
According to Nolan's original plan, according to initial base design, the rotunda should have been the location where Procellas, the ship machine spirit, would be permanently stationed. Central position. Maximum influence.
It was a pity. Compared with the preciousness and danger of the Pharos Lighthouse, compared with a gateway between universes, artificial intelligence didn't seem like an important thing anymore. Priorities shifted. Plans adapted.
Moreover, the Pharos Lighthouse was probably more attractive to the Emperor and His interests than any artificial intelligence could be. Strategic asset. Unique capability. Divine attention inevitable.
After Nolan left the deep underground of the base, after ascending through security checkpoints, after returning to the base hall proper, news arrived.
A message from the Second Son Island foundry reached him. Completion notification. Results ready for inspection.
Soon after receiving the alert, Nolan stepped into transport. He crossed to the warmer island, entering the foundry hall with anticipation building.
At this moment, the servo skull Raditus, driving its anti-gravity engine, was flying toward him in characteristically erratic manner. Bobbing. Weaving. Barely controlled enthusiasm.
"Aha, respected Primarch, after the hard work of me, Raditus, and the boy Doom..." The title for Doom had evolved to something almost affectionate. "Your Terminator armor has been successfully manufactured!"
Before Raditus's words finished, before the tech-priest could elaborate, Nolan stepped forward eagerly.
He saw at a glance the huge metal creation with ceramite steel shell that had not yet been painted. Raw. Unpainted. Beautiful in its brutal functionality.
At this moment, the three-meter-high Terminator powered armor stood high on the casting platform like an immovable fortress. Massive. Imposing. Radiating menace even inactive.
If the previously updated Terminator power armor had only possessed some simple aesthetic elements of the Cataphractii Terminator variant, this new iteration was different entirely.
The current Terminator armor, just looking at it from the outside, was completely like true Cataphractii Terminator plate!.
Before Nolan could start questioning Raditus about specifications, before inquiry could form, Raditus suspended in mid-air immediately launched into eloquent explanation.
"Lord Primarch, this Iron Cavalry Terminator has cost us tremendous effort. Blood, sweat, and sacred oils! If you are still not satisfied, then there is nothing we can do..." The protest was token. Pride radiated from every word. "Haha, let me start with the metal frame, the foundation of everything."
Raditus's optical sensors brightened. "Although the adamantine skeleton of an ordinary Terminator is very strong, compared to the Uru metal skeleton you already possess from the Destroyer wreckage, it is still not befitting your noble status as Primarch."
The skull drifted closer. "So, under the suggestion of Doom, we planned to use Uru metal and adamantine to conduct some material fusion experiments. The goal was forging a special alloy that combines the advantages of both materials."
Then came revelation. "However, maybe because the Uru metal originated from the Destroyer wreckage, or maybe because Doom performed extensive witchcraft during the forging process..." Raditus's tone carried wonder. "In short, the Uru metal and adamantine accidentally stimulated some internal energy and produced a special transformation that we have never seen before and cannot currently replicate!"
The implications were staggering. "Not only has the sturdiness of the skeleton been improved several times over base materials, but the weight has also been reduced significantly! This special alloy, which we're calling Uru-gold, even possesses strong immunity to witchcraft attacks!"
Raditus bobbed excitedly. "Of course, whether it provides resistance to magic specifically, we don't know yet. Untested. But the anti-witchcraft properties are confirmed!"
The servo skull, driving its anti-gravity engine in circles like an oversized mechanical fly, continued the technical briefing.
"After finishing the most basic and most important metal skeleton, our next task became easier with the foundation established. Brand new electro-fiber bundles and carefully adjusted servo devices were installed. Full-power refractor field for energy protection. Very important life support device and many detection systems successfully loaded..."
Then came special feature. "The life support device is not filled with ordinary medical fluid as standard." Raditus's voice carried pride. "It contains panacea that Connors specifically requested to liquefy! Concentrated healing essence suspended in suspension."
The implications were immediate. "In other words, even if you suffer a fatal injury, you can be revived on the spot with full health restoration! Instantaneous healing from mortal wounds!"
"However..." Raditus's tone shifted. "The above features are just the basics, standard improvements. The place where our true genius is evident concerns the servo robot arms! The six-armed configuration!"
Enthusiasm built. "Doom ingeniously used Antarctic vibranium to cast four servo mechanical arms and the power armor's hand plates. As long as you activate the decomposition force fields connected to each limb, you can completely transform into a terrifying melee monster while wearing the Terminator armor! Six-armed death dealing destruction!"
Reality check followed. "However, this melee capability is only one means of survival after you've exhausted ammunition in extended engagement. The Gauss blaster and multi-barrel melta provide primary firepower. An ion rifle serves as sniper weapon for precision work. Plus the storm bolter for sustained fire. Together they provide you with amazing long-range firepower coverage!"
Raditus wasn't finished. "If you still think the firepower is insufficient, the shoulder platform of the Iron Cavalry Terminator can also be equipped with a cyclone missile launcher for area saturation, of course..."
At this moment, Nolan, who had been staring at the six-armed Iron Cavalry armor with growing appreciation, temporarily interrupted Raditus's continuing exposition.
He took a deep breath, chest expanding. Satisfaction radiating. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Very good. Very good. Even far beyond my imagination..." His voice carried genuine pleasure. Then curiosity. "By the way, Raditus, have you seen the armor painting scheme of the Salamanders Legion in past records?"
Hearing Nolan's inquiry, the servo skull suspended in air seemed slightly stunned. Optical sensors dimming momentarily in confusion.
"Uh... Lord Primarch, what do you mean exactly?"
Nolan's smile widened. Decision made. Tribute planned. Honor given to the Fire Drake whose weapons he now carried.
"That's right! Raditus, paint this thing green for me!"
Salamander green. The color of Vulkan's sons. The XVIII Legion. Fire and forge and faith.
The armor that carried the Dawnbringer and Heart of the Furnace would wear the colors of their original owner.
Appropriate. Respectful. Right.
Raditus's optical sensors flared bright with surprise. Then acceptance.
"Green it is, Lord Primarch. Salamander green. For Vulkan and the Emperor!"
And in the foundry, amid heat and hammers, the Iron Cavalry Terminator would be reborn.
Six-armed. Green-plated. Ready for war.
The Primarch was almost prepared. Soon, very soon, Tetim would burn.