On paper, there were about 2 billion Skitarii forces—cybernetically augmented humans in their private army—but the total he could see far surpassed that.
They had weapons capable of obliterating the planet without leaving even dust behind… many of which couldn't even be classified as conventional weapons.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he immediately began working toward his goal.
For weeks, he had tried to learn about this world's science, yet there seemed to be nothing at all. Even the Mechanicus possessed so little knowledge that it might as well have been nonexistent. This world lacked theoretical science entirely.
He had rebuilt some components to the best of his ability, but despite outthinking cogitators and more, he wasn't omniscient. There were undoubtedly factors he hadn't considered—hence this takeover. Stretching his mind forward, Bastion linked billions of connected minds and cogitators as auxiliary processors, amplifying his cognitive power.
For practical purposes, he used servitors and Tech-Priests for experimentation. It was gruesome and inhumane, but there was no reason to pity—or even hate—those who had willingly forsaken their humanity.
Besides, no Tech-Priest was innocent. Each mechanical monstrosity had committed crimes against humanity, and he had no intention of mercy.
His mind processed data from reverse-engineered technology, cross-referencing it with fragmented memories from his past life. Within an hour, Bastion had compiled the fundamentals of multiple disciplines, systematically organized to the best of his ability.
In the room with him stood the planet's ruling Arch-Magi. Bastion observed the hulking abominations and, without hesitation, began rewriting their memories.
Though he now had backdoor access to their minds and cared nothing for their well-being, he couldn't sustain this indefinitely. Instead, he restructured their perception of him.
The Omnissiah's existence was uncertain, but since no divine retribution had struck him despite infiltrating the Mechanicus' core, it likely wasn't real.
"I shouldn't make this too obvious. Slow changes for now," Bastion mused, studying the beings before him.
His initial plan was a swift mental takeover, but he now aimed to reform the Mechanicus entirely. That required gradual transformation, not overnight revolution. So, he altered their memories instead.
The Ecclesiarchy already believed him a saint—his resurrection had reportedly triggered continent-wide healing. He could replicate that for the Mechanicus, but on a grander scale.
The Machine Cult worshipped technology, and he had just rewritten the core of every machine on the planet. Like his cogitator, they would operate at peak efficiency, drastically boosting production.
"Improving machine efficiency should achieve the same effect," Bastion reasoned, turning back to the Arch-Magi.
There were ten in total, each overseeing a major division of the Cult. The youngest was over 150 years old.
With a command, servitors sprang into action, converting the Fabricator-General's throne room—a space riddled with wasted excess—into a new laboratory. They worked beyond their lobotomized limits, yet remained functional. Within an hour, a fully equipped lab stood ready.
An Ork spore was brought in, and he began his work. Initially, he considered delegating this to the Mechanicus, but reforming them would take years. It was better to devise a cure himself first.
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Question:
If he said the 'Lord's prayer' in Warhammer and consider the fact that he is a living saint... All that faith affecting him, how do you think it will turn out?