Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm

by Lea von Löwenstein

Chapter 53: Delving Deeper

The morning light barely reached the depths of the Mechanicus lab as Tyren returned, his steps steady but his thoughts turbulent. Magos Omnitek awaited him, their imposing frame illuminated by the faint glow of cogitator screens. The lab hummed with the energy of ancient machinery, a quiet symphony of technology and purpose.

“You are on time,” Omnitek said, their mechanical voice devoid of praise or scorn. “We continue where we left off.”

Tyren nodded, taking his seat at the console. “I’ve been thinking about Vault 731,” he began cautiously. “There’s something important down there, isn’t there?”

Omnitek’s optics flared briefly, a warning. “You will not speak of the vault unless I permit it. The Machine Spirit grants knowledge in increments, not indulgences. Focus on the task at hand.”

Tyren suppressed his curiosity and redirected his attention to the console. The network they had been restoring was still rife with corrupted files and fragmented data. Each log and subsystem was a piece of a vast, cryptic puzzle.

The Deeper Network

As Tyren and Omnitek worked, they unearthed a hidden subroutine buried deep within the system—a self-repairing algorithm that seemed almost alive, adapting to their attempts to access it.

“This code is… strange,” Tyren muttered, his fingers flying across the keyboard. “It’s not Mechanicus standard, and it doesn’t match any known Imperial protocols.”

Omnitek leaned in, their servo-arms twitching with interest. “This is not Imperial design,” they said. “It is pre-Imperial—a relic of the Dark Age of Technology. Proceed with caution. Such systems are notoriously volatile.”

Tyren hesitated, then carefully bypassed the algorithm’s defensive layers. The screen flickered, and a new interface emerged—a seamless blend of human and machine architecture. Lines of unfamiliar symbols scrolled across the display.

“Can you translate this?” Tyren asked.

Omnitek interfaced directly with the system, their voice taking on an almost reverent tone. “The Machine Spirit speaks in a forgotten dialect. I will interpret. Continue your query.”

Together, they began to unlock fragments of data that had remained untouched for millennia. The information revealed fragments of a vast logistical network that once spanned the galaxy, used to store and transport artifacts of immense power.

A Forbidden Link

One file caught Tyren’s attention: a reference to a device known as the Cognitum Nexus. According to the fragmented logs, the Nexus was a central control unit capable of linking every cogitator in the system, granting unparalleled access to the network.

“This Nexus… it’s still here, isn’t it?” Tyren asked, his voice low.

Omnitek’s optics dimmed slightly. “It may exist. But if it does, its activation would require extraordinary precautions. Such power is dangerous—prone to corruption if mishandled.”

Tyren leaned back, his mind racing. “If we could find it, we could restore the entire network. We could use it to—”

“Enough,” Omnitek interrupted, their voice sharp. “Your ambition blinds you, novice. Power without understanding invites ruin. The Cognitum Nexus is not your concern.”

The Warning

Omnitek turned to face Tyren fully, their mechanical limbs looming. “Your curiosity is an asset, but it must be tempered. The knowledge we uncover here is not yours to wield as you see fit. It is to serve the Emperor’s will, nothing more.”

Tyren met their gaze, his expression resolute. “I understand, Magos. But if there’s a chance to use this technology to strengthen the Imperium, shouldn’t we try?”

Omnitek’s servo-arms twitched, their tone softening slightly. “You think like a novice, eager to grasp at every spark of light in the darkness. True understanding comes not from grasping, but from waiting. Learning. When the time is right, the Machine Spirit will reveal its purpose.”

A Mysterious Fragment

As they continued working, a small, encrypted file appeared on the screen. Tyren accessed it cautiously, decrypting the layers one by one. The file contained a single line of text:

        “Vault 731 compromised. Protocol Sanctus Umbra initiated. Secure containment at all costs.”

Tyren’s pulse quickened. “Compromised? What does that mean?”

Omnitek stiffened, their optics flaring. “You will not pursue this line of inquiry. The matter is classified. Shut down the terminal.”

“But Magos—”

“Now,” Omnitek snapped, their tone final.

Tyren reluctantly obeyed, powering down the system. The lab fell into an uneasy silence, the faint hum of machinery the only sound.

A Tense Departure

As Tyren prepared to leave, Omnitek addressed him one last time. “You have proven your aptitude, but your recklessness endangers your progress. You will report here tomorrow, and you will proceed with the discipline expected of one under the Omnissiah’s guidance.”

Tyren nodded, his voice steady despite the churn of unanswered questions in his mind. “Understood, Magos.”

Omnitek watched him go, their mechanical limbs folding neatly as they turned back to the silent cogitators. “Curiosity…” they murmured to themselves. “A double-edged blade.”

Secrets and Shadows

Back in the barracks, Tyren recounted the day’s events to Rae and the team. “The Magos knows more than they’re letting on,” he said, pacing. “There’s something about Vault 731—something dangerous.”

Rae frowned, her arms crossed. “And you’re sure pushing this won’t get you into more trouble?”

Tyren sighed. “I don’t know. But I can’t shake the feeling that whatever’s down there is connected to everything we’ve been through.”

Soren spoke up, his voice calm but firm. “We’ve faced enough danger already. Maybe this is one secret best left alone.”

Celestine leaned back against her bunk, twirling a knife in her hand. “Or maybe it’s the key to understanding everything.”

Rae met Tyren’s gaze, her expression thoughtful. “For now, we focus on what’s in front of us. But if the time comes… we’ll figure it out. Together.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the unknown pressing heavily on them all. Whatever lay within Vault 731, it was clear that their journey through the Scola’s shadows was far from over.