Chương 46: Noosphere Interlude One

Taking a servitor apart was delicate work, and also rather dull. She'd been doing this for years. Servitors got caught in machines all the time, and even on a ship that functioned as well as The Broken Scale, accidents happened. It was a sad reality that most accidents whose only casualty was a servitor was usually chalked up to a 'best case scenario' for most people on the ship. She understood it, intellectually, but emotionally? She had been working with a lot of servitors. They had personalities.

They were, or at least had been, people. She knew that some of them had become servitors to repent for crimes, but... well, she didn't like that very much. Maybe it was just her?

"Urgh," she said as she leaned back. Her new mechadendrites paused, hovering over the table before setting her tools down and withdrawing.

"I need a little break," she said.

"Understandable. You have been working for five hours with no pause." Had she? She was about three quarters done with K84-321's unhousing. She figured that placing him into his new home was going to be easy once she had it. CS-3-2/11 was next, and she had no idea how long that was going to take, but she was willing to work through the night for it. She walked over to a small bench to one side of the room, pulled it under her with a mechadendrite (they were so easy to use) and then had herself a hard sit.

Leaning forwards, Alexis rubbed at her face, then just took in the ambience of the room. There were always a few fans humming in her space, and she could hear noises from the Servitorium just outside. She needed a distraction. She found one in the overlay swimming over her vision. The Augs had several features that she hadn't poked at before. So she started to search. There was a settings menu, one that had a neat translation feature. The system had Human and Xeno languages...

she didn't recognize the names of any of the Xenos... what even was a Sunwatcher? But then she didn't recognize most of the human languages either. Then again, the Imperium was a big place, and so was the rest of the galaxy. She was happy to see Binharic had a translation. That would be handy. She still couldn't talk it, but understanding it was a big step up! Then she discovered the Noospheric connection. Alexis stared.

She'd heard of that space for a long time, but her connection to it was always detached, through old, repurposed dataslates, and other than pulling the occasional schematic for a well-known part off of a specialized cogitator, she hadn't really explored it. Well...

she needed a break ========================================================= +++ IMPERIAL VESSEL NOOSPHERE +++ +++ Praise the Omnissiah +++ VESSEL: The Broken Scale Current Status: Translation State: > IMMATERIUM TRANSIT ACTIVE Machine-Spirit Cohesion: > STABLE Primary Noospheric Cogitator: > RESPONSIVE External Astropathic Relay: > DEGRADED Current Liturgical Time: > 999.

M41 // Second Bell Connected Minds: 438 Unread Notifications: 01 ========================================================= LOCAL FEEDS [ANNOUNCEMENTS] > Enginseer Prime Deceased > Ration Schedule Updated > Lower Decks Remain Under Quarantine TRENDING DATA-THREADS ▲ Lower Deck Genestealer Attack? Replies: 3, 148 ▲ Why are we still in the Warp?

Replies: 205 ▲ SAINT OF THE GOD-EMPEROR Replies: 1, 087 ▲ Shipboard Memetic Hazard Containment Thread [Posting Memetic Hazards Outside of This Thread Will Result in a Permanent Ban from the Noosphere and Servitorization] Replies: 180, 551 ========================================================= YOU ARE LOGGED IN: Alexis Lambda-3 [Tech Acolyte] PRAISE THE OMNISSIAH REMAIN FAITHFUL OBEY THE STRICTURES You are viewing: • Threads you have replied to // Threads that have new replies • Threads are ordered chronologically.

• Twelve posts per page • Last twelve messages in private message history. ========================================================= Alexis scrolled through dozens of threads, only scanning the names. There were sections of the Noosphere that she could see now which had been hidden before. A side-effect, or benefit, of her advancement? She didn't even know that it had been registered fully, but she supposed that wasn't too surprising. She picked out a thread that seemed interesting and clicked into it.

========================================================= ══════════════════════════════ +++ THE BROKEN SCALE NOOSPHERIC EXCHANGE +++ Local Data-Thread // Religious Discussion ══════════════════════════════ Thread: ▲ SAINT OF THE GOD-EMPEROR Started by: Duskland Ship Time: 999. M41 // 14: 12 Replies: 1, 087 Viewing: 173 users (151 Authenticated, 22 Guest Nodes) ══════════════════════════════ ► Duskland [Praise the Omnissiah] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 12 Greetings.

I have several reports and pict-feed recordings of a member of the Sisters of Battle onboard the vessel who has exhibited anomalous behaviour. Initial assumption: Error in information gathering. Secondary assumption: Imperial Saint. LOGS. M41-999. Saintess Confirmation? ────────────────────────────── ► DareDaemon [Confirmed: Not a Daemonic Presence] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 13 Confirming = You are an idiot. ────────────────────────────── ► Jake the Machine Spirit Posted: 999.

M41 // 14: 14 <<DareDaemon Do not dismiss evidence so quickly. The young woman has disappeared and reappeared with new weapons and armour. I suggest that we continue to observe. ────────────────────────────── ► Strong_Thread Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 15 We have better things to do. ────────────────────────────── ► Theta-Rho-011 [Electro Priest] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 16 Interesting. Observing. Pict recording inconclusive. Suggestion: Preserve Files. Continued Observation Required.

Note: The presence of an Imperial Saint is statistically unlikely. I have several datafiles with information on Saints. I will cross-reference these. Address: DataTerminal. 248751752-Saints ────────────────────────────── ► MechBear [Cybernetica Enthusiast] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 17 Praise the Omnissiah! A living Saint! The reports through the Voidsmen-at-arms Vox claim that she has slain many of the Enemy. ────────────────────────────── ► Matt//Gun//Cow Posted: 999.

M41 // 14: 19 Do not praise so freely what is not of the Omnissiah. ────────────────────────────── ► Ryun3 Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 20 Would a saint of the Imperium not be also of the Omnissiah? ────────────────────────────── ► Duskland [Praise the Omnissiah] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 22 I am not prepared to discuss such deep religious subjects. However, I am interested in her equipment. Where did she procedure/Procure it? Are these relics? Can we research/deconstruct/maintain them?

────────────────────────────── ► Strong_Thread Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 24 <<Duskland The Sisters of Battle would rather disassemble you cell-by-cell than let you touch their relics. ────────────────────────────── ► DareDaemon [Confirmed: Not a Daemonic Presence] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 25 A girl with a large gun displaying anomalous behavior =/= a saint. ────────────────────────────── ► MechBear [Cybernetica Enthusiast] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 27 <<DareDaemon What is your explanation, then?

────────────────────────────── ► Jake the Machine Spirit Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 29 Perhaps observation first? If there is a saint onboard, then we may be in for interesting times. ══════════════════════════════ +++ Thread remains open +++ +++ Noosphere moderation active +++ ══════════════════════════════ ========================================================= Alexis reached up and rubbed at her face. That was... yeah. Octavia was as subtle as a pneumatic hammer.

She wasn't surprised that some of the Mechanicus had noticed her. She hoped that none of them saw...

"I sense distress. Don't worry. No direct recordings of equipment purchases were made."

"How? Some of those things were out in the open," Alexis said.

"Pict glitches."

"But... but how?"

"The... what you call machine spirits, were gently encouraged to look elsewhere." Alexis swallowed, then looked into the next thread instead of thinking about it too hard. ========================================================= ══════════════════════════════ +++ THE BROKEN SCALE NOOSPHERIC EXCHANGE +++ Local Data-Thread // Adeptus Mechanicus Discussion ══════════════════════════════ Thread: ▲ Omnissiah-Blessed? Started by: CristalBlade Ship Time: 999.

M41 // 15: 03 Replies: 12 Viewing: 42 users (39 Authenticated, 3 Guest Nodes) ══════════════════════════════ ► CristalBlade [Tech Adept] Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 03 Today, after the incident, one of the ship's four Nuclear reactor cores was damaged.

Radiation levels in the room exceeded safe levels by 900%. Notably, the auspex in that room cannot read measurements past that level. The servitors within were damaged beyond functional capability. The solution, given limited time and proximity to the Servitorium, was to send in Tech Acolytes specialized in servitor repair to render those within functional enough to continue core stabilization. The first to make it into the room exited an hour later, unharmed.

I suspect that this Tech Acolyte was blessed by the Omnissiah. ────────────────────────────── ► Solitair [Not a Clown] Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 05 Makes for a good story. ────────────────────────────── ► C10-V15 Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 06 IMPOSSIBLE. RENDER ONTO ME THE DATA. ────────────────────────────── ► MechaFire Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 07 I don't know about jumping to that far of a conclusion. Could they have internal bionics that assist with radiation-related issues?

Several Electro Priests have similar for handling the Motive Force. ────────────────────────────── ► Skitarii Ranger Morvaad-Optis-99 Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 09 I heard about this. Interesting. Perhaps the Acolyte was blessed. Perhaps they were merely lucky? ────────────────────────────── ► Grape [Fantastic] Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 11 I believe! ────────────────────────────── ► MayBem01 Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 12 <<Grape You would believe the Omnissiah is a pink grox. Fool.

────────────────────────────── ► FIREFLY [Fanatic] Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 14 I was there! I was assisting Thale-66 Mirr. The young Acolyte went in, entirely unprepared. I heard that they were yet uninitiated. A mere Acolytum. Her supervisor promised her immediate promotion on survival. She came out unscathed. More interestingly, I think she matches the description of the same Tech Acolyte that assisted the Communication's Relay? ────────────────────────────── ► CristalBlade [Tech Adept] Posted: 999.

M41 // 15: 15 The Communication's Relay? ────────────────────────────── ► C10-V15 Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 17 <<CristalBlade The secondary relay, below the prow. It was attacked by Genestealers. A young Tech Acotyle, female-appearing, blonde hair, followed by several servitors (Including a Sicarian Ruststalker) assisted. ────────────────────────────── ► Solitair [Not a Clown] Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 18 Oh? The story gets spicier! ────────────────────────────── ► FIREFLY [Fanatic] Posted: 999.

M41 // 15: 20 Are there Sicarian Ruststalkers onboard? ────────────────────────────── ► Skitarii Ranger Morvaad-Optis-99 Posted: 999. M41 // 15: 22 <<Firefly No. This thread and its contents are suspect. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Reporting for verification. ────────────────────────────── ══════════════════════════════ +++ Thread closed +++ LEXMECHANIC NOTICE This Data-Thread has exceeded acceptable limits.

Further responses have been suspended pending review. May your thoughts remain free of corruption. ══════════════════════════════ ========================================================= Alexis thought that reading about others reacting to her would be neat. It was not. She looked at the door to her room, as if she expected it to be kicked in by a curious Inquisitor at any moment, or worse, a curious Magos. Nothing happened, however.

She decided not to read into the fact that the thread was closed and locked so soon after it opened by an unknown Lexmechanic. ========================================================= ══════════════════════════════ +++ THE BROKEN SCALE NOOSPHERIC EXCHANGE +++ Local Data-Thread // Ship Security ══════════════════════════════ Thread: ▲ Genestealer Battle Report Started by: R1A Ship Time: 999.

M41 // 11: 47 Replies: 784 Viewing: 96 users (88 Authenticated, 8 Guest Nodes) ══════════════════════════════ ► R1A Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 47 REPORT Confirmed: Sightings of Mutant type humanoids 'Genestealers' in lower decks of vessel. Confirmed: Violent interactions with lower deck enforcers.

Confirmed: Mutants are destroying the machines of the Omnissiah. Please append additional sightings and battle reports to this thread. Data will be collated in the near future for review. Relevant data packets: Genestealer. Advisory. Urgent CombatDoctrine-Ver11. 002(Genestealer) ────────────────────────────── ► Mike439 Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 48 Speculation! Are we certain these are Genestealers? ────────────────────────────── ► Brynath [Tech Adept] Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 49 What should we do?

────────────────────────────── ► Rho-Lambda-17 [Praise the Omnissiah] Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 50 Sighting confirmed. Entered combat with a small party of genestealers. Eliminated them. Praise the Omnissiah. ────────────────────────────── ► BobTheEverliving [Biologis] Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 52 <<Mike439 Confirmed. Deceased sample was brought to the medicae deck and verified by myself and the magos biologis. The sample has all of the markers of genetic modifications common amongst Genestealers.

Brothers and Sisters of the Omnissiah, beware. The Genestealers can transmit their genetic befouling onto others with the kiss. The flesh is weak. Take courage in the strength of steel. <<Brynath If you are combat capable, volunteer to purge the lower decks. If you are not, then prepare for several days of decontamination protocols and a full sweep of the lower regions once the infestation is dealt with. ────────────────────────────── ► SirKet [Electro Priest] Posted: 999.

M41 // 09: 53 This timing is a test from the Omnissiah. Mutants, at a time when we are reeling from damage to the vessel? ────────────────────────────── ► Keithen-7 Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 54 Engaged in combat on Deck C45, near tertiary pneumatics station. Seven individuals bearing genetic markers that match those indicated. ────────────────────────────── ► Brill99 Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 56 <<Keithen-7 Armaments? ────────────────────────────── ► Mike439 Posted: 999. M41 // 09: 58 Oh, Omnissiah, this is real!

First the Enginseer Prime dies, now this? We are forsaken! ────────────────────────────── ► R1A Posted: 999. M41 // 10: 00 <<Mike439 Calm yourself. Panic is an emotion which is unbecoming for a servant of the Omnissiah. ────────────────────────────── ► Brynath [Tech Adept] Posted: 999. M41 // 10: 02 I've found a group of Voidsmen-at-arms that required assistance. I am travelling with them. There may be challenges that menials are unprepared for that even my lowly presence may assist.

Will I be punished for defecting from my usual duties to assist? ────────────────────────────── ► BobTheEverliving Posted: 999. M41 // 10: 03 <<Brynath It depends on the Risk Tolerance of your prior task. See the following: RT. cht If you are below a yellow-1 worker, than your primary tasks can be dropped in order to assist the vessel in a time of emergency. If your superiors cause issues with this, then you have room to raise an inquiry. ────────────────────────────── ► SirKet [Electro Priest] Posted: 999.

M41 // 10: 05 All who fight for the omnissiah are to be praised. There is no greater path towards excellence than that of holy combat. However, those of you unable to assist should not despair. The work is eternal. All tools well-used satisfy the omnissiah. ══════════════════════════════ +++ Thread remains open +++ +++ Security reports remain subject to verification +++ ══════════════════════════════ ========================================================= That was a little more comforting.

Alexis went to the very last page and scanned through, not really reading it but picking out a detail here and there. It was all post-action reports, some pict-captures of the combat, and lots of discussions about what they could have done better, as well as the usual arguments that sparked whenever matters of doctrine came up and opinions butted against each other. She did note that some of the fights she was in were mentioned.

Mostly the combat around the Communications Array and of course that final battle at Forge-44. There were a few members of the priesthood there, and they were talking about her now... Well, mostly the utility of her servitors in the fight, but still, that was her! She scanned through the other threads, then picked one that seemed interesting.

========================================================= ══════════════════════════════ +++ THE BROKEN SCALE NOOSPHERIC EXCHANGE +++ Local Data-Thread // Officer Speculation ══════════════════════════════ Thread: ▲ Upper-Deck - Machinations Started by: Proprietor_36 Ship Time: 999. M41 // 14: 06 Replies: 328 Viewing: 71 users (66 Authenticated, 5 Guest Nodes) ══════════════════════════════ ► Proprietor_36 [Recaff Addict] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 06 Current observations. -Officer transit has increased.

-Four command corridors remain sealed.

-Quartermaster requisitions are frozen. -Recaff consumption has increased by approximately 340%. Upper Deck is definitely plotting something. ────────────────────────────── ► Mechanicus_42 Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 08 Correction. Upper Deck is executing succession protocols. Known facts: > Rogue Trader Solm Caduceus: deceased. > Seneschal: exercising temporary command authority. > Dynastic succession: unresolved. > Warp transit: ongoing. Additional speculation decreases data purity.

"Plotting" implied uncertainty. ────────────────────────────── ► Cel [Biologis] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 09 Clarification. The Medicae Council is not "taking sides." The Council is evaluating which succession outcome maximizes continuity of medical infrastructure, personnel retention, and pharmaceutical production. Organic systems require stable leadership. This is basic biology. ────────────────────────────── ► Trillion-8 Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 10 So... they have a favourite?

────────────────────────────── ► Ankimei-027-ΦΟΞ [Biologis] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 12 Observed. The Medicae Council has convened three times since First Bell. Current hypothesis: Medical continuity planning. Alternative hypothesis: Political positioning. Insufficient data. ────────────────────────────── ► Lao-K3 Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 13 Thought the Mechanicus wasn't supposed to care who inherits. ────────────────────────────── ► Tsorov Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 15 The Mechanicus doesn't.

Everyone working with the next Rogue Trader certainly does. We are all going to be working with the next Rogue Trader. ────────────────────────────── ► ImMortalMage [Magus Biologis] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 17 Political interpretation detected. Correction follows. Objective: Preserve operational capability. Variables: Candidate_A... Janus_Caduceus. File NOTE: Candidate on Caduceia Candidate_B... Augustus_Caduceus. File Candidate_C... Nigel_Jericho. File Candidate_D... Clarice_Caduceus.

File Evaluation Criteria: • Resource allocation. • Personnel preservation. • Research continuity. • Long-term medical output. Highest projected utility receives preferential cooperation. This process is computational. Any resemblance to politics is an emergent property. ────────────────────────────── ► Proprietor_36 [Recaff Addict] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 18 The Magos has declared that this is not political. Praise the Omnissiah! ────────────────────────────── ► Mechanicus_42 Posted: 999.

M41 // 14: 20 Forge Annex Position: Enginseer Prime: deceased. Replacement required. Dynastic succession acknowledged. Forge endorsement unavailable. Machine spirits remain indifferent. ────────────────────────────── ► Trillion-8 Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 22 Meanwhile I hear Enforcer Command is asking whose orders the Voidsmen are supposed to obey. Feels like that matters slightly more than who's replacing the Enginseer Prime. ────────────────────────────── ► Cel [Biologis] Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 24 Disagreement.

Failure to replace critical technical leadership degrades vessel function. Failure to resolve succession degrades organizational function. Neither failure mode is preferable. ────────────────────────────── ► Tsorov Posted: 999. M41 // 14: 26 I appreciate that every answer somehow concludes with: "Multiple catastrophic failures are statistically undesirable." ══════════════════════════════ +++ Thread remains open +++ +++ Discussion of command decisions is subject to Lexmechanic review.

+++ ══════════════════════════════ ========================================================= So, something was going on in the upper decks? She found it hard to care. It wasn't the kind of thing that would ever affect her. Alexis rubbed her face, then just... idly scrolled through the list of available threads. ========================================================= TRENDING DATA-THREADS ▲ [POLL] Which Deck's Toaster Contains the Most Powerful Machine Spirit?

Started by: BiomassDenial Replies: 4, 208 ▲ I Have Compiled Definitive Proof That The Warp Is Delaying Us Because Someone Forgot the Gellar Field's Morning Litany Started by: MentheWarp Replies: 893 ▲ Why Does Cargo Lift Theta Always Arrive Before I Press The Button?

Started by: BWH Replies: 1, 446 ▲ Public Message from Heir-Prospect Clarice Caduceus "A Call to All Vanguards" Started by: A-Snake Replies: 9 ▲ Did You Missplace a Servo Skull? - I Asked a Servo-Skull to Fetch My Wrench. It Returned With Another Servo-Skull. Started by: Xiosdestro Replies: 73 Alexis sat up straighter. Vanguard? That was what Vyper called her and Octavia. Otherwise, the word only rarely came up. She didn't believe that it was a coincidence. So, obviously, she clicked on that thread.

========================================================= ══════════════════════════════ +++ THE BROKEN SCALE NOOSPHERIC EXCHANGE +++ Local Data-Thread // Ship News ══════════════════════════════ Thread: ▲ Message from Heir-Prospect Clarice Caduceus "A Call to All Vanguards" Started by: A-Snake Ship Time: 999. M41 // 20: 06 Replies: 9 Viewing: 1 users ══════════════════════════════ ► A-Snake [Protective] Posted: 999.

M41 // 20: 06 Copy of an a public announcement put out by Clarice Caduceus: To all Vanguard aboard The Broken Scale, Please join me for a formal dinner, tomorrow night, at 2200 ship-time, third bell. Thank you, Clarice Caduceus ────────────────────────────── ========================================================= That was it? The replies were just wasted speculation and a few in-jokes, but Alexis felt her back straighten.

"Vyper, is this real?"

"It is, indeed, a message sent out on behalf of a Vanguard, the one you haven't met yet."

"Oh... well, I guess I should get back to work, then."