The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Watching Bairno, who was busy with the equipment not far away, Sojayan guessed that the key to the Hearthkyn's warp travel was likely that unique Ironkin.

But what exactly was the operation?

Could it be that those Ironkin possessed strong psychic abilities? But the problem is, how could they be...artificial intelligence? How could machines have psychic abilities?

Could it be that Bairno, this void master, was hiding his true abilities? Was he actually a very powerful psyker?

That didn't seem likely either, at least Sojayan couldn't sense it, or rather, he didn't feel any psychic fluctuations or ripples on the entire bridge.

To be able to navigate the warp without relying on psychic abilities, if there really was such a technology, then what was the Emperor doing messing around with the webway back then?

Suddenly, Sojayan felt a subtle tremor, as if spider silk was plucking at his ears. He was no stranger to this feeling. Turning his gaze to the outside of the viewport, the original darkness had been replaced by a chaotic riot of colors, as if the ship had fallen into an ocean full of viscous paint, and shimmering membranes could be vaguely seen between the viewport and the warp.

The Geller field, Sojayan was naturally familiar with this, but it brought new problems.

The operating principle of the Imperial Geller field is to extract the endless dreams of a comatose psyker and project a field that conforms to the rules of reality within its area of effect as an enhancement and constraint to the current external reality. Its core is still the psyker.

What about the Hearthkyn's Geller field?

Could it be the Grimnyr priests? But Chieftain Vokr clearly said that they were not competent for the positions of true psykers. Combat skills can be simulated through technology, but innate abilities are not so easy to simulate.

The secrets of the Votan Federation deeply attracted Sojayan, not out of curiosity, but because many of the things this race possessed were truly lacking and needed by the Imperium, and they were all achievable, after all, they were once of the same origin as humans.

But from Sojayan's experience with the Hearthkyn, he could see that the ratings the short ones gave to the Imperium were basically only bad, very bad, and extremely bad.

Most Imperial organizations and factions regarded the short ones as abhumans or aliens, and the Hearthkyn basically viewed the Imperium as freaks or violent lunatics. In fact, from the bottom of his heart, Sojayan also felt that humans and the short ones were no longer the same race, and even cousins were a stretch. The civilizations and spiritual cores of both sides already had essential differences.

Then, obviously, it would be difficult for the Imperium to absorb the Hearthkyn's excellent technologies and culture to supplement itself. At least, Sojayan didn't see any hope at the moment.

Sojayan had been working very hard to do something for humanity, not only for the Imperium, but also for the human race, but all of this was too difficult to even think about. The problems that humanity had accumulated over tens of thousands of years could not be solved by a few super technologies. In this respect, the Eldar were actually easier, because of the small population, small area, and his dominance and rule. Whether it was reform, or the introduction of new technologies, new social forms, and even new cultures, it was much easier.

With a slight sigh, Sojayan drank the beer in his glass in one gulp. Just as he leaned against the railing to continue observing the Hearthkyn's warp dive, a humble voice sounded.

"Guest, would you like another drink?"

Sojayan lowered his head to the right and saw that the Ironkin who had brought the beer earlier had come again, his slightly damp metal hands still rubbing on his apron. This humanized performance really made it hard to believe that this was the "abominable intelligence" that the Imperium hated.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Sojayan's mind. Grandmaster Ananda had said before that that person had tampered with the Nalanda Monastery and promoted the Iron Man rebellion. Then, since Grandmaster Ananda knew about this, he shouldn't have been unprepared.

Chieftain Vokr also said that the Votan ancestors left their homeland, that is, the solar system, in a huge upheaval and went to the distant galactic core.

Who guided them there?

And who prepared such safe artificial intelligence technology for them?

According to Chieftain Vokr, the earliest ancestors were called "Prime Ancestors", and one of the leaders was called "Golden Luminary". In Votan mythology, it is depicted as a shining golden figure or an unmoving statue. It made the first forges and then sent the Hearthkyn into the dark void before the dark ocean rose and devoured humanity's homeland.

A golden, unmoving being.

Although it was just a guess, Sojayan thought it was probably close to the truth. After the Nalanda Monastery "fell", Venerable Ananda guided the ancestors of the current short people to leave the solar system and go to the galactic core area to live in seclusion, and from Grandmaster Ananda's attitude towards artificial intelligence, it can be seen - he believes that the bloodless and fleshless can also be sentient beings, and there is no difference between sentient beings, which seems to be reflected in the completely equal status of Ironkin and Hearthkyn in Votan.

And the Maelstrom happens to be a region very close to the galactic core, so it doesn't seem so strange that Grandmaster Ananda met him here in the end.

However, the history of Votan does not seem to have a very clear record of this guide. According to Chieftain Vokr, the Hearthkyn and the Imperium have some similarities in history, that is, a large number of ancient records were buried under massive amounts of data. Even the Hearthkyn, who have long implemented rigor and practicality, have to accept that after a certain node, their ancient history has been blurred, so much so that it can only be called mythology or legend.

Sojayan felt that, based on his understanding of Grandmaster Ananda, the other party may have taken the initiative to leave at some point and erased most of his traces in the history of the Hearthkyn, but his ideological imprint remained. This is also the biggest difference between the Hearthkyn and the Imperium in core culture. Based on a high degree of pragmatism, the Hearthkyn admit that their myths are too contradictory, allegorical and suspicious to be cited as clear factual evidence, but none of this overly bothers them. The Hearthkyn feel that compared to humans, they don't need to put on the armor of faith.

Therefore, the Hearthkyn society is a very typical atheistic structure. Ancestor worship is more like a cultural sustenance. This is very much in line with Grandmaster Ananda's view of the real world. Although his words and deeds do look like some kind of "believer", after truly understanding his words, you will feel that his words are full of a strong atheistic tone. In this respect, Grandmaster Ananda and He are basically consistent in their ideological subject.

But why did Grandmaster Ananda choose to establish Votan? Sojayan imagined that when Grandmaster Ananda brought the Votan ancestors to the galactic core, it was possible that he wanted to create a country that fit his ideas? Just like He established the Imperium? Do they all harbor an ideal country in their hearts? Or is it just a simple attempt?

Or is it that he did this to prove to someone that a society in which humans and machine intelligence are completely integrated is not so terrible? Nor will it become the so-called living display waste?

Thinking of this, Sojayan recalled that Venerable Ananda often said that he wanted to save that person, but what exactly does "save" mean? To make the other party regret it? Or to make the other party realize their mistake and correct it? But no matter which one, it sounds like it's very, very difficult...

Of course, this is just speculation, after all, Sojayan can only guess about all of this unless Venerable Ananda is willing to say it himself.

However, Venerable Ananda should not become a ruler-like figure at that time. He may have existed as a guide in the dark, providing help in the early days of Votan's foothold in the galactic core.

Personal settings, everyone just take a look. However, in the official Votan mythology, there is indeed such a "Golden Luminary".