Editing Tales from the Aprior Sector (section)

==The Emperasque's Verdict==

''By [[User:Not LongPoster Again|Not LongPoster]].''

The Knights Inductor stood assembled in the cavernous hangar underneath their fortress-monastery.  Before them stood the [[Emperor]] Himself, in the form of the mighty [[Emperasque | Tarrasque daemon]] which He had summoned and possessed, there to pass judgment on the Knights and the Aprior Sector.  Even the Silencers could feel the raw power embodied in Him, and everyone could sense that He was displeased.

<big>'''“INQUISITOR RIGHTINA'S REPORT WAS EXTREMELY THOROUGH, AND EXTREMELY DAMNING.  YOU HAVE CONSORTED WITH XENOS, HERETICS, AND MUTANTS OF EVERY VARIETY, ENGAGED IN GROSS DEVIATIONS FROM THE STC CANON, INCLUDING THE STUDY OF XENOTECHNOLOGY, AND FLAGRANTLY VIOLATED THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF THE CODEX ASTARTES.  HONESTLY, ANY ONE OF THOSE OFFENSES WOULD BE ENOUGH TO DECLARE YOU TRAITORS AND HAVE THE WHOLE SECTOR PURGED.  WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAY IN YOUR DEFENSE?”'''</big>

Chapter Master Zakis Randi stepped forward.  “My liege, we –”

He was interrupted by a clamor and clattering from under the hangar floor.  Panels slid aside, revealing an elevator rising from the depths of the Torch.  A fully enrobed Artisan, with a synthesized, vaguely Vostroyan or Valhallan accent, was swearing profusely over an oblong, enshrouded object, alternately pleading with and cajoling the machine spirit of whatever rested under the shroud.  The Emperor's eyebrow-ridges rose in amusement at the sight, when the Artisan looked up, and saw Him for the first time.

“Oh – Omnissiah preserve me – Chapter Master Randi, I had no idea – you never said He would be here!”  Zora gasped, her eye-lights wide and round.

“Just show him what your Workshop made,” Randi whispered gently.

“Oh – the device – yes!”  And with a flourish, Zora whipped the shroud aside, revealing a massive weapon that looked like it had come from a Titan.  As she chattered about it, Zora's confidence buoyed, and her voice became stronger.  “This, Your Eminence, is our Unity-pattern gravity-manipulation mass driver.  It has three barrels, so that each one has time to cool between shots, allowing us a rate of fire of two hundred rounds per second, and an underslung chainsaw bayonet if the enemy gets too close.  We originally designed it for Titans and super-heavy tanks, but we built this one with a stock and external trigger for you!”

<big>'''“IS IT BASED ON AN STC PATTERN?”'''</big>

“No, Your Eminence!”  Zora declared proudly.

<big>'''“DOES IT CONTAIN REVERSE-ENGINEERED XENOTECHNOLOGY?”'''</big>

“Yes, Your Eminance!  The barrels are based on Tau railguns for their heat-resistance, the projectiles are based on Eldar shuriken and Tyranid borer beetles for aerodynamics, adaptive armor-piercing ability, and limited homing capacity, the moving parts are painted red so that they go faster, and the chainsaw bayonet's blades are based on Necron phase technology for superior cutting power.”

The Emperor stared dumbfounded at the weapon.  <big>'''“IS THERE ANYTHING OF HUMAN ORIGIN IN THIS MACHINE?”'''</big>

“The accelerators are based on knowledge we gained from our study of the STC canon, the chainsaw track is based on the treads from the Land Raider, it fits on a Titan, and it was human diplomacy and ingenuity which led to its creation – I guarantee, there is no other species in the galaxy which could have built this weapon.”

The Emperor hefted the weapon, and raised it to His shoulder, sighting down the length, finally asking, <big>'''“IS THERE ANY AMMUNITION?”'''</big>  Zora indicated a drum the size of a Crusader torso, which the Emperor took, and then vanished with a puff of purple smoke and a CRACK of displaced air.  After the longest ten minutes of Randi's life, the Emperor reappeared, with a grin which stretched from ear to ear.  <big>'''“JUST TESTED IT IN THE EYE OF TERROR,”'''</big> He explained.  <big>'''“LET'S JUST SAY...YOUR UNORTHODOXIES DO HAVE THEIR USES.”'''</big>

Randi took that as a good sign.