Kalkas Tygian

This page details people, events, and organisations from the /tg/ Heresy, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. See the /tg/ Heresy Timeline and Galaxy pages for more information on the Alternate Universe.

To comment on such a man is to invite controversy - what can be said of Tygian without reproach is this. He was loyal.

-Halycen Markus, successor to Kalkas Tygian as Fabricator General

Kalkas Tygian
Title/Honours	Fabricator General, speaker of the Martian Parliament, Primus of the Machine Cult
Distinguishing Traits	Considerate, methodical, resolute
Flaws	Fanatical, forgiving
Dominion	Mars and subject Forgeworlds

Kalkas Tygian was the leader of the Cult Mechanicum, the Fabricator-General, during the period of the Great Crusade and Hektor Heresy. He was a devout believer in the tenets of the Machine Cult and saw the Emperor of Mankind as the true coming of the Omnissiah. Tygian's fanaticism would be a source of strength and a cause of division among the tech-priests, but his loyalty to the Imperium was unquestioned.

History

Of the many figures that were to shape the Imperium, few are as widely known and yet misunderstood as Fabricator General Kalkas Brord Tygian. He was speaker of the Martian Parliament, Lord of Olympus Mons, Primus of the Machine Cult and disciple of the Omnissiah. To those outside the Mechanicum, he is a hero, a steadfast supporter of the Emperor who held the Mechanicum to the oaths sworn on Olympus Mons. However to those more knowledgeable and those within the Mechanicum, Tygian is a more divisive figure. Some see him as a zealot who tried to force all within the Mechanicum to believe his own limited vision of the tenets of the Machine Cult, while others see his desire to force all the many daughter-forges of Mars to bend the knee as the mark of a tyrant determined to destroy any who dared stand up against him.

The Disciple of the Omnissiah

Reason provides a vision to the stars. Faith gives you the will to achieve that vision.

-Kalkian Teachings, p.g. 359

Kalkas Tygian began as simply one among the countless minor menials of the Mechanicum, the lowest rank of the Machine Cult. Surviving records show a serious, dutiful man who absorbed the beliefs of the Machine Cult like a sponge. There are several records of the young Adept throwing private parties to celebrate every new augment. None of this singled him out, and he could have easily simply faded into the background. Despite his inglorious standing the youth was taken in by the Primus of Olympus Mons. His tireless work ethic marked him above and beyond what was expected. Regardless of his age, it seemed he occupied himself in all hours of the day with some sort of work to the betterment of his superiors. Surprisingly when the augments of his master failed him, Kalkas would find himself named his heir.

This would stun many, Tygian most of all. He was only twenty-five years old, a remarkable youthful age to be Primus of any Forge much less the single most important one on Mars. He began work right away to improve the holding any way he could. Though uninitiated into politics, Tygian started to spread his influence among the other Forges of Mars. A particularly close alliance was struck with the second-strongest Forge on Mars, Mondus Occulon and its secretive mistress, Motoka Isidore. It helped that at this time Martian expeditions to Earth were coming under increased attack by the armies of a new Warlord calling himself the Emperor. Not many of the older Priesthood could focus on limiting the authority of the Primus, or worse, have him removed to place a more complaint suitor to their games of intrigue. For Kalkas Tygian had no interest in accumulating power for himself, only in preforming just mission for the Omnissiah.

The Forges began to realize this in the young Adept Ascendant. Though a jumpstart to many, who speculated his rise was taken through injust means, his reputation as an unbecoming Primus spread. Many felt safe with him at the reins of any coalition, expecting his inexperience to be a boon if he proved tyrannical. Those who trusted Kalkas's abilities knew his religious fervor would keep him in check. The Parliament of Mars decided to enact a long unoccupied position, a de-facto arbiter of the Machine Cult. The role of Fabricator-General, Dictator of Mars, leader of its armies and executioner of its will.

Some Forges willingly sided with him, forging binding pacts with Olympus Mons, sharing power and information in a mutual exchange. Others took longer to unite. And some utterly refused to bend before Olympus Mons. Kalkas was heavily criticized for not forcefully bringing these discontents into line immediately. With him was the might of the Titan Legions, and the Skitarii. None could oppose the strength arrayed behind him. To the Fabricator-General, this provided all the more reason to bring an amicable compromise. Long would Kalkas speak with the lords of the rebellious forges, brokering deals and compromises.

The Foundry of Hebes Chasma would be the exception, as the Magi were seeped in tech-heresy making full integration impossible. To show his martial prowess, Tygian lead the armies of Mars himself and thoroughly purged the Forge until no heretic remained. The speed at which his fires claimed their lives sent a clear message to the Machine Cult - Kalkas Tygian was benevolent to the faithful but held no mercy in his heart for apostates.

The Emperor and the Fabricator-General

Tygian had been at prayers within the heart of the great Forge of Olympus Mons when news arrived that a massive warship had somehow slipped past the Ring of Iron and landed on the very peak of Olympus Mons. For the first time in millennia it was raining on Mars, and Tygian knew that the prophecies of Moravec spoke of the Omnissiah coming with the rain. Tygian immediately went out to see this mystery ship, and it was there that he met a Golden Giant, who could heal machines with but a single touch. The Emperor and Tygian retired to the heart of the Olympus Mons forge, and while we do not know what happened within, it is believed that Tygian quizzed the Emperor intensely on the tents of the Machine Cult and the beliefs of the Mechanicum. For Tygian wanted to believe that this was the Omnissiah, and he was desperate to prove this belief and vindicate his entire life. And when the Emperor answered correctly, Tygian was convinced. This was the Omnissiah, the Machine God made flesh. Here was the savior of all mankind and the one who would bring the gifts of knowledge and science to the Mechanicum. When they emerged Tygian declared that the Omnissiah had come, and that Mars and Terra were to be united.

As the Great Crusade began, the Forges of Mars were busy. All the stockpiles of weapons made before the union were given up to feed the Emperor’s armies, and soon more items were being made, including Power Armor, Bolters and other weapons for the Emperor’s foremost weapon, the Legiones Astartes. Titan Legions now marched alongside them, and Taghmata Forces were sent off to support the Legions in expanding humanity’s domain. Most of those Taghmama were drawn from those Forges who were most opposed to the Fabricator General, as he used the opportunity to weaken his rivals and strengthen his own position. Agitation against the Emperor still continued, even as the Crusade began to get underway and Tygian was caught between looking inward against these foes and outward as the first Forge Worlds beyond Mars started to come into contact with the Great Crusade.

One unusual development that would have vast and wide-reaching consequences took place when Tygian was summoned by the Emperor to discuss the further deployment of Titan Legions to the reduction of the Xenos Aosoom Empire. He met with the Emperor above the minor frontier world of Whitestone, where the Emperor intercepted a Space Hulk and returned with the Second Primarch to be found, Arelex Orannis. Arelex was a battered and broken figure, and the Emperor tasked Tygian with using the genius of the Mechanicum to restore him, a task Tygian took to with gleeful relish. Arelex would spend a year on Mars, learning all he could about the lost technologies of the golden age of man as his body was repaired by the finest artisans of the Mechanicum. He requested instruction in the arts of the Techmarines, to which Tygian granted full rights. However even at this stage there was an edge of tension. Though Arelex was not given an education on the beliefs of the Mechanicum at the Emperor's request, he still questioned the existence of Machine Spirits, the use of sacred oils and blessings, and the activation rituals of the Mechanicum. Furthermore, there was an air of distaste about him every time the Omnissiah or the Machine God was mentioned in his presence. Though Tygian noted all this, he took no action. Arelex was the son of the Omnissiah, and it was not his place to act against him.

Mars Triumphant

A propose this - a fist. All the digits of the hand brought together to form something both brutish and effective.

-Kalkas Tygian, upon swearing in the First Hundredth.

Mars was united on the surface, but laid divisive underneath a veneer of absolute loyalty to Fabricator-General and Emperor. The mechanisms in place to dethrone Kalkas were stalled utterly. To reproach him would challenge the might of the Emperor, who grew more powerful with every passing day. Worse than this, the Emperor appeared to be the Omnissiah made genuine. Manifested in a form wreathed with gold and power. Though whispered in circles as usurper, no one could openly question his divinity. Discontent was left to ferment underneath the surface of Mars. But they were united in one purpose. The many expeditions had to be brought into the fold.

The Mechanicum was disorganized, barely centralized, and in need of firm leadership. Kalkas aimed to bring it together as one. Multiple Forgeworlds were provided with permanent additions to their Forges, the technology of the red planet subsuming outdated or lost machines in their sister foundries. Assembly lines churned out with greater efficiency than every before. A singular doctrine was proselytized above divergent sects, mirroring the views of Mars and Tygian himself. Peaceful integration became a hallmark of the Fabricator-Generals overall strategy.

There was open dissent however to his efforts. It was clear his loyalty was to the Imperium first, Mechanicum second. Though Tygian had attempted to be neutral, his bias could not be denied. To show his strength, he took an even greater hardline stance on those who too radically diverged from the faith to be saved. He made a gruesome example of the Techno-Tyrant X-228, who had enslaved all of the Priesthood to his will upon becoming Arch-Magos of his Forgeworld. Rather than be a mindless servitor, X-228 would act as a sentient Cogitator for the rest of his life. He still crunches raw data to this day on Mars.

To some, he became known as a Liberator. Others saw him as a unifier of the Faith, bringing together the elements of the Mechanicum straying from the Omnissiah's will. Those outside of Mars or not in need of her only viewed Kalkas as a dangerous radical. A blind firebrand with one subject on mind; dominion over all, complete control over the realms of the Machine Cult. In these early days it was not clear what role Mars should play. The Fabricator-General, and Mars herself, decreed it was to serve as the uncontested ruler of the Faith, setting the rules that would bind it.

There would be those who disagreed with this vision.

The Defiance of Al-Sherar

My flesh is my burden - not your defense!

-Tygian, answering criticisms over his to be augmented form

That world would be found on the fringes of Segmentum Pacificus, close to the Homeworld of the Vth Legion. The Forgeworld of Al-Sherar was a power in its own right, possessing of a Titan Legion, the Legio Antsar as well as two large Knight Households, the Order of Bahri and the Maryannu Brotherhood. It had carved out a stellar empire of its own called the ‘Dar al-Amn’ that fed it with food and minerals, and in terms of power was as potent as any Forgeworld save Mars itself. In terms of Doctrine though Al-Sherar had deviated a considerable distance from the Martian norm, particularly in regards to xenotech. In addition, Al-Sherar had already been welcomed into the Imperium by the Primarch Gaspard Lumey so when the first Ambassadors from the Fabricator General came to Al-Sherar, the Kabeer Al-Mufteen – as the High Lord of Al-Sherar was known – stated he was already a part of the Imperium and refused to recognize the Fabricator-General as his overlord, both temporally or spiritually and would not submit to ‘enslavement’ by Mars.

The Ambassadors of Mars first responded by providing over the wealth of information to be exchanged, as well as fresh Legions of Skitarii ready to defend Al-Sherar. This came as no surprise though to the Kabeer Al-Mufteen, who had already studied the records of the Rogue Traders who had discovered the sector. Never had the Mechanicum contended with a realm as prosperous as Al-Sherar. Never had Kalkas Tygian been forced into the prospect of slaughtering so many of his own faith. Kabeer made a bet that there would be a long pause as deliberations carried out in the Martian Parliament. He was correct.

The diplomatic standoff continued on into decades, a cold war brewing as Kalkas would make deals to draw up huge levies from other Forgeworlds against Al-Sherar. Kabeer was making his own arrangements, bringing together the desperate and discontent into a league of opposition to Mars. Civil war nearly erupted when news came that a Martian Fleet of several hundred vessels was mustering at Stygies, the largest Forgeworld in the Segmentum. Fearing the worst, Kabeer Al-Mufteen made a deal - the so-called Stygies Accord of 899.M30 - with the Fabricator-General’s representatives. Mars was declared as primus inter pares, the first of all Forgeworlds. Al-Sherar would not bow, but they would acknowledge that Mars was the head of the Mechanicum. Though Tygian was deeply unhappy, it had at least brought peace and avoided war. The timing was impeccable, the Second Ruavu Grun Xenocide was in full swing and troops were in need deal with the resurgent threat.

Al-Sherar had chosen to submit when Kalkas showed the lengths at which he was willing to go towards. The fealty to Mars was hollow, an empty promise without any real foundation. As the Crusade went along, agreements were drafted between Al-Sherar and other dissatisfied Forgeworlds, such as Kyuw and Ghalhal. Worse was to come when Forgeworlds beyond Pacificus, including the old battleground Dieseleum also signed compacts with Al-Sherar. Tygian took this as a sign that Al-Sherar was working to create a faction opposed to him. What had already begun as a coldly cordial relationship now turned into veiled hostility. Furious in his outrage, the Fabricator-General resorted to underhanded methods, seeking to discredit Al-Sherar and isolate it from the rest of the Mechanicum. This shadow conflict would last until the outbreak of the Heresy.

Personality

There was little else in Tygian except love and appreciation for the works of the Machine God. His life was raised in his splendor, and never through his life did that leave him. Those who met with Kalkas found him to be profoundly humble, diplomatic, and wise. In face of trial, he was resolute. A rock to be unmoved no matter the storm. Few could contend with his silent consideration in the twilight hour of a battle. This would be the state remembered by his prospective foes as they reconsidered testing him. Kalkas never refused handing out clemency to those repentant, and attempted to bring growth to all those peacefully brought into Compliance. His aim was to uplift all, from menial to Magi.

This would be a stark contrast to his later years. Tygian would broker no compromise with the resisting, and would no longer attempt to slowly bring in distant elements of the Faith. There was the Creed of Mars, and no other. The Adeptus Mechanicus would grow ruthless from Kalkas's example, and later his successor Halycen Markus.