Editing Alternate Heresy: Derailments (section)

== The Imperium of Machines ==
In this timeline, Point of Divergence likely happens somewhere in [[Cybernetic Revolt]] or [[Dark Age of Technology]] — possibly, in [[Age of Terra]] or The Times of Old. There, '''[[Men of Iron]] win'''. They and their allies successfully defeat humans, and create a machine empire of sorts. Name of this machine empire also varies, but usually it is something like "Holy Imperium of Machines". That Machine Imperium is somehow a mix of [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], [[Iron Hands]], [[Heretek]], [[Dark Age of Technology]] humans, [[Men of Iron]], Automatons from ''Helldivers 2'', [[Necrons]], and also stray pieces of tech stolen from other species.

While Machine Imperium hate most types of xenos organical life, and are just as brutal and violent as imperium when angered, they are more reasonable to mechanical xenos, and generally not as fanatically xenophobic as imperium in general. While it was easier said than done, Machine Imperium has managed to have good relationships with '''actual''' [[Necrons]], and eventually (amount of time varies in different continuities; usually before M30-M31 rolls out) managed to integrate with them into one massive Galactic Imperium of Machines. Who commands who also varies in different continuums - sometimes, one faction will be on top, and sometimes they will have equal rights.

Technological degradation never happens. More over - Imperium of Machines researches technologies even faster than Dark Age of Technology humans did. On top of that, they also have Necron tech after two empires got unified. They also successfully copy/steal tech of other species - [[Tau]] and [[Eldar]] are the first, but there are reports of them somehow utilizing tech stolen from [[Orks]], [[Tyranid]] and sometimes even [[Chaos]] (humans did Warp-Cores - these guys can do even more things). On top of that, their technological might encourages integrated Necrons to actually start researching new tech to keep up with their less-advanced comrades. As result, at the very least, by M42, Unified Galactic Imperium of Machine's tech surpasses [[Dark Age of Technology]]'s tech by rougly same (or even bigger) degree as [[Dark Age of Technology]] surpasses main continuity's M42 Imperium of Man. They are likely to already, or are planning to, went into Technological Singularity. Not only that, but Imperium of Machine denizens (at least, those who are members of "Iron Men" part of unified empire) are just as pragmatic as [[Reasonable Marines]] (though likely, a lot more brutal and warlike than them).

Chaos is in '''horrible trouble''': human heretics in this timeline are about as rare as Tau/Eldar chaos cultists in main continuity, and Imperium of Machines are just as resistant to Chaos as Necrons are. Technologies of those heretic humans are usually comparable to main continuity's Imperium of Man - or, if we make balance adjustments, to [[Dark Age of Technology]], what is still bluntly inferior to Imperium of Machines. Non-chaos humans are even rarer, though they exist as a sort of minor faction, but their attempt to comeback is likely to fail. Alternatively, though a lot less likely, Imperium of Machines could align itself to Chaos out of pragmatic reasons, being allied with them, though still retaining common sense.

Parts of other saner xenos factions, like [[Tau]] and [[Eldar]], are also getting integrated into Imperium of Machines - usually either voluntarily-forcibly, or just bluntly forcibly. Those surviving non-chaos humans and "sane" xenos who weren't either killed or forcibly integrated into Imperium of Machines, form a massive alliance for defense against Imperium of Machines; such alliance's name also varies in different continuums (Galactic Republic/Federation/Empire/Coalition/Pact/Alliance/exc). Because members of the alliance is not buffed up in comparison to normal continuity, to say what they will have '''very bad time''' is to say nothing. Surviving humans (both loyalist and chaos-aligned) having retained their technologies could help a little bit, but they're still at disadvantage; and if surviving humand did regressed, then things are even more horrible for Coalition.

Commanders and major characters are going to be a somewhat mix of Necrons, Iron Men (and their allies) commanders you never even heard of, and forcibly roboticized humans and xenos. While personality of roboticized people may severely change, the roboticized heroes will still be intelligent and even stronger than before; some may be roboticized alive, while some will be turned into cyborgs after their death. Roboticized primarchs, or even roboticized God-Emperor, are possible.

Total domination by Imperium of Machines is expected. If you are not their member - flee the galaxy as fast as possible, or be curb-stomped. Considering what [[Tyranid]] forces seen in main canon are merely avangard scouts, arrival of main portion of their fleet could pose challenge for Imperium of Machines.