Chapter 2282 Mechanical City of Terra
Skaharax City, an enclave of Mars located on Terra, was originally the location of the construction team of the Adeptus Mechanicus used to rebuild Terra after the Horus Heresy. However, after the reconstruction work was completed, the Mechanicus did not withdraw. Instead, it built a brand new industrial city. Now it has become the private residence of the foundry generals of the past generations. It is the third largest city on Terra after the Royal Palace and the Ecclesiastical Palace. A large building guarded by Skitarii, Titan Legions and Praetorian Guards.
After entering the atmosphere, the shuttle began to accelerate, shuttling between Terra's thick clouds, its engines singing at optimal power output.
Through the porthole, Soshyan saw the sewage rivers coming from the forge, a rainbow of red, blue and orange flowing to the brown land. Perhaps these sewage rivers outside Skhalax City are Terra. The only surface body of water left.
Sewage rivers with serious excess of heavy metals are surrounded by dense slums. In Terra, where resources are tight and the gap between rich and poor is extremely huge, nothing will be wasted, even if it has been processed The wastewater also carries some resources that can be recycled. Countless collectors and scavengers make a living on this and have formed huge shack areas.
Of course, severe pollution will also make it difficult for most of them to live longer than forty years.
Soon, the huge and glorious Mechanical City appeared in Soshyan's sight, with a strong Mechanicus style as always. The huge furnace reflected the sky red, and the huge chimney spewed thick smoke. The city is shrouded in gray. Countless roads and tracks form a standard grid, dividing the city into countless tiny pieces, and connecting the largest foundries and the smallest garbage stations together.
As the shuttle rapidly descends, a massive shadow engulfs everything around it, with steep steel cliffs rising tall, carrying hundreds of winding pipes and cables that cling to every building , extending above the head like vines in the rainforest, exuding unparalleled power.
The sound of squeaking pistons, the roar of exhaust gases and the ruthless grinding of huge machine gears can be felt even through the thick glass, the roar of the distant transportation airport The sound and the throbbing underground filled the air, like the heartbeat of the city, and Soshyan could even feel his bones vibrating with the endless forges of the city.
The shuttle descended to a height of one thousand meters, passed through metal towers, and sailed along the curved airway under the huge Arch of the God of All Machines.
On the suspended door frames and in the open structures, Soshyan saw countless servants working like ants in an ant nest.
Their bodies are like withered leaves, with little flesh left on them, and they are almost the same as robots.
Among them, Soshyan also saw a group of people turning huge gears, dragging huge chains, or climbing the steps of the grand parade with a staggering pace. They didn’t know where they came from, and they didn’t know. What task are you going to accomplish?
They are not servitors, but they have a similar status. Terra Prison is always overcrowded, and a considerable number of them will be sent here as slave labor. They are sentenced to 10-30 years of hard labor as Mechanicus. If they can repay their debt to the Emperor, they will be free - of course, this probability may be less than 0.001%.
With a slight tremor, the huge shuttle parked on the apron at the core of the city. This was not an area open to the public, but the private hangar of the founding general.
As the shuttle door ramp slowly lowered, the huge silhouette of Soshyan in Terminator armor appeared in the smoke.
In the sound of heavy footsteps, he walked out of the shadow of the shuttle, and in front of him, in the huge apron passage, stood an entire phalanx of mechanical guards.
They are composed of cyborg fighters and huge combat robots wearing crimson carapace. The black and white symbols of Mars are engraved on their chests. The weapons in their hands are very different from the conventional Skitarii.
Strictly speaking, the Praetorian Guard is the oldest military organization of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Before the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, they were the main type of military force of the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars, and they were also the most numerous type. After the flames of the Heresy tore apart the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Praetorian Mechanicus became an echo of an ancient era.
But as the nominal leader of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Forge-General still maintains his own Praetorian Guards and can deploy them anywhere except the palace at any time.
The leader of these guards is a sage standing behind the black mechanical throne.
There are not many human traces visible on this sage. His rickety figure is more like some kind of combat robot. The armor on his back is covered with various sensors, and there are four servo skulls floating in the air. Above, the bright red robe on its body represents its extremely high status in the Adeptus Mechanicus. Two of its three arms have been replaced with mysterious weapons, and the other hand holds a mechanical battle ax. Behind it There are also two metal tentacles that are constantly swinging, and its head is carved into a dog-like shape. There are green visual devices in the eye sockets, making it more like a mechanical wolf, and its lower body is almost completely Connected to the mechanical throne.
The Mechanical Throne is also an honor that only senior sages in the Mechanicus are eligible to receive. It looks like a combination of a pulpit and a church, floating half a meter above the ground with the help of anti-gravity equipment. , with many tentacles and hidden weapon ports.
“Welcome, Chapter Master Soshyan Alexei, I am Abdel Kader Buller, the First Mechanical Division of Skakharax, and I am here to welcome you on behalf of the Foundry General. The arrival of ”
The other person's voice was like a tape recording, but the voice didn't really seem to come from the throat.
Hearing that the other party was the Mechanical Division or the First Division, Soshiyang was a little surprised. It seemed that Tirian had indeed done enough.
You must know that this is not an idle position. As a high-level part of the intricate power network of the Mechanicus, the Mechanical Directorate is the absolute highest level next to the highest-ranking people such as the Director of Casting and the Deputy Director of Casting.
Behind Soshyan, all his Terminator Guards also walked out of the cabin.
“Thank you very much to the First Mechanical Department of Buhler. I believe that General Casting has been waiting for a long time. Please lead the way.”
"Patience is a virtue."
After saying this, the guards lined up neatly and moved out of the way. There was no order in the middle. They just completed everything in silence.
Then the team of Astral Knights, escorted by the Mechanical Guards, passed through long passages and heavily guarded arches, and finally arrived at the Forge Temple. However, the place where they wanted to meet was not here.
Through the magnificent temple, Soshiyang came to a secret side hall, and all his guards stayed outside.
When the heavy door opened, in the dimly lit hall filled with statues and murals, the huge Forge General was staring at Soshyan.
(End of this chapter)