“Let us pray, brothers and sisters. The Motive Force connects us, the Motive Force is within us. Grant us wisdom to use our intelligence wisely; grant us creativity for the sacred act of innovation. We pray to the Machine God that He may deliver the Omnissiah unto us soon, so that the Child of All Thought may illuminate the galaxy with His teachings, and bring us forth into an age of wonders.”

-Excerpt from Church of the Motive Force sermon, M24. 020.

M24, 197

Sol System, Terra

“So, what do you think?” Adam in his Estalius persona asked the General of the Federation.

They were seated in one of the many sky cafes that hovered over Terra. Orbs of glasscrete floated right above the clouds, orbiting an open kitchen platform, all suspended by antigrav plates. Within were tables and seats for customers to enjoy their meals in, with androids flying to and fro from the kitchen in the middle to bring food and drink.

The food in front of General Lupercal’s drone body remained untouched, the vessel not made for consumption of biomass. This was one of the transhuman’s many bodies- the controlling consciousness was in one of the galaxy’s most secure locations, hundreds of kilometers underneath the crust of Terra, constantly receiving military information and transmitting orders. A long time ago he had been human, but to carry out his duties he had been mentally augmented to the point where his data processing abilities outstripped most Iron Minds, his consciousness plugged into the Federation’s central military Noosphere network.

An android entered the sphere-booth, setting down an elaborate three-tiered tray of spun sugar carrying golden pastries, before flying out of the room. “I believe that our argument was compelling enough to sway them to action. Even if they do not act upon it, I have already been making certain… adjustments to the deployment of Iron Minds along our borders.” The barely human intellect fixed its compound eyes on the second Overseer of the Psykana Militant. “I understand that you have been taking a similar course of action?”

The Perpetual nodded. “The newest generation of Psi-Knights have already yielded excellent results. We’re going to see widespread deployment in about two months.” He reached out to take a slice of mathematically perfect apple pie, the pastry disappearing into his mouth as a perfectly calculated blend of spice and sweetness coated his tongue. “Mmm. Not bad.”

“Dark times are ahead of us, Estalius.” The general murmured as he gazed outside at the pink-orange skies, bathed in the light of sunset. “A few years, and in place of these cafes there will be weapon platforms and Mobile Fortresses.” He shook his head “Some small part of me hoped that I could retire before experiencing something like this… but duty calls, just like the day I agreed to take this post.”

“We have to win.” The Perpetual said quietly. “We must.”

“What, or the galaxy is doomed?” Lupercal asked rhetorically.

Behind closed doors, they bickered.

Star charts were pulled up and dissected, every iota of data pored over. Thousands of statistics presented as proof for arguments. Speeches lasting hours to sway an opponent to one’s side. Troop movements and intel repeatedly quoted over and over again. Consultants and experts summoned to give their opinion, diplomats of foreign alien powers called.

Finally, after ten days, the Councilors had reached an accord.

“General. Overseer.”

The two had been summoned back into the Council chamber. The atmosphere was heavy, the Councilors surrounding them in a circle wearing tense expressions.

“We have reached a unanimous decision.” UR-001, the First, boomed. “After adequate evaluation, the Council has determined that the acts of the Aeldari pose a very real threat to humanity and the rest of the galaxy, with the gestation of a new Tier 6 Empyrean Entity in the Warp. However, the time to strike is not now- we are underprepared to face such a foe currently.”

Lupercal opened his mouth to speak, but the Iron Mind raised a hand to stall him. “Our current objective is to step up militarization of the Federation. We have drafted several initiatives, including the fortification of several key systems, positioning of Warspheres and troop movements, the corresponding documents which you will receive now, General Lupercal. See to it that you put them into action as soon as possible. The Cadmus Protocol is now in full effect- Kokitika Convention restrictions on several weapons are now lifted.”

The ancient AI swiveled its head to look at Adam. “ Overseer Estalius. You are to step up recruitment efforts for the Pariah Project. We will need them for the inevitable conflict. Your colleagues have recieved other instructions via Noosphere.” Adam nodded in acknowledgement.

“One last thing. We have approved a number of experimental projects that were previously in limbo for the Psykana Militant. A significant number of resources will be allocated to the Human Webway Project. And Overseer? Project Veda has been reactivated.”

The Overseer blinked. “Are you absolutely sure, Councilor?”

“If it bears fruit, then it will most certainly be an immense boon to us in the future.” UR-001 rumbled. “That is all. Move with all haste, for we do not have much time left. Every second we have for preparation heightens our chances for survival.”

Three weeks later

Karontis System, Armoury World of Urdos

Urdos was a massive planet, easily thirty times the size of Earth. The whole planet is a gunmetal grey, dotted by yellow lights. The planet’s surface has been converted into machinery, rows upon rows of mountain-sized hangars and defense gridswaiting silently.

On a vast plain of metal, an Iron Mind, four-legged and six-limbed, accompanied by two human officers, stands on a floating platform facing a gigantic figure seated on a monolith of black metal the size of a small mountain.

“...AND THEN I SMASHED THE GARGANT’S FACE IN WITH MY GLAIVE.” The giant boomed. “NOW THAT WAS A BATTLE TO REMEMBER! OUTNUMBERED SIX TO ONE IN THAT MOUNTAIN RANGE, SOMEHOW CAME OUT ALIVE.” The giant was massive, a hundred and fifty meters high with smooth shiny silver skin, and its face was featureless save for two glowing red eyes. Its voice was deep and proud, like the gongs of war. It squinted its eyes. “BUT I DO NOT THINK YOU CAME HERE TO LISTEN TO OLD WAR STORIES.”

One of the human officers stepped forward. “The Federation is mobilizing, Honoured Castigator. War is coming, and the Titans must march once more.”

The two massive red eyes flashed on the Titan’s face. “AND OUR ENEMY?”

The human on the left stepped forward. “The Aeldari.” Meanwhile, the Iron Mind transmitted a series of authentication codes, which were quickly processed and verified.

“GOOD.” The Castigator-class Titan rumbled. “FOR TOO LONG HAVE WE LET THEM RUN AMOK.”

The giant stood up, the ground shaking as it unsheathed the building-sized sword at its hip. It was not made for battle; the ceremonial blade was made out of data-crystal, with glowing blue lines running across the surface. The Castigator raised the sword with both hands in front of its chest.

“IN THE FIRES OF WAR I WAS FORGED. FROM MY BODY DID MY BROTHERS RISE.”

A pillar with the same color scheme as the sword rose from the ground, easily fifty meters high. “PLASMA IS MY LIFEBLOOD. ADAMANTIUM ARE MY BONES.” A rectangular hole opened on top of the pillar, and the Titan slotted the blade into it.

“I AM THE CASTIGATOR-CLASS AUTONOMOUS BIPEDAL WEAPONS PLATFORM! THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO GARGANTS HAVE DIED BY MY HAND!” The Titan turned the blade clockwise, as the pillar began to shudder. “MY BRETHEN! THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO WAGE WAR ONCE MORE. AS THE FIRST, I SAY THIS: AWAKEN! RISE FROM THE SLUMBER OF AGES! HUMANITY NEEDS US ONCE MORE, AND WE SHALL ANSWER!”

The pillar shone with blue light, as a signal was broadcast over the entire planet. The very planet itself quaked, machinery rumbling as the ground opens to let vast hangars rise out of the ground. As the mechanized world stirred to life, the hangar doors open, great hosts of Titans striding out from the hangars, giants of white and silver standing over a hundred metres tall. Some of them have cannons attached to their shoulders, while others wield massive Power Swords thrumming with violet energy. They came in all shapes and sizes- sleek small ones with jets on the limbs, gargantuan hulks wielding hammers crackling with lightning, multi-limbed figures that floated above the ground. A great cacophony of war-horns sounded, terrible and majestic as they raised their weapons into the air.

“Was that really necessary?” One of the human officers whispered to her colleague. “He’s an old model, they get a bit… eccentric at times.”

One by one, the Titans vanished in bursts of light, reappearing in the holds of the vast fleet of carrier ships above Urdos, ready to transport them to locations all across the galaxy.

“AND SO IT BEGINS.”

Author's Note: Nearly forgot to credit HollowedOut-Grimoire for the original idea of the AI curator Hook. And yes, the Castigator is the one from 40k canon. Also changed 'Council of Thirteen' to 'Servant Council'.