Ares: Adeptus Mechanicus encounter Necrons

Personal Archive, Magos Explorator Sequor Focault
Aboard Ark Mechanicus INEXORABLE SEARCH FOR WISDOM

It would appear that I was correct – the site on Ares was worthy of investigation. Furthermore, my prudence in taking a sizable excavation force was rewarded, since we were attacked by some uncontrolled mechanical defences, whose machine spirits had over time apparently decayed to the point where they could not recognise their rightful masters.

The site was certainly ancient, certainly predating the Great Crusades, although there were signs of probable xenocorruption. However, I believe that the data core that I was able to retrieve will yield its secrets and lead me to further, uncorrupted repositories.

Some material loss was incurred in the core’s acquisition. One HUNTER and one STALKER class knight were lost in the initial moments after the defence systems’ ambush. Knight Baron Hoffstedder’s demise while attempting to redeem himself by countercharging precludes any punishment for the consequent loss of a maniple of Crusader assault robots.

Enginseers Kelvin and Pohl demonstrated excellent judgement, leading their Skitarii detachments into melee with the defenders, preventing any damage to the irreplaceable cyber-augment units of the Praetorians. I shall integrate their data archives into my own. Enginseer Devar shall not be so honoured; charging combat androids into melee was recklessly wasteful and, were he still alive, he would be punished.

It was necessary to abandon the breaching Termite, following irreparable damage to its carrier vehicle, although it may be possible to send a recovery detachment back for it at a later time.

The Carpenter-class forestry robot acquired on Madrigal and reprogrammed for combat performed admirably, destroying a number of defending units and absorbing a prodigious quantity of enemy fire with no ill effect. Truly an inspiring example of the versatility of the Omnissiah’s gifts to us.

Work continues in attempting to placate the machine spirit of the recovered artefact. I believe it to be a data core, but it has been long neglected, and the machine spirit is weak within it. But the proper observances shall be kept, and I have no doubt the Omnissiah shall cause the light of truth to shine upon it in time.