Since Farien could not assist, Axion had to operate the machinery himself. However, just as he was about to begin, Axion discovered a new problem.
"Does the ship possess Naro Fas Steel?"
The entirely new term, even in High Gothic nomenclature, plunged Farien into silence.
After thoroughly searching his memory, Farien asked a question that rendered Axion silent in turn.
"What is Naro Fas Steel?"
Axion tilted his mechanical head to an angle of thirty degrees, looking at Farien.
"Naro Fas Steel, a synthetic alloy, possesses excellent energy conductivity and superlative energy containment properties. Its density is approximately three times that of your armour. It is typically used to manufacture power cores and energy conduits. It was invented by Naro Fas in the year 13,289 AD."
Axion's response drove Farien into complete silence.
Thien, who had sheathed his greatsword, stood aside as an observer. Clearly, this information was beyond his realm of knowledge; he was not a Techmarine, had not undertaken the studies of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and could not be expected to understand materials science. They were the Emperor's Angels of Death, weapons, blades, but not engineers.
Even Farien, while a Techmarine, was first and foremost an Astartes, and secondly a Techmarine.
Specialization in combat was their core instinct.
Observing Farien's reaction, Axion knew the matter would be complicated.
"Does this ship have a metal material storehouse?"
Farien nodded wordlessly.
"Lead me there."
No further exchange was made between the three. Farien led the way, Axion followed closely, and Thien, his hand resting on his Power Sword, brought up the rear.
The trio arrived at a vast storage facility filled with racks.
Various metallic materials were arrayed on different shelves.
Axion remained silent, sweeping the entire warehouse with a wide-area scan.
Several alloys containing suitable components were quickly selected by Axion.
"I require materials marked A-3-372, A-5-288, B-1-486, and E-4-763. I require three units of each."
With the authority of an Astartes, let alone a few metal components, no one would question them if they emptied the entire warehouse.
Farien went to a nearby terminal to retrieve the materials. Soon, several Servitors and Servo-Skulls delivered the metal blocks to the group.
Axion stacked all the metal blocks together, then his fingers emitted a pale golden light, activating the Particle Oscillation Field.
He easily scored small, interlocking cuts onto all the materials. After stacking them together, he lifted the pile with one hand.
The twelve metal ingots were not overly large, but they possessed varying densities, and stacked together, their weight amounted to several hundred kilograms.
Axion, casually carrying the metal ingots, led the way back to the maintenance bay.
Finding a large metallic tray, he placed the ingots on it, then one of his arms began to deform.
A Neutron Beam Projector replaced his manipulator hand.
Seeing Axion suddenly switch to a weapon system, Thien instinctively drew his Power Sword again.
Farien, however, took the initiative to move closer to Axion.
"What are you attempting to do?"
Axion had no intention of concealing any information, answering Farien in a steady, mechanical voice.
"The high heat of the Neutron Beam can melt these metallic materials. Its neutron layer reaction allows the necessary substances to clearly stratify, making secondary refinement easier."
Based on the material properties of the metal ingots, Axion spent nearly an hour successfully refining a thirty-kilogram block of specialized metal from the mass.
Looking at the resulting mass of metal, which shimmered with a strange black-gold luster, Axion introduced it to Farien, who had been watching intently.
"This is Naro Fas Steel."
Axion then deployed a sharp, triangular blade, activating its Particle Oscillation Field, and began to cut the metal carefully.
His mechanical arms moved swiftly, quickly carving a peculiar, cubic box-like structure from the block.
The remaining Naro Fas Steel and other 'impurity' materials that had been cut away were manually constructed by Axion into a conversion core.
A delicate core structure was soon placed by Axion into the empty cavity within the cubic box.
Axion took the entire box into his hand.
He then pulled down an energy conduit connected to the workbench nearby.
The opening in the box was only fractionally larger than the conduit's connector.
After inserting the connector, the small box immediately reacted.
Streams of silver-white light flowed across the surface of the box, emanating a soft glow.
Axion's chassis surface also began to flicker with the same silver-white light.
It pulsed, brightening and dimming rhythmically, like breathing.
Farien turned to look at Axion's glowing chassis, asking curiously.
"Is that it? You don't need to connect any cables or anything else? Is this how ancient technology recharges?"
Axion had no intention of obfuscating, explaining forthrightly.
"Quantum Energy Transmission technology. The converter can accept various energy sources and transmute the energy according to type. Quantum Energy diffuses in the form of an energy field. All Iron Men within the range of this energy field can recharge."
"What is the range of this energy field?" Farien asked, pointing to the flickering converter on the floor.
"A spatial radius of five meters."
"The materials here are too scarce, and the energy efficiency is too low. The converter's efficiency is likewise poor, and the energy coverage is minimal. However, it is sufficient for my recharge. I require two hours to replenish my energy reserves. I will not leave this location during that time. Once the recharge is complete, I will reconnect the cable."
Having said this, Axion picked up the converter cable from the ground, placing it next to him, his chassis continuously glowing.
"Maintenance Bay Energy Usage Anomaly. Line 32 load near maximum capacity. Cable identified as disconnected from workbench. Please inspect cable status."
Following the warning, a figure clad in red robes arrived at the workbench, tracing the conduit line.
"Sergeant, please elaborate on the current situation."
A Tech-Priest with multiple auxiliary mechanical arms attached to his back slightly bowed his head to the standing Astartes and the strange mechanical entity before speaking.
While the Astartes were the noble Angels of the Emperor to the common populace and even the Astra Militarum, to the personnel of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Astartes were no different from the combat automata they valued.
They maintained necessary reverence but did not consider them inherently noble.
For the Mechanicus, faith in the Omnissiah was paramount. The Emperor was merely the Omnissiah's terrestrial manifestation. Even honouring the Emperor was, in essence, honouring the Omnissiah, and had little to do with the Emperor himself.
Rather than reverence for the Astartes, the Tech-Priests feared these self-aware, flesh-and-blood warmachines who worshipped the Emperor.
Flesh is weak, Iron prevails.
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