The somewhat apprehensive Wolves approached the sapient machine automatons, proposing that they field-test these weapon systems before deciding on a full armory refit.
Axion was entirely unsurprised by this request. The list of wargear, ranging from light infantry weapons to man-portable artillery, boasted over a hundred distinct varieties. These were already the result of Axion's rigorous filtering, selected specifically for their projected efficacy in warp-space combat. As for which of these were best suited for the Astartes physiology, he lacked the empirical data to determine. The Wolves' proposal would yield a wealth of practical usage cases, enriching his tactical database. Naturally, Axion would not refuse.
Upon receiving the Iron Men's explicit approval, Logan waved a hand in excitement, signaling his Iron Priests to prepare for the evaluation.
However, the machine automaton did not immediately lead them away. Its metallic head swiveled slightly, emitting a faint, rhythmic hiss as internal actuators engaged. "Given the volume of weapons categories, it is recommended to increase the personnel count to optimize testing efficiency."
Hearing this, Logan pondered for a moment before selecting all of his Pack Leaders from the formation. With a contingent of two hundred warriors assembled, the Great Wolf followed the machine automaton toward a massive gate on the side of the star-port.
They traversed an immense, sprawling corridor before arriving at a vast, expansive space. Had they not been acutely aware of their presence deep within the hull of a gargantuan vessel, the sight before them would have been beyond comprehension.
A massive, artificial landscape unfolded. The sprawling plains were blanketed in lush, green vegetation, the horizon of the grasslands seemingly stretching into infinity. Following the guidance of the automatons, the Wolves fell into formation across the field.
As each warrior took up a position five meters apart, lights flickered to life along their right flanks.
From the swirling, pale blue ionized mist, colossal mechanical structures began to emerge. These rectangular monoliths were encased in smooth, seamless shells, shimmering with a metallic luster under the light of the false sun suspended in the chamber's dome. In the center of each monolith sat a deep, recessed cavity, adjacent to which hovered a luminous display screen.
For a moment, the isolated Wolves stood in confusion. One attempted to step backward to check on his battle-brother, but the screens on the structures suddenly ignited, displaying a series of instructional projections.
By interacting with the interface, a user could access the full inventory of armaments; upon selecting a weapon, it would immediately materialize within the recessed cavity. Should the warrior wish to swap weapons, they simply needed to place the current one back into the slot to enable the generation of the next.
Even the Iron Priests had never heard of such technology. Yet, after Logan issued an order over the comm-channel, the gathered warriors began to cautiously test the interface. As the technical specialists of the VI Legion, the Iron Priests were naturally the most invigorated.
Arjac unfolded the list and selected an entry at random.
With a flash of blue radiance, a physical entity solidified within the machine's cavity. Simultaneously, the screen displayed a readout of the weapon's specifications:
[Feather Gun— Metal-Spike Electromagnetic Rifle: A rail-based weapon capable of utilizing any metallic scrap as ammunition. During operation, insert metal into the rectangular slot at the weapon's stock. Once ammunition is depleted, the magazine will automatically eject and the trigger will lock. Unlike conventional firearms, this rifle possesses extreme ammunition compatibility, accepting any metallic material. Standardized metal-slug canisters satisfy the requirement for 750 standard shots per load. Warning: Effective range will fluctuate based on the density and properties of the metal used. Please calibrate auxiliary sensors before use to confirm current ammunition characteristics.]
Studying the information, Arjac reached into the slot and withdrew the curiously shaped weapon. The rifle featured an acceleration barrel wrapped in electromagnetic rails, with a rectangular muzzle punctuated by six small apertures. Along with the rifle came a small metallic block.
Following the instructions, Arjac inserted the block into the ammunition slot in the stock and toggled the switch near the grip. Thin arcs of electricity danced along the long, slender frame, and a faint, residual heat radiated from the casing.
Because his power armour's local data-link was not synced with the weapon system, Arjac could not access the full tactical overlay. However, this did not hinder his test.
As Arjac raised the rifle, metal targets materialized in the distance.
HUM! HUM! THWIP! THWIP!
With a series of peculiar reports, sparks erupted against the distant targets, the result of high-velocity metal jets impacting the armor. Seeing the metal plate pierced through, Arjac froze for a second before drawing his heavy bolt pistol from his hip holster.
BOOM!
The shot rang out with a thunderous roar, the bolt shell impacting the same target with absolute precision. Yet, the result caused his pupils to contract.
The bolt shell had left a deep, cratered depression in the metal, but it had clearly failed to penetrate.
The realization of the weapon's staggering power washed over him. Following the prompts, Arjac flicked a switch on the side of the Feather Gun. The muzzle apertures transitioned from six small holes to four wider firing ports.
He pulled the trigger again.
A fresh hole was punched cleanly through the metal target. He harbored no doubt: had this been aimed at an Astartes, it would have ripped a gaping wound through ceramite and flesh alike.
Arjac hammered the trigger repeatedly. Streaks of metal flew from the muzzle, completing over five hundred shots in mere minutes. Only when the magazine ejected and the trigger locked did he realize he had run dry.
Just as he felt a spark of confusion regarding the discrepancy with the manual's projected capacity, a notification popped up on the side screen:
[Firing mode variation results in differential ammunition consumption rates. Please monitor the projectile count warning during combat.]
Exhilarated, Arjac returned the Feather Gun to the rack and selected a weapon with a name that appeared more intuitive:
[Adaptive Combat Pistol: A close-quarters defensive weapon. Features multiple engagement modes and utilizes self-cycling energy generation. Certain modes may be restricted under specific environmental conditions.]
The pistol that emerged from the rack looked strangely familiar to Arjac, reminiscent of the ancient, relic sidearms held within the Chapter's own vaults. However, this model featured a unique, protruding modular attachment along the side.
The relic pistols of their history were known for their wondrous, esoteric functions, some fired micro-atomic rounds, while others projected devastating thermal rays or crackling electric arcs. Yet, the screen provided a lucid explanation: once the weapon's data-link was established, the user could cycle through firing modes at will.
It was not limited to kinetic rounds; it could transition to thermal beams, electrical arcs, or even neutron-radiation bursts, allowing the wielder to select the most lethal countermeasure for any given foe.
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