NunciusGenetor Ferrenz holds a servo-skull in the grip of his steel fingers — Nuncius. A vox-grille has been wired to the skull, from which the binharic hiss of error testing litanies can be heard.
EogunnEogunn scowls in testy displeasure. "I must admit, Ferrenz, I expected greater competence from a colleague of your experience and intellect. I accept that you are unable to understand the delicate workings of my dearest companion, but your refusal to acknowledge your skill deficit and your attempts to disguise the fact with outrageous claims that he is in perfect working order—"
Genetor FerrenzFerrenz cuts Eogunn off in a calm voice: "Pride is not included among my operating variables. I register any error or lack of competence in my logs as meticulously as I do successful procedures. The diagnostic rites were performed in accordance with the Catechism of Maintenance and Operation. The possibility of error has been excluded — this servo-skull has no defects or failures. I am here to demonstrate this personally in the presence of the Lord Captain."
YOU"So is Nuncius broken or not?"
Genetor Ferrenz"He is fully functional. However, the servo-skull's actual functionality is different from Magos Eogunn's characterisation of it. A demonstration will show what I mean."
EogunnAngry veins swell on the Manipulus's forehead. "The only thing it will show is your unfitness for your post, Ferrenz. Your lies will not fool the Rogue Trader."
YOU"So is Nuncius broken or not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why have you attached a vox to him?"
Genetor Ferrenz"This model is not capable of independent communication in Low Gothic without supplementary equipment. This is a temporary measure necessary to provide a clear demonstration so that you may address Nuncius directly."
YOU"So is Nuncius broken or not?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why have you attached a vox to him?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, begin the demonstration."
Genetor Ferrenz"Lord Captain, I propose that you examine the skull personally and try to ask him any questions you may have. It will prove most instructive." Ferrenz politely carries the skull up to the command throne.
NunciusNuncius sits docilely in your hands. His eye is producing a constant flicker, while a grunting sound crackles from the vox.
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]
NunciusThe skull contains only a control micro-cogitator, an Imperium-standard set of manipulators, and an autoquill for log-keeping. All organic components are completely absent.
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"
Nuncius"Error. The requested identifier 'Nuncius' is not recognised."
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."
Nuncius"Autoscribe servo-skull, designation one-seven-dash-four-zero-one. System status: pending."
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"
Nuncius"Number of modifications: one. Modification protocol: installation of a vox-grille by an authorised unit. Unit identifier: Genetor Majoris Ferrenz. No data found on other modifications since the inception of operation."
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."
Nuncius"No authorisation, access denied. Authorisation required by unit Eogunn Februs."
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."
EogunnAfter a moment's hesitation, Eogunn grumbles, "I am willing to suffer this gross violation of privacy if it will allow me to expose Genetor Ferrenz's lies. Access to the logs has been granted."
Nuncius"Authorisation received. Last available log — attachment to unit Eogunn Februs, Stygies VIII. Attachment was effected after the assembly and consecration of unit 17-401's machinery in Workshop Zenta-8. Since then, the logging function has been suspended pending a litany of reactivation."
Eogunn"What? This is inconceivable! Ferrenz must have violated the integrity of the logs. Nuncius, what has he done to you?"
Nuncius"Error. The requested identifier 'Nuncius' is not recognised."
YOU[Examine the servo-skull]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"
Genetor Ferrenz"He does not have one and never has, Lord Captain. No member of the Adeptus Mechanicus has ever granted this servo-skull the sacred boon of personal authorisation, despite Eogunn Februs's claims to the contrary. To retain information, much less mimic personality characteristics, requires a far more sophisticated cogitator and organic base. These are absent here. For the past several decades, this 17-401 model has been operating on basic settings."
Eogunn"Ridiculous! Ignorant fool! How dare you deliberately twist the truth—" Eogunn stops talking abruptly, peering over his shoulder as if listening to someone — he is looking at the place where his dearest colleague usually hovers.
EogunnAfter a few moments, the Tech-Priest nods at the empty air. "Quite right, Nuncius, I should not have entrusted just anyone with such a delicate matter. Yes, I should have immediately sought out your expert opinion — we should stop this farce and repair you ourselves."
YOU"Eogunn, to whom are you speaking?"
Eogunn"With my dearest colleague, Nuncius, who else would I...?"
EogunnEogunn looks in confusion at the servo-skull in your hands, then over his shoulder. "But... How... No. It cannot be. Because I can hear him." His lips quiver, and his fists clench and unclench. He looks pitiful, lost. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he squeezes his eyes shut, straining desperately to remember something. Suddenly, his eyes fly open and you hear a strangled moan. He looks at you, dumbfounded.
Eogunn"Rogue Trader. I... I must apologise to you and Genetor Ferrenz. I... see now. I see everything clearly again. The Omnissiah has granted me a revelation, but I feel no gratitude, only heaviness and pain. Would it be a heresy to beg the Machine God to take back this knowledge? Yes, perhaps it would. It is not Nuncius who needs repairing. No, not him at all..." He looks at the servo-skull as if for the first time. "I'll take him back, and afterward... Find me on the bridge — I'll share this revelation with you. But for now, I need time to gather my thoughts."
end of branch
YOU[Address the skull in your hands] "Nuncius, I believe your colleague has lost his mind, wouldn't you agree?"
Nuncius"Error. The requested identifier 'Nuncius' is not recognised."
EogunnEogunn looks in confusion at the servo-skull in your hands, then over his shoulder. "But... How... No. It cannot be. Because I can hear him." His lips quiver, and his fists clench and unclench. He looks pitiful, lost. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he squeezes his eyes shut, straining desperately to remember something. Suddenly, his eyes fly open and you hear a strangled moan. He looks at you, dumbfounded.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, you are going to repair Nuncius... with Nuncius?"
EogunnEogunn looks in confusion at the servo-skull in your hands, then over his shoulder. "But... How... No. It cannot be. Because I can hear him." His lips quiver, and his fists clench and unclench. He looks pitiful, lost. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he squeezes his eyes shut, straining desperately to remember something. Suddenly, his eyes fly open and you hear a strangled moan. He looks at you, dumbfounded.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Nuncius, can you hear me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unit, specify your designation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"17-401, have you been subject to any modifications?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Open access to the latest log entry."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Eogunn, authorise access."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Ferrenz, what is going on? Where is his memory?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, begin the demonstration."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why have you attached a vox to him?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, begin the demonstration."continues where this line first appears above