”The Greenskins won’t know what hit them, eh Byt.” Malakai says to the little drone hovering over his right shoulder. The old storeroom just below the port cannon array was filled with cast off parts and the smell of ozone. There is just enough room in the dimly lit, cramped compartment for the thin human and his floating companion. A second, larger drone sits on a small workbench in front of the man. Perhaps half a meter long, the same again as wide and a handspan thick. It is a mishmash of thrown away parts and scraps. Symmetry and elegance are completely unknown to the device. It is all sharp angles, abrupt endings, and forced fittings. A frankendrone brought into being through the ingenuity and somewhat heretical mind of its creator. Adding to the things unsettling look are the hundreds of tiny, silvered runes etched onto every square inch of its exterior surface.
”Beep?” The little drone responds, a dose of skepticism and concern mixed into the one short, simple sound.
”Pfft. It’ll work and we’ll be heroes I tell you. A way to move individual personnel instantaneously through the immaterium. The Malakai matrix provides the power and the micro warp field generator should do the rest.”
”Beep.”
"I know. Malakai Matrix is a placeholder. We'll come up with something sufficiently snappy later." The man leans back and waves his metallic arm in the air. A small blob of solder flips from the tip of the pointed tool currently rotated into place where a human hand once existed. ”Just think if the marines were able to hop a few squads behind enemy lines whenever they wanted. Undetected. And then hop them back or to a new target. Ha! Filthy Orks wouldn’t know what to do with themselves.”
”Beep.” Even more skeptical.
The end of his arm whirs and a microdriver slips into place. He leans forward and starts tightening several screws on the outer panel of the large drone.
”I’m telling you I saw the images. That codex in the baron’s library was full of recordings. The ancients were able to generate small warp fields to move people from one place to another instantaneously. “
”Beep.”
”Of course it was real. Otherwise, why keep it locked away in a secret library. The old bastard just wanted to keep the profits and power for himself. He just didn't have the brains to actually develop the ideas.” He taps a few keys on his handheld computator and then unplugs it from the drone.
”Okay, first test. Let’s power it up.” He reaches out and flicks a series of switches on the big drone.
”Beep.” Warns the other as lights begin to flicker at various points along the larger drone’s ugly exterior. The soft hum of flowing power and smell of burning dust fills the tiny room. Sparks of power arch along the hundreds of silver runes creating a hypnotic display of light and energy.
”Excellent. You see Byt, I told you it would….”
”BOOOP!” The large drone exclaims in a fit of pure rage and chaos filled hatred before vanishing in a flash of light and warp field residue. Moments later the Yann Hall shudders violently and alarm klaxons erupt from everywhere. Malakai can only stare at the empty workbench, his one good eye filled with horror and panic as he futilely pounds the control matrix to try and recall his escaped monster.
”BeepBeepBeepBeep!” Is all the little drone has to say.
