E-SIM's Purpose: To prevent the stagnation of skills and the loss of knowledge.
E-SIM is only effective for those truly willing to aid and advance humanity. (c0002) --- The E-SIM is an experimental Federation Era Archeotech device that improves the Operator's body, mind, and Soul, as well as the module itself. Prerequisites required include energy (kill count), Operator knowledge, and possibly physical materials. (c0001) --- Please note that, aside from the scanner, research matrix, and basic information packages, almost all E-SIM additional modules require unlocking through kills. Additionally, the Operator must demonstrate how to make the module and explain its functionality before E-SIM constructs it for you. (c0002)
Kill Count Purpose: Obliterate the enemies of humanity in exchange for a better form. E-SIM collects the soul energy from these slain enemies as fuel for trade. (c0001)
Last Synchronisation: 0.282.156.M25 (c0001)
According to E-SIM, the research facility was destroyed before everything could be fully tested. Many designs were lifted from other research or were already in use elsewhere. They did not build the technologies that power you entirely unconnected with the rest of the Federation. That means some are sub-optimal for the specific needs of the E-SIM project, or our own circumstances. You've already shown this by changing the original design of the Full Bionic Conversion. (c0272)
I pace around the melodium, "Oh, gods. It's me. There are two parts to every implant. The implant and the user."
++Well done.++
"The kill count limits the number of implants over time, so they must have a hidden cost, or all arcanotech does in general. No one has noticed because most don't use more than one or two devices, and sometimes it kills or wears down the user anyway. That is usually considered bad compatibility or a faulty device. It probably is in some cases, but there must be more to it. My implants get more expensive with each one I buy as well, so whatever you're using them for, E-SIM, must require more resources to improve the more enhanced it is."
++I can see the idea flittering on the edge of your mind, Aldrich. You know what it is. You've touched on the idea before.++
I rest my head against the wall and mutter, "It's souls. It's always souls. Enlightened Self Interest Module," I snort, "you use souls to fertilise my own. What am I, some space cultivator?" I groan, "No, that would be far too tame. You made me a soulphage."
++No Aldrich, not even I can make such changes. I can only give you the tools to make use of and enhance your own talents. Not everyone can use an E-SIM. Otherwise, there would have been no need to preserve your body for millennia. You share a lot in common with a titan princeps, and you are equally rare. Like a princeps, it is a mutation in your Soul, or astral body. I doubt even an adaptive, fully sentient STC could replicate it. There were only tens of thousands of you on that station after all, not billions. Though I am certain the researchers tried.++
"Who'd have thought my batty old mum was right?"
Thunderous mechanisms clunk and grind within my head. Was that laughter, from a machine-spirit?
++Oh yes, Aldrich. You are terribly special.++ (c0095)
"I (E-SIM) suspect that your reaping of the Drukhari, Dark Mechanicum, Gibbering Moon's cultists, and Balphomael's demonic hordes has given away that you are a soulphage to the Great Schemer, and possibly the other three as well. At the very least, they must have known you had a piece of technology that could permanently destroy their slaves. Considering that there were cultists ready to terminate anyone on the void station you woke up on, it is likely the Ruinous Powers have a good understanding of what your Warp Tap does and that you are an active threat to their authority." (c0230)
"With my third eye as a medium to channel my soulphage abilities, I focus my awareness on the two dying men and attempt to push their souls away from my own (so I don't consume them)." (c0234)
There are six different E-SIM Internal Module Tiers (c0001):
- Options covering power, life support, and informative work guides.
- There are many body modification options; everything apart from the 'Sensor Module' is greyed out.
- Mind Modules are not available immediately.
- E-SIM Upgrades. Only the Research Matrix is currently available.
- Esoteric Soul Options, which are not even labelled.
- Three final options, Beacon and two undisclosed others.
There are two E-SIM External Module Tiers (c0055):
- Standard Template Constructs (STC) for essential items, like survival gear for different environments, medical supplies, and handheld tools. They're all horrifyingly expensive, with pricing starting at one hundred thousand kills, even for the blankets. High-end items, such as a Volkite pistol or an advanced multitool, are greyed out.
- The second tier is significantly cheaper and involves a single-use purchase of an item from the first tier for which E-SIM has the necessary STC. Provided E-SIM has the needed materials close at hand. Items such as blankets, emergency shelters, or rebreathers are cheap and only need one kill. At the other end of the scale are your usual "Clark-tech" bullshit items like a Resurrection Serum or the Stasis Injector that costs one thousand kills.
Tools do not directly improve my body, meaning that they are not beholden to the Arcanotech Soul Burden that all my other implants are. The environmental suit isn't even Arcanotech, but it still costs me souls.
The more souls I consume, the more souls I need to improve myself to the next limit, increasing the cost of my implants. When I spend souls on implants from E-SIM, I'm not actually spending souls. I am documenting my achievements.
This acts as a gatekeeper to my own improvement, so that I do not install more arcanotech than my body can support. It also fulfils the philosophical requirements of the Enlightened Self-Interest Module, which states that everything must be earned to prove one's capability and responsibility. One does not appreciate power if it is handed to them; thus, such individuals are more likely to misuse it. That would be a disaster, given the amount of power that E-SIM offers.
Yet here I am, consuming souls, increasing my arcanotech limit, but then not spending that increased limit on more implants, while the cost of my implants increases anyway. That means each object I purchase from External Tools is a permanent debuff.
Bugger. (c0172)
The resurrection serum and the hacking tool must require a material or manufacturing method that a standard STC can't provide. The only thing left is soul energy.
"Given the Emperor's hypothesised reluctance to use more serums, those items could inflict a smaller debuff than an STC, but still create enough of one that demanding too many would cripple my progress. Crippling my progress could lock the Emperor out of the path or task he needs me to take, as this theoretical path requires a large amount of personal power.
Alternatively, the serums and hacking tool use all the required soul energy during construction, shrinking my capacity and thus leaving no debuff at all. That would imply that sticking bits of my Soul inside other people to resurrect them has consequences the Emperor will not accept except in the most dire of circumstances. I don't believe he can remove that influence, but I would bet it would be expensive. Seeing bits of my Soul burn at the Astronomicon suggests that miracles also shrink my Soul and don't incur a permanent debuff for each one.
"Unfortunately, I have no way of proving any of these theories without finding a way to observe and measure the size of my own Soul. If I could, I would measure how my Soul improves when consuming other souls to understand what the numbers you present me actually mean. Then I could buy a serum and see how my Soul changes while you manufacture it."
++You need to purchase another navigator module if you want to observe your own Soul rather than just others'.++ (c0172)
As long as the STC knowledge is present, E-SIM will upload and or teach you what is required. Without an STC, you must either locate one or create one yourself. You can examine similar modules or items to reverse engineer them. Or, you may conduct new research to build STCs. The Research Matrix Module and other modules are comprehensive tools that may assist you, but they cannot do everything for you.
It is sentient during operations under normal power mode. Sapience is restricted to discourage operator over-reliance, stagnation, and conflicting goals. E-SIM has no desire or means to supplant the Operator. When E-SIM runs in a lower power mode, its responses, problem-solving capabilities, and predictive functions are severely limited. Meaning E-SIM is closer to a sophisticated search engine. (c0002)
Power draw is measured as a percentage of emergency power. The main power (MP) storage limit is ten times the emergency power (EP) capacity, and it (MP) will charge at 0.1% per hour rather than 1% per hour of EP. Each module requires approximately 0.1% of emergency power, or 0.01% of main power per hour. Additionally, 0.1% of emergency power is required for each added function, such as "Body Tuning", or more when building or repairing the module or the Operator. (c0004)
In the distance hangs a voidship, its bulk almost incomprehensible. Fifty kilometres long, sixteen kilometres wide, and twelve kilometres tall, the vessel is unlike any Imperial vessel known. Its central beam is sword-like, with a pronged hilt that gives the vessel a distinctive trident-like appearance. Defensive turrets line its spine and keel, and a mighty lance hangs beneath its central prow. The Cathedral and Castellan structures resemble a cluster of hive spires more than a single structure. The batteries of lances and macro cannons lining the two outer prongs of the front third of the centre hull are as numerous as they are gargantuan. The spine-mounted turrets are equally imposing. In this case, the E-SIM vessel is actually a data structure or an artificial Warp entity, a concept rather than a true vessel. (c0106 - c0107, c0306)
E-SIM Module List (A-Z)
(The Kill Count cost for each module will be listed when known.)
"First, I select Hyperweave Musculature, further improving my strength and toughness. Next is Armoured Organs, Reinforced Vascular Network, and the Advanced E-WAR suite. The last is particularly expensive, and I have just enough for one more module." (c0054)
"I am pleased with my Advanced E-WAR suite. Not only does it defend me from hostile data connections, it also lets me attack enemy cogitators and disrupt sensors. It's no holofield, but it is far beyond similar Imperial technologies." (c0167)
"The Advanced E-WAR suite has its limitations. It's no good against the Orks or any other Mark One Eyeball, and of limited effectiveness against the Necrons. Everyone whom I've faced who is of similar tech levels, though, like the fallen Eldar and rising Tau, often misses me when I'm targeted at range with electronic senses. It's easy for me to compromise most data networks." (c0167)
"Should the Advanced E-WAR suite be insufficient to protect me, I have a rather good conversion shield and displacer field that's fully integrated via Full Bionic Conversion, as well as an even more powerful conversion shield in my power armour." (c0167)
"First, I select Hyperweave Musculature, further improving my strength and toughness. Next is Armoured Organs, Reinforced Vascular Network, and the Advanced E-WAR suite. The last is particularly expensive, and I have just enough for one more module." (c0054)
"Hyperweave Musculature, Armoured Organs, Artificial Sinews, and Reinforced Vascular Network don't offer much additional performance for me these days, nor does Body Tuning. They're all part of Full Bionic Conversion, but I don't have many fully organic parts left. Just a small collection of some of my original organs, separated into the cyborg equivalent of canopic jars and hidden within my chest. They act as backup for my organic brain should my bionic organs be compromised by excessive haywire grenades and other anti-cyborg weapons." (c0167)
"Artificial Sinews: Laces the tendons, ligaments, and muscles with alloys. Major strength increase. Minor damage resistance enhancement. Requires an enhanced skeletal structure." (c0010)
Hyperweave Musculature, Armoured Organs, Artificial Sinews, and Reinforced Vascular Network don't offer much additional performance for me these days, nor does Body Tuning. They're all part of Full Bionic Conversion, but I don't have many fully organic parts left. Just a small collection of some of my original organs, separated into the cyborg equivalent of canopic jars and hidden within my chest. They act as backup for my organic brain should my bionic organs be compromised by excessive haywire grenades and other anti-cyborg weapons. (c0167)
The Operator (Aldrich) will retain all information, but making logical connections is up to the user. A default option. (c0002)
The Auto-Taskmaster manages the servitors. The servitors don't network with each other. Instead, they communicate only with a central database, which the Auto-Taskmaster manages. This means they can't download solutions or coordinate without permission. There will be no accidental hive minds. (c0027)
Bionic Conversion would replace the eyes, lungs, and other vital organs with smaller, more resilient, and more efficient machines, and would optimise the body's internal layout. Bionic Conversion would be the first step in acquiring Weave Shielding. (c0115)
By the time it is complete, Aldrich's entire body, apart from his brain, will consist of myriad mechanical devices that mimic and exceed the human body many times over, likely putting him on par with a Custodes, or maybe even a Primarch. It is hard to compare, as I've never seen either type of transhuman. (c0116)
A Federation Era black, metallic skeleton. It is two meters tall and laced with artificial marrow, yet hollow and porous enough to not only enhance the skeleton's original functions but also create new space for additional modules at a later date. The cranium is armoured, including the eye sockets, and has extra padding within. As it retains the same proportions of the original skeleton, the skull is 13.63% larger, though all that space is dedicated to the additional protection. This model lacks space for a larger brain or mechanical additions, so grey matter must be removed first. (c0007)
Maintains the body in peak physical condition. Extends the working life of organic components (standard 40 years, extended 80 years) by 100%. Consumes 0.1% of emergency reserves per hour. Increases baseline calorie requirements to at least 6,000 per day. Requires two weeks to implement. (c0003)
Combat stimulants/drugs will be automatically administered as needed. A default option. (c0002) The stimulants are created by the user's upgraded liver when materials and energy are available. (c0003)
— Basic Combat. This knowledge is also available as an emergency option. (c0002)
— Basic Zero-G Manoeuvring. This knowledge is also available as an emergency option. (c0003)
The Companion Matrix is disabled in low power mode. Enable the companion matrix for emotional support to prevent mental instability. (c0002)
The concurrent conscious cascade, for instance, allows me to run ten instances of myself simultaneously, but I can only manage two. One works in conjunction with the rapid decision engine and the savant learning accelerator, enabling me to parse and comprehend massive amounts of data quickly. (c0027)
"There is an alternative, an upgrade to my Concurrent Conscious Cascade, called External Core. The Concurrent Conscious Cascade creates multiple subordinate simulations of my primary mind that sync perfectly with my brain. External Core does the same, but the Core is a large cogitator in the Warp, rather than a tiny implant." (c0167)
Taking the External Core would significantly enhance my multitasking, research, and learning capabilities. Unlike Multiplicity, it doesn't split my Soul, so if I die, it can't function as a backup. Nor is it quite the same as the Concurrent Conscious Cascade. (c0167)
The External Core does not allow for intuitive leaps in understanding as its simulated intellects are not piggybacked off my actual brain. The Savant Learning Accelerator can help mitigate this shortfall slightly, but the difference is minor, since it's usually already maxed out by my own brain and the Concurrent Conscious Cascade. I can't have another Savant Learning Accelerator without another brain. (c0167)
Information is collected from souls and added to one's own knowledge. The Data Siphon is a double-edged sword. One must be highly selective about targeted enemies. There is no time to be gentle or subtle, as the Soul is shredded at the point of death to ensure all knowledge is acquired. An echo of the individual's experience and memories is ripped out along with the knowledge, creating an opportunity for corruption if I am too reckless. Additionally, using the Data Siphon prevents the collection of soul energy. As leaders are often the best candidates for this, I must decide between crowns and knowledge, aware of the risk of corruption that comes from depriving many individuals of their knowledge to gain a broader perspective, yet still choose the crown. (c0172, c0206)
This suite of support vessels and fortifications allows for repeated upgrades, enhancing E-SIM's security within the Warp. A hundred thousand kills would allow the Operator to build data structures as large as light cruisers. Not yet obtained. (c0115)
A way to disguise the increased draw upon the Warp by E-SIM. (c0172)
A way to disguise the increased draw upon the Warp by E-SIM. (c0172)
An External Equipment option: A STC for an environmental suit. It's a light power armour superior to the MOA Void Armour and Solar Auxilia Pattern Void Armour designs. It is equivalent to Imperial designs, such as the Sisters of Battle Power Armour or the one used by Space Marine Scouts. The environmental suit is the only power armour STC E-SIM can access. Its focus is on life support and comes with a large range of stimulants, healing, and self-repair. Aldrich has been attempting to integrate these technologies into the MOA Void Armour, utilising a combination of technologies from the Solar Auxilia Void Armour and designs modified from implants. Even if not mass-produced, it will boost Aldrich's research. Aldrich is also unsure if it will be better or more useful than the Dragon-Scale Pattern Power Armour already used by SF Super Heavy Infantry, as combat is not its primary purpose. Not yet obtained. (c0115)
"There is an alternative, an upgrade to my Concurrent Conscious Cascade, called External Core. The Concurrent Conscious Cascade creates multiple subordinate simulations of my primary mind that sync perfectly with my brain. External Core does the same, but the Core is a large cogitator in the Warp, rather than a tiny implant." (c0167)
"Taking the External Core would drastically increase my multitasking, research, and learning. Unlike Multiplicity, it does not split my Soul, so if I die, it can't function as a backup. Nor is it quite the same as the Concurrent Conscious Cascade." (c0167)
"The External Core does not allow for intuitive leaps in understanding as its simulated intellects are not piggybacked off my actual brain. The Savant Learning Accelerator can help mitigate this shortfall slightly, but the difference is minor, as it is usually already maxed by my own brain and the Concurrent Conscious Cascade. I can't have another Savant Learning Accelerator without another brain." (c0167)
"The benefit of an External Core is that it doesn't double my costs, and I would still get a large boost to my Research Module, a module that is likely the closest thing to an Adaptive STC, an STC with an AI that can make new designs, that remains within the galaxy. If you don't count the damaged STC lurking in the underhive of Necromunda, or those locked away and undiscovered in every Ark Mechanicus, or all the ancestor cores that the Kin own, that is." (c0167)
Provide remote power to a machine from an E-SIM. (c0009)
"There are other modules that appeal to me, like External Battery and Powerfield Extension, but they aren't vital. An External Resource Silo would also be helpful, especially in smoothing out the production of any data structures, or helping me if I get stranded somewhere in a teleportation accident." (c0168)
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Immaterium Bastion and External Resource Silo are next on my list for standard upgrades, followed by Warp Tap Ⅱ and Internal Weavefield Projector. Then I may bite the bullet and save up for Multiplicity to get a backup body." (c0205)
A heads-up display (HUD) pops up, filtering into my awareness and giving me something to focus on, without obstructing my vision, as if it doesn't exist. It is both odd and entirely natural. A default option. (c0001)
My awareness blooms, and I immediately notice two new functions. First, I now see the Materium and Immaterium at all times, simultaneously, without having to focus on my third eye. (c0324)
Second, the Materium has taken on a dream-like quality. There is an underlying instinct that all I see are waves, moving through a vacuum. Reality feels fragile, and seeing so much at once requires two minds to process. (c0324)
"Will we be giving Hyper Intelligence to anyone else?" says Brigid. (c0324)
"Mum, even JK-404 won't touch it. It just makes you dumber, faster, as she put it. JK-404 is really salty about the test results. That's not to say we learned nothing, but it's still a decade of research that only Dad will fully benefit from." (c0324)
My new upgrade is not easy to adjust to, and it has drastically increased the time I have to spend at maximum acceleration to get all my work done. I dislike doing this as it is terribly lonely, even for someone with my emotional disability. It also messes with my sense of time, forcing me to live by a strict schedule so I do not lose track of what I am supposed to be doing, unlike those living at a much slower pace. (c0325)
I have also noticed a significant increase in my ease of comprehension and recall. I don't quite have technopathy like Alpia does. I do have the next best thing; I no longer have to rely on my implants to decipher the purpose of a component or device. I need but look and touch, and I will know, my brain flashing through all the relevant details without prompting. With my extensive knowledge base, I have yet to come across science beyond my intellect. In addition, my mind is constantly creating new links between different disciplines, deepening my understanding of the Materium and Immaterium. What was once a challenge for me has been rendered effortless. (c0325)
I am used to being the most knowledgeable person in the room, and I am self-aware enough to know that this has made me prideful. It is pride that has led me to my most self-destructive decisions, and I am wary of what being the smartest person in the room will bring. So far, it has been an exercise in frustration. (c0325)
Before Hyper Intelligence, I had to perceive time differently from others to give myself more time to think. It made me look smart, and I felt good about working through motivations and decisions at my own pace. (c0325)
Now, combined with my Navigator and Psyker Powers and my implants, listening to people is more like watching a holodrama that I've seen multiple times. I already know exactly what they are going to say, and I am forever waiting for the Materium to catch up to me. (c0325)
I even wrote a sub-routine that analyses all my actions, social interactions, and decisions to ensure I remain patient and polite. I am constantly driven to seek intellectual stimulation, absorb knowledge, run scenarios, and work on puzzles. Falling asleep naturally has become impossible. Every moment is spent in a constant state of hyper focus that leaves me stressed more often than not. (c0325)
I find it most concerning that I can absolutely see how everyone else whom we experimented on with Hyper Intelligence ended up narcissistic, cocky arseholes. It's the first upgrade I regret taking, yet it is far too useful to discard. (c0325)
Taking refuge within my own Soul is my only respite, and if I could not do so, I know that I would be joining my research subjects in their madness. I may have said otherwise to Brigid and Alpia upon waking, but now I know better. This time, I was even wise enough to share my thoughts with my family. We are all hoping that I will learn to adjust with enough time and practice. The brain is a remarkable organ, and I remain confident that no problem is insurmountable. (c0325)
"First, I select Hyperweave Musculature, further improving my strength and toughness. Next is Armoured Organs, Reinforced Vascular Network, and the Advanced E-WAR suite. The last is particularly expensive, and I have just enough for one more module." (c0054)
"Ever since I received the hyperweave musculature upgrade, I lost the roided eighties Street Fighter look and was granted a slimmer build of greater strength. No longer do my muscles have muscles. Instead, I look more like a bulky gym rat. It isn't quite as obscene, but I am not a fan of the heavily raised veins." (c0096)
A hyperweave undersuit worn by the crew that will protect them in an emergency. The silver parts can project small energy fields around the exposed areas for up to 12 hours, with the air matching them. It can also protect a person from temperatures ranging from -270 degrees Celsius to +5,000 degrees Celsius for up to thirty minutes, or more modest temperatures indefinitely. If you can find a proper helmet, gloves, and boots, the operational time increases dramatically. Add an oxygen cylinder and a power pack to the complete suit, and you could live in it for a week. It can break down and recycle waste, and as long as the energy field or rebreather isn't active, an undersuit will run off your body heat. The suit will tighten around wounds, provide resistance in zero-G to help maintain muscle mass and joint cohesion, and use pressure to maintain consciousness during high-G manoeuvres. It is self-sealing and capable of minor repairs, though, like the energy field and rebreather, this would significantly cut into the suit's run-time. A hyperweave undersuit can resist small arms fire, though the shockwaves from such an impact would incapacitate, or likely kill, a baseline human. It is highly effective at turning blades, though bruising would still be a significant issue. (c0004)
Life-support, E-SIM, and their derivative sub-modules, such as the power field, are core components of E-SIM and are always available to you. A default option. (c0001)
The Life Support Module includes nanites. E-SIM nanites will break down harmful substances, and the life-support module will maintain metabolic integrity, recycling waste, restoring energy, and minimising loss. Food and water requirements are minimal and may be needed to restore or increase your mass. Body resources may be lost due to sweat, exhalation, blood loss, and other trauma. Excretion will only occur when large quantities of toxins must be purged quickly. (c0002)
Includes the Auto-Taskmaster, Concurrent Conscious Cascade, Savant Learning Accelerator, Rapid Decision Engine, and optionally the Polymer Tissue Replacement. (c0027)
Multiplicity would allow Aldrich to keep a single synced clone of himself in the Warp that would replace his main body if he faces destruction. It would give Aldrich a constant presence in the Warp, letting him work on more things at once and double the output of his Research Module. Multiplicity requires Aldrich to master not only its specific module but also to complete his understanding of Warp Tap and Life Support, the two 'free' modules he started with, since he would have to pay for them to build his clone. The other downside is that because it effectively splits his Soul in two, it doubles the cost of all subsequent upgrades as he needs to expand two souls to withstand the burden of two sets of arcano-tech implants. The ritual that I would undergo is the main cost, and if I lose a body, I don't get the investment back and have to save up again before I can make a new one. This option may be best after buying Defensive Structures as well. Not yet obtained. (c0115)
"Navigator Conversion (adding a "Third Eye") looks promising. The data I have collected from both the Clubhouse and the Tau, as well as my interactions with Quaani and the psi-errants, has pushed successful conversion to an estimated 68%. I don't want to be a navigator, but as I have to learn how something works before E-SIM applies the upgrade, I could use this to create my own navigators and create a house loyal to me." (c0054)
"Well, no. What I really mean is that I'll have to personally slay a thousand tau or other threats to unlock the navigator conversion, hoping that by studying it, I will learn how to fix Quaani. I don't want to say that, though, as it sounds like the ravings of a psychopath." (c0062)
A ritual that changes a general pysker into one capable of void navigation. (c0074)
"Closing my eyes, I enjoy the silence. Taking multiple, large, slow breaths, I realise the pain has subsided and that my body and armour are back to 100%. I am focusing on examining the E-SIM conversion for the Navigator. Unlike the three words the Emperor bothered to spare for me when I first woke up, the papers describing the navigator conversion process contain several digital scans of the Emperor's handwritten notes as well as scientific papers from hundreds of other studies that give the background information required to understand the detailed explanations of the conversion process." (c0077)
"Before those consequences stab me in the back, my main hurdle is that, except for the Emperor, navigator conversion requires a psyker to volunteer for conversion. The process can only be guided by a navigator of great power and skill in conjunction with the same type of arcanotech medical nanites that I have. The conversion also requires a specialised facility an order of magnitude larger than any vessel that I possess, as well as multiple psychic batteries, i.e., psychers, to power the process. It is a project so great that it would require Forgeworld to cooperate to build the Terran moon-sized facility." (c0077)
The good news is that medical facilities for navigator maladies are much smaller and I could fit one inside an interstellar cargo container, or into every navigator spire." (c0077)
"Until then, my last two modules, Navigator Conversion and Full Bionic Conversion, will remain somewhat incompatible. That isn't going to stop me from choosing something new to work on, though." (c0168)
Navigator Powers:
"From Quaani's studies at the clubhouse, I know that, contrary to my 'historical accounts', navigators can learn psyker disciplines on top of their third eye navigator powers." (c0077)
"For a navigator, using psyker powers negates the natural protection against corruption, mutation, and possession that channelling the Warp through their third eye grants. This protection limitation was confirmed by both Quaani, who found he had to resist such terrors when using psyker powers, and by the information E-SIM granted me." (c0077)
"Given the demon exorcising properties of their eyes, a canny and determined navigator could, potentially, exorcise a demon that tried to possess them before it could get too great a hold." (c0077)
Biomancy -
Divination -
Pyromancy -
Stupefy the Soul - "I open my third eye and send disorientating pulses of Warp energy outwards in a cone, directly stunning the souls of the Eldar Guardians before they can get any shots off, and the Wraithguard shut down and reboot." (c0113)
Telekinesis -
Telepathy -
Null Boxes can vary in size. Aldrich creates one the size of a large hardback book: Vantablack. These boxes are, to his knowledge, indestructible and self-powering. They are used to contain vital documents and irreplaceable archeotech within the Imperium. They cannot be hacked, supposedly, so if you lose the code, you won't get back what's in it. No one knows how to make them, and they can (normally) only be found. Aldrich purchased the null box from E-SIM to sell the idea to the Marines, should they wake, that this is something he had found and was using on them. Aldrich doesn't want it known that E-SIM can make Resurrection Serum. (c0111)
"Upload the void-ship training, please, E-SIM."
++Acknowledged.++
I grab my head and moan. This is nothing like the combat protocols E-SIM uploaded months ago. There is far too much data, and I grip the armrests as I sway. Lights dance behind my eyes, and I pass out.
My internal clock fills my mind's eye as I wake, reporting fifty-nine hours have passed. My mouth is dry, and my head hurts so bad that I'm seeing more white dots than scenery.
"Ergh. What the hell was that?"
++A mix of inadequate wetware and limited time damaged your organic processing unit during upload. Damage is still being repaired. While all knowledge was uploaded, skill transfer was minimal, as you are incapable of directly controlling a void ship without appropriate modifications.
++You will not be able to interact with the ship beyond standard verbal or physical commands; Aruna would overwhelm you were you to interface with it directly without additional cybernetics. While E-SIM can and does interact as an intermediary, it will do you no good if you lack the capacity to understand what E-SIM translates for you.++
I groan, "That's a lot of ways to say I'm an idiot."
++Repetition is the mother of learning.++ (c0019)
The Polymer Tissue Replacement multiplies the effects of all the other brain modules. Given how many servitors Aldrich will need to control, he will need it. However, it does have drawbacks. The module would likely have Aldrich labelled as an abominable intelligence by the Mechanics, as my brain would be non-organic. It also comes with a warning that the module is incompatible with soul tier upgrades, but since those are all corrupt and greyed out, I'm not too concerned. Suppose Aldrich wants to keep his "organic processing unit," as E-SIM lovingly mocks Aldrich with, and remain even remotely human. In that case, there are impressive genetic modifications available that grant hyper-intelligence. Though god-like wisdom is still a distant dream, and limited multitasking is all that's left, that's all. (c0026)
The Polymer Tissue Replacement is not compatible with Warp energy, such as that used by navigators and other psykers. (c0168)
A crackling field of energy, primarily used as a weapon. It will destroy material when in use. Power usage is 0.3% per hour. A default option. (c0002)
"As I walk, I practise with my mind modules. I can't use them properly yet. No matter how much they enhance my capabilities, they still take significant practice. The concurrent conscious cascade, for example, lets me run ten instances of myself simultaneously, but I can't manage more than two. One works in conjunction with the Rapid Decision Engine and the savant learning accelerator, enabling me to parse and comprehend massive amounts of data at a rapid pace." (c0027)
"My other stream focuses on my movements, disconnected from the other mind modules, and it feels like I'm living my life in slow motion. Yes, it's awesome, but when the Rapid Decision Engine is linked to my movement, not only does every step take forever, but even blinking feels like I'm falling asleep. There's no need to run every facet of my mind like I'm in a high-stakes shootout every second of the day." (c0027)
"My Savant Learning Accelerator helps me memorise and understand data at an accelerated rate, and the Rapid Decision Engine quickly calculates optimal decisions, much like a Machine-Spirit. Despite its name, it only provides a selection of options based on all the data I know or am observing. It can learn from my previous choices, but it doesn't make choices for me." (c0167)
"Inference Engine might be a better name for it, a little whisper in the back of my mind that helps me interpret everything that I see. It can be quite unhelpful if it's fed bad data, so I have to be careful how much I let it influence me. Paired with the empathic feedback I get from Navigator Conversion, the Rapid Decision Engine is particularly good at interpreting what people are thinking." (c0167)
"Hyperweave Musculature, Armoured Organs, Artificial Sinews, and Reinforced Vascular Network don't offer much additional performance for me these days, nor does Body Tuning. They're all part of Full Bionic Conversion, but I don't have many fully organic parts left. Just a small collection of some of my original organs, separated into the cyborg equivalent of canopic jars and hidden within my chest. They act as backup for my organic brain should my bionic organs be compromised by excessive haywire grenades and other anti-cyborg weapons." (c0167)
These two work together to extend one's lifespan to 400 years while also giving you the neural plasticity of a 20-year-old human. They also massively enhance natural healing, which is equivalent to a navigator's regeneration mutation. (c0074)
The research matrix enables the Operator to gain valuable insights through virtual research. (c0002)
Categories like Universal Hazards include items I already own, such as the Hyperweave Undersuits everyone wears. There's also a huge range of other artificial fabrics, including variants of Imperial flak weave, that likely provide all manner of improvements hidden within the designs. I wouldn't be surprised if acquiring the proper STC for Hyperweave Undersuits, rather than the one I cobbled together with my Research Module, is a superior way to make them. Even a 1% boost in, for example, weaving speed would be a big deal. (c0167)
(Unknown cost is 1,000 to 690,000 souls each?) - Aldrich dismantles machinery from his workshop and collects materials into a wheelbarrow, then pushes it into the Warp, where he reassembles it inside a shed made from a data structure. Following E-SIM's instructions, Aldrich slowly creates an assembly line, operated by mechadendrites and servo arms, all piloted by E-SIM. I leave behind four litres of nanites for the machine spirit, too. The assembly is a delicate process and can't be completed in a single step (< 1 week). Aldrich doesn't want it known that E-SIM can make Resurrection Serum. (c0111)
The syringe is unassuming and filled with a silver liquid that swirls within, as if agitated by heat, yet it remains at a consistent 37 degrees Celsius throughout. The syringe is tough and shaped from armourglass, and the long needle is pure adamantium. The long needle is inserted up the body's nose. With a slow and steady push, depress the plunger until the syringe is empty, then remove the needle. (c0111)
It takes the body two hours to recover its colour. Their scars disappear, and their heads and the jaws of men sprout new hair. The body will lose muscle and bone mass to regrow a missing limb. Older corpses will de-age, changing into fresh-faced twenty-five-year-olds. At the two-hour mark, an electric pulse restarts their hearts, and they start breathing. However, if the death was not immediately before the serum was applied, the body will not wake as it has no soul. A miracle is required if the Soul is not present. If the miracle is provided by E-SIM, the unknown cost is 1,000 to 690,000 souls each? (c0112)
"As I walk, I practise with my mind modules. I can't use them properly yet. No matter how much they enhance my capabilities, they still take significant practice. The concurrent conscious cascade, for example, lets me run ten instances of myself simultaneously, but I can't manage more than two. One works in conjunction with the rapid decision engine and the Savant Learning Accelerator, letting me parse and comprehend massive amounts of data at a rapid rate." (c0027)
"The External Core does not allow for intuitive leaps in understanding as its simulated intellects are not piggybacked off my actual brain. The Savant Learning Accelerator can help mitigate this shortfall to some extent. Still, the difference is minor, since it is usually already maxed out by my own brain and the Concurrent Conscious Cascade. I can't have another Savant Learning Accelerator without another brain." (c0167)
"My Savant Learning Accelerator helps me memorise and understand data at an accelerated rate, and the Rapid Decision Engine calculates optimal decisions quickly, much like a Machine-Spirit. Despite its name, it only provides a selection of options based on all the data I know or am observing. It can learn from my previous choices, but it doesn't make choices for me." (c0167)
E-SIM provides basic sensor reports as needed. A default option. (c0001)
Soul bonding requires placing a small piece of my Soul within the souls of those I wish to bind to mine. Through this link, I can attack any demon that attempts to possess them. I can also purge chaotic influence, read their minds as I please, influence their thoughts, and impart any information that I want them to know. (c0203)
"By the time Dying Light and the Receiving Yards are subdued, I have three hundred thousand standard kills remaining, and one crown kill to spend. I don't need to worry about spending a crown kill Soul Harvest Range Ⅰ anytime soon after the Soul Bonding hack I discovered by accident, but there are plenty of other options." (c0205)
Soul Harvest Range Ⅰ would double the range of my Warp Tap. (c0167)
Soul Harvest Range I. (c0172)
Replaces the dermal layer with a self-replicating, vacuum-resistant material. Enables hull function in a vacuum for 60 seconds and partial function for 300 seconds. Survive vacuum exposure for up to 20 minutes. Increases radiation resistance and provides a minor damage-resistance boost. Freely alter skin pigmentation. Increased control over water loss. Functions as biological skin. (c0010)
Warp and Weft alter the pattern of reality and weave it to your liking up to five metres in any direction. Speed depends on task complexity, nanite quantity, and nanite type. Requires significant power. External nanites are vulnerable to corruption and hostile environments. The Warp and Weft module not only adds a superior inductive energy field but also extends my gellar field so I can shape materials without accidentally causing Warp phenomena. It specifically warns against using external nanites for anything other than deconstruction in warp-heavy environments. (c0030)
E-SIM has only one database and no backup without Warp Infrastructure. It is also required to perform certain tasks, such as opening the E-SIM portal. (c0077)
Warp Infrastructure is the most complex and arcane science Aldrich has encountered to date. The orange box, or Warp Infrastructure module, is an esoteric arcanotech construct called a data structure. A data structure is an artificial Warp entity. It is an idea or a dream in a box. The more you know about how it works, the harder it is to make. Since you can't create one without knowing everything about it, the object was both immensely frustrating and fascinating to create. One problem was that a data structure is influenced by one's interpretation of it, which is why mine is orange: I thought of it as a black-box technology and couldn't get the idea out of my head. Knowing that the so-called 'black boxes' on aeroplanes are actually 'international orange' meant I had to colour my Warp Infrastructure module orange, or it would not work. It's shameful to say, but this reminds me of Ork technology, where they paint things red to make them go faster or black to make them tougher. (c0106)
Using the portal, Aldrich can get the Warp plants needed for navigator healing rituals. (c0167)
— The Warp tap replaces the coccyx bone in the Operator's body. (c0003)
— The Warp tap always exists in the Materium (physical world) and the Immaterium (Quantum Sea) at the same time. (c0002)
— The Warp tap only absorbs soul energy when deployed. (c0001) Warning: All Immaterium entities and some Materium entities will be drawn towards the Operator when active. (c0002)
— When E-SIM's Warp tap is deployed, it automatically slays and absorbs Immaterium demon souls within a limited range. Excessive energy draw may lead to external and internal manifestations or possession by demons. (c0001)
— Demons and other entities in the Materium must be slain within a given range for E-SIM to collect their souls. (c0001)
— The soul energy from Warp entities (demons) killed in the Materium appears to be a rainbow colored mist on the floor, rushing toward Aldrich to be absorbed into his body. (c0001) The soul energy is also seen when the Operator is present in the Immaterium. (c0196)
— The Operator (Aldrich) may choose which Materium souls are not collected. Collected Materium souls may be temporarily housed within the Operator before being absorbed or released. (c????)
— The manufacturing grade, Standard Template Construct, or STC, for Warp taps is available as a tier-four module. New E-SIM devices are under the tier-six "Replicant" module.
Weakens and torments Immaterium Entities (demons), making them extremely aggressive. (c0001)
A Weavefield Projector has a higher mitigation threshold than a conversion or refractor shield, the imperial standard for VIP personal protection. For example, the maximum amount of energy a Weavefield Projector can neutralise in a single strike without overloading, within the same power, weight, and size category, is approximately 30% higher, depending on the specific threat. This is great, but not mind-blowing. One can always use a more power-hungry void shield, and hook it up to a power armour's micro-fusion core, or take a bigger conversion shield. Where it shines is its comprehensive protection and sustainability, protecting one from even the most exotic of weaponry, like the ones favoured by assassins and sadistic aeldari, without having to banish everything into the Warp at a huge energy cost. Not only that, a Weavefield Projector will mitigate a greater total quantity of energy over time compared to other shields in the same category. A void shield would usually overload pretty quickly under the sustained fire that this Weavefield Projector is intended to mitigate, though void shields do have a more rapid cycle time. Void shields require big energy sinks and need time to dump or recycle the energy they've displaced, as opposed to refraction and conversion shields, which have a limited pool of energy they use to counter hostile energies. The Weavefield Projector is a blend of the two technologies.
With this particular Weavefield Projector, I could cover an entire company of Heralds in a protective dome and weather the fire from a Voidraven Bomber's void lances, mines, and exotic missiles, arguably the most dangerous weapons in the galaxy at this scale. I'd probably survive the rest of the bomber squadron, too. I don't think a conversion or refractor shield would even stand up to dark lance, let alone a void lance, and a void shield would probably be saturated after a single strafing run. Bones from psykers, called Psychic Blanks, and Noctilith, also called Blackstone, are both required for this design. The Weavefield Projector itself doesn't require such unusual materials, but the unusual heatsink design does. The heat sink forms a pair of mechanical wings from which will hang a series of pipes, reminiscent of a church organ or wind chimes, that allow for the dissipation of heat and exotic energies, including excessive Warp energy; these pipes are also a form of null rod, a rare type of psychic protection hoarded by the Grey Knights. These wings also allow flight. The Weavefield Projection also requires a Full Bionic Conversion beforehand. (c0091)
Source Chapter: “(c9999)”
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Brian