| abstract
| - Schooled in the forbidden knowledge of the Omnissiah, Techmarines are individuals that displayed an affinity for the operation of machines as Aspirants. They undergo special trials and tests after their induction into their parent Chapter to discern their suitability to receive additional training under the auspices of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Upon their ascension to the status of a full Battle-Brother, those judged worthy are despatched to a Forge World of the Adeptus Mechanicus -- perhaps even to Mars itself, where they are inducted into the secrets of the Machine Cult. Upon their eventual return to their Chapter, the Space Marine has learned not only the operation of all manner of machinery, but also how to convene with the Machine Spirits themselves, how to undertake repairs of aggrieved or wounded machines, and even how to construct new ones. This terrible knowledge weighs heavily upon the newly created Techmarine, and in many ways sets him apart from the ranks of his brothers. Yet, despite his induction into the most secret of arts, he is at his core, and shall always be, a Space Marine. Due to their critical mission within their parent Chapter, and their scarcity, it is a rare thing for a Techmarine to take the Apocryphon Oath and serve a Vigil into the Deathwatch. Quite often, it is those freshly ordained Frater Astrotechnicus who shoulder this burden, as serving a Vigil grants them the opportunity to broaden their understanding of many technologies, both Imperial and xenos, and serve their Chapter that much more efficiently upon their return. While it is true that many Masters of the Forge and Chapter Masters are loath to grant their permission to their Techmarine brethren to serve in the Deathwatch, they also understand that it is a necessity to avoid technological stagnation or regression. The most critical of a Deathwatch Techmarine's tasks is to operate, maintain, and, if necessary, repair the myriad of war machines used by the Astartes of the Long Watch. Every item of technology, from a simple round of Bolter ammunition to a Battle Barge, is revered as an instrument of the Emperor’s divine will, and the Techmarine knows that to neglect such sacred technology is akin to dereliction of duty and blasphemy. After all, a Bolter not cleaned, oiled, blessed, and with its Machine Spirit beseeched can scarcely be expected to be reliable in battle and protect the life of its Astartes. Techmarines oversee this maintenance process, guiding their Battle-Brothers in the correct and proper rituals by which the Machine Spirit of each and every weapon is appeased. On the battlefield, a Techmarine’s primary role is to effect repairs of damaged wargear, so that it may return to the fight. Each Techmarine carries a huge range of highly specialised and often arcane tools, sometimes mounted on a Servo-arm or at the end of a prehensile Mechadendrite. With these tools, the Techmarine can repair virtually any item of equipment, from an overheated Plasma Pistol to an immobilised Land Raider, provided that some spark of the Machine Spirit’s essence remains. Many battles have been won thanks to a Techmarine recovering a damaged weapon in this manner, and in their own way they are often vital to a mission’s success. Although many of the weapons carried by Space Marines are wonders of technology beyond the dreams of normal men, there are some machines that are so exceptional that only a Techmarine may attend them. One of the most unusual of these is the Conversion Beamer, a rare weapon that works by converting matter to energy in a beam that becomes stronger the further it extends and the more matter is converted. It is only by the constant ministrations of a Techmarine that such a weapon can be utilised—should anyone else attempt to use the weapon, its Machine Spirit might become greatly angered and turn its ire upon the wielder instead. There are yet more weapons and items of equipment even more exotic than the Conversion Beamer. Many of these unique weapons are safely sealed within the confines of a Vault at the heart of each Watch Fortress. The Deathwatch Techmarine keeps his portion of the Vault sealed to all but his fellow Techmarines. Unique weapons, the likes of which are thought to be unique in the galaxy, are kept sealed within the Watch Fortress Vault, their secrets impenetrable even to a senior Arch-Magos of the Mechanicus. In many cases, the Techmarines have only incomplete knowledge of their operation, and no understanding of their maintenance. Such weapons might be lost relics from the Dark Age of Technology, or the product of alien technologies long since vanished from the galaxy. Some are known to be capable of unleashing unprecedented levels of destruction, perhaps laying waste to entire cities in a single blast. Others are so poorly understood that their use would only be risked in the direst of circumstances, and it is the responsibility of the Deathwatch Techmarine to do so when called upon by his Watch Commander. A final, and often critical role performed by Deathwatch Techmarines is the evaluation and, if deemed necessary, the retrieval of alien technology encountered in the field. In the first instance, a Techmarine must be able to ascertain whether alien machinery presents an immediate danger to the Kill-team, and if it does he must conceive a plan of action to neutralise or circumvent the threat. This is especially true when boarding alien spacecraft, for the team might be faced with a wholly alien environment, in which even the most innocuous looking item might prove to be a deadly weapon system. In the second instance, it is long-standing doctrine that, if possible, examples of alien technology should be recovered so they may be studied by the xenos-savants of the Inquisition. Such a task is dangerous in the extreme, but vital to the continued mission of the Deathwatch, and potentially the very survival of Mankind.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)