Enginseer

An Enginseer is a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus whose specialization is the maintenance and repair of the many technological instruments of the Imperium of Man, both in peace as in war. Enginseers are the most commonly seen members of the Mechanicus, for they are present wherever a somewhat technologically advanced human settlement reside. By virtue of the ancient Treaty of Mars, many Enginseers are attached to the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy, maintaining and repairing the materiel and ensuring that the warriors prosecuting the Emperor's wars always have the means to do so.

History
"The Machine Spirit is willing, I shall ease the Machine's pain!"

- Enginseer attached to the 1st Kronus Liberators regiment while performing field repairs.

At the very fundation of the Imperium of Man in 800.M31, the Emperor sealed a pact with the Cult Mechanicus, ensuring their lasting collaboration in exchange for political and religious almost-independance. As a result, the Mechanicum started to train a large number of Tech-priests aspirants as Enginseers, to ensure that the demands of the treaty would be met.

Enginseers are engineer-mystics, fully initiated members of the mysterious Adeptus Mechanicus and its cult. they are highly trained members of the Cult Mechanicus and are dedicated to the maintenance of Imperial technology. Through many years of study they have gained the knowledge of the rituals and litanies that form the body of machine lore, as well as a deep understanding of the more practical disciplines of mechanics and electronics. Unlike most of the Priesthood of the Adeptus Mechanicus who remain aloof from Mankind and isolated on their Forge Worlds or Explorator Fleets, Enginseers can be found serving in almost every Imperial institution, and are often assigned to the Imperial Guard or other parts of the Adeptus Terra. The only exception is the Space Marine Chapters, whose methods of warfare exclude any dependance on an external institution, hence they have their own "Enginseers" in the form of the Frater Astrotechnicus or Techmarines. The main difference between the two is that a Techmarine is a genetically modified superhuman loyal to both his Chapter and the Cult Mechanicus where the Enginseer is a mere human member of the Cult, but their missions are essentially the same, and if given access to the necessary technical data, a Techmarine could fulfill an Enginseer's work and vice versa.

The Enginseers serve as field engineers and maintenance specialists across the galaxy, often in harm's way, as those seconded to the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy will be called on to make repairs on the battlefield as well as in the workshop. They are a common sight on battlefields with large numbers of armoured vehicles, and are often accompanied by a retinue of Servitors for assistance and protection. Although most Guardsmen revere their vehicles enough not to risk annoying an Enginseer by 'tinkering,' the modification of vehicles to fulfill a certain need is inevitable, much to the chagrin of any Enginseers present.

Enginseer contingents also accompany the Mechanicus' mighty Titan Legions and the crews of the massive warships of the Imperial Navy, carefully monitoring these mighty machines's systems and entreating their ancient Machine Spirits to function efficiently with rituals of placation and maintenance. In the heat of battle, the Enginseers will ease the machine's pain, performing damage control and field repair procedures, keeping their charge functional and willing to fight.

Despite the respect they usually command among the units they are seconded to, Enginseers (and Techmarines for the matter) are not held in high regard among the Cult Mechanicus itself as their skills seldom contribute to the The Quest for Knowledge. As a result of their overwhelmingly practical knowledge, they are often viewed as lowly but necessary cogs in the workings of the Cult.

Wargear
Enginseers seconded to the Imperial Guard often outfit themselves with cybernetic enhancements and protections to augment their survivability. Those enhancements grants them protection similar to that of Power Armour. The Enginseers also carry an Omnissian Power Axe, the typical long-shafted, two-handed halberd-like contraption which is as much a weapon as a tool as a religious icon to the members of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Enginseers often make use of multiple robotic arm augmentations known as Mechadendrites that are connected to their central nervous system via the spine, and assist them in repair operations. Alternatively, the Enginseer can opt to equip himself with a Servo-arm, more pratical for heavy lifting and for self-defence.

Many Enginseers are also accompanied by a group of Servitor Cyborgs, who are either equipped with additional heavy tools to assist in repairs, or heavy weaponry if the Enginseer estimates that the safety of his ministrations cannot be guaranteed by the surrounding Guardsmen.