It is the role of the Cybernetica Datasmith of the Legio Cybernetica, here armed with Gamma Pistol and Power Fist, to lead Kastelan Robots into battle
A Cybernetica Datasmith is a specialist rank of Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-priest who programs the Kastelan Robots of the Legio Cybernetica at the maniple level, often having to do so in the thick of battle. They have access to the dizzying array of weapons and arcana of their Forge World's arsenals, which they use in defence of themselves and their charges.
Role[]
Since the aftermath of the Warmaster Horus' rebellion, the Legio Cybernetica's robots have been controlled completely by their masters -- not by the bio-plastic cerebra and nerve-like tendril webs of the ancient Mechanicum's constructs, but by sanctified doctrina wafers, fusions of bio-matter and electronics often in even shorter supply than the robots themselves. No bigger than the cards of the Emperor's Tarot, these slivers of wetware are entrusted to the Cybernetica Datasmiths that accompany the robot maniples to war. Inserted into the dataslot hidden behind each robot's chestplate, the wafer's command protocol will dictate every iota of the host's behaviour, usually optimising its ability to destroy its foes in a spectacular fashion.
If the accompanying Datasmith wishes to change the behaviour of his charges -- for instance to the assault-oriented Conqueror protocol -- he must manually remove the first doctrina wafer and insert a new one in its place. Should a maniple of robots find itself in battle mode without a Datasmith, it will continue to prosecute its last doctrina protocol until it runs out of power -- something that usually takes solar weeks of unbridled slaughter to achieve. Such risks and limitations are willingly accepted by the Cult Mechanicus, for the act of hardwiring independent thought into a battle automaton is strictly forbidden.
Unit Composition[]
- 1 Cybernetica Datasmith
Wargear[]
Sources[]
- Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (8th Edition), pp. 42, 78
- Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus - Cult Mechanicus (7th Edition) (Digital Edition), "Mars," "Agripinaa," "Stygies VIII," "Metalica," "Ryza" (Gallery Images)
Gallery[]
