{oOo}
The Iron-clad Defence
{oOo}
Tekhne smiled gently at the dark haired infant cradled in her arms, mechadendrites rippling in a way that could only be described as contented.
"Looks like it has happened again, Lord," murmured the battle scarred Serik, current Chapter Master of the Iron Warriors.
Perturabo gave him a remonstrating look, "She is the way she is," he said rather sharply.
The marine raised his hands to pacify his Primarch, "I meant no offence, it is a fine thing Lady Tekhne is invested so in the future generations of the Imperium," 'And you to, as well, my lord', he left unsaid.
Tekhne waved her husband over, and Serik wisely remained where he was, and watched them both.
{oOo}
The dark-haired young lady frowned and pulled her head out of console she had been working on and called out, "Okay, who last touched the circuitry in here?"
Several heads swivelled around, the visiting Mars Adept doing so more literally, and Soteria ruthlessly prevented the distaste from showing on her face, but said, "Lambda Mu-78, please do not do that." 'It is not natural for a humanoid body do that.'
"Your trivial repugnance is noted," responded the adept evenly, digitized voice slightly grating.
'He is mocking me, I'm sure of it,' Soteria thought to herself, eyebrow twitching a little.
"You seem to be malfunctioning," observed the Adept in a tone that might at a stretch, be considered solicitous.
She resolutely turned her back to the console and said with utter blandness, "This will need to be rewired, whoever worked on it last did so incorrectly."
Foot-steps drew towards her, "Do you not need protective gear?" there was curiosity in that grating voice now.
"Technically no," she said absently, voice echoing in the recess of the console, "My abilities as a Senshi will keep me from harm."
As if in answer to this, a cascade of sparks showered over her as she detached a stubborn cable, yet skittered across her skin with no effect.
"…So it seems."
"Indeed," her tone was censured.
Unseen to her Lambda Mu-78 nodded thoughtfully as he watched her work, "So what do your capabilities consist of?"
Her mouth twitched into a smile as she began to reconnect cables, "Protection from adverse affects such as poisonous gasses and extremes of temperature, force-fields and such" she listed clinically.
"No offensive capability?"
"Not without… creative applications," Soteria retreated from the console and began to reattach the covers.
"…You have a deft way of working, for your youth," the Adept said almost grudgingly.
She nodded regally, "Thank you, Adept, Mother and Father expect the best any person can do."
{oOo}
