Well, I'm not sure what is more surprising. That people actually like this crap, or that I'm still writing it!

Thanks to all the 40k buffs that read and reviewed this, even though there was a bit of a 'fluff war' going on in the review board! All good fun, though

For those who don't really have much knowledge in warhammer 40,000, I think I'll start each story with a little bit of history, just so I don't have to slow down the story too much explaining it there. Won't be much difference in the story, still make it nice and detailed, but it means that I won't have to waste time writing about the absolute basics. Just to make it a little more interesting (history lessons would kinda have to suck when you are reading a story) I'll write them as if it is a data file in the 40k universe.

Security level Omega 39 required…

Password accepted

Greetings, Inquisitor

File Reference: Adeptus Mechanicus

The Adeptus Mechanicus are an organisation whose sole purpose is to find, replicate and administer technology. They are unique in the Imperium, in that their religion is centred upon the god of machines, the Omnissiah. This is the only other religion allowed in the Imperium of Man, other than that of the Emperor. However, the two cults do not clash, each benefiting the other. While it is held that the Emperor is the basis of worship in the Imperium, it is perfectly acceptable (on most worlds) to also dedicate prayer to the Omnissiah. In fact, it is absolutely necessary, as those who neglect the machine-spirit of an artefact of technology will find that it will become angry, and malfunction. It is considered an act of heresy throughout the imperium to openly abuse machinery, and those who are found guilty can find themselves declared 'Excommunicatus Hereticus', and put to death.

The Adeptus Mechanicus also maintains its own fighting force, the Skitarii legions. Imperial Guard troops blessed with cybernetic replacements, it is their duty to guard the priests of the machine god.

However, it is beyond the capability of most men to even understand technology, much less administer it. This is the reason for the existence of the tech-adepts of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Tech priests. It is there sole charter in life to worship and maintain technology. Without their knowledge and dedication, the Imperium would be unable to function, and would swiftly fall into savagery.

Chapter Three: Project E

The procession of teens wound slowly around the dull grey block, each keeping their own council. The silence was broken only when the guard leading them halted in front of a set of metal doors.

"This is it," he said simply, punching a complex code into the keypad beside it. After the doors had slid open, he and the two other guards ushered their charges into the room, closed the door and left.

The group's surroundings were very similar to that of their quarters on the Battle Barge; two rows of bunks, each with a small table next to it. A small hallway led out of the room, to the amenities.

"Well, isn't this just nice and cosy?" muttered Hikari sarcastically. A small snicker came from behind her.

"Ha, you think this is bad? Hell, compared to where I come from, this is luxury!" it was the redhead that spoke, an air of arrogance behind her words, "not to mention a lot warmer. Am I the only one here who comes from a planet like Fenris?"

"Fenris? That place has nothing! You want a death world? Try Catachan!"

The redhead twirled to face the heavyset jock regarding her. After staring him down imperiously for a few moments, and receiving only a mocking stare in return, she scoffed.

"Fenris only breeds the toughest. Why else would the Space Wolves recruit from there? What's your name, anyway?"

"Touji Suzahara. Yours, wolf-girl?"

The girl smirked. "Asuka Langley-Soryu, fungus-brain."

Touji merely chuckled quietly. He was used to this kind of non-malicious insult, from a death-worlder, it meant that they liked you.

"Well," Hikari said, rather put off, "as long as we are dispensing introductions, I'm Hikari Hokari, from Macragge."

"Homeworld of the Ultramarines?" the slim, quiet boy asked in wonderment, referring to easily the most well known chapter of Space Marines in the Imperium. "Wow. Shinji Ikari, from the Agri-world of Lockis Two. I've never even seen a Space Marine before."

"It is therefore a good thing that you have not" stated Rei. "It would mean that your world has come under attack."

Shinji turned a delicate shade of pink. "I…I…suppose…miss…er…"

"Ayanami. Rei Ayanami, from Angulus Prime."

An uncomfortable silence drifted across the group. Hikari attempted to stifle a yawn, but was unsuccessful. Feeling the eyes of her companions on her, she blushed.

"I'm, er, going to bed. Long day."

As if she had decided for all of them, the entire group nodded, and each chose a bunk. Thinking that she would never get to sleep, Hikari nevertheless lay down on the hard mattress, and feel instantly to sleep.

xxx

In the cramped confines of the subterranean bunker, techpriest Akagi waited impatiently, her servo-arms flexing with obvious agitation. Beside and slightly behind her stood a young boy, reverently holding her power axe with an inbuilt plasma multi-cutter, an artefact created by a master artificer to help in the tending of their mechanical charges many centuries previously.

Ritsuko checked her timepiece for the third time in as many minutes, her impatience growing. She suspected that Misato had yet again gotten lost, and she was bringing down the children with her.

Finally, her patience worn thin, Ritsuko turned her head slightly to her acolyte.

"Aida, please inform the master of the guard that I wish for his men to find Inquisitor Katsuragi and her party, and lead them here."

The young teen bowed reverently, presented Ritsuko with her staff, and walked quickly down a side passage.

Alone in the giant underground hanger, not counting a trio of technical servitors standing in a small alcove, Techpriest Akagi muttered a quick rite of activation, and depressed a small button on the handle of her weapon. The double-edged axe blade immediately was surrounded by a halo of crackling energy, the bluish glow glinting off the metallic edges of her cybernetic enhancements. Satisfied with the continued operation of the weapon, Ritsuko checked the components of the plasma cutter had been properly maintained and anointed, before shutting it down. Silently thanking the ancient spirit of the axe, she held it in both hands, bathing in the beauty of its existence.

Hearing the approaching footsteps of her apprentice, Ritsuko quickly set her face in a neutral expression.

When he had come closer, acolyte Kensuke Aida bowed. "The Master of the Guard has located Inquisitor Katsuragi, and she will be here shortly, master."

"Excellent. Thankyou, Aida. Take up your position, and wait for their arrival. Remember, this is a momentous occasion, for all of us."

Beaming at his superior's praise, Kensuke respectfully took back the power axe and returned to his place next to his master.

Soon, the soft sounds of many people walking could be heard, slowly becoming louder as they came closer. Finally, the party walked into view, the blast doors separating them from the hanger in which Ritsuko waited already open. Upon entering the chamber, the half-dozen Skitarii troops leading them broke away and stood at attention at the entrance of the room, their cybernetic enhancements reflecting dully in the low light.

"My apologies, Master Techpriest. It has been a long time since I was last here…" began the irate-looking Inquisitor.

"And you got lost." Finished Ritsuko. "No matter, the children are here." She turned her head slightly, to look directly at the group. "You have been chosen by the Imperium to perform a great and honourable task. In all the galaxy, there are only you few who can perform it, and have been sought out and brought together for this project."

"Why us?" interrupted the redheaded girl at the front. Ritsuko let her eyes travel across the face of the youngster, her bionic eye scanning the features, and coming up with the words Asuka Langley Soryu superimposed over her vision.

"Because you each have a particular type of psychic mutation. It is small enough that your powers are almost non-existent, and therefore difficult to detect, but has some particular properties associated with it. The mutation is so rare and difficult to find that we have spent the past decade searching for you. It is interesting to note that you are all of the same age, and are so young."

Asuka opened her mouth as if she was to say something, but obviously thought better of it, and shut it again, her features masked in a scowl.

"In any case, the details of why you have been chosen are irrelevant. It is time to introduce you to 'Project E'. I present…" she paused a moment, and produced a small remote control. Turning and pointing it down the other end of the hanger, she muttered a quick prayer of activation, and depressed the switch.

With a series of small 'clunks', bright overhead lights turned on, revealing the contents of the room. In the stunned silence that followed, Ritsuko Akagi turned back around and finished her sentence.

"Evangelion."

Hikari took an involuntary step backwards, bumping into Shinji, who took absolutely no notice, fixated upon the sight before them. Under each of the lights stood a suit of armour, a colossal hulk of shining silver and matt black. Hikari found that her mouth was dry, she had once seen the ancient suits of terminator armour of the Ultramarines on parade, and those huge constructions were small and frail compared to this 'Evangelion'. However, they were nonetheless exquisitely crafted, each a thing of beauty, the curves of its form highlighting the grace and elegance of the suit.

"Evangelion is an ancient relic from a time well before the Emperor's great crusade," begun the purple-haired Inquisitor, "that is an amalgamation between machine and synthetic flesh. It requires a particular psychic signature to use; each of you has it. The mind is like a fingerprint, each is unique. Evangelion, or Eva, is an extension of the mind of the wearer, and magnifies their mental powers to an extraordinary level. As we do not currently have any indication of the physical and psychic capabilities of the suits, we have no idea what exactly will happen."

Misato regarded the awestruck group with a mixture of cold indifference and sympathy.

"But we must find out."

xxx

For those 40k-ers out there, try and imagine what a suit of Eldar-made terminator armour would look like, cross it with an Eva (from the series), give it a healthy dose of steroids and a Grey Knight-like feel, and you have it.

Well, that took long enough, eh? Hopefully next chapter will not take as long (although in all probability, it will take longer.)

Do people like the little 'fact file' at the start of the chapter? I know it is really basic knowledge to the 40k buffs, but I thought that a little background would be suitable for those who don't know much about it.

-a little side note: whilst I appreciate criticism for obvious mistakes in my background info, I don't want those 'fluff nazis' out there to go on a huge rant about the nitty-gritty details of 40k, as it will just ruin the story for everyone else, me included. So please, NO review discussions about how the Omnissiah is supposedly a C'tan, NO raves on the relative time difference when travelling in the warp, and absolutely NO whinging that your favourite race/ space marine chapter does not have a major prominence!

Oh, and if I get just ONE review saying that I should include the 'Blood Ravens' chapter in the story in any way, shape or form, I will submit your username to the Inquisition, so that they may further, um, 'question' your interest in such a heretical subject! (in my opinion, having the Blood Ravens as a new chapter in Dawn of War is great, but I fail to see the need for Games Workshop to go overboard in making detailed background for them.)

…er, yeah. Bit of a rant there, sorry! Well, until next time, keep your bolter loaded and may the Emperor guide your aim. (If you are a follower of a) the dark gods, b) any of the varied Xenos species or c) a Witch, please submit yourself to the local centre of the administorium, where they will contact the appropriate order of the Inquisition who will eradicate your heresy)