Pelkha led Pullo to the tank he would be operating. They were in the middle of a large hangar bay and were standing at one of the dune crawlers that had recently been refurbished. A minor tech priest was walking around it and sprinkling incense on its hull. The machine appeared to be mechanically and structurally sound, it just needed to be spiritually prepared.

"This will be your new home for the foreseeable future," said Pelkha gesturing to the four legged machine.

It was not a large tank, but the genius of the machine god's plans was evident from its design. It's four large legs would allow it to traverse and fire from any kind of terrain and the giant laser mounted on the side of the hull would be a reliable anti-armour weapon.

Pelkha glanced upwards to the access hatch in the top of the vehicle, "Where are the interface cables?" she mumbled to herself. "Someone has been neglecting the final parts of the rites of extraction," she said to Pullo, "wait here a moment."

She climbed up the ladder on the side of the tank and peered in, she then reached in with one of her long mechanical arms and pulled out a cable. She came down and proceeded to remove the standard Skitarii backpack from Pullo. She then linked the cables into Pullo's back, they would allow him to interface with the machine and in turn they would keep his Augments charged. Without the power supply in his backpack, the chemical energy from his body could only keep his augments running for a few hours.

This way he would have a symbiotic link with the Dunecrawler, he would see what it sees and feel what it feels, and in turn, the dunecrawler would provide him with the motive force he needed.

As she worked on Pullo's back she said "Do you understand the responsibility you have been given?"

"I do," he replied.

"You are becoming one with this machine, do not take this responsibility lightly." she explained.

"I understand," said Pullo.

"There, You should now be linked to the dunecrawler," said Pelkha, "try performing the rites of diagnosis to confirm."

Pullo accessed the Dunecrawler's systems, he knew how to do it instinctively, it felt new, but familiar, like a half remembered dream.

+++ Designation Vengeance 21 +++

+++ Refurbishment complete +++

+++ All Systems Optimal +++

+++ Operators incomplete +++

+++ Pilot Absent +++

"Systems are optimal, however the pilot is not present." reported Pullo.

Pelkha turned Pullo around and went through the rites of installation.

"The machine is sacred, it will protect you," said Pelkha.

"It is like armour unto my body." replied Pullo.

"The machine is sacrosanct, do not abandon it."

"It is my shelter, and my charge."

"The machine is holy, it will destroy the enemy."

"I will guide its power."

"The machine is precious, do not neglect it."

"Righteous maintenance will be by creed," said Pullo. The words they had spoken together weighed heavy on him, this dunecrawler was his responsibility, to shirk it would be blasphemy.

"Excellent, my work here is done," said Pelkha cheerfully, "Just wait here for a bit, once a pilot is ready, it will be installed."

Pullo nodded in understanding.

With that, Pelkha left him.

Pullo climbed up the ladder and into the hatch at the top of the tank. It was cramped, there was a small seat where he could stay and operate the digital input for the tank, as well as the controls for the laser.. There were multiple screens, one that would be used to see what the laser was aiming at, one to see around the tank, and one to communicate with the pilot. Pullo could get a data feed that would be on the screen sent through his interface cable, the screens were a backup and allowed for easier multi-tasking. On the wall at the back of the tank, there was a phosphor pistol, a revolver that was typically used by the Sulpherhound cavalry. Possibly to be used if he had to exit the vehicle.

Pullo took the time he had to pray to the machine spirits of the dunecrawler. A tank like this would have great machine spirits that would need to be tended to. Neglecting them would be a sin and could mean a malfunction or worse.

After a while of waiting, there was a ping sound, then a message appeared on one of the screens.

+++Maintenance ritual request+++

+++Open pilot insertion hatch+++

Pullo knew what to do. There was a small switch box next to the ladder. He opened it and flicked the one that was fifth from the top.

This opened a small hatch in front of the one Pullo used to climb in. Pullo saw light coming from a translucent window facing the front of the Dunecrawler. He could just about make out the pilot being lowered into the amniotic tank in the front part of the vehicle. After this was done, he could see mechanical arms coming down and fitting the pilot with whatever interfaces it needed. Once the installation was complete, the hatch was closed.

The role of gunner was traditionally held by a Ranger and Pullo was proud to have been chosen for such a position. However the life of the pilot, which was normally a Skitarii Vanguard, intrigued him more. The dunecrawler required full immersion of the pilot, as well as physical and neural links. The pilot didn't so much drive the dunecrawler, but became the Dunecrawler. This leads to perfect control of what would be a complex machine, however the process does not have a second thought for the pilot. The fluid the pilot needs to be immersed in was corrosive, the pilot would be sustained by the oral augments, but eventually, the fluid would destroy the organic parts of the Skitarius's body. The flesh is weak, as they say.

Pullo typed on the communication keypad. "Confirm integration."

He waited a few seconds for the pilot's response, "confirmed." came the response on the screen.

Pullo Typed, "Designation 2044 Pullo,"

The message came back, "Designation 5964 Kee"

"Greetings Kee," said Pullo in binhiric.

There was no reply.

"Confirm Auditory communication?" he asked.

There was no reply again.

He typed on the keyboard, "Can you hear me?"

"I can't," replied Kee.

Pullo ran a quick diagnostic for the audio systems, "The audio appears to be disconnected. We need a tech priest to perform the rites of repair."

A message appeared on the screen.

+++ Maniple Mobilise +++

+++Follow codified coordinates in data packet+++

+++Data packet sent+++

"There is no time for a tech priest," said Kee on the screen, "we need audible binhiric. Can you fix it?"

Pullo looked around the tank and spotted a cable on the floor. It had a plug on the end and he looked around for the socket that might match it. The audio box was at the top of the cabin. And it appeared to be disconnected. On the back of it was a port that matched the cable.

"I do not know the correct rites," typed Pullo.

"The machine god is with us," was the reply on the screen, "pray that he guides your hands."

Pullo took the cable in hand and prayed, "Oh machine god, guide this repair and be with the machine spirits as I enact this operation. To the machine spirits, please forgive my clumsy approach, and forgive my trespasses if this cable is not correct."

Pullo then jammed the cable into the back of the audio box.

There was a pop, then a faint buzz from the speaker, "can you hear me?" asked Pullo tentatively.

The reply came through in clear binhiric, "Confirmed."

"Praise the Omnissiah!" said Pullo.

"May the Omnissiah guide us." said Kee, as the tank began to move..

"And may we serve the Omnissiah well." replied Pullo.

…

Kee walked the dunecrawler to a nearby transport train and folded its legs once it was on the carriage. Along with two other dunecrawlers, this would be the fastest and most efficient way to get to the front lines.

While waiting for the train to reach its destination, Pullo asked the pilot. "What is your deployment duration?"

Kee answered back, "Three years on this planet."

"That predates the Ork invasion."

"Correct, I was deployed at the Ryzan outpost. Deployment to the dunecrawler was a reward for my service." she explained.

"My story is similar, I have been deployed on this planet for two years. What deed were you recognised for?"

"My unit was one that assaulted Manufactorum Anathon and reclaimed it from the Orks, my unit excelled in their task, so I was rewarded."

"My unit was also at Anathon, but I was recognized for my unit finding a piece of archeotech. I was not with them at the time, but I bring honour to them with my presence here."

"Xenos kill count?" asked Kee.

"Twenty seven, including three high value targets." replied Pullo proudly.

"Thirty five," replied Kee, "no high value targets."

Pullo was impressed.

They were interrupted by an incoming message through the noosphere, it was the Techpriest, Tritix. "House Treskothic is disgraced! They wield the holy machines that they are gifted with reckless abandon. The rightly guided pilots have pledged allegiance to our forgeworld, but some remain in active resistance. Destroy the knights that we are unable to save. The machine god would prefer them to be destroyed than in the hands of traitors!"

"We are to destroy knights?" asked Kee. "It would be blasphemy to attack a masterwork of the machine god."

"The knights themselves are not corrupted, but they need to be liberated from the House of Treskothic." said Pullo. If we can liberate the knight from the pilot, that should be the objective."

"I'm happy I don't have to pull the trigger." said Kee.