[Close enough
]
The holographic figure of Throk Mak Taur shimmered on a pedestal in front of the Master. Even as the servitors went, he was horrific. A creature that was subjugated by the Master in times long past, Throk Mak Taur was nearly a perfect dozen feet tall, not including the 3 feet long razor sharp spines that coated his back, which while currently sheathed like a cloak, he could raise at will to stand entirely on end. He had four arms, each with three joints that allowed him to twist them into all sorts of complex figures and angles. They were also as thick as the average human. He carried four curved single edged powerswords, and was massively armoured in ornate armour of a strange brass/black hue, and engraved in runes. Throk Mak Taur had come into his service voluntarily, asking only to become 'One of the thinking servants' and to retain his heraldic armour. It had been augmented of course, but for Throk Mak Taur it was enough. The Master had done his induction personally, replacing his bones with adamantite as all servitors were, identifying organs and replacing them with more efficient machines where possible. He hollowed the spines and poured a molten river of quadanium into each so they could withstand the hardest of blows, and cut through armour, flesh and bone as though it were paper. He was proud of Throk Mak Taur, for he had converted nearly his entire race voluntarily to the Master's cause and they made for excellent zero-g and close quarter soldiers.
Throk Mak Taur was speaking. "The human refused to speak with the interface servitors, the elf is now undergoing questioning, with the troll to be questioned next."
<Continue with the interrogations. You will personally interrogate them, and lead the torture should they not see sense. I assume you still have a torturer?>
"Yes master. We have undertaken examinations of the elf's ship, and found little of use on board. There were few items we do not already have improvements or equally efficient counterparts already. The humans is filled with many complex tools and gadgets, but most are of little use to us or our existing models are vastly superior. We have disabled its communications and remote piloting array, as we believe a device in the humans armour to be capable of commanding it. The machine that attempted to assault the boarding servitor who breached the ship is repairable, but appears to be of little use to you Master."
<Take what we can use, and destroy the rest. Should the ship appear to prove to be capable of use as a combat collective, refit it as such. The Claw is on its way?>
"Yes Master, the artifact the human had stolen is now on its way to you with the escort you dictated."
<Excellent. Commence the interrogations, Throk Mak Taur. As always you serve me well.>
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A slightly augmented human sat across from Ghost as he awakened. Seeing him regain consciousness, the being spoke. “Welcome to the fleet of the Master. You will be questioned. Satisfactory answers to our questions will earn you food, drink, and proper rest. Failure will result in your deprivation of these things and torture. You will note that you are unrestrained. Attempted escape or assault will result in my restraining you, or should you defeat me this ship swarms with the Servitors of which one damaged member subdued your friends entire ship in 57 standard seconds. Resistance is futile. ” It appeared to refer some kind of mental checklist. “Your understanding of these facts is unnecessary and unrequired. What is your designation?”
The questioning began.
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In another room the same speech was repeated to Hexar.
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Alexin came to before Throk Mak Taurs indomitable figure in a small but well equipped room, strapped securely and unclothed to a vertical flat laminated surface. Looking around him he saw all kinds of devices of torture, blades, pins, cudgels and probes surround him, and in a worrying case what appeared to be automated scissors. Dimly he could see a cowled figure standing behind the beast in front of him, and two combat servitors in full face helms which glowed dully green through the plexiglass visor, armed with wrist mounted bolters and resting their arm on the pommels of their greatswords, pointed down to the floor. Alexin saw that their blades were at least his own height in length.
The beast in front of him spoke. “You will speak to us, human. You will tell us your name. You will tell us why you sought the claw. You will tell us why you rescued the elf. You will tell us in detail where you are from. You will tell us what augmentations your armour has, knowing that even now our servitors disassemble it to discover its secrets for themselves. You will do the same of your ship, in the same knowledge. You will do this in good faith, to earn your keep and in the interests of swiftness, not need. And you will answer any and all questions we have. Failure...” He emphasized the word, “will not be tolerated. Torture will be initiated. You will continue to be denied nutrition or true rest. Now,” He fingered a delicate looking blade from a table, “Speak.”
++MORTURI NOLUMNUS MORI++OMNISSIAH SAEVIO PROCUL VESTRI HIC++VOS ERO DEFAECO++NEX UT HOSTILIS DEUS OF MACHINA++