Chapter 41: Everyone, Come Meet Your Ancestors
Half a month later, in front of Omega's lab once again. This time, the lineup gathered at the door was far more impressive, both in numbers and in prestige.
There was the Magos Review Board, led by Magos Laust himself. There was the Priest Observation Group, led by Priestess Rhea. And there was the Officer Procurement Delegation, led by Chief of Staff Douglas.
This weapons approval and exhibition, organized with a flurry of invitations sent out by Omega, was a lively affair. Everyone was rubbing their hands together, eager to see what big show Omega would put on.
Among the Magi, there was a conservative faction ready to teach this "little heretek" a profound lesson. There were also those who had come purely for the entertainment. Among the priests, some were here for the show, others were inspired by Omega's "a lasgun power pack is just as sacred as a multi-fuel engine" theory and had come to learn, and still others, who had been astounded by his "no prohibitions on low-level technology" argument, had come to steal his techniques. The officers were mainly here to inspect and procure, and to show support for their great leader.
Only Magos Laust was here purely to beat him up.
━Σ(ﾟД`|||)━Omega
As the lab doors slowly opened, the crowd was first greeted by two Kastelan Robots, over five meters tall, repeatedly making welcoming gestures. Although the robots were still battered, their smooth "welcome, welcome" movements indicated that their power and locomotion systems had been fully repaired.
The Magi: This kid is truly a prodigy...
The Priests: So big! I want one!
The Officers: Oh! This is awesome! Can we get one of these robots?
Omega stood between the two robots, a sunny smile on his face, waiting for his "honored guests."
"Good morn—"
"Cut the crap!" Laust barked, his face like a winter frost.
"Oh..." Omega replied meekly. But he was confident that this time, he wouldn't give Laust any reason to carry out his plan to beat him up.
The group followed Omega to the firing range at the back of the lab. The reason his lab had a firing range was that he had, through an abuse of his authority, converted an old warehouse into his personal laboratory.
From a distance, the conservative Magos saw the row of "heretical weapons." His original intention of just beating Omega half to death immediately vanished. He decided that if he found any evidence, he would "beat Omega to death" on the spot, making an example of him.
Suppressing his rage, he pointed to the first "heretical" weapon and asked the "blasphemer" before him, "This one?"
"The OMG-RPG," Omega explained. "Full name: Omega-pattern Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher."
"How dare you—"
"Purely mechanical structure, no external power source!" Omega preempted him.
"..." The conservative Magos froze for a moment, then silently picked up the RPG from the table.
"It can use multiple types of warheads," Omega continued. "Fragmentation, meltagun-charge, high-explosive..."
"..." The Magi were silent.
"The RPG's design purpose is as a grenade-extender. More accurate than a grenade, longer range than a grenade."
Clap, clap, clap... Douglas led the applause. He thought this RPG was brilliant. With this, who would be foolish enough to get close to throw a grenade? He still shuddered at the memory of his younger days, sticking melta-bombs to traitor vehicles.
"Simple structure, durable, cheap, flexible, and easy to use," Omega concluded.
"..."
Omega's thought: Hah! Cat got your tongue? La la la...
(P.S. The perfect combination of 2k light weapons design and 42k materials science. Lighter, more powerful, and more WAAAGH! than the original.)
After inspecting it, the conservative Magos silently placed the RPG back on the table. The officers, led by Douglas, eagerly rushed forward to handle it. Under Omega's guidance, they test-fired a few rounds of various ammunition and gave it unanimous praise. The Imperium wasn't without advanced single-man rocket launchers, but those were more like single-man missile launchers, with far more complex structures and designs than the RPG Omega had copied. Omega's version even used modified grenades for ammunition.
The officers were excited, the priests were chattering, and the Magi were silent.
Soon, they moved on to the second weapon. This time, the conservative Magos didn't ask first. He stood in the crowd, staring at Omega. Feeling a little creeped out, Omega quickly began to explain his second creation.
"The OMG-63 Light Rocket Launcher. The launch frame is also a purely mechanical structure. The launch tubes can be added or removed as needed. It can use multiple types of ammunition. But the biggest feature of this rocket is its ammunition. It can be fired by ignition or by an electric charge from a power pack. You can also just break off the tail cap and light the fuze with an open flame. A skilled soldier doesn't even need a launch frame; they can just build a platform with a suitable angle out of dirt and fire it."
"..."
(P.S. Lighter, more powerful, and more WAAAGH! too!)
Again, it was Chief of Staff Douglas who led the test-firing and gave it high praise...
"The single-man mortar. Purely mechanical structure. Similar to a standard mortar, but light enough to be carried, deployed, and fired by a single person. Ammunition is still modified infantry grenades. High rate of fire, lightweight, simple structure, easy to use. Can be put into combat without special preparation and can be used flexibly and reliably in complex terrain and harsh weather conditions."
"..."
(Imperial mortars were bigger, thicker, and more complex than Omega's single-man version. No caliber was below 40cm, and they couldn't be operated by a single person. They still followed the Mechanicus design philosophy of "bigger is better, thicker is more beautiful." P.S. The Omega-pattern single-man mortar was... well, you get the idea.)
Again, Douglas... handled... praised...
"The OMG-82 Single-Man Recoilless Rifle. Purely mechanical structure, fired from a tripod, optical sight, can use multiple types of ammunition. Longer range, more accurate, and more powerful than the OMG-63. The key is that it can be deployed and fired by a single person. Its designation is: Infantry Cannon!"
"Hiss..." Douglas couldn't help himself.
"..." The Magi.
Again, the same routine... Douglas... handled... praised... better than the original...
"Finally, I present the only aerial unit among all the weapons: the OMG-Falcon Autogyro."
"Woooow..."
"Simple airframe structure. The rotor on top is composed of two blades. A three-bladed propeller at the rear provides thrust. It flies by using the airflow generated during flight to turn the rotor blades, which in turn generates lift. It can also hover. The advantage of an autogyro is that even if the engine fails, it can glide to a safe landing. It uses a lasgun power pack and a universal electric motor..."
"Ah ha..."
Omega's thought: Who was that? Who's laughing so strangely? You scared me.
The conservative Magos was grinning hideously. "Ahahaha! I've finally got you!"
Omega's thought: This Magos has a problem...
"Ahem, Magos, this autogyro uses a standard lasgun power pack and a universal electric motor. The airframe is just a simple mechanical structure."
"Is that so? And this instrument panel?"
"Modified from an augur-array and a data-slate!"
"The power..."
"The instrument panel has its own independent power pack. It can be removed at any time and used as a multi-functional augur-array!"
"..."
Omega's thought: What do you think of that? Can't touch me now, can you? Ahahahaha...
"I don't believe you!" the conservative Magos declared.
"You can inspect it!"
"I won't inspect it!"
Omega: "..."
"I just don't believe you! If I say it's suspected of being heretical, then it is!"
Omega started to panic. "You're being unreasonable! Everyone is watching!"
"So what if I'm being unreasonable? I don't care what others think!"
Omega cast a pitiful look at Magos Laust. Magos, someone is bullying me! Your cute, smart, and clever Omega...
Laust, seeing Omega's plea for help, silently turned his back and pretended to chat with the other Magi.
Seeing that Laust was unreliable, Omega turned his gaze to Rhea and the other priests. Comrades! It is I, your reliable, handsome, and dashing Omega! You... hey, hey! What do you mean you're turning your heads?! How could you do this to me?!
Seeing that these people were also unreliable, Omega finally looked to his loyal subordinates, who were bound to him by mutual interest. My loyal and brave... what do you mean you're looking down?! Traitors! This is a shameful betrayal...
Suddenly, Omega felt the back of his neck being seized by the claw of a mechanical demon. He heard the fanatical Magos whisper in his ear, "Little brat, let me teach you a lesson. This world doesn't always play by the rules."
Realizing they had planned this all along, Omega cried out in grief and indignation, "No! This doesn't belong to me..."
After being dangled from his own invention and flown around the settlement for a whole day, the first thing Omega did was not to berate the hypocritical traitors who had gathered around him. He had to go back to his room and change his pants. Then he would settle the score with these "traitors."
Although he had been tormented for a day, his "2k ancestor-version weapons" had been approved by the Magi, including his "OMG-Falcon Autogyro."
In addition to the approval, Omega also received compensation from the conservative Magos: an STC for a small missile. The Magos said that the lesson was to make him remember. He had seen too many geniuses destroyed by their own talent.
Omega had learned his lesson. As long as he was operating within the greater Adeptus Mechanicus, he had to be wary of "fanatics" who didn't play by the rules. He was a little hesitant to accept the STC; it was too valuable. It was only after Laust gave him the signal that he accepted it.
Laust later explained to him in private that although such an STC was precious, it was also quite common. It hadn't been put into production because there were many other models with better power and performance. However, because this model was very small, it was perfect for mounting on Omega's "Falcon." That was why it was given to him.