Warhammer 40k : Space Marine Kayvaan

Kayvaan stared at the strange garment in front of him, running his fingers over the smooth material. "What is this made of? It doesn't feel like fabric or ceramite. The texture's… odd."

Jacob, standing beside him, grinned proudly. "Master Kayvaan, you have no idea how special this is. I pulled a lot of strings to get this suit from the Mechanicus." He held up the outfit and gave it a firm shake, revealing a sleek, black, gel-like bodysuit. "This is the latest in experimental scout gear. It's still in the testing phase, but it's impressive. The suit has a built-in gravity interference device that can distort surrounding light. When combined with this special cloak, it provides full invisibility. The attached mini-super battery ensures 24 hours of functionality when fully charged. The cloak isn't just invisible—it's waterproof, heat-insulating, and can even shift its color like a chameleon for camouflage."

Jacob then handed over another item—a monocle with a thin, transparent lens set in a golden frame, connected to a delicate golden chain. "This is the Lens of Farseeing, an ancient device recovered from a forgotten forge world. It allows enhanced perception across multiple spectra—infrared, low-light, and ultraviolet. Once you put it on, the frame bonds lightly with your skin, so you won't lose it even in intense combat."

Finally, he presented a massive sniper rifle. "And this… this is a heavy sniper-pattern bolt rifle, blessed by the Omnissiah and consecrated for precision strikes. At 1.7 meters tall, it delivers righteous judgment from unimaginable distances. With this gear, you'll embody the Emperor's will as the ultimate scout."

Kayvaan raised an eyebrow, picking up the gear one by one. After suiting up in the bodysuit, donning the glasses, and slinging the cloak over his shoulders, he stepped back to admire the rifle. "Not bad," he said, his voice tinged with approval.

Kayvaan's invisibility cloak and color-changing features underwent meticulous testing with the aid of a Tech-Priest. The Mechanicus's meticulous attention ensured that the Machine Spirit of each artifact was appeased, quickly bringing the equipment to optimal performance. This marked only the beginning of his preparation.

Standing at just 1.75 meters, Kayvaan was significantly shorter than the towering Space Marines, who exceeded two meters in height even in their lightest armor. For him, finding power armor that fit was out of the question. Despite searching across the empire, none existed that would suit his size. Moreover, his physical strength wasn't what it used to be, making it nearly impossible for him to wield the colossal armor designed for Space Marines. This harsh reality forced Kayvaan to reevaluate his role. Instead of a frontline warrior, he found his niche as a scout.

In this new position, Kayvaan could provide invaluable long-range sniper support during battles or act as the unit's eyes and ears, scouting enemy territory for intelligence. A scout could also carry out surgical strikes on strategic enemy targets, a role perfectly suited to Kayvaan's current capabilities. With his basic equipment finalized and his path clear, Kayvaan and Jacob left the testing site and headed home.

The night air was cool, and the streets glowed softly under warm lamplight as the two men walked through the city. Their spirits were high, and their conversation buzzed with ideas about the future of the Knights Templar. From restructuring leadership to base development, soldier training to tactical planning, their enthusiasm carried them through the winding alleys. Before they knew it, they were standing in front of Darius's residence, which now doubled as the temporary headquarters.

As they entered, a young voice called out from the dimly lit room. "Master Kayvaan, you're back! And Master Jacob too." Someone had been waiting for them.

Kayvaan flipped on the light, revealing Magos Ferratus, his gray robes trimmed in green and red, the colors of Mars, draped over a wiry frame reinforced by cybernetic augmentation. His folded hands rested within his wide sleeves, but what truly commanded attention were the four mechanical limbs extending from his back, moving with an eerie, serpentine precision. His face was a study in cold logic, carved like a machine's blueprint. One eye gleamed with human sharpness, while the other, a telescopic lens, whirred softly as it adjusted focus.

"Magos Ferratus," Kayvaan greeted him, his tone neutral. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"I've come to deliver a report," Ferratus replied in his smooth, almost robotic tone. One of his mechadendrites extended toward the desk, placing a folder neatly on its surface. "The report is complete. It includes all technical specifications and schematics relevant to the battleship. I trust the Machine Spirit of the data will satisfy your inquiries."

Kayvaan opened the folder and skimmed through the dense pages of technical data. Closing it, he asked, "You just returned from Mars, correct? How did the negotiations proceed? And the battleship—has it been sanctified?"

Ferratus was a recent addition to Kayvaan's retinue, a Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus tasked with supporting his chapter in both technological and strategic matters. Alongside him had come Confessor Marius Benedictus, a zealous preacher of the Ecclesiarchy. Their first mission had been to Mars to secure a battleship for the chapters.

"It went smoothly," Ferratus said, his monotone voice tinged with a rare note of excitement. "The battleship transfer is complete. We acquired a Lunar-class cruiser, the Dros Sovereign. I personally conducted the rites of inspection, and I am pleased to report it is in pristine condition. It is a marvel of design—robust, efficient, and highly adaptable. While it lacks the sheer firepower of a Retribution-class or the vast holds of a Dominator, its modular construction allows for easier maintenance and refitting compared to other vessels of its size."

Kayvaan frowned, leaning forward. "You're telling me we could maintain something like that ourselves?"

"With assistance from the Mechanicus, certainly," Ferratus replied, his mechanical arms gesturing in emphasis. "And do not forget, Chapter Master, your chapter has control over forge world in the Eastern Fringe."

Kayvaan hesitated. "But that's barely a functioning forge world by Imperial standards."

Ferratus's augmented eye whirred as he focused on Kayvaan. "True, but repairs and modular replacements are well within its capacity if supplied with sufficient raw materials. The Dros Sovereign was constructed in a sub-sector where much of the material came from mining and industrial worlds. Compared to those facilities, your forge world is a notable step up in capability, albeit requiring substantial investment to achieve its full potential."

Kayvaan's astonishment turned to excitement. "This is incredible. When can we put the battleship into action?"

Ferratus's mechadendrites twitched as he spoke. "It will take no less than two Terran years to complete the modifications, assuming all goes according to the Omnissiah's will. The Lunar-class cruiser, originally constructed for the Imperial Navy, was designed with naval engagements in mind: firepower, armor, and speed. While excellent for fleet actions, certain modifications are required to align it with the needs of the Knights Templar."

As he spoke, a mechanical arm extended from Ferratus's servo-harness, retrieving a data-scroll encoded with sacred schematics. The arm unfurled it onto the table with precise, mechanical efficiency. "Observe," Ferratus intoned, pointing with another mechadendrite at a section of the schematic. "This is the primary crew deck, positioned in the most stable portion of the ship. It has been designated as the site of a grand sanctuary to honor the Emperor. Construction has already begun under the supervision of Confessor Marius, who remains on Mars to ensure the spiritual sanctity of the work."