Upgrading the movement system of the Gamma necessitated an upgrade to its operating system for compatibility.
The changes to the operating system touched upon Gamma's major weakness: the machine spirit. He was a bit unclear about the difference between a machine spirit and a machine spirit.
To avoid paralyzing his Gamma, Gamma decided to seek guidance from Father Jacob, the "Kowtow Master," as no one understood how to appease machine spirits better than those Rune Mech-monks.
Jacob was very welcoming of Gamma seeking his guidance. To be able to impart his life's learning to a genius favored by the Omnissiah filled Jacob, a Priest who had been kowtowing for over forty years and was thoroughly steeped in religious rituals, with a sense of mission.
"Gamma, what do you think a machine spirit is?" Jacob asked Gamma.
Gamma replied, "It's the general term for the automation systems and operational mechanisms of technological creations."
"Hmm, a very standard answer, but not what I'm asking. I'm asking, 'What do you think?'"
"What I think?"
"Yes, what do you think?"
"Uh… artificial intell…"
Jacob quickly interrupted Gamma, "Not yet, not yet!"
So he meant there was a "yet" and a "could be yet," Father Jacob, you're not being honest!
Jacob, feeling guilty under Gamma's strange gaze, furtively glanced at where he hid things, and continued:
"A machine spirit is different from forbidden abominable intelligences because they do not possess the ability to self-upgrade."
Gamma nodded and analogized, "Oh, like animals with strong instincts but lacking higher intelligence."
"Exactly, their nature is close to that of wild beasts; they can display hatred, stubbornness, and preferences."
"Artificial beasts?"
"Ahem, that's not wrong either."
"Then do they evolve? Can they…"
Jacob stopped Gamma from speaking further, sternly warning him, "Gamma, never mention abominable intelligences in front of anyone again."
"Alright, we're talking about machine spirits."
Jacob emphasized again, "Yes, just talking about machine spirits!"
"Understood."
Jacob nodded and continued, "machine spirits should not have completely autonomous capabilities."
"Oh."
Even though only the two of them were in the room, Jacob subconsciously and furtively scanned his surroundings quickly, then whispered:
"But documented records show that machine spirits of a certain age are actually fully capable of doing so."
Gamma: Understood. If anyone asks, just say it's a gift from the Omnissiah!
"So a machine spirit is a machine spirit?"
Jacob was very pleased to see Gamma grasp the "art" of Tech-priest' speech so quickly and said, "Not entirely. A machine spirit is a broad concept with multiple meanings."
"Multiple?"
"Yes, let's start with the multiple."
"Alright."
Gamma adjusted his posture and listened attentively, as Father Jacob began to explain the meaning of "machine spirit" to him bit by bit:
First Layer Concept — Religious Concept.
The machine spirit, as a religious concept, has long existed. The Adeptus Mechanicus has believed from the very beginning that a "machine soul" exists in all machines, and it is due to the existence of this machine soul that machines can be used.
Second Layer Concept — Technical Concept.
The machine spirit, as a technical concept, is divided into two categories:
One category is the unconscious machine spirit at the physical level—a summation of concepts reflecting the "physicochemical properties" of tools and equipment themselves. For example, the machine spirit of a tank chassis in a foundry reflects the yield rate of the casting process and various performance aspects of a single chassis. These are unconscious but very helpful for production.
The other category refers to the automation systems and operational mechanisms of technological creations.
Operational mechanisms refer to the hardware of technological creations. For example, if a vehicle's wheel hub falls off due to missing hardware, preventing it from moving, this is a manifestation of the machine spirit's displeasure.
Automation systems refer to the software of technological creations. For example, if a vehicle's operating system is attacked by corrupted code, preventing normal driving, this is also a manifestation of the machine spirit's displeasure.
Third Layer Concept — Metaphysical Concept
The metaphysical concept of the machine spirit can also be divided into two categories:
The first category refers to "human XX ability," such as things starting by themselves; castellan robots wandering alone; or Land Raiders that fought Orks all night without a driver, even killing a Warboss and many of his followers.
Don't ask, just say it's a gift from the Omnissiah! Ask again, and your weapons and promethium supply will be cut off!
The second category is the rarest and most miraculous—human emotional investment in technological creations, causing the technological creations to develop their own Warp projection, allowing them to perform beyond the design and material limits of the creation itself. Examples include: weapons on the battlefield that continue to kill enemies without ammunition; plasma guns that do not overheat; vehicles that still race without fuel, and so on.
In a word: technological creations have gained sentience!
"Uh, really?"
"Really!"
"Kowtowing really works?"
"It really works! Hey! Gamma, that's called blessing! Appeasing!"
"I always thought it was a trick… just for comfort!"
"What do you mean, trick! Although we are believers in the omnissiah, we are also Tech-priest who demand rationality, logic, objectivity, and materialism from ourselves. Without sufficient data support, it's impossible to convince most Priests!"
"Oh, oh, can I see the data evidence?" Gamma still said, somewhat disbelievingly.
Jacob chuckled, pointed at Gamma, then took out a storage device from the side and handed it to him, saying:
"Take this back and read it slowly. To be honest, when I first became a Priest, I was just like you are now. When my back hurt so much I couldn't stand up straight, anyone would question the necessity of blessings. This data is also a heritage passed down from generation to generation by us Rune Mech-monks. New Rune Mech-monks receive this data as a gift after their lumbar vertebrae are replaced."
Gamma complained, "'Replacing lumbar vertebrae' and 'lumbar vertebrae replacement'—what a 42K Adeptus Mechanicus workplace horror story.
Receiving the Rune Mech-monks' "lumbar vertebrae," Gamma bowed to Father Jacob, who had taught him wholeheartedly, to show his respect.
"Thank you, Great Magos Jacob!"
"Hahaha, I need to save the video data I just recorded. In the future, if anyone doesn't believe I taught the Archmagos Gamma, I'll take it out and slap them in the face, haha."
"Don't worry, it won't be long," Gamma said, intentionally raising his head and puffing out his chest, looking full of confidence.
"Haha, I'll be waiting. It's getting late, you should head back."
"Mm, goodbye, I'm going back."
He spent a few days modifying the Gamma. After carefully reviewing the historical data collected by the Rune Mech-monks.
Gamma sighed, "The end of science is indeed metaphysics."
You might not believe in the Omnissiah, but the probability of a blessed vessel encountering misfortune during Warp travel is thirty-nine percent lower than that of an unblessed vessel.
You might not believe in the Omnissiah, but blessed weapons and vehicles have a twenty-six percent lower failure rate than unblessed ones under the same conditions.
You might not believe in the Omnissiah, but blessed machinery takes thirteen percent less time to start up and debug than unblessed machinery.
So, when such a validated big data set is placed before you, even if you still don't believe, it doesn't stop you from kowtowing to the machine spirit, does it?
Gamma was currently kowtowing, fiercely kowtowing to the data storage device he had personally crafted, muttering as he kowtowed.
"Brother, I'm sorry I wronged you a few days ago. My kowtows weren't sincere; it was my fault. Today, I'll make it up to you."
"Brother, strictly speaking, I created you, so you should be considered my child. But a true man doesn't bother with trifles. From now on, we'll address each other differently: I'll call you 'bro,' and you'll call me 'Dad.'"
"Brother, if anyone who isn't me tries to modify your data in the future, remember to resist to the death. I, your brother, will remember your loyalty."
"Brother…"
Regarding this perverse behavior of PUAing the machine spirit, Gamma stated that it was caused by objective facts. Who could blame it? The omnissiah was absent, the omnissiah was paralyzed, and there was no one useful. Only kowtowing to the machine spirit had some effect.
His sharp mind allowed Gamma to PUA the machine spirit while letting his thoughts wander:
Those machine spirits that had gained sentience were quite similar to the artifact spirits and sword spirits in cultivation novels!
Both were man-made, both gained sentience due to human emotions, and strong emotional attachment could accelerate their growth.
Also, in cultivation novels, people upgrade by relying on secret manuals, which are the technical knowledge of cultivation novels. We, the great Tech-priest, also upgrade by relying on technical knowledge.
The secret manuals in cultivation novels are kept secret. In the warhammer universe, no one understands secrecy better than our great Adeptus Mechanicus.
The secret manuals and equipment in cultivation novels can be traded. Our great Adeptus Mechanicus's knowledge and equipment can also be traded.
The secret manuals and equipment in cultivation novels are acquired by excavating ruins, master-disciple inheritance, and killing to seize treasures. Our great Adeptus Mechanicus's technical equipment is also acquired by excavating ruins, master-disciple inheritance, and killing to seize treasures.
People in cultivation novels ascend by cultivating secret manuals. People in our great Adeptus Mechanicus ascend by modifying themselves through technical knowledge.
Then it wouldn't be abrupt at all for our great Adeptus Mechanicus to change its name to "Great Mechanicus Sect"!
Sect Divine Son Gamma grew more amused the more he thought about it, fantasizing about him punching "heretical demon sects," kicking "alien monsters," saving all living beings from the "Warp disaster," and the master of the greatest sect, the "Emperor's Gate," bowing down to him…
Bang, bang, bang!
"Gamma, open the door!"
The knocking startled Gamma from his fantasy. Annoyed at having his sweet dream interrupted, he got up and impatiently said, "Who is it?"
"Open the door quickly! It's me! Leia!"
"Oh."
Gamma opened the door to see a frantic Leia. He hastily tried to ask what had happened, but before he could open his mouth, Leia had already spoken, "Where's your communicator! Why aren't you replying to messages? Hurry up and pack your things, we need to leave here!"
Gamma, who had been completely engrossed in kowtowing and fantasizing, had long since tossed his communication panel aside. He had no idea what was happening.
"Ah!?"
"Hurry, only take necessary items, gather in the auditorium!" With that, Leia turned and left, not giving Gamma any time to ask questions.
Gamma immediately retrieved his communication panel to check the messages on it:
A rebellion has broken out! Hurry and pack your things and gather in the auditorium! Reply when you see this!