Mechanicus Star Vessel: Ratio Ascendo

Class: Hekaton-Class Transport (Heavily Modified)
Owner: Adeptus Mechanicus (Commanded by Magos Dominus Xerath Cordail)

Background

The Ratio Ascendo is a Hekaton-class transport ship, extensively modified by the Adeptus Mechanicus to function as a mobile research platform and forge. While smaller than the towering factory ships of the Mechanicus, the Ratio Ascendo is equally formidable in its purpose. Deployed to the Great Games of Nothus under the command of Magos Dominus Xerath Cordail, it carried the Mechanicus delegation along with specialized machinery and critical resources for their operations.

The vessel’s presence signifies the Mechanicus’s investment in the Games, blending transport and research capabilities into one efficient and mysterious entity. Its modifications ensure both precision and adaptability, embodying the will of the Machine God in every function.

Description

The Ratio Ascendo is utilitarian in appearance, its dark red hull emblazoned with the sigils of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Energy conduits pulse with an eerie glow along its surface, and external modules emphasize its industrial role. Crane-like loading arms, cogitator arrays, and exhaust vents for intensive production processes dominate its silhouette.

Internally, the ship is a maze of cogitators, servo-skulls, and mechanized assembly lines. The hum of machines and servitors fills the air, giving the impression of a living forge. Its chambers include reinforced cargo bays, Mechanicus dormitories, and multiple research sanctums equipped for experiments that often blur the line of Mechanicus orthodoxy.

Magos Dominus Xerath Cordail

Magos Dominus Xerath Cordail, the ship’s master, wields absolute authority aboard the Ratio Ascendo. His augmented form borders on the inhuman, featuring servo-manipulators, integrated cogitators, and gleaming optical systems. Cordail’s mission is clear: to support the Mechanicus delegation’s success in the Games while pursuing enigmatic experiments tied to his own secretive goals.

Background: Rarely venturing beyond the Forge Worlds, Cordail’s presence at the Games is an anomaly. Whispers among his peers suggest that his work may breach the boundaries of Mechanicus doctrine, adding an air of danger to his already fearsome reputation.
Personality: Cordail is logical, efficient, and entirely detached from social conventions. Favoring binary cant over words, his terse communication reflects his disdain for inefficiency.

Key Features of Ratio Ascendo

Mobile Forge Modules: Integrated forge systems allow for on-site manufacturing and repair of Mechanicus equipment, ensuring operational flexibility.
Advanced Research Sanctums: Specialized chambers house experimental tools and materials, enabling the delegation to conduct their enigmatic projects.
High-Precision Sensor Arrays: Calibrated for detailed data collection, these systems analyze the Games’ environment and participants with mechanical accuracy.
Augmented Cargo Holds: Reinforced bays safeguard Mechanicus equipment, sensitive resources, and vital supplies for extended operations.
Defensive Enhancements: While not a combat vessel, the Ratio Ascendo features layered void shields, countermeasures, and a modest array of macrocannons for protection.

Role in the Games

The Ratio Ascendo serves as a critical logistical and operational platform for the Mechanicus delegation. Its transport capabilities ensure the secure delivery of personnel, materials, and machinery, while its onboard forges and research facilities provide the tools needed for innovation and experimentation.

For Magos Cordail, the Ratio Ascendo is not merely a transport—it is his command hub and the site of his secretive experiments. As rumors swirl about his work, the ship’s presence becomes a focal point of curiosity and unease for other Games participants.

The Ratio Ascendo embodies the precision, efficiency, and inscrutable intentions of the Adeptus Mechanicus, making its presence in Nothus’s orbit a stark reminder of the faction’s power and purpose. Its smaller size belies its significance, representing the Mechanicus’s ability to achieve monumental feats even with compact and efficient tools.