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Description
*****

“Princeps!”

The sensori's words cut across the background electric hum and the muted thunder of ancient machinery on the Warlord's bridge.

“I have detected a small fortification ahead..lightly defended”

“Moderati, analysis?”

Moderati Rasmus was bathed in the soft green light from the auspex, concentrating on the data feeds from the ancient instrument, the scrolling information could be seen reflecting in the surface of his eyes;

“My princeps, there is a single super heavy tank and some minor base defences, along with standard infantry. They pose no real threat, but we can't leave the outpost behind for our ground forces.”

Princeps Kalgo-Ras smiled,

“As usual, you have seen right to the heart of the matter moderati, we shall attack and level this outpost before continuing. Run the weapon servitors through a test cycle and steersman bring her around 17 degrees. We walk!”

Encased in the amniotic fluid, Kal's body felt almost nothing. Enshrouded in the manifold, Kal's mind felt everything. He could feel the metal machine within him stride across the desert. The arid sand stretched ahead to the cliffs where the outpost lay. Behind the engine, the sun was sinking on the horizon, bathing the sand in golden fire. A light breeze stirred the sand and caused the void shields to sing as the grains hit the static field. From his vantage point 60 meters high, he zoomed in his view and could almost taste the atmosphere from the sensors buried over the titan's skin. They had been walking all day and encountered only light resistance so far. The rebellion had been on a planetary scale, but the rebels were ill prepared for the engines of Legio Excelsior which were passing near the Caleb system when the distress call came in.
The engine's feet left huge depressions in the ground and Kal could feel the gyro straining to compensate for the enormous mass shifting on the sands. Left...right...left...the feeling of immensity and power almost felt like a drug, but the fear of the shadow in his mind always kept Kal from becoming lost in the abyss. The engine Vindicarus Rex had been dealing death to the Emperor's foes for nearly seven millenia and the machine spirit was strong. So strong to be almost tangible. It was a feral thing, from a time almost beyond comprehension. Always present when controlling the mighty machine, hovering at the edge of conscious thought. Many princep's and crews had gone before and part of them always lingered within the ancient interface between man and metal god.

“Moderati, we are close, give me targeting solutions on the main threats.”

“Already done, my princeps! Exloading them to you now.”

“Very well, let us teach these rebels the meaning of the Emperor's wrath! Fire at will!”

The shadow at the back of Kal's mind howled with glee at the anticipation of conflict. The titan shuddered as it unleashed the firepower of a small army in it's initial volley. Cannon rounds exploded from barrels, missiles flew from launch tubes and through it all; the distinctive scream of a turbo laser searing through the air to vapourise metal, flesh and masonry.

The outpost's fate was sealed.

*****

Finished! My first 'original' work without copying a model or a photo and it was a bugger! (Warlord Titan and the 40k I.P. belong to Games Workshop! ). I should have just gone with something simpler, but I've been reading Dan Abnett's 'Titanicus' and it inspired me! Even had to write a small story as background for it.

Done on A4 with 2H-8B Pencils and then scanned - see below.

**I have replaced the image with a higher contrast/saturation one to capture detail lost from scanning - suggested by [link] . Hope that's ok! Yes you can now see I moved my signature as I couldn't be bothered to draw something in the bottom right! Original (yuck) scan I uploaded is here: [link] . Any issues with the high contrast version, please let me know.**

Please comment and critique as any feedback appreciated. I've not got the light correct, but I bit off more than I could chew. Enjoy!

**New picture of the Titan here: [link] **

Description
*****

“Princeps!”

The sensori's words cut across the background electric hum and the muted thunder of ancient machinery on the Warlord's bridge.

“I have detected a small fortification ahead..lightly defended”

“Moderati, analysis?”

Moderati Rasmus was bathed in the soft green light from the auspex, concentrating on the data feeds from the ancient instrument, the scrolling information could be seen reflecting in the surface of his eyes;

“My princeps, there is a single super heavy tank and some minor base defences, along with standard infantry. They pose no real threat, but we can't leave the outpost behind for our ground forces.”

Princeps Kalgo-Ras smiled,

“As usual, you have seen right to the heart of the matter moderati, we shall attack and level this outpost before continuing. Run the weapon servitors through a test cycle and steersman bring her around 17 degrees. We walk!”

Encased in the amniotic fluid, Kal's body felt almost nothing. Enshrouded in the manifold, Kal's mind felt everything. He could feel the metal machine within him stride across the desert. The arid sand stretched ahead to the cliffs where the outpost lay. Behind the engine, the sun was sinking on the horizon, bathing the sand in golden fire. A light breeze stirred the sand and caused the void shields to sing as the grains hit the static field. From his vantage point 60 meters high, he zoomed in his view and could almost taste the atmosphere from the sensors buried over the titan's skin. They had been walking all day and encountered only light resistance so far. The rebellion had been on a planetary scale, but the rebels were ill prepared for the engines of Legio Excelsior which were passing near the Caleb system when the distress call came in.
The engine's feet left huge depressions in the ground and Kal could feel the gyro straining to compensate for the enormous mass shifting on the sands. Left...right...left...the feeling of immensity and power almost felt like a drug, but the fear of the shadow in his mind always kept Kal from becoming lost in the abyss. The engine Vindicarus Rex had been dealing death to the Emperor's foes for nearly seven millenia and the machine spirit was strong. So strong to be almost tangible. It was a feral thing, from a time almost beyond comprehension. Always present when controlling the mighty machine, hovering at the edge of conscious thought. Many princep's and crews had gone before and part of them always lingered within the ancient interface between man and metal god.

“Moderati, we are close, give me targeting solutions on the main threats.”

“Already done, my princeps! Exloading them to you now.”

“Very well, let us teach these rebels the meaning of the Emperor's wrath! Fire at will!”

The shadow at the back of Kal's mind howled with glee at the anticipation of conflict. The titan shuddered as it unleashed the firepower of a small army in it's initial volley. Cannon rounds exploded from barrels, missiles flew from launch tubes and through it all; the distinctive scream of a turbo laser searing through the air to vapourise metal, flesh and masonry.

The outpost's fate was sealed.

*****

Finished! My first 'original' work without copying a model or a photo and it was a bugger! (Warlord Titan and the 40k I.P. belong to Games Workshop! ). I should have just gone with something simpler, but I've been reading Dan Abnett's 'Titanicus' and it inspired me! Even had to write a small story as background for it.

Done on A4 with 2H-8B Pencils and then scanned - see below.

**I have replaced the image with a higher contrast/saturation one to capture detail lost from scanning - suggested by [link] . Hope that's ok! Yes you can now see I moved my signature as I couldn't be bothered to draw something in the bottom right! Original (yuck) scan I uploaded is here: [link] . Any issues with the high contrast version, please let me know.**

Please comment and critique as any feedback appreciated. I've not got the light correct, but I bit off more than I could chew. Enjoy!

**New picture of the Titan here: [link] **