Crabapple · 6:49am Oct 29th, 2023
The automata that started it all...
The Tykan-Pattern Probe Automata
Tykan pattern automata have several variants, with some used for defense and fire support, some for utility, and one particular variant dedicated to terrain scouting and reconaissance. They are not a lost technology in the Imperium, yet neither are they a common pattern of robot, as they are distrusted by many Imperial citizens and even some Techpriests for their (relatively) sophisticated and independent machine spirits.
A hardy and well-designed form, Tykan-pattern automata are all built to be deployed in drop harnesses, allowing them to be inserted by aircraft or orbital vessels on very short notice. Such deployment metrics require them to be able to process and react to a wide range of possible obstacles and encounters, which is why they boast such advanced logic engines for their size. Although they tend to be sturdy enough to handle many environmental threats, their core shielding is inadequate to repel determined small-arms fire and their large cogitators can be damaged by impacts that don't break through its protective shell, sharply limiting their lifespan in warzones.
The Iron Warriors of the 38th Company enjoy a wealth of these units, initially looted from Tykan IX itself. Since then the Dark Mechanicus has manufactured them itself, allowing the fleet to replace their losses and develop modified versions to suit their needs. By far the most common variant is still the MkIII probe, which the Iron Warriors drop onto planetary targets to gather intelligence for pending raids and invasions. Many an Imperial ambush has been detected and destroyed (or sprung on the automata itself) thanks to judicious use of these machines.
Just... be careful not to knock them around too much.
Art by Mix-Up/Amalgamzaku!
It's always neat to see you continue to expand on the background of this little corner of the fandom that you've made for yourself. I especially like how you try to write in things that feel like they could be canon.
Amalgamzaku does a great job with mechanical bits.
Much sturdier-looking than I imagined it. Especially the legs. I've been picturing, like, articulated toothpicks.
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Alas, the picture was too big to embed in the blog itself 🥲
Some of this web architecture was designed for a time when a big, high-resolution art file clocked in at a megabyte!
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You could have uploaded a lower resolution image or ask me to do it for you, it's trivially easy to do that.
Heh, literally my probe into MLP
I'll have to look into this. Love Warhammer (Imperial Guard for life)
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Well I'd also need to post it somewhere that FiMfiction could host off of, since Imgur doesn't work anymore. I think the link is fine, but I'll keep it in mind for the future!
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You can do it form DA too, I do it for all of my image I ling, even in your Sta.sh section