Marbaeg remained silent as the lift slowly creaked up to the upper levels, axle grease gleaming on the chains. His heart depressurizer softly started working, indicating that his pulse had risen to high levels. He wasn’t surprised. The meeting scheduled was with Cpt. Bolbantha and all he ever wanted to hear was good news. When the suicide attack by the Free Marines Demolition Squad ruined the tracks, Bolbantha slew his second-in-command on the spot.

Marbaeg communicator crackled and the scrawny voice of Technomancer Lorent came over the line.

"Section A-3051 has been completed sir. The kinetic tests on the repairs will begin in 2 hours. Power diversion test in 1 hour."

"Good," replied Marbaeg. "Keep me posted, and get me the precise wiring schematics for the kinetic tests."

"Sir!" Lorent responded and the communicator fell silent.

Marbaeg allowed himself a brief recollection of his love in all her glory. Her tracks crushing all in its path, guns blazing and cutting a swathe through anything in her path. The symmetrical armor that could protect against direct artillery hits. He could still remember when he first saw her roll out of the Black Portal so many years ago. It took a little over 10 minutes to get her entire bulk out. A full mile of glistening dark technology.

The creaking slowed and the lift shuddered to a stop. The doors before him opened and a Praetorian Stalker team stood there, guns on the ready. Marbaeg merely looked at them for a second before speaking.

"Report for the Captain."

The Stalkers parted and gave room for Marbaeg to pass. The engine underneath his bloated body roared to life, and his treads started pulling him forward. He rolled into the bridge where Centurion observers with huge scopes were attempting to discern enemy troop movements. Legionnaires stood silent at the walls, ready to shamble to action, should the order be given. In the very center stood the throne of Bolbantha, its back to Marbaeg.

Swallowing hard, the Tekron wheeled over to the side of the throne and turned to face the Captain.

Bolbantha was only 7 feet tall and was quite scrawny for a Nepharite. His frame was lanky and his muscles somewhat underdeveloped. But his physical prowess was not why he was given command of the ship. His technical knowledge rivaled Tekrons and his strategical planning was second only to the greatest of the Nepharite Overlords. Bolbantha was quite bitter though, knowing that his body kept him from becoming an Overlord. Quite possibly this was the reason Saladin put him in such a worthwhile position. Because he knew that Bolbantha was not a threat to Saladin’s position.

He turned his head, and fixed his yellow eyes on Marbaeg, "Report."

"Sir. We have completed all re-supplying to our divisions and all up-"

"Enough," interrupted Bolbantha. "Give me the bottom line."

"We will be able to start moving again in under a day." The Captain’s reaction was not what he expected.

Clearly irritated, the Nepharite turned his body as well towards the Tekron. "I had that promise from you before, Marbaeg. And your predecessor. I want RESULTS!!"

"Sir, we are about to begin kinetic tests to -" started Marbaeg before Bolbantha cut him off.

"You are still conducting tests," asked Bolbantha incredulously.

"Sir, we need to make sure we don’t cause more dam-"

Before the Tekron could finish, Bolbantha grabbed the Voriche next to him and shot it into Marbaeg’s head. The tekron’s head spurted oil and thick red slush for several seconds before going dead entirely.

He glared at the corpse before him, "You’ve been doing tests for a full month now."

Motioning to a Necromutant, the microphone on the console snapped to life.

"Yes?"

"Technomancer Lorent? This is Cpt. Bolbantha. You’ve been promoted. Congratulations Tekron."

"Sir!"

"You were right. Marbaeg was stalling. It appears that the indications were correct that Illian had possibly corrupted him. How long before the first phase of power-up?"

"20 minutes, Sir. We can start moving at full speed afterwards."

Bolbantha’s lips curved into a huge grin. He couldn’t wait to give the defenders of the McCraig line a first hand demonstration of the Annihilator.

"Excellent. Keep me informed."

Note : I didn't make this vehicle up. MC RPG Sourcebook for Algeroth. Very, very, VERY ugly vehicle. Equivalent to a moving Citadel. It was stopped only 2 miles away from the McCraig line after a suicide Free Marine mission planted their most powerful charges in its tracks. Capitol troop are under standing orders to shoot any Tekron that emerges for field repairs on the vehicle. IT looks like a battleship on treads. Alien technology.