Pteraxii
Pteraxii are winged Skitarii that are capable of flight and serve as ideal support units for their brethren in battle. They are the airborne cousins of Sicarian Skitarii.[1]
Overview
One of the many specialized castes of Skitarii available to the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Pteraxii are optimized for instinctive reacion and agility. Their reflexes are accentuated by paring back elements of cognition that impede their primary function. Implanted with additional lumb-stumps known as scapuli superior on their backs, a flight pack of thrusters and reactive life surfaces is connected to them. The flight packs become part of the Pteraxii, who serve in several roles.[4] The flight pack incorporates jet assistance. The Pteraxii's wings are made from a configurable carbon-weave material.[6]
To be a Pteraxii is to be broken apart and reforged for new purpose; optimisation for aerial combat and maneuverability. Nonessential flesh is removed to reduce weight, and cognitive processes are trimmed to increase spatial recognition and reaction speed. Many bones are removed and replace with lighter, stronger materials. Hands and feet are replaced with extremely sharp augmetic talons. Artificial muscle bundles and connective spars are attached directly to the Skitarii's skeleton, circulatory system, and spinal column. Their wings are drapes in a layer of living membrane.[7a]
Pteraxii's Mechadactyl Pattern augmetic limbs allows them to safely lock themselves to a roosting point.[7c] They can sometimes be found hanging upside down with their kin cluster within the higher levels of outposts, plugged into power and fuel lines to recharge. Some have lost most of their original vocal capacity, and with most of their brains required for aerial combat, vocalizations often consists of "Skree!" repeatedly.[7b]
The final preparation as a Pteraxii is to be designated as one of two variants:[7a]
- Sterylizors: Honed for aggression and armed with talons and Phosphor Torches.[3] Outside of combat they are used to scour cavernous Forge World for lost technologies. They also pusge cyblight infestations[5a] and other cybernetic parasite organisms aboard ships and manufactora.[5b] Sterylizors swoops low to strike at close range with fire and claws.[7b] Their Phosphor Torches are surprisingly light based on their bulky appearance.[7c]
- Skystalkers: Seek out the best vantage points from which to pick off targets with their Flechette Carbines.[2] They are equipped with a bonded respirator.[6] Skystalkers have their consciousness pared back until little but their optimized reactions remain. They are highly maneuverable and preternatural airborne hunters, who track their prey from choice vantage point before swooping in to unleash withering hail of razor-sharp flechettes.[5c] Skystalkers hunt their prey from high above.[7b]
Pteraxii can also be equipped with Pteraxii Talons.[3]
Known Pteraxii
Images
See Also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: From Aelves to Zoats – Previews from LVO (Posted on 23/01/2020) (Last accessed on 23 January 2020)
- 2: Warhammer Community : Additional Armaments for Adeptus Mechanicus (04/05/2020) (saved archive, last accesed 28/06/23)
- 3: Warhammer Community: Additional Armaments for Adeptus Mechanicus (posted 5/4/2020) (last accessed 5/6/2020)
- 4: Psychic Awakening: Engine War pg.33
- 5: Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (10th Edition):
- 6: Warhammer 40,000: The Ultimate Guide, pg. 88
- 7: Wrath & Glory: Redacted Records II:
