Servo-skull

From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Jump to: navigation, search

Servo-skulls are drone-like devices fashioned from human skulls – often those of pious Imperial servants, low-ranking tech-adepts, tech-priests with unfinished work, or loyal adepts of the Adeptus Terra – and then given a rudimentary machine spirit, support systems, and anti-gravity engine to allow them to hover and drift bodiless through the air.[1] A favoured servant, loyal functionary or other servant of the Imperium might see this as is a great honour, being able to continue their work even after death.[29][37]

Overview

A Servo-skull[1]
The posthumous honour of becoming a Servo-skull is only reserved for the most pious and devoted Imperial servants.[20]

When the Adeptus Mechanicus creates a servo-skull, they reverently prepare the removed cranium with oils and salves, then implant it with grav-drives and powercells. The residual blobs of grey matter are preserved and sealed within, then threaded through with biowire and psycho-reactive crystals.[29]

Servo-skulls are most strongly associated with the Adeptus Mechanicus, but are used throughout the organisations of the Imperium to perform specific tasks for which they are installed with the basic equipment required, usually a pair of simple manipulator pincers, a weapon, a pict recorder, a projector, surgical implants, stab-light, loudhailer, or various other devices for the many roles that exist. Though they typically take the form of skulls with various mechanical appendages, other designs have also been utilised. The lords of House Draconis for example, utilised set of five servo-skulls crafted to resemble various mythical creatures, the Pegassus, the Chimaer, the Minot, the Wyvornne and the Dracon in reference to heraldic icons of each Knight House of Adrastapol.[1][5]

The roles they fulfill include Librarium functionaries, medical assistants, lumen-bearers, proclaimers or scroll-carriers. Some are designed for military roles, and among these some are built with enhanced optical sensors to allow them to fulfill a scouting role.[1]

They are also often used by Inquisitors as Familiars. In this case they are often mentally linked to the Inquisitor, allowing him to control them and see and hear through their senses. In general, Servo-skulls are useful for their ability to enter otherwise inaccessible or hazardous areas because of their small size and great manoeuvrability.[1]

Servo-skulls will traverse Imperial Navy vessels, and other voidships, through special passageways through walls and other tight crawlspaces, allowing them to move between levels and other areas like a Ratling. However, a servo-skull's rigidity and various attachments often don't allow them to squeeze through as tight of gaps as the small Abhumans.[30] When not in use, servo-skulls might be found docked in charging roosts.[31]

Servo-Skulls can be dangerous, even without any overt weaponry attached. Mundane tools and implements, such as a plasma torch, can be weaponised to varying degrees.[32] The cortical tail of a servo-skull can be used as a garrotte and strangle the life from a baseline human. Such a response could be due to a preprogrammed response, such as to a security violation,[33] or due to the servo-skull being remotely operated by another individual, such as a tech-priest.[32] A servo-skull could also serve as a lure, guiding perceived threats into traps or environmental hazards. These actions could be taken due to programmed defensive protocols of the Mechanicus, or a reaction from some remnants of lingering consciousness, or perhaps a combination of the two.[34]

The Magi Psykana with more heretical leanings say that although servitors and servo-skulls have no minds, they still retain their souls, and these suffer terribly.[26]

Servo-skull patterns

Aggression Enhancer Servo-skull

Aggression Enhancer Servo-skulls are used by the Adeptus Mechanicus and are equipped with binharic speakers. They constantly blurt out the Omnissiah's benedictions to smite the unworthy, and use Beta-wave generators that stimulate the aggression centres of biological and cybernetic minds alike.[4]

Data Skull

Data Skulls contain a data screen set into their backs. This makes them the perfect item for relaying important targeting data, recording the findings of Inquisitorial investigations and many other uses.[8]

Gheistskull

Gheistskull[22]

Gheistskulls are made from the skulls of deceased Imperial Navy Breachers and carry compact explosives. They accompany Breacher teams, during boarding attacks.[11]

Guardian-Skull

The Guardian-Skull serves as an uncommon but effective personal bodyguard.[18a][40] It has a somewhat reinforced structure and mounts a single weapon system guided by a targeting selection program.[18a] They are also equipped with small arms and additional weapons. Few servo-skulls are aggressive, being typically reserved for clerical, data retrieval, or data gathering tasks. As such, they are often overlooked and few perceive them as a threat to be destroyed. Servo-skulls can often assail a target unnoticed, acting as a small and fast delivery method for poisons, tracking devices, or extreme violence.[40]

Guardian-Skulls are further subdivided into two different types, depending on weapons configuration.[18a][40]

Combat- or Dissector-Skull

The Combat- or Dissector-Skull mounts several articulated limbs fitted with mono-edged blades or, rarer, with electro-flails or chain knives. It is activated by voice command.[18a] These dissector-skulls can also aid in surgical assistance on biological matter with their mono-bladed scalpel.[40]

Gun-Skull

The Gun-Skull can mount a single firearm from a selection of pistols or other compact weapons; usually equipped with a laspistol, it aims with machine accuracy.[18a][39] It can also be equipped with an autocarbine or lascarbine.[18a][40] Alongside this it also carries a red-dot laser sight.[18a]

Infoslave Skulls

Mono-task Infoslave Skulls make ideal lookouts for the Adeptus Mechanicus, to watch against the sudden deployment of enemy troops.[6a] Infoslave skulls are outfitted with the most advanced data recording known and constantly gather data on environment, enemies, the effects of enemy weapons on friendly troops across their broad-spectrum optics. They constantly back up their own data and transmit it to the nearest Adeptus Mechanicus open frequency. These skulls are often assigned to senior Skitarii, other times they are sent ahead of battles to obtain vital tactical data.[40]

Monitor Skulls

Monitor Skulls are used by Alecto's Varangantuan Enforcers and patrol with the Security Forces' squads[13a]. Their red ocular sensors[13b] are equipped with facial recognition systems, so the Servo-skulls can scan the Hive World's citizens for wanted fugitives[13a] and their spinal columns end in a viciously curved barb the Monitors can use as a weapon. They also patrol the Enforcers' Bastion headquarters and give vocal alarms of "Unauthorised weapon detected." to summon the Enforcers, should their scanners discover a civilian has entered the buildings with weapons.[13b]

Monotask-Skull

The Monotask-Skull is the most common form of servo-skull. It specialises in a single task and is fitted with the required equipment. Most Monotask-Skulls also mount a basic set of extendable manipulator pincers, onboard navigation and a pict-relay to record or to transmit visuals back to its owner or to a linked cogitator.[18b]

Auger-Skull

The Auger-Skull mounts an auspex and a vox-data system to transmit information.[18b]

Corpus Mymir

The Corpus Mymirs were Great Crusade and Horus Heresy-era Adeptus Mechanicus Servo-Skulls, that contained the brains of Psykers.[24]

Courier-Skull

The Courier-Skull functions as a messenger and mounts a specialised identity scanner. The message it relays can be a scroll, a data-slate or a holo-recording. It is also preprogrammed with extensive maps of the local area.[18b]

Dominator Beacon

Dominator Beacons are custom-built Iron Hands Servo-skulls, that the Chapter use as mobile sentries for vital strategic sites.[23]

Illuminator-Skull

The Illuminator-Skull is used for illumination and mounts a lamp-pack, a glow-globe or just a burning brazier of coals, especially if the skull is operated by the Ecclesiarchy.[18b]

Loud Hailer-Skull

The Loud Hailer-Skull mounts a powerful public address system to relay messages, sounds or even just the owner’s voice.[18b]

Medicae-Skull

The Medical-Skull features a built-in medi-kit and a medical scanner to administer first aid.[18b] It is also known as a Medi Skull on Necromunda.[28]

Utility-Skull

The Utility-Skull mounts a multi-tool to perform simple preprogrammed maintenance tasks. It can also be remotely-operated by its owner to perform functions in otherwise inaccessible areas.[18b]

Hydro-Skull

Hydro-Skulls are equipped to put out fires and spray out water from their spines. They are used on the Imperium's spaceships.[38]

Servo Commissar-skull

Servo Commissar-skulls are pre-programmed with litanies and admonishments, used by Astra Militarum Commissars.[3]

Servo-Designators

Servo-Designators are used by the Astra Militarum. Released as swarms from modified Valkyries, these high altitude servo-skulls analyse targeting data from ongoing combat operations to provide updated firing solutions to the troops operating in the theatre.[19]

Servo-scribe

Servo-scribes are pairs of Servo-skulls that function as Scribes. They can be attached to Astra Militarum Command Squads.[35]

Skull Probe

The Skull Probe is a military device utilized by Space Marine Chapters for reconnaissance. It is capable of moving by stealth, and can fly faster than most units can move on foot. The Skull Probe is also capable of detecting other units concealed by stealth technology. Though unarmed, they can generate an electromagnetic pulse that temporarily neutralises an enemy structure, though the Skull Probe will be destroyed in the process.[2]

Shroud-Skulls

Shroud-Skulls are specialized Servo-skulls that are equipped with auspex dampers, vox-stummers and electroshrouding incense. Small flocks are used by Phobos Strike Teams to surround an encampment, before the Shroud-Skulls use their equipment to conceal it from inquisitive foes.[10]

Spider Cyber-Familiars

Spider Cyber-Familiars were Servo-skulls that crawled on the ground with six bladed legs and had two clawed arms on their fronts. They acted as Familiars for Legionaries during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, while also being able to follow orders and operate independently, far from their owners, if need be.[21]

Tome-Skull

Tome-Skulls are Servo-skulls that carry Imperial tomes.[12]

Vox Skull

Vox Skulls are Servo-skulls that are equipped with Voxes.text-middle[Help]

Watch-skull

Watch-skulls are Servo-skulls that help their owners search out foes in the dark.[16]

Notable Servo-skulls

Images

Sources

Uncited


Forces of the Inquisition
Inquisitors Lord Inquisitor • Ordo Xenos Inquisitor • Ordo Malleus Inquisitor • Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor • Ordo Minoris Inquisitor
Acolytes Interrogator
Assassin Death Cult • Callidus • Culexus • Eversor • Ordo Sicarius Initiate • Vanus • Venenum • Vindicare
Chiurgeon Excoriator • Sister Hospitaller • Torturer
Desperado Bounty Hunter • Scum
Familiar Cherubim • Psyber-Eagle • Servo-Skull
Hierophants/Fanatics Banisher • Crusader • Drill Abbot • Enlightener • Hexorcist • Oblationist • Priest • Questkeeper • Redemptionist
Mystic Astropath • Daemonhost • Diviner • Navigator • Sanctioned Psyker • Warp-Seer
Sage Autosavant • Lexmechanic • Malefic Scholar • Reclaimator • Sister Dialogous • Servitor • Tech-Priest
Seeker Arbitrator • Cult-Stalker • Enforcer • Judge • Mortiurge
Warrior Chrono-Gladiator • Crusader • Imperial Guard Veteran/Death World Veteran • Inquisitorial Stormtrooper • Inquisitorial Pyroclast • Penal Legionnaire • Pistoleer • Tempestus Scion • Combat-Servitor • Gun-Servitor
Other Retinue Arco-Flagellant • Mutant • Penitent • Rogue Trader • Space Marine • Xenos
Ordo Militants Deathwatch • Grey Knights • Sisters of Battle
Vehicles Chimera • Land Raider • Land Raider Crusader • Land Raider Redeemer • Razorback • Rhino • Valkyrie
Fleet Inquisitorial Black Ship
Retrieved from "https://lex.124811.xyz/mediawiki/index.php?title=Servo-skull&oldid=723302"