The Machine Cult makes use of most of the various careers, and we've even seen some alternate ranks for careers with Mechanicus connections, like Scum becoming Reclaimators. Does the Mechanicus use sanctioned psykers, though? The IH doesn't allow Forge World psykers, obviously, but do psykers ever get seconded by the Scholastica Psykana to the Mechanicus for any reason at all, and if so, what?

In some of the novels they pop up, and are generally purged for beinbg a jinx on the Machine.

Dark Mechanicum did explore the "Psykers & Cult Mechanicus" angle quite nicely, it all ended very badly.

And i think either "Innocence proves nothing" or the related novel also have a Ad-Mech member who was a psyker but he like wise turned essentially dark mechanicum too pretty quickly.

The pure mechanical logic of the AdMec doesn't lead it self well to the use of psykers. The Mechanicus like things neat, orderly, and very, very predictable. Add to that the fact that Warp plus Machine usually equals Bad Mojo, and you can see why a tech priest will probably kill a psyker faster than any puritan inquisitor. The only difference being the tech priest will probably dissect them after words.

Only really two types of "psykers" that the Ad Mech would make use of regularly. The first being Astropaths, because they are the fastest and most reliable means of interstellar communications. The second being Navigators (not exactly a Psyker) for the simple fact that they allow for the fastest warp travel. Other than that, the Ad Mech tends to dislike Psykers.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Brother Praetus said:

Nailed it exactly!

As far as most non-heretical Mechanicus are concerened, psykers who are not Astropaths or Navigators are.... SERVITOR PARTS!

Keep in mind, we are talking about an organization that routinely removes parts of their own brains to make room for augmetic implants and eliminate those pesky and inefficient things like emotions and fear. It is not just the Techpriests either... The Skitarii (Tech Guard) are almost always modified in this way as well. Servants are often mind-scrubbed as a matter of course.

Psykers are... unpredictable... therefore flawed... therefore defective... therefore scrap.

I seem to recall some background about how the Mechanicus uses servitorised astropaths to send endless streams of data between forge worlds, enabling a dial-up speed interplanetary computerised network. This is a pretty horrific fate for an astropath, and I seem to recall some suggestion that it was a punishment for various offences.

No idea where I got this idea from, though...

Logically, thinking it through, they COULD do the same with Navigators: servitorised Navigators locked permanently into vat-tombs within Admech explorator vessels, effectively hardwired into the ship itself, never leaving it...

Although there's no real REASON why the Admech would have to do this. It's not necessary to lobotomise and enslave every psyker you work with. Although it IS very characterful...

Lightbringer said:

Good point. IIRC, the explorator fleet that chased down the Soul-Drinkers in the novel Hellforged had just such a Navigator. I don't recall any servitorized Astropaths, though. Of course, my memory isn't what it used to be.

It could have been a throwaway remark in the Matt Farrer novel "Blind" but then again I could be imagining it...

Lightbringer said:

Either way, I can absolutely see the AdMech doing everything in their power to "psychically-neuter" even their necessary psykers. As in, "you only embrace the Warp when we say, and in the way we say. Otherwise, you are in standby-mode."

Less surprises that way.

Lightbringer said:

The only problem I see with that course of action would be violating contracts with the Navigator Houses. After all, the houses have almost as much leeway and autonomy as the Ad Mech, possibly more. Navigators are contracted to serve. Violation of the contract by the hiring party is enough to get blacklisted by the houses. Lobotomizing and "vat-tombing" a Navigator is unlikely to fall within the bounds of a standard contract. However, it might be negotiable with some of the renegade houses; provided information was shared on the process and its successes and failures.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Warp Engine operators. Geller Field Mechanics. I bet they all require a psychic component. I'd imagine it's simply a case of keeping 'em beaten down, only using weaker/less powerful/easily controlled psykers.

I don't get this 'neatness, predictability, blah!' outlook for the Mechanicus. Sure, some will be like that. Especially those who work with uncomplicated machines. But Genetors? Biologis? Titan mechanics? Anyone working with a 'veritable' machine spirit might feel the same. Or at least not feel as 'master of order' as the stereotypical Victorian 'man of science'.

A huge portion could be vat-psykers, but they'll still have a use. Lobotomising everything is a vast understatement of how interesting the Mechanicus are. Plenty of opportunity, IMO, but only really for 'things which can't be done by man or machine', and that's not very much. 'Activating' a warp drive, for instance. Sabateour versus the Tau starships (which mysteriously 'can't enter the warp due to lack of psykers'; perhaps because no-one's hooked their engines 'into the grid'?).

Really, lots of opportunity. Just not as easy as the other stuff.

Brother Praetus said:

...Or as Paternova sanctioned punishment for any Navigator of a renegade house who is captured, or part of the contract with an upstanding Magisterial House as a means to get rid of members that upset the house or pose some kind of risk to it and still enable the house to cash in on said navigators without having to worry about them and what they might do next any longer...

Graver said:

Right, possible, but not likely to be very common. I like the "you want a navigator for what? Oh, hold on, young Mathius the black sheep here might be right up your alley." As punishment or as a political "move," yeah, I can see that.

Astropaths are a little different, being soul-bound to the Emperor and all.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Keep in mind that several Inquisitors (including Eisenhorn) make frequent and regular use of "Vat-Psykers". Yes, that's right... Psyker in a Jar brand! They are like Inquisitorial Pokemon. Like having psykers around to melt face or prevent your own face from melting? Just pick up a few six-packs of psykers on the way to the purgation and you are good to go!

Do we really expect the Mechanicus to be MORE humane than that? Nope, didn't think so.

Lightbringer said:

Ah yes... The Polarists, who believe that psykers and humans can only co-exist in the person of the God-Emperor. Otherwise you either be a psyker or be human. So, they advocate converting psykers into servitor-like creatures directed by a human operator. The implication is also made that such psyker-servitors would be fundamentally weaker, requiring a massive choir to do the work of a single astropath.

Lexicanum's entry for adeptus mechanicus mentions "Transmat links", which is sort of like a cross between an astropath-servitor and a network card, joining the high data altars of the machine cult into one, massive machine. Which is the most awesome and correct use of an astropath I can imagine.

*edit* Whoops, seems I lost which thread was new and which one was dug up from the depths of the forum amongst my tabs. Terribly sorry for the threadomancy.