Project Aurora
Project Aurora[2a], or the Psychic Scourge, is an ancient Necron[2b] device first discovered by Inquisitor Drogan.[1]
Contents
History
The core of the Psychic Scourge is a hand-held device that is known as the Power Source which drew energy from the Warp. In truth, it is a Necron device that can either amplify or nullify the powers of the Warp depending on its alignment.[2b] Inquisitor Drogan believed direct handling and exposure to the Power Source could lead to corruption. This Power Source served to provide the critical energy requirements of the weapon and needed to be opened within a large structure where it powered a lens that fired into the Orbital Spire to distribute its effects around a world. According to the Inquisitor, improper handling of the Scourge is capable of cracking a world in half and devastating its surface. The audio logs made by Drogan indicated that it functioned by focusing excessive amounts of Warp energy into a selected Xenos races specific Warp signature. Thus, in theory, this led to massive injury and haemorrhaging of the creatures central nervous system and killing them in the process. The effect led to the chosen species heads exploding in a violent manner as a side effect of the process rather than the intended result of the weapons usage.[1]
This device functions by utilizing the Warp and designed to target specific Xenos species through their Warp signature. As a result, it was believed that it is capable of eliminating an entire invading force. Research into the weapon is believed to had been blessed by the Inquisition. This saw Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Drogan establish a base on the Forge World Graia where he continued his study in secret. The project included the study of various Xenos specimens that were subjected to the effects of the Scourge. This included successful tests conducted on Ork, Tau and a Tyranid Lictor specimen that proved the weapon could be of immense value to the Imperium. At some unknown point, Inquisitor Drogan's work drew the attention of Chaos that saw him being killed and becoming a puppet of the Chaos Space Marine Nemeroth who intended to use the weapon to break the walls of reality to allow an invasion of Graia. The planet Graia came under attack from an Ork Waaagh! led by Warboss Grimskull. This invasion attracted the rapid deployment of the Ultramarines Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes who arrived to repel the Orks. Their arrival led to the possessed Drogan enlisting Captain Titus's aid in securing his "weapon". The Ultramarines Captain was reluctantly convinced by the Inquisitor to use the weapon to defeat the Orks and the Psychic Scourge was activated. However, this simply splintered the walls of reality allowing Daemons and The Chosen of Nemeroth to invade the world. Titus ultimately was able to destroy the device and defeat Nemeorth.[1]
However, the Mechanicus retained an interest in the device, codenamed Project Aurora. At some point, the Mechanicus would act on orders approved by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman in regard to the project's initiation, continuation, or deployment.[2b] Tech-Priests under Nozick Beta-12 rebuilt the device, but the entire research team save Morias Leuze were slain by Tyranids on Avarax.[2a] Titus and his new squad again become embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding Aurora, and it is revealed that the Thousand Sons under Imurah manipulated the Mechanicus into rebuilding it in order to use it to open a massive Warp Rift and summon a Lord of Change.[2b][2c] Imurah is able to escape back into the Warp with Aurora, intent on using it to amplify his connection to the Immaterium and receive "divine knowledge". However as he fuses with the device Titus is able to reverse its polarity, causing Imurah to shatter.[2c]
Notes
The Aurora device may be made of Noctilith, given its Necron origin and that it possesses both the ability to nullify or amplify the Warp depending on alignment. However this is never explicitly stated.[2b] However, within the Mechanicus databank on Avarax, Project Aurora's file archive is classified as "Black Research".[2d]
