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I would assume there is some way of interfacing with some (not all) alien tech. I believe the Deathwatch sometimes utilize xenotech when appropriate, I would assume that this xenotech would need to be maintained by someone.

There is the problem. Tech priests are trained on Worlds belonging to the cult mechanicus, not at some backwater border planet.
So you get a indoctrinated brain and cold logic.
Temptations? Can be switched off.

Would anyone trust a defector? Would they ignore the possibility of a "trojan horse"?

The Cult Mechanicus is not a monolithic entity. Several books have given us insight into its workings. In Titanicus for instance, the Tech Priests of the world that the story takes place on do not believe in the Omnissiah, instead believing that the Emperor and the Machine God are two completely separate entities. The titan legion that comes in to save them from the chaos titan legion attacking them are staunch believers in the Omnissiah. When documents are found that seem to denounce the Omnissiah and suggest that the Emperor and the Machine God are distinct entities, the two groups almost go to war with eachother over a difference in beliefs. Clearly there are as many different interpretations of the Cult Mechanicus as there are of Christianity.

Captured Xenos of course

During the Damocles Crusade the Imperium Forces had to pull out rather rapidly due to Hive Fleet Behemoth. Possibly a few would be left behind along with the normal Guard Units and Machines.

Not sure if they would make the same decision as the other Gue'vesa'la but it's an option.

The stance on Xeno technology has changed somewhat over the years - honestly I am not sure how it works now. I think it's a possibility still that the AdMech still reverse engineer alien technology. I think the problem is when they start to use it. It's different for your average guardsman or space marine to start using it and this is why possibly it's frowned upon.

Space Fleet (1991): ALIEN KNOWLEDGE
The technical achievements of non-humans, such as Eldar and Orks, and isolated human civilisations, such as Squats, are of almost as much interest to the Adeptus Mechanicus as rumours concerning the STC. Indeed, non-human knowledge is often more useful and usually far easier to obtain.

Members of the Adeptus Mechanicus always accompany Imperial exploration teams, Rogue Traders and Space Marine chapters, and so are ideally placed to investigate the technical abilities of other cultures. Even extinct civilisations are vigorously investigated and their technology recorded.

It's another old quote but quite insightful.

I reckon it could happen

I think the fluff says the mechanicus worship the machine god and how it relates to mankind and the inventions by mankind are to be worshipped.

So Xenos technolgy would be repulsive to a tech priest I think. However if he was teaching the Tau of the glory of the mechanicum I guess that might work.

obsidianaura wrote:I think the fluff says the mechanicus worship the machine god and how it relates to mankind and the inventions by mankind are to be worshipped.

So Xenos technolgy would be repulsive to a tech priest I think. However if he was teaching the Tau of the glory of the mechanicum I guess that might work.

At least in the Fluff for Pavonis (ultramarines book Nightbringer) there is a techpriest working alongside Dark Eldar(though it could be marked up as confusion on the characters part not realising it could be a Torturer w/ever they are called)

Mr Nobody wrote:

Cases of mechanicus defecting are not uncommon, or at least many stories make it appear so.

Not uncommon?
Stories of mechanicus members are not common at all, so how is the defecting of mechanicus "not uncommon"?
Maybe we should ignore the 'renegade Techpriest' who lacks any allegiance and those who join the other side of the coin, ie dark mechanicum.
Much left?

1hadhq wrote:

Would anyone trust a defector? Would they ignore the possibility of a "trojan horse"?

chaos0xomega wrote:

The Cult Mechanicus is not a monolithic entity. Several books have given us insight into its workings. In Titanicus for instance, the Tech Priests of the world that the story takes place on do not believe in the Omnissiah, instead believing that the Emperor and the Machine God are two completely separate entities. The titan legion that comes in to save them from the chaos titan legion attacking them are staunch believers in the Omnissiah. When documents are found that seem to denounce the Omnissiah and suggest that the Emperor and the Machine God are distinct entities, the two groups almost go to war with eachother over a difference in beliefs. Clearly there are as many different interpretations of the Cult Mechanicus as there are of Christianity.

And?
Almost every group of sentient creatures in 40k is split into sub-groups.

Would anyone trust a defector?
Seems unanswered....

Point is, the cogboys may follow different schools of thougth, they may obey one or the other interpretation of the omnissiah, but still even the dark mech
would not share information with a "recently joined" member of any other mechanicus.
Again, why should a defector be allowed to work in his old job, and why should he/she be shown any non-obvious information?

1hadhq wrote:
Would anyone trust a defector?
Seems unanswered....

Point is, the cogboys may follow different schools of thougth, they may obey one or the other interpretation of the omnissiah, but still even the dark mech
would not share information with a "recently joined" member of any other mechanicus.
Again, why should a defector be allowed to work in his old job, and why should he/she be shown any non-obvious information?

I doubt the Tau Empire (or any group) would highly trust a defector, unless they offered some significant information, tech, or other resources. Even still they might not still be completely trusted, and would likely have close supervision.

As a side note, the Tau Codex states that after the Tau gave the Vespids the communication helms any opposition to joining the Tau Empire disappeared. Its suggested that the Ethereals might have used the helms to control the Vespids. So if the if the Tau were capable of mind control or something like it they would not have to be too wary a double agent.

Lastly it would be odd you had an expert join your side an then not put him to use in his field of expertise. During the end of WWII many German scientists defected to the US and other Allied Countries where they were put to work on projects similar to the ones they had worked on in Germany. The Tau highly value placing people where they will aid the empire the most. If the Tau did get someone to join their empire with knowledge of Imperial Tech they would put that knowledge to use.

I suppose it could happen, but the question is- what would possibly convince a Tech-Priest to join the Tau Empire, barring the "no other choice" option? Tau tech isn't nearly as advanced as people seem to think it is, we aren't dealing with the Eldar or Necrons here. Most signature Tau technologies already have Imperial analogues or related systems, though in lesser numbers in comparison to the bulk of their military. Anti-grav? Land Speeders. Magnetic weapons? Don't Navy and Space Marine fleets have weapons said to use a magnetic field? Tau internal systems aren't really explained in detail, so we can't even compare things like life support, targeting systems etc. The only things I can really see a (higher ranking at least) Tech-Priest being interested in are Pulse/Ion weapons and Stealth suits. Maybe A.I if said cogheads are feeling extra heretical that day. Still, maybe some aren't quite as dogmatic as others, as some people have already mentioned and could join out of better working conditions or a chance to expand their knowledge in any way. "The quest for knowledge" and all that.

Gogsnik wrote:It isn't likely but a Tech-Priest might stay behind to tinker about with Tau technology or more likely remain faithful to the Cult Mechanicus and the Imperium and only commit a little bit of tech-heresy by 'acquiring' Tau technology and studying them in secret.

I agree with Gognik in those exact words perfectly said