Evidence now proves that the Primus and the Archon are at odds. Investigations show that the Primus disapproves of the Archon's single-minded interest in Remnant technology, believing it to be a distraction from the kett's attempts to conquer Heleus.

The technical term is Langford basilisk. I expect the real deal would induce nothing more permanent than an inconveniently-timed reboot, if it can even exist.

There was a massive slaughter of W.R. steam power at the conclusion of the summer timetable. In all, 169 locomotives were condemned.

Marcus's description of himself with his alipta, then, has a whiff of the racy/disreputable, and the alipta is someone far down on the social scale (compare the rest of the letter).