What’s this Dreadnought doing in this Space Marine image?

Relic Entertainment tossed a little holiday tease up on the official Twitter account for Space Marine today. The above image, which shows a Space Marine going toe-to-toe with a Dreadnought was sent out along with the message that a “big metal surprise” would be coming to the game in January.

For those less versed in the Warhammer 40k universe, Dreadnoughts are the heavily-armed sarcophagi of the greatest warriors produced by the Adeptus Astartes. When the mightiest of Space Marines fall in battle, they are entombed in these huge machines which act both as combat walkers and life-support systems.

But how? Will I be able to pilot a Dreadnought, or will I be fighting against them? Is it a new mode? I must have the answers! Curse you, Relic!

We have a big metal surprise coming… [Twitter via DualShockers]