Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office, Nareth listened to Sanchez's briefing.
"Father, Lord Russ did not give me trouble. I have received my hunting prize, the Wolf Helm of Russ."
As Sanchez spoke, he shifted the helmet slung on his left arm to his chest, then held it with both hands and presented it before the Primarch.
Nareth opened his Spirit Vision and glanced at it. The Wolf Helm carried no spiritual radiance.
After gazing at it for a moment, he said approvingly:
"A fine helm. You have defended the Legion's honor and earned your reward."
"Russ's wolf cubs will surely come after you again. You may accept their challenges at your discretion."
His tone hardened:
"But make certain they put up a stake. A hunting contest without worthy prizes? Let them play that among themselves."
"I understand. In fact, I am already looking forward to the next hunt," Sanchez replied with a smile.
Nareth asked further: "How is the Seventh Chapter?"
"Father, before the campaign on the Seventh Planet, the Seventh Chapter numbered six thousand, nine hundred and fifty-four."
Before the Battle of the Wheel of Fire, the Eleventh Legion had about eighty-five thousand warriors, but the twelve Chapters varied in size.
Once the Primarch designated Mordian and Catachan as the recruitment worlds for the Third and Seventh Chapters, new intake for those two units ceased.
The Third Chapter had been cut off first, leaving it the smallest with fewer than four thousand warriors. Once Mordian recruits joined, its numbers would rise again.
The Seventh Chapter only stopped recruitment after departing Fenris, so its numbers were higher.
The First and Eleventh Chapters, drawing recruits from Vostroya, were the first to reach eleven thousand apiece.
Nareth had divided the Eleventh Legion's development into two phases: first, each Chapter would form eleven companies of a thousand warriors each. Then in the second phase, each company would continue to expand.
The First and Second Chapters had already completed the first phase and entered the second.
"In the Wheel of Fire campaign, the Seventh Chapter lost one thousand, four hundred and eighty-three."
"In the Battle of the Attack Moon, five hundred and twelve."
"On the Seventh Planet, nine hundred and seventy-one."
As Sanchez spoke, his smile faded, grief spilling through.
Nareth's eyes too brimmed with sorrow. He, Sanchez, and Arsené, who was recording nearby, fell silent for over ten seconds before Sanchez continued:
"Among the fallen, seventy-four veterans were interred into Dreadnought sarcophagi and will continue to fight for you."
"Of the five thousand, four hundred and seventy-one remaining, nine hundred and twenty-three have already gone to the Ninth Chapter."
These nine hundred were Tyrant pathways beyonders, following Sczesny to aid the Storm Lord in consolidating command.
Nareth nodded, then pushed a data crystal across the desk to Sanchez.
He had used the Dice of Prophecy to divine Catachan's star chart, and input what he already knew into it.
"This is the chart to the Catachan system. Its primary world is a death world, in some ways, even more dangerous than Fenris."
"Those who survive its death-hunts are excellent hunters."
"Catachan shall be the future recruitment world of the Seventh Chapter."
Once Sanchez had picked up the data-crystal,Nareth added:
"Your Chapter's mission in the Wheel of Fire is finished. After the investiture, you depart for Catachan."
"The Techmarines have already designed and forged a medal commemorating the Wheel of Fire campaign. Tomorrow, aboard the flagship, I will confer it upon the Seventh Chapter."
Sanchez bowed slightly. "Thank you, Father."
"This is the honor you have earned."
Nareth steered the subject back to Catachan.
"Mikael will go with you. He will aid in training the recruits and study Catachan's flora and fauna."
Though regretful he could not follow the gene-father in war, Sanchez was still buoyed. To secure a Chapter's own recruitment world, and one suited to his tactical thinking, was no small prize.
"Father, I will carry out your will. I will make Catachan part of the Seventh Chapter."
Nareth nodded, and with a mental pulse transmitted the ceremony's details into Sanchez's mind. Then he told him:
"Establish an altar aboard Void Hunter. Once you reach Catachan, perform the rite and report to me."
He had decided to let Sanchez serve as an experiment, to see whether he could receive messages across star systems.
After Sanchez departed, Arsena reported:
"My lord, the Forge Lord has sent an astropathic message: many powers are showing interest in the Attack Moon."
"Mars, the Forge World Mezoa, the Forge World Graia…"
"Besides these, exploratory fleets of the Mechanicum have also reached out to Mikael. Among them is the Magos Lian Ramilies"
At the name, Nareth's attention sharpened.
He remembered: Lian Ramilies had discovered the STC of the Ramilies-class star-fort. These colossal fortresses rivaled small moons.
In voidscale comparison, a Gloriana-class battleship seemed no more than a frigate against one.
Over the next ten thousand years, more than twelve hundred Ramilies-class forts would be constructed, serving both as cores of system defenses and as repair, command, and resupply hubs for expeditionary fleets.
Many Astartes Chapters would one day possess them:
The Death Guard's Watch-Fortress Erioch.
The Fire Hawks' Monastery-Fortress Raptorus Rex…
Drawing his mind back,Nareth asked:
"What are they offering?"
"The astropathic relay cannot convey details. The Forge Lord reports his Necromunda research has borne fruit. He has departed and will brief you personally."
Nareth nodded, thinking privately:
'If cross-system prayer succeeds, then I can attempt sacrifices as well. In such cases, Mikael could simply sacrifice a data slate or crystal to me, and I would receive the information quickly, and in full.'
The next day, the Shadows of Order warriors of the Seventh Chapter stood in formation upon the embarkation deck of Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty.
Nareth moved among them, pinning medals to their armor one by one.
The medal, called the Wheel of Fire Seventh Medallion, came in two grades.
Any warrior who slew more than ten orks in battle was eligible.
Every warrior of the Seventh had killed more than ten greenskins, thus every man received the honor.
The Tyrant-pathway beyonders who had transferred to the Ninth Chapter also returned to take part, maintaining their bond to their old brothers.
The medal bore the image of seven red arrows piercing a green serpent, the serpent representing the Snakebite Clan.
All recipients would also form the nucleus of the newly founded Ork Hunters' Lodge.
For each warrior decorated,Nareth would clap his son's shoulder and recite his deed.
"Klaus, with chainsword you slew twelve greenskins. Your skill is worthy of admiration."
Klaus straightened, pride blazing on his face.
The most elite earned the higher grade of the medal.
Its emblem: flames consuming a green serpent. Only those who had slain more than a thousand orks could bear it.
Affixed it to the new First Company Captain, the Provoker Thibault, and said with praise:
"You slew ten thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four greenskins. Your record inspires awe."
Within the Seventh Chapter, only Sanchez, and the two who had transferred, Sczesny and Jorginho, exceeded his tally.
"Father, I will uphold your will and slay the enemy without cease."
At last,Nareth placed the medal upon Sanchez himself.
"I await your good news."
"Father, I will not fail your expectations."
With the ceremony complete, the Seventh Chapter's fleet made for the Mandeville Point.
At the same time,Nareth sent a newborn space-ape into the Third Layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.
Another, newly bonded to him, he brought back into realspace.
"Arsena," he ordered, "give the word: prepare a frigate, with only the essential crew."
An hour later, he boarded it with the Jokaeros.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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