When the Graian Crown arrived in the star system, Graia's Fabricator Locum, Designate Degoes-12, led his delegation aboard the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty.
Considering that the two sides would be long-term allies, Nareth extended the Fabricator Locum the highest courtesy.
The Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty thundered eleven gun salutes, this was the Eleventh Legion's greatest honor to a guest.
Nareth himself, together with the Forge Lord Rosicky, stood at the landing platform in welcome.
As Degoes-12 descended the gangway, Nareth noted that only the upper half of his face still retained any trace of human flesh.
The lower half of his face was covered by a respirator. A mech-implant, its surface plated with black chromium, jutted from his left temple.
That implant bore half the heraldry of Graia: the holy cog and the rising sun.
The cog, universal symbol of the Cult Mechanicum. The dawn, a unique emblem of Graia, heralding the coming of a new age.
Degoes-12's mechadendrites writhed, one bearing the scepter of the Omnissiah.
Four Magos followed close behind him, and twelve Tech-Priests came last, each cradling a thurible of incense.
All bore Graia's crest, the lower portion marked with the world's monogram.
From the vox-hymn array mounted upon his chest came a synthesized voice:
"Primarch of the Shadows of Order // Monarch of Vostroya // Discoverer of the Twin Knight Worlds of Daxos // Nareth // This Unit // Fabricator Locum of Graia // Degoes-12 // Extends Greeting!"
"Welcome, Fabricator Locum Degoes-12 of Graia!"
Degoes-12 turned his gaze upon the Forge Lord.
"Rosicky Cezch. It is satisfactory to meet you."
"Welcome, Fabricator Locum," Rosický replied.
After formal salutations between the Primarch, the Forge Lord, and their retainers, and the Fabricator Locum, Magos, and Tech-Priests of Graia, both parties entered the Primarch's audience hall and sat opposite one another.
Nareth fixed his eyes on Degoes-12.
"Fabricator Locum, we have reached preliminary agreement regarding the Attack Moon. That is a good beginning.
"Today, I hope we can settle the framework of our pact. Thereafter, my Forge Lord will discuss the details with Graia."
Degoes-12's mechadendrites twitched.
"Primarch // Nareth // Proposal is logical // Efficient // This Unit acknowledges // Agrees."
Nareth inclined his head, signaling the Forge Lord to speak. Rosický raised a data slate and read aloud:
"First, regarding the Attack Moon. Its ownership is vested in Graia."
"Our side will dispatch five Techmarines to cooperate with yours in research."
"All discoveries must be shared with us."
Degoes-12 paused a moment before replying:
"This Unit acknowledges. // Previously agreed."
Rosický continued:
"Second, Graia will supply the Eleventh Legion and its auxiliaries."
"As Graia lies within the Segmentum Tempestus, this region will serve as the primary supply zone."
"Supplies include, but are not limited to, voidship construction and refit, distribution of all Graia-pattern arms and equipment: the Manticore Rocket Launcher, Trojan Support Vehicle, Rapier Laser Destroyer, Vengeance Grenade Launcher, bolt weapons, and other materials stated here."
Of Graia's war machines, the most renowned was the Manticore. Its production rate was surpassed only by Stygies VIII.
As for another variant, the Graia-pattern Hellhound, the Imperium had yet to design the Chimera APC, let alone its derivatives.
Thus, the pact encompassed every weapon Graia could forge, including those yet to be conceived.
"Production of Graia-pattern Manticore Rocket Launcher shall commence immediately upon ratification."
"Your Tech-Priests will assist Eleventh Legion worlds to master production, enabling local manufacture."
Degoes-12 fell silent for a second, then:
"This Unit agrees. Graia will provision the Shadows of Order."
"Third, the Graian Crown itself must, when necessary, deploy to the warzone as mobile supply base."
Degoes-12 immediately countered:
"The Graian Crown's fusion drives permit warp transit // Consumption vast // Warp-crossing perilous // Cannot redeploy arbitrarily."
This time Nareth spoke directly:
"Fabricator Locum, I will not summon the Crown lightly."
"Only when no supply is obtainable from nearby sectors will I call upon it.
"The Forge Lord will discuss the specifics with you."
After fifteen seconds of stillness, the vox emitted:
"This Unit agrees // Details to be negotiated."
Rosický pressed on:
"Fourth, military support. We request that half the Legio Astraman accompany the Shadows of Order in battle. If required, the full Legio must be deployed."
After five seconds' thought, Degoes-12 replied:
"Graia possesses a homeworld // And the Graian Crown // Two strategic anchors to defend. // The Legio Astraman will commit one-third its strength."
"Graia's Skitarii // Never retreat // They will march beside the Eleventh Legion."
Rosický frowned faintly and turned toward Nareth.
The Primarch tapped the table, reflecting:
'It is necessary for Graia to retain strength. I recall the Graian Crown, while crossing the warp, was nearly destroyed by Fleets of Industrial Harvesters, later ambushed by Orks and Chaos alike.'
'The Skitarii's iron resolve is legendary. Once convinced their data-predictions are sound, their cold logic drives them to any sacrifice. Their minds hardwired into absolute calculation, even enemy psykers cannot breach that wall of reason.'
'Moreover, there are forge worlds not yet discovered by the Imperium, but known to me. Through augury, I can reveal their locations and forge new alliances.'
He finally said:
"I agree. The Legio Astraman and the Skitarii are welcome to fight alongside the Shadows of Order."
"The Forge Lord shall negotiate the finer terms with you."
Arena joined the delegation, assisting the Forge Lord.
After eleven days of talks, the treaty's details were settled.
On signing day, the Chapter Master of the 6th, 10th, and 12th Chapters, the Librarian, and six other captains including Adams and Thierry Vieira, attended.
Facing them stood Graia's four Magos.
The Forge Lord proclaimed:
"From this day, the Shadows of Order and Forge World Graia are bound as allies, never to forsake one another!"
He repeated the oath in Binary Cant.
Nareth and Degoes-12 stepped to the great table.
Nareth inscribed his name upon the lower right corner of the parchment scroll, 5.2 meters wide.
The Fabricator Locum seizing a quill with a mechadendrite, wrote his own.
Both then sealed their names upon the dataslate with electronic sigils.
Afterward, Nareth, curious about the Graian Crown, made his request:
"I wish to visit the Graian Crown."
From the vox came:
"We welcome // Primarch // To our domain."
Nareth, Rosický, and Arsena boarded a Stormbird bound for the Crown.
The Graian Crown glittered like a gem in the heavens of the Wheel of Fire, its carbon-fiber highways stretched in a vast web.
A titanic fusion of nuclear hives and colossal superconducting conduits, it loomed like a beast of steel.
The Skitarii patrolled its arteries, while endless servitors hauled supplies.
Escorted by Degoes-12, Nareth approached an observation viewport.
Eagerly, the Fabricator Locum issued Binary commands. The Crown's Chrozin Shunt thrusters locked onto the Attack Moon's stationary orbit.
It clung to the moon like a steel tick.
Subroutines activated. Hundreds of new combat servitors rolled off the assembly lines every minute, joining the Skitarii in fortifying the Attack Moon.
The fleet descended to its surface, Magos and Tech-Priests disembarking.
Among them were five black-armored Cognitors.
Once Nareth had witnessed the Crown securing the Attack Moon, he returned aboard the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty.
By the year's end, the Eleventh Legion had purged the 4th and 8th Planet.
Meanwhile, the Space Wolves cleansed thr 3rd and 6th Planet.
So far, the Eleventh Legion has purified a total of four planets, and the Sixth Legion has purified three planets.
In 822.M30, the Eleventh, Second, and Sixth Legions launched their assault upon the primary world of the Wheel of Fire.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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