Void Hunter.
Chief Apothecary Mikael, after bathing to cleanse the sticky sweat from long treks through Catachan's sweltering jungles, descended to Deck M-108.
With a ritual knife, he sealed the chamber and prepared a sanctified environment, then knelt before the altar.
Beside the "Beast Tamer" lay a wolf. Unlike the gray- or brown-furred Thunderwolves, this one's coat gleamed emerald green.
"Black Emperor of the Shadows of Order,"
"Mysterious Sovereign of the Kingdom of Disorder,"
"Monarch of Light and Shadow, who governs the holds the rules."
"I beseech Thy gaze. I beseech Thy favor."
"O Balance, foundation of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my invocation."
"O Iron Laws of Monarchs, basis of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my invocation."
The emerald-furred wolf sensed an invisible force surging. Its hackles rose, eyes darting in fear.
The "Beast Tamer" steadied the wolf, left hand holding the offering aloft, right hand gently patting its back.
By the third recitation, black mist surged upward, engulfing both him and the wolf.
Mikael had heard descriptions from Sánchez of this mysterious space, so after surveying his surroundings, he calmed himself.
The Catachan wolf snarled in panic, as if caught in a nightmare.
The "Beast Tamer" stroked it again, soothing its fear.
"My Lord!"
Nareth gave a slight nod, fixing his gaze on the wolf with emerald fur. Its size was close to a Fenrisian wolf, yet its eyes, too, were green rather than yellow.
He noticed armored plating on its vital points, protection in addition to its altered coat.
"Mikael, it seems you have successfully bred and tamed a new wolf species adapted to Catachan."
"As you see," Mikael replied, "our Apothecaries crafted special elixirs, and the "Beast Tamer"s accelerated the domestication of Thunderwolves. They quickly adapted to Catachan's environment and evolved."
"Their bodies changed to suit jungle life. Most visible are the green fur and eyes."
"Their coats grew thinner to prevent clumping in high humidity, while heat dissipation improved."
"During their evolution we guided their traits. Currently, we're narrowing their toe spacing, making forelimb joints more flexible for moving across soft, loamy ground."
"They're no longer Thunderwolves but an entirely new species, we call them Catachan Wolves."
"The mechanical fittings on them are improved designs from combat data."
"Back in the Thunderwolf stage, the Seventh Chapter's Shadows of Order complained: though swift, the Thunderwolves suffered unacceptable casualties under Ork firepower."
"After consulting with the Techmarines, we developed armor."
"But heavy armor clashed with Catachan culture and slowed them in the jungle, so for now we only reinforce vital points."
Nareth remembered the Space Wolves' Thunderwolf cavalry, mounts clad in armor, even augmented with weapons, so their riders could strike from their backs.
He spoke:
"Do not limit research to armor. Develop heavy weapons for our Shadows of Order to wield from their mounts."
The Chief Apothecary, having reported on the wolves, opened a box to reveal a carnivorous plant.
"My Lord, the Catachan Brainleaf you requested!"
"A fleet of three transports and five escorts has already set out. Soon, You shall see Catachan's flora and fauna."
"Excellent," Nareth said with approval. Mikael closed the box with a rune-press.
"My Lord, the augmentation surgeries for the Catachans progress well. Their physiques are superb, highly adaptive, and show no rejection after taking our Apothecaries' concoctions."
"Of 1,500 candidates so far, not a single failure.""
The report finished, Mikael and the wolf were returned to the Void Hunter.
The "Beast Tamer" calmed the Catachan Wolf, clasped his hands in praise to the Black Emperor, then rose.
Meanwhile, on Catachan's surface, Harvest Priestess Marlena resided beside experimental farmlands.
She walked the perimeter, checking the defensive ring of mutant plants she had raised. A tawny-furred gyrinx padded at her side.
Catachan flora bore a strange awareness. The Priestess had to inspect daily, ensuring her plant-woven walls stood ready. Mutant flora often attacked, but would obey her will to retaliate, an endless cycle.
She spotted a "Beast Tamer" leading a train-long Catachan Devil nearby. Its presence kept most wildlife at bay.
Turning her eyes back to the vines, she examined the five-meter-high wall, grown over a stellar month of labor. The vines outpaced anything she had seen on Triken. Her days were consumed driving them to form defenses.
'Higher than yesterday by almost a meter. If not for constant attacks, these vines would reach unimaginable heights.'
At a corner of the wall, she found a crack a meter wide, its three-meter thickness reduced by two.
'That must be from yesterday's assault by the Vines and Catachan Catchers.'
She raised her pale right hand toward the vines. Spiritual energy flowed. They responded, growing under her command.
Catachan plants had awareness but no true intellect. Within thirty meters, her beyonder ability let her bend them, and the insects, to her will.
Soon the breach was sealed.
Walking further, she approached another vine wall. As she neared, the growth parted to reveal a passage.
She entered, stepping into farmland. Unlike the wild jungles, here ordinary crops thrived, not ravenous mutant flora. It had taken her a year of psycraft, modeled after Eldar terraforming techniques, to achieve this.
After testing hundreds of crops, she settled on raspberries and pomelo trees as most viable.
Passing through the orchard, she returned home.
Fifty-two Catachan women watched her in awe. Muscular as auxiliaries, they had survived the same lethal jungles as the men. Even untrained, they fought as well as common soldiers.
They bowed reverently. None had seen anyone command plants as Marlena did. To them, she was more powerful and mysterious than the black-armored Astartes.
Serving her was glory itself. Each attendant had triumphed over tens of thousands for the honor.
Stepping into this orchard shocked them further. Trees, fruit trees, on Catachan!
They devoted themselves wholly to the Priestess, believing it destiny's blessing.
Marlena inclined her head, walking inside. Descending underground, she found fourteen Catachan women and Legion servitors laboring on an altar.
Despite their efforts, progress was slower than aboard the Void Hunter.
After thirty-eight stellar days, the altar stood complete.
Dismissing all attendants, Marlena began her rites of consecration.
.....
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