As Nareth transported alchemical materials, his mind spun rapidly.
'Hmm… Kasrs is a good fit. Their swordsmanship is no less refined than the Otsberg-Vaya. In fact, in pure technique, Elvira might even surpass it, though Otsberg-Vaya is better suited for the Shadows of Order. The legendary future Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn relied on Elvira swordsmanship to defeat enemy after enemy of the Imperium.'
His thoughts drifted further.
'Mercenaries. Warriors. The Vessor.'
'Yes… The Kroot, the Viskeons, and the Nikuli are all mercenary races of the galaxy. Among humans, the finest mercenaries must undoubtedly include the Vessor. Eisenhorn once said of them: "Compared to them, I would rather face an enraged Cadian Kasrkin."'
Nareth knew that in the Imperium to come, the fortress world of Cadia would stand at the very gate of Chaos. Its soldiers would prove the most formidable among the Astra Militarum, their only rivals being the Catachans. Time and again, Cadians would hold back the Black Crusades, their record unmatched.
The Kasrkin were Cadia's elite. Eisenhorn, in his storied life, fought beside them and also against the Vessor. His assessment was telling.
'Eisenhorn slew Chaos Marines thousands of years old, bound daemons, and was counted among the strongest of Inquisitors. Yet when faced with three Vessorine Jannissaries, he had to flee. Against their chieftain, Aytrik, even in a duel of blades, he could not prevail. Only by a "dishonorable" pistol shot did he manage to bring him down.'
'The Vessor are terrifying warriors, with an unusually high proportion of Untouchables among them. Truly, they are better suited than any to stand watch over Cadia and resist Chaos.'
Yet Nareth frowned.
'The Vessor are mercenaries through and through. They recognize only coins. Their high Untouchable ratio makes them impervious to Khorne's corruption, immune to Slaanesh's temptations, at least, I know of no Vessor ever to fall to Chaos. But they have no loyalty to the Imperium, nor to the Emperor save for the coin that bears his face. They serve only their employer.'
The Departmento Munitorum had tried countless times to conscript them, to forge Astra Militarum regiments from their kind. Commissars had preached, Ministorum priests had exhorted, threats and executions had been employed, but none of it worked. Eventually, the Imperium gave up.
Nareth knew that as a primarch, he could not win them over by reputation or honor alone. Yet he also knew he had means beyond the Imperium's reach.
'The Kasrskin will serve the Imperium; let them be the recruitment base of the Eighth Legion. As for the Vessor, I will find another way. Where the Imperium failed, I still have extraordinary tools.'
As he pondered how to win the Vessor, he continued to shuttle between fortresses, transporting the gathered materials into the Kingdom of Disorder.
With the Sidai system campaign largely concluded, and the two Legions scouring the last Fra'al remnants, Nareth summoned Gabriel and the other observers sent to the Iron Hands to hear their reports.
When the reports ended, Nareth turned to Gabriel.
"From what you have seen, Amadeus DuCaine's 'Storm and Hammer' doctrine, does it have flaws?"
Gabriel paused in thought for several seconds before answering:
"My lord, 'Storm and Hammer' excels on large-scale, wide, open battlefields. Being outnumbered does not hinder its use; indeed, it is a reason to employ it, but it requires absolute superiority in armored firepower. This fits the Iron Hands perfectly, with their vast numbers of Iron Fathers and strong ties to the Mechanicum."
"But the smaller the battle, the more complex the terrain, the less effective this doctrine becomes. Only enemies of Astartes-level might could exploit its weakness."
Nareth nodded in approval. He remembered that in the mid-Great Crusade, during joint exercises with the Emperor's Children, DuCaine had suffered his first defeat: his armored "hammer" units ambushed at their landing zone in a small-scale engagement.
By the later Crusade, as Imperial technology advanced and other Legions adapted, the brilliance of "Storm and Hammer" faded. Ferrus Manus' newer, more flexible and mobile iron tactics would define the Iron Hands of the future.
Satisfied with Gabriel's judgment, Nareth deemed him worthy of promotion.
"Gabriel, from this day forward, you are the Legions' Marshal of Ordnance. You will oversee the Legion's siege weapons and heavy firepower."
Rosicky, the most skilled tech-adept among the Shadows of Order, was well-suited for his position of Forge Lord.
Gabriel, second only to him, would now hold this new post.
The position itself was inspired by Mortarion's approach. Durak Rask, the first Marshal of Ordnance, had been a Death Guard of Barbarus. A child who had once worshiped Mortarion as savior, Rask's innate tactical genius and talent for siegecraft had made him rise swiftly. After decades of campaigns, he perfected his art until he became the Death Guard's Marshal of Ordnance.
"Your duty now," Nareth continued, "is to construct the Garuda and the Simulus Chambers. Adapt 'Storm and Hammer' to reform the Shadows of Order. Each company must field a formation that can serve as a hammer."
Afterward, Nareth met with Ferrus Manus to review the Sidai campaign and proposed sending more Shadows of Order to continue fighting alongside the Iron Hands. Manus agreed.
Nareth assigned two "Savants", technmarines skilled across disciplines, and ten Honor Guard to the Iron Hands.
Finally, Nareth said, "Manus, I believe you are ready. You can now lead the Iron Hands independently. I will inform the Emperor."
Ferrus Manus' stern features softened with a rare smile. In his heavy, leaden voice, he replied:
"Nareth, I have heard Vostroya is an advanced industrial world. You have built an efficient, self-sustaining system across an entire star system. I would like to visit Vostroya to learn from you."
"You are welcome as my guest," Nareth answered.
And so, the fleets of the Shadows of Order and the Iron Hands set course for the Vostroyan system.
En route, Nareth ordered the Eighth Chapter to muster there as well.
.....
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