After reviewing the conditions of Stygies VIII, Wojciech Blyek decided to present his report from the general to the specific.
"Stygies VIII, like other Forge Worlds, has proposed to supply the Legion and will allocate production capacity for the Blyek Battle Tank according to your command."
"Stygies VIII is located in the Vulcanis Binary System and can serve as a supply point for the Legion within the Segmentum Pacificus."
At present, Nareth's primary focus was the Segmentum Obscurus, and within the western galaxy, he controlled only the Tanith System of the Segmentum Pacificus.
But he knew that in time, his Legion's reach would inevitably extend into that region.
Wojciech continued:
"The Fabricator-General is willing to have the Dark Fire serve under your command, one hundred of them."
"Due to Mars's concern over the might of the Legio Vulcanum, Lord Horus personally intervened."
"The Legio Vulcanum was divided into two Titan Legions, the Lords of Ruin who followed Lord Horus, and the Dark Flame who remained stationed at Stygies VIII."
Nareth knew that this division among the Mechanicum was not truly successful.
The Legio Vulcanum had been established during the Age of Strife, and the gene-artisans of Stygies VIII had performed cloning operations on each Princeps.
Thus, both Titan Legions, born of the same genetic batch, still shared deep fraternal bonds.
When the Lords of Ruins later turned traitor, the Dark Flame, bound by that same bloodline, would also fall to Horus.
As Nareth pondered this, Wojciech went on.
"After the split, the Dark Flame still retains 150 Titans, placing them among the foremost Legios, rivaled only by the Titan Legions of Mars."
"The Fabricator-General recommends holding fifty Titans in reserve as a deterrent against potential threats."
"Stygies VIII also offers Knight Armors to House Vextrix to enhance their strength."
After listing over a dozen standard conditions, Wojciech moved to the special terms offered by Stygies VIII.
"In exchange for the authorization and technology to produce the Blyek Battle Tank, Stygies VIII is willing to share their unique techniques in the manufacturing of gun barrels, recoil dampeners, and propulsion systems."
He elaborated further:
"In these three fields, Stygies VIII holds distinct advantages. Among all Forge Worlds, their craftsmanship is unmatched."
Nareth knew this to be true. Over the next ten thousand years, Stygies VIII would remain preeminent in these three areas of production, their expertise unrivaled.
Recoil dampeners were critical components in trains, mechanical arms, and various firearms, designed to absorb shock and stabilize vibrations.
Propellants were the core energy sources for spacecraft, rockets, and missiles; the higher the quality, the greater their efficiency and thrust.
Their overall offer exceeded Nareth's expectations; after all, he was offering only a partial license of a sacred STC pattern.
But as the Lawyer, Nareth saw opportunity in their eagerness.
'Perhaps my recovery of an STC made the Machine Cult believe I was favored by the Omnissiah...'
'Or perhaps Stygies VIII foresaw the potential of the Blyek Battle Tank as their flagship production line.'
With that thought, he proposed a countercondition:
"In addition, I want the technologies for the Cloaking Shroud and the Anti-Augury System."
Nareth knew that in the far future, during the Moirae Schism, Stygies VIII would begin adopting xenotech after being aided by the Aeldari.
Their militant priesthood would then use cloaking fields and augury-jammers to conceal their presence and activities.
At present, however, those technologies were not yet regarded as crucial.
It was the perfect moment to obtain them.
"Understood, my lord. I will convey your request to the Fabricator-General," Wojciech noted.
With no large-scale conflicts at the moment, Nareth devoted himself to administrative tasks and began cataloging the alchemical materials gathered through expeditionary trade and tribute.
The materials fell into two categories:
one from allied fleets as gifts of gratitude for logistical support, and the other acquired through deliberate trade during the Legion's stationing on Vostroya.
Following his orders, his subordinates had intentionally sought out rare and valuable items.
Upon inspection, the most abundant alchemical material was Star Crystal, the main ingredient for the Sequence 9, "Seer" of the Fool Pathway.
He held a shard in his hand, webbed with fine, natural lines and glimmering with faint starlight.
He had transported exactly 529 Star Crystals back to the Kingdom of Disorder.
Of higher tier were 294 golden, yellow, and red jester masks, the main ingredient for the next sequence, "Clown."
The offerings from Astartes and auxiliary forces, eager to honor their Primarch, were rarer still.
Among these, the most common was the Eye of the One-Eyed Night Owl, the main material for the Sequence 9, "Secret Supplicant" of the Hanged Man Pathway, totaling 403 pieces.
There were also 115 large-eared bats, main materials for the next sequence "Listener."
After finishing his inventory, Nareth convened with Arsena to discuss administrative divisions centered on Vostroya.
"My lord, within the Legion's territories, the only system under full control is the Simian System, conquered alongside the Luna Wolves."
"The Orks of the Wheel of Flame system had been purged by three Legions and were now directly managed by the Imperium."
"Aside from the low-value Nova Borilia, the six systems of the Segmentum Solar, Catachan of the Segmentum Ultima, Tanith of the Segmentum Pacificus, Mordian, Cypra Mundi, Triken, and Vigilus of the Segmentum Obscurus, all will have established warp gates."
"In total, aside from those fifteen systems, all Legion territories form a continuous region centered around Vostroya."
Arsena manipulated a control staff, projecting a brilliant starmap before Nareth.
At the center of a glowing sphere was the Vostroyan System.
"This entire region spans roughly 61.8 light-years in diameter. According to Imperial standards, it qualifies as a Subsector."
The Vostroyan Sector, as ratified by Malcador, spanned 330 light-years, the Subsector being its smaller administrative division.
On the starmap, beyond the central hub, sixty-two green points shimmered across space, surrounded by dim, unlit gray regions.
Some were near, others far.
Among the most distant was the Crystal Mirage System, containing only one habitable planet but boasting the largest crystal reserves in the territory, producing blue consumer-grade crystals, psychically resonant crystals for military use, and data crystals for administrative systems.
Closer to Vostroya was the Sidai System, newly conquered, with three habitable worlds, a mining world, an industrial world, and an agri-world.
"In total, there are 63 star systems containing habitable planets, and 118 colonized worlds."
Nareth studied the glowing stars before him, these sixty-three, along with twelve other strategic systems, formed the foundation of his dominion.
'At last, my great work has begun, my domain already surpasses the future 'Medusan Defensive Ring' of the Iron Hands.'
'Moreover, unlike Manus's protectorate model of scattered vassal-states, all my worlds are directly administered and develop by my command.'
He assessed the strength and quality of his domain.
'The worlds of Cypra Mundi and beyond far outshine the Medusan systems in productivity.
Even Necromunda, the most industrialized Hive World of the future Imperium, would need several peers combined to rival my forge output.'
'Technologically, Necromunda's potential is on par with Medusa, though it owes much to the STC-rich Van Saar colony ship.'
He recalled that the Van Saar colony ship from Terra had departed millennia ago but, due to the vagaries of warp travel, would not reach Necromunda until the 35th Millennium.
Aboard it were countless STC archives, making it as valuable as the ancient ruins of Medusa itself.
'In terms of manpower, the Catachans surpass even the Fenrisians in combat ability, and the Mordians are not far behind.'
Satisfied with his analysis, a rare smile crossed Nareth's face.
"Name this Subsector Vostroya," he declared.
"The region within eleven light-years of Necromunda shall be called the Necromunda Subsector."
Imperial standards placed a subsector's diameter between 10 and 60 light-years, creating large variations in scope.
Vostroya slightly exceeded the upper limit, while Necromunda barely surpassed the minimum, fitting the model of concentrated, direct control.
"My lord, I will compile data from all sixty-three systems and forward a backup to Lord Malcador."
Two months later, Nareth received confirmation from Malcador;the establishment of the Vostroya and Necromunda Subsectors was formally approved.
Nareth immediately ordered the 4th, 6th, and 9th Chapters to deploy into the Necromunda Subsector for exploration and conquest.
A month later, representatives from Stygies VIII arrived.
.....
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