In the reception area of Paradigm, Wojciech Blyek arranged accommodations for the representatives of Stygia VIII before heading toward the Primarch's palace.
Moments later, led by Arsena Dunn, he stood before the Primarch himself.
"My lord, Stygia VIII has agreed, on top of the previous terms, to provide either the Cloaking Shroud and the Anti-Augury System, whichever you choose."
Nareth, recalling that his techmarines were already researching the Aeldar's color-shifting cloaks, replied:
"I'll take the Anti-Augury System."
Then, turning to his attendant, he said, "Select a lawyer from the Honor Guard. They will form a negotiation team with the techmarines and finalize the alliance terms with Stygia VIII."
During his earlier discussions with the Tech-Priest, Nareth had designated Wojciech as the intermediary. As a Mechanicum Magos rather than a Shadow of Order, Wojciech wasn't suited to represent him directly.
After twenty-three work cycles of negotiation, Nareth reviewed all the clauses, inspecting each with "Law Proficiency". He approved the agreement.
Five cycles later, the signing ceremony between the Shadows of Order and the Forge World Stygia VIII took place in the Primarch's palace.
Four tech-priests in black robes lined with red carried the great Bell of the Omnissiah upon their shoulders. Eight more swinging censers walked alongside them.
They chanted binary hymns as they followed behind a Magos clad in dark gray robes, entering the hall.
Adorned on their chests was the sigil of Stygia VIII, divided into four segments from top to bottom: half a sacred cog, a variant of the letter A, a skull, and the numeral VIII.
The gray-robed Sage stopped, and a synthesized voice echoed from within his mask.
[Unit designation: Magos Sergio-H25 of Forge World Stygia VIII, presenting before the Primarch of Vostroya, Lord of Necromunda, Scourge of the Orks…"]
The Magos recited twenty-three titles in perfect mechanical rhythm.
"Greetings, Lord Nareth."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Magos Sergio," Nareth replied with a smile.
Wojciech Blyek, both a Mechanicum Magos and the Primarch's authorized liaison, stepped between them.
"By the mutual will of Lord Nareth and Forge World Stygia VIII, a pact of friendship has been forged."
An attendant unrolled parchment, while a tech-priest produced a dataslate. After cross-verification, Nareth and the Magos representing the Fabricator-General each signed and sealed four copies of The Pact of Alliance Between Primarch Nareth and Forge World Stygia VIII.
Incense drifted through the hall as the Bell of the Omnissiah rang out.
Wojciech spoke solemnly, "Let the Machine God bear witness to this covenant, and let the Omnissiah bless this pact, eternal and unbroken!"
After the ceremony, the delegation from Stygia VIII departed, and Wojciech reported back to the Primarch.
"My lord, I have received a message from Magos Lian Ramilies. He requests to visit Vostroya and meet with you."
Nareth narrowed his eyes in thought.
'Ramilies… He should be commanding his Ark Mechanicum, exploring the galaxy. What could he want with me?'
'Last time, he offered to trade for the Attack Moon, but his offer didn't interest me. Now that Forge World Graia has taken the Attack Moon, what brings him here?'
After pondering for a while, Nareth found no clear answer. He knew little about Ramilies beyond his famed Star Fortress.
He smirked inwardly. 'Surely he's not here because I'm about to divine the location of an STC and get it before anyone else?'
'Impossible. No one knew of my upcoming divination; Ramilies couldn't know.'
"Tell Ramilies that I welcome his arrival."
Though Nareth only knew Ramilies had discovered the STC pattern for the Ramilies-class Star Fortress, he likely had, or would have, found many others.
After all, if a Magos was one recognized by the Mechanicum for mastery in a given field, an artisan Magos like Ramilies would be a scholar of high caliber.
Moreover, Ramilies commanded an entire Ark Mechanicus.
In Nareth's memory, during the Great Crusade, there were three true luminaries of Mechanicum science: Magos Lian Ramilies; Magos Arkhan Land, who unearthed the STCs for Land Speeders and Land Raiders; and Tech-Priest Urtzi Malevolus, who forged armor for several Primarchs.
As for Drakol, his rise came later, during the Age of Redemption.
"Yes, my lord. I will relay your invitation to Magos Ramilies," Wojciech said, then added, "Forge World Gryphon IV has sent another message. After your previous rejection, they once again request authorization to produce the Blyek Battle Tank."
Nareth didn't mind granting multiple forges licenses, as long as they paid the proper price.
"Tell Gryphon IV's Fabricator-General that if they can offer technology equal in value to what Stygia VIII provided, they shall receive authorization."
.....
In the eleventh month of the year 825, the Ark Mechanicum Explorer arrived in the Vostroyan system.
Accompanied by Wojciech, Magos Ramilies visited the Primarch's palace.
He wore crimson robes; no flesh remained on his frame, yet his mechanical voice carried the same tone as a human's, calm and steady.
"Lian Ramilies greets the Lord of Vostonia."
"Magos, welcome," Nareth said with a courteous nod.
Ramilies's augmetic eyes studied the Primarch for twelve seconds, analyzing his form, his expression, his armaments.
His gaze lingered one second each on the black armor, the Sword of Vaul, the silver power gauntlet, and the Dionysian Spear, then six seconds more on the golden mechanical wings.
"Your achievements in the Wheel of Fire campaign are worthy of awe. Capturing the Orks' Attack Moon has given new direction to the Machine God's faithful."
"Your recovery of a Holy STC on Nova Borilia proves you are blessed by the Omnissiah."
"The worlds under your rule, Vostroya and Necromunda, outproduce any others in the Imperium."
"Cypria Mundi and Triken now rival even the Forge Worlds themselves."
Nareth accepted the praise with a mild smile, though his mind turned inward.
'Ramilies's list is incomplete. Among my major STCs are the Fortress-Class Energy Shield, the Simulus Chambers, the Punisher-class Reactor, and the Auto-Charging Void Shield.'
'Cypria Mundi and Triken were once destined to be Mechanicus Forge Worlds; I merely claimed them first. They can't yet rival Mars, Stygia VIII, Graia, Lucius, or Triplex Phall, but they do surpass many new or minor Forge Worlds.'
'Still, surely Ramilies didn't travel all this way just to flatter me…'
As Nareth mused, Ramilies spoke again.
"You are blessed by the Machine God. Allow me to serve by your side and aid in the recovery of the Holy Templates."
"My Ark Mechanicum, The Explorer, shall supply your warriors in battle."
"My Skitarii shall fight for you."
Nareth blinked, surprised. The Magos had come to pledge himself to him.
He wasted no time, rising with a warm smile.
"Lian, I welcome you to my cause."
"I have received news of another Standard Template Construct. You shall accompany me in its recovery."
Nareth knew the Magos wasn't yet fully loyal. Ramilies likely believed that following Nareth would yield more discoveries.
To truly win his devotion, Nareth would need to show him a miracle of the Machine God, a grand new STC discovery.
'The Ramilies-class Star Fortress will bear your name after all,' he thought. 'A fair trade.'
The Magos's augmetic eyes flickered, his logic engines whirring rapidly.
'The last STC discovery by Nareth was two Terran years and eleven months ago.'
'Another one so soon? Impossible. Probability: less than one in a billion.'
After twelve seconds, he concealed his doubts and said calmly:
"Very well, I await your command."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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