828.M30 – Fifth Month of Vostroya
Paradigm, Primarch's Palace
Arsena held a data slate in both hands and began his report.
"My Lord, the mining fleet has arrived at Ulthanx. Under the command of the Shadows of Order, a mining base has been established."
After briefly summarizing the situation on Ulthanx, the Primarch's aide continued:
"The second Company is in the Islington System, purging the mutant lifeforms aboard the a derelict starship."
"Librarian Nicholas, together with the Techmarines and aided by the 18th Legion, used the gravity of the lifeless world Islington V to permanently anchor the derelict in planetary orbit."
Nareth nodded with approval.
"He has done well."
Nicholas was one of the Librarians Nareth paid special attention to, a Beta-class psyker, just below Thomas and the apprentice Ramsey in potential.
After his augmentation was complete, Nareth had placed him in the Honor Guard to personally test his loyalty. Sending him to deal with the space hulk was the next test of his ability.
"When will Nicholas return?"
"He has already returned aboard the Shadow of Kingship," replied the attendant.
"Summon him to me," Nareth ordered.
Since Nicholas had passed his trials, Nareth decided it was time to elevate him into a beyonder.
After transmitting the order, Arsena continued his briefing.
"In accordance with your command, and as repayment for the 18th Legion's assistance, the recovered vessels have all been ceded to them."
Nareth nodded in satisfaction.
"Begin developing Islington into a training world for the Legion."
"Based on its geography, Islington I, a plains world with a population of just over one million, will serve best."
"Construct training bases for guerrilla warfare and heavy infantry operations."
The attendant noted every order before resuming his report.
"During the purgation of the Andrew automatons on Ulthanx and the battle aboard the Islington derelict, the 11th Chapter lost a total of four hundred and thirteen Shadows of Order."
"Despite the losses, total Legion strength has now surpassed one hundred thousand."
"The greatest growth comes from the 3rd Chapter, after incorporating 3,814 recruits from Mordian, their total strength now stands at 10,153 Shadows of Order."
"The 7th Chapter's new recruits number 1,782, bringing their total to 5,674 Shadows of Order."
Arsena continued his tone was laced with concern.
"My Lord, since both the Triken System and Vostroya have begun constructing Ramilies-class star-forts, the Legion's supply lines are under some strain."
"Power armor shipments have been delayed by five Terran days on average, and boltgun ammunition by fourteen."
"Deliveries from Stygies VIII in the Segmentum Pacificus and Glaia in the Segmentum Tempestus have eased the burden slightly, but distance limits their effect."
Nareth knew that in the coming Second Rangdan War, the Rangdan would deploy over a dozen war moons, he was already preparing accordingly.
'I need a Forge World ally from the Segmentum Obscurus. That would ease our logistical strain.
'I'll use the Dice of Prophecy for the next divination.'
Thinking of this, he spoke,
"Continue the construction of the starforts. I will solve the supply problem within one year."
"By your command."
Arsena exhaled in quiet relief. He did not understand why Nareth was so urgent in building Ramilies-class starforts, but he knew that Nareth was never wrong.
Fortunately, the supply crisis would soon be resolved.
Moments later, Nicholas arrived as summoned. Nareth had him wait outside while he returned to the Nation of Disorder to command the Jokaero to brew the "Sailor's" potion.
Nicholas's psychic gift did not fall within the five major psychic disciplines. Like the "Stormcaller" Njal, he was a storm-type psyker. To complement this affinity, Nareth decided to elevate him along the Tyrant's pathway.
Then, he summoned Wojciech Blyek.
"My Lord, the representative of Forge World Gryphon IV will arrive within twenty-three work cycles to negotiate the details of the alliance."
"Mars has also responded, the Fabricator-General states that, as they must also forge Gloriana-class battleships for other Primarchs, they can only construct three for you."
"Agreed," Nareth nodded. "But the first must be delivered by 833, the second by 836, and the final by 841."
Although he was already preparing a Ramilies-class starfort for the First Rangdan War, the Gloriana-class battleships were still vital for ensuring strategic superiority.
If he could obtain two by 836, he would be fully prepared before the war erupted.
The last ship could wait until before the Second Rangdan War.
"Understood, my Lord. I will convey your terms."
Twenty-three work cycles later, the representatives of Forge World Gryphon IV arrived on Vostroya.
Nareth dispatched a delegation of "Lawyers" and Techmarines to negotiate the finer points of the alliance.
When the final document was presented, Nareth focused on its key clauses:
In addition to supplying the Shadows of Order with resources and sending the Skitarrii, the Legio Gryphonicus, pledged fifty-eight Titans, thirty-six of which were Reaver-class Battle Titans.
Nareth recalled that before the Great Crusade's apex, the War Griffons maintained 176 Titans, roughly half of them Reavers.
'Their current strength barely exceeds one hundred Titans; offering fifty-eight is a remarkable show of faith.'
After signing the pact, Nareth requested the deployment of the Legio Gryphonicus and Skitarii to the Necromunda Subsector, where they would join forces with the Darkfire and Leggio Astraman, alongside three Chapters of the Shadows of Order, to complete the subsector's conquest.
When the Dice of Prophecy had finished recharging, Nareth immediately began his divination.
In his mind flashed all known data about Forge World Lucius:
'Forge World Lucius'
'A hollow world whose inner core houses an artificial sun, a massive fusion reactor providing energy to its endless forges.'
'It is the sole producer of Solarite Alloy, a metal of extraordinary durability.'
'Home to the Legio Astorum, the Warp Runners.'
Nareth knew Lucius well, and the torrent of images filling his mind was vast.
He chose Lucius as his next ally because it was among the most exceptional of all Forge Worlds.
First, its artificial sun gave it limitless energy, allowing its manufactories to run eternally.
Even during the later Hive Fleet Leviathan invasion, Lucius's recovery rate of war machines exceeded the Tyranids' absorption rate of biomass, winning the war of attrition.
Second, its unique Solarite Alloy was an invaluable material.
Third, the Warp Runners, famed across the Imperium for their speed, were unlike other ponderous Titan Legions; their lightning-fast mobilization made them ideal allies of Chogoris and its swift warriors.
When they entered war, the Warp Runners' movements defied belief; their massive engines of destruction appeared at the enemy's gates with impossible grace and speed.
In the future, Lucius would even master teleportation technology, becoming the only Titan Legion capable of teleporting directly into battle, envied by all others.
Finally, Lucius was located near the very region where the Legion would soon wage its most crucial campaigns, the northern Galactic Rim, the domain of the Rangdan.
The First Rangdan War would erupt in the galaxy's northeast, and Lucius was the largest Forge World near that front.
With its four major advantages, Lucius was the obvious choice.
Although Nareth knew Lucius lay to the northeast of the Vostroyan Subsector, finding its exact location amid the vast stars required divination.
A single dot on the galactic map represented thousands of light-years.
He closed his eyes and began to focus.
'Star map from Vostroya to Lucius...'
After silently repeating the phrase eleven times, Nareth cast the Dice of Prophecy.
The tetrahedron spun through the air and landed softly in his open palm. At that instant, a vision like a holographic projection unfolded before his eyes.
He memorized the coordinates and transferred them into a data crystal.
Navigator Lord Eden Visscher plotted the course to Lucius, and the fleet of the Eleventh Legion set sail.
.....
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