Aboard the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignity, Gabriel knelt reverently before Nareth.
"My Lord," he began, voice filled with restrained excitement, "as you commanded, I excavated the ruins of the heretek Lord Rath's fortress, and uncovered a Standard Template Construct for an armored vehicle.
"After study, I determined it to be a variant of the Predator tank currently being fielded by the Legions. Both share the same Rhino chassis foundation."
At his words, Nareth's thoughts spun rapidly. He recalled everything he knew about Predator tanks.
The Predator had been deployed since the Dark Age of Technology, playing a vital role in the establishment of mankind's colonial dominion. The Rhino transport granted humanity mobility and survivability against smaller xenos, but it proved ineffective when faced with the brute force of Ork close-combat assaults.
Thus, the Predator was born, a heavier, more durable evolution of the Rhino.
As with its progenitor, whose original designation was the RH1-N0 Tracked Exploration and Multipurpose Defense Vehicle, the name "Predator" had come from Imperial diviners who drew inspiration from the Emperor's Tarot.
As Nareth pondered this, Gabriel continued his report.
"Compared to the standard Predator, which emphasizes armor, this variant focuses on offensive power. Its main turret can mount a twin assault cannon or a flamestorm cannon, while its sponsons can carry heavy bolters or heavy flamers.
"My simulations within the Simulus Chambers indicate that, in infantry-support operations, this variant provides 2.6 times the firepower of the current Predator model."
Nareth nodded slightly. In his memory, this STC would later be known by another name, the Baal Predator, after the Blood Angels' homeworld.
The Blood Angels had never shared this pattern with the Mechanicum, a decision that had created tension between them. Fortunately, as they were still a fledgling Legion, the issue never escalated. The Baal pattern's devastating short-range firepower made it the perfect accompaniment to the Angels' close-assault doctrines.
Now Nareth regarded Gabriel with approval.
"Since you discovered it," he declared, "and as the Marshall of Ordnance, you should have a vehicle that bears your name and secures your renown across the Mechanicum and the Legions alike. Let it be named after you, the Gabriel-Pattern Predator. You will oversee its construction and ensure it is issued to every battle group."
"My Lord, I am honored beyond words. I shall not fail you." Gabriel's voice trembled. Though unlike Blyek or Lian Ramilies, he did not worship the Omnissiah, his education on Mars had taught him that to have one's name attached to a Standard Template Construct was the highest mark of sanctification, a mortal's path to divinity.
He had once been a man without faith. Now, faith in the Black Emperor filled that void. The Emperor's recognition felt like consecration.
Nareth activated his spirit vision, observing Gabriel's aura.
"Have you mastered the abilities of the "Archaeologist"?"
Gabriel's aura shone in complete, unbroken ochre, free of stains or distortions.
"I believe so," Gabriel answered. "Unearthing ancient relics has fully awakened the power you granted me."
"Wait for me in the audience chamber."
Once Gabriel and Arsena departed, Nareth went to his private armory, casually setting aside the Dionysian Spear.
Upon returning to the Kingdom of Disorder, he had his Jokaeros prepare the Sequence 8 potion, "Appraiser".
After consuming it, Gabriel advanced to the rank of Appraiser.
Once he left, Arsena reported, "My Lord, Mars has sent word. To acquire the Ramirelies-class Star-Fort STC, they have begun constructing the Legion's second Gloriana-class battleship. It will be completed in the fifth month of 835."
Nareth tapped his chair's armrest in contemplation.
'The First, Third, Fourth, and Seventh Legions all show strong performance.'
The First has earned a Gloriana battleship.
'The Third gained the recruitment world of Mordion.'
'The Seventh received both a recruitment world and three relic-grade warships.
'Only the Fourth has yet to be rewarded.'
Nareth has long reserved their recruitment world, Posul, but has not divined it as that planet will not be discovered until after the Great Crusade ends.
'When I divine recruitment worlds or STCs, I must first focus on those discovered during the Great Crusade or at uncertain times. The discoveries after the Great Crusade that I clearly know can be divined at any time.'
Having settled his thoughts, Nareth declared, "This battleship shall belong to the Death Lord."
"As you command, my Lord."
835.M30
On the icy world of Inwit, within the Segmentum Tempestus, the Emperor discovered the Primarch of the Seventh Legion, Rogal Dorn.
Official Imperial records would later note him as the eighth Primarch recovered. On Terra, Malcador the Sigillite prepared a grand ceremony to welcome him.
After a long day's labor, Malcador returned to his private quarters. His mind reached into the Warp, touching a blazing psychic beacon.
Before him, a translucent golden image slowly took shape, the radiant astral form of the Emperor of Mankind.
"My Lord," Malcador greeted, bowing before the spectral vision of his master.
They were separated by vast distances, communicating through psychic projection, technology that the Mechanicum's tech-priest had also adapted into hololithic communication for the War Council, though its range was limited.
Yet what they now discussed could not be overheard, not even by loyal Magi.
"My Sigillite," the Emperor said with a faint smile, his voice heavy with command.
"My Lord, the Fabricator-General of Mars has again requested Imperial intervention to quell the unrest on the Forge World Incaladion."
Malcador continued, "The planet's Skitarii were devastated fighting the Tarellian war-beast herds and the carnivorous slime-men from the Abyssal Reef. Their military strength collapsed, their Preceptor-General assassinated, and since the year 790 civil war has engulfed the world, hereteks, mutants, and Mechanicum factions all at each other's throats."
"We cannot ignore Mars' request," the Emperor said calmly. "Whom do you propose we send to pacify the rebellion?"
"I suggest the Fourth Legion and the Legio Mortis," Malcador replied.
"The Legio Mortis is one of Mars' three greatest Titan Legions, and the most numerous."
The Emperor with a smile. "They currently march beside Horus. My son would not part with such support. Horus feels the weight of rivalry upon him; his ambition has been awakened. He conquers efficiently, and I will not break his rhythm."
Malcador smiled faintly at his master's satisfaction. "Indeed, Horus feels that pressure. As your First Found Son, he cannot allow any brother to outshine him."
"He is my centaur, my archer," the Emperor mused. "Ambition is both his weapon and his burden."
"For Incaladion's unrest," he said finally, "I have a better choice."
"Nareth, my Pegasus. He will bring annihilation to the enemies of mankind."
Malcador nodded thoughtfully. "An excellent decision. With the Legio Astorum, Dark Flame, Legio Astraman, and Legio Gryphonicus at his command, even Incaladion's bastion-world defenses will crumble before him."
After their strategic discussion, Malcador presented other concerns.
"The First Legion remains stagnant. Their Lord Commander, Urian Vendraig, grows uneasy, he craves a great war to restore his Legion's honor."
"Tell him to be patient," the Emperor sighed. "The Primarchs are the heart of their Legions. The First was our earliest creation, yet it has since been surpassed by the Sixteenth, Eleventh, Tenth, and Sixth."
"Vendraig is powerless to change the rigid and conservative state of the Hexagrammaton," the Emperor recalled the journey of the twenty legions in an instant. "There can be only one Storm General."
"The Primarchs' influence on their Legions has exceeded even your expectations," Malcador said in agreement. "Even the Tenth, once rigid and cold, was transformed when Ferrus Manus returned.
"But the greatest change was in the Eleventh Legion, the once bloodthirsty Reapers became the disciplined Shadows of Order under Nareth."
"The Shadows of Order's conquests are exemplary," the Emperor said, visibly pleased. "Only the Luna Wolves surpass them in speed."
"He has proven his belief that structure and order would strengthen the Crusade, to be correct."
"His Legion bore the brunt of the Wheel of Fire campaign, yet suffered fewer losses than Russ' wolves, and remains the only Legion still numbering over one hundred thousand."
The Emperor recalled the moment he had given Nareth the Ring of Pegasus, and became more conviced of his judgement.
"He has proven that his Legion can endure the harshest wars."
"The Pegasus," he said with finality, "will bring destruction to the enemies of mankind."
.....
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