"Forge Lord," Nareth began, turning toward Rosicky.
"I spoke with Vulkan at the War Council. He is heading to Saturn to develop a new type of armor."
"Select ten "Savants" to accompany him and join the research."
"As you command, my lord."
After Rosicky obeyed, Nareth pushed a gleaming data crystal across the table toward him.
"This data crystal contains the standard construction template for the Spyre Hunters."
"Use the techniques you've learned from Vulkan. Base it on the power armor framework, integrate the Spyre Hunters' adaptive systems, and develop a version suitable for the members of the Royal Court."
'The Spyre Hunters of Necromunda might not match an Astartes in strength, but their armor has merit, it's ideal for beyonders .'
The main advantage of the Spyre Hunters, Hunting Rig, compared to other armor types was its ability to self-evolve, adapting its combat performance to the user's fighting habits over time.
'Beyonders ascend through the sequence ladder, gaining new abilities with each step.'
'Unlike Imperial armor, which is mostly static and can only be modified slightly after production, the Spyre Hunters 'experience system" suits them perfectly.'
But the current Hunting Rig design had two major flaws: it couldn't be used directly.
The first: its technology was only meant for normal humans. It needed significant modification to be compatible with Astartes' superhuman physiology.
The second: its cost was exorbitant and required custom fitting; mass production across an entire legion was impossible for now.
Nareth's plan was to first perfect a version suitable for his court and then gradually distribute it downwards according to the knightly ranks within the Court.
After the Forge Lord departed, Nareth began to consider which Chapters would take part in the First Rangdan War.
He modeled his plans on the historical First Rangdan War, fought under Urian Vendraig.
'Vendraig commanded one hundred capital ships, including three Gloriana-class battleships.'
'He fielded fifty thousand Astartes of the First Legion and one hundred thousand Imperial auxiliaries.'
'His casualties: ten thousand Astartes, fifty capital ships, and one Gloriana-class battleship.'
After recalling this, Nareth asked,
"Is the Starfort, built under Lian Ramilies, complete?"
"My lord, it is finished. As per your orders, the Magos integrated the Punisher-class reactor and related technologies into the fortress template, creating a new construction standard."
"Calculations show an overall performance increase of thirty-three percent over the prototype."
Nareth exhaled in relief.
'In the void battles of the First Rangdan War, Rangdan's greatest threat was their artificial war moons. Luckily, the upgraded Ramilies-class Starfort can match them.'
'That means I won't have to sacrifice a Gloriana battleship to ram a satellite.'
'Removing that factor, Vendraig fleet had naval superiority, and my fleet is even larger.'
'Rangdan's drone swarms can be countered by my auto-recharging void shields.'
"Since he personally oversaw its construction, the first fortress will bear his name, Ramilies."
"Order the troops to occupy the fortress and begin familiarization drills."
The Rangdan war moon had enslaved millions of humans to build and operate them.
The Ramilies-class starfort also required millions of operators.
"The Emperor has assigned me to deal with the new threat at Advex-Mors. The xenos homeworld is Rangda. From now on, all records related to them will be categorized as such."
"Rangda possesses a fully developed technological system on par with the Imperium, though smaller in scale."
Recalling what he knew of their technology, Nareth continued:
"The Legion's Techmarines must collect and study Rangdan artifacts, war moon construction, voidship stealth-reading technology..."
"The Marshall of Ordnance will oversee this."
"This war with Rangdan will last for decades. I am founding the Broken Claw Chapter."
Nareth deliberately used the future name of the Dark Angels' secret orders. Their main force against the Rangda would be his Shadows of Order.
"Chief Apothecary Mikeal will lead the Apothecaries in dissections."
"Other Shadows of Order's members may join the Chapter by slaying four Overlords."
He elaborated on Rangda's tactics and structure.
"Rangdans are actually a vast xenos alliance, including the Cerabvores and Osseivores.
Their elite warriors are chosen as Overlords, equal in strength to Astartes, equipped with superior weapons, and personal energy shields."
"Killing four such Overlords proves a warrior's skill, not luck, worthy of joining the Chapter."
The Shadows of Order's Chapters weren't independent organizations. A warrior could belong to multiple, such as the Ork-Hunter or Aeldar-Hunter Chapters, as well as the new Broken Claw.
Each represented mastery of a specific foe, veterans whose expertise made them trusted brothers in battle.
But as this new Chapter knew nothing of Rangdan yet, Nareth needed to brief them thoroughly, to prevent costly losses in early encounters.
After all, in his memories, Vendraig had sacrificed hundreds of the First Legion's finest just to test Rangdan's tactics using slave armies as bait.
"Rangdan's tactics differ from ours. They deploy endless slave hordes under the command of Overlords to exhaust their enemies.
Only when the enemy is spent do their warlords strike with the main force."
"..."
"The Rangdan Osseivores are powerful enough to crush standard Titans, but we likely won't encounter them this time…"
'In the Second Rangdan War, even the Emperor had to deploy his trump card, to face the Osseivores.'
'Yes… by then, He too would realize that no single Legion could stand against Rangdan.'
Nareth remembered: during the Second Rangdan War, the Imperium sent 300,000 Astartes and three Primarchs, including the Lion himself, yet the situation still teetered on collapse.
Dozens of Titan Legions were annihilated beyond recovery.
Only when the Emperor shattered the Labyrinth of Night and unleashed the mightiest shard of the Void Dragon, did victory come.
"Distribute all this information to every Chapter Master. Ensure all combat units receive it before the war begins."
After considering the overall losses at Incaladion and the current deployments of other Legions, Nareth issued orders.
"Deploy the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 11th Chapters to assemble at the Forge World of Lucius."
The heavily depleted 1st Chapter would only send the Judgements Glory 1st and 2nd Companies, which hadn't fought at Incaladion.
"The 1st Chapter's 1st and 2nd Companies will join the battle group. The Gloriana-class Judgements Glory will join the expedition fleet."
Though Vendraig's original expedition had only 50,000 Astartes, Nareth chose caution, deploying over half his Legion, even if it slowed other campaigns.
"Inform Lucius that I require the Legio Astorum to join the expedition."
Accounting for his superior power and the added Titans, Nareth's expeditionary force would be nearly three times as strong as the First Legion's in the original Rangdan War.
In space, the Ramilies-class Starfort would serve as the core, with three Gloriana-class battleships as the spearhead and nearly 200 capital ships in support, ensuring overwhelming naval superiority.
To minimize losses, he would deploy overwhelming force.
"The remaining 1st Chapter Companies will return to Osiris for recovery after the Incaladion campaign."
"The 7th Chapter will remain on Incaladion to assist Neto in securing control."
"Tell the Reaper Lord to coordinate with the Legio Fureans and the Mordred Knight Houses, eradicate raider tribes, pirate bands, the Tarellian war-beast packs, and the creatures of the Abyssal Reefs."
The mutated war-beasts were clearly tainted by Chaos and had to be purged.
"The barbarian tribes of Humara, and their rituals that have spread into Incaladion, must be completely reformed."
"Neto's reforms will surely face resistance from local powers. The Reaper Lord must support him."
The Primarch's aide, recalling the traitorous Magos Barnes who had turned himself into an abomination, understood the gravity.
"I will relay your orders to the Reaper Lord."
Then Nareth asked another question, one meant to intercept Ultramar's future rise.
"Where is the 9th Chapter currently located?"
"After the Wheel of Fire campaign, Szczesny has led the restructured Chapter in a series of conquests centered on Vostroya."
"Since the discovery of the Sidai System, the 9th Chapter's campaigns have remained between Vostroya and Terra."
Nareth thought for a moment, then gave the order:
"Summon the 9th Chapter to the Sol System. I will meet him there."
He considered the travel times and the recharge needed for his Dice of Prophecy, then finalized the rendezvous point.
.....
Bone-Gnawers = Osseivores in high Gothic lore name
Mind-Eater = Cerabvores
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu