The flagship of the Ninth Chapter, the relic-class battleship Wavecrest.
Inside the captain's quarters, at the altar.
After using a ceremonial blade to shape the spiritual field, Szczesny knelt upon the onyx mat and began chanting in Dunic:
"Black Emperor of the Shadows of Order,"
…
"I beseech Thy gaze."
....
"I offer You this sacrifice."
…
"O Iron Laws of Monarchs, basis of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my invocation."
As Szczesny finished reciting the chant, he felt a sudden wind swirl within the sealed psychic barrier.
When he repeated it for the fifth time, the black mist before him churned, and a mysterious gate appeared out of thin air.
A gale howled within the spiritual walls as one Saharduin corpse after another was drawn into the gate.
Szczesny stared in shock until the black mist swallowed him too.
When he regained his senses, he found himself standing in a mysterious realm.
The Black Emperor sat high upon His throne and spoke in a deep, resonant tone:
"How fares Talassar?"
Szczesny composed himself and began his report:
"My Lord, the Ninth Chapter has secured Talassar. I have located the House Sicarius and found its patriarch, Roen, to be capable. I have appointed him as planetary governor."
Nareth gave a faint nod. House Sicarius's future ascension as Talassar's ruling house confirmed their potential; they had endured millennia of trials.
To become Talassar's ruling family ahead of time was at least a sign of competence, especially under the supervision of the Shadows of Order.
"The Talassar System lies at the junction of several warp routes. Once it is integrated into the Imperium's network, its potential will manifest immediately. Use this advantage well."
"Yes, my Lord."
The Storm Lord noted this, then continued:
"Thanks to your earlier intelligence on the Saharduin, only two hundred and ninety-four Shadows of Order were lost in battle. Most were killed by weapons similar to bolters."
"Have the Techmarines study the Saharduin weaponry," Nareth commanded with a slight nod, then added:
"The Saharduin controls several star systems. Find them. Conquer them. Offer me more Saharduin as sacrifice."
From the light emitted by the Saharduin, Nareth had already confirmed they were sources of alchemical material.
'Judging from the intensity of their aura, they could serve as the primary ingredient for Sequence 6, Wind-blessed, or as a secondary material for Sequence 5, Ocean Songster.'
Thus, while harvesting potion materials, he would also expand the borders of his dominion.
"By your will, my Lord."
The Storm Lord's form faded. Returning to the altar, Szczesny found the black mist had receded.
He prayed a moment longer before rising to leave, when his comm-bead suddenly chirped.
He pressed it, and the voice of the Master of Vox came through:
"My lord, an unidentified fleet has appeared in-system. Identification codes indicate the 12th Expeditionary Fleet."
"The 13th Legion?" the Storm Lord asked.
"Yes, my lord."
Five stellar hours later, at Talassar's orbital spaceport.
The Shadows of Order stood in immaculate formation. Flanking the Storm Lord were Planetary Governor Roen Sicarius and his younger son, Mateus, commander of Talassar's defense forces.
Mateus, having long passed the suitable age to become one of the Shadows, could only watch with envy.
'I already have two sons and one daughter. If I can father eight more, one of them will be eligible to skip the first trials and become a direct candidate.'
The Storm Lord had implemented the same policy used on Vostroy; every noble who bore eleven children earned one spot as a 9th Chapter candidate. Commoners who bore eleven children could have one child enter the trials.
Those who passed would become Shadows of Order. Those who failed would serve as auxiliary soldiers.
Mateus, as both Talassar's defense commander and leader of the auxiliary forces, was pondering this when the Storm Lord spoke:
"Lord Guilliman, welcome to Talassar."
Clad in cobalt-blue armor, Roboute Guilliman strode forward.
"I heard the Talassar System was under xenos invasion," he said, his piercing eyes fixed on the Storm Lord. "I brought my Legion to deliver it."
Guilliman surveyed the Talassarns.
"It seems the crisis has already been resolved."
"Yes, my lord. The xenos have been purged by my Chapter. Talassar now lies under our protection."
Guilliman's brow twitched slightly. He stood silent for several seconds, then spoke:
"Talassar's location is strategic. See that your Chapter develops it wisely, and lend support to neighboring systems."
"Thank you for your counsel, my Lord has given the same instruction," Szczesny replied respectfully.
"I welcome your guidance."
"Talassar's agriculture and industry are well-established," Guilliman said, offering direction.
"The next step is integration into the Imperial trade network."
"I have matters yet pressing. Since Talassar's xenos threat is resolved, I must continue my crusade."
As his dropship ascended, Guilliman gazed through the viewport, his mind racing.
'Talassar is a treasure. In my original designs, it was meant to be a critical node. I hadn't expected it to fall under the control of the Shadows of Order. I can only hope to find a substitute elsewhere, though few systems could rival it.'
He sighed inwardly; systems like Talassar were rare indeed.
Still, the galaxy was vast, and his campaign had only just begun.
'My brother Nareth's foresight and insight are extraordinary. His core realm lies in the Segmentum Obscurus, and though he commands the Advex-Mors front, he still foresaw Talassar's importance and dispatched his progeny to claim it.'
Guilliman's admiration was sincere.
Meanwhile, Nareth himself, aboard the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignity, was meeting with Arsena to discuss the coming war.
"Has Diana Pauline arrived aboard the Ramilies?"
The Ramilies was a colossal vessel, by scale and crew, commanding it was as demanding as directing a dozen capital ships combined.
Nareth had appointed his flagship captain to ensure that the Ramilies Starfort's first deployment would proceed smoothly.
"My lord, according to the schedule, Captain Diana should have reached Cypra Mundi to conduct the launch ceremony."
"In addition, there is another matter requiring your attention," Dunn continued. "The Legion's Fortress on Vostroya was completed one standard month ago. The Magos overseeing construction requests your inspection."
Because Nareth's demand for asymmetrical architectural design defied the Mechanicum's logic, construction had taken far longer than the projected twenty years.
"Once this campaign concludes, I shall return to Vostroya for inspection," Nareth said.
"What is the Legion's readiness status?"
"My lord," reported his attendant, "seventy-two thousand five hundred and forty Shadows of Order have assembled on the forge world Lucius."
"The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Chapters, excluding garrisons and Honor Guards, number forty-eight thousand five hundred."
"Two thousand have been selected for the Honor Guard. The First Legion contributes two companies, one thousand seven hundred and forty strong."
"The Eleventh Legion fields the largest contingent, twenty thousand three hundred in total."
The Eleventh Legion, constantly reinforced through recruitment on Vostroya, was the most numerous of all.
"The auxiliary forces total one hundred fifty-two thousand."
"The Legio Astorum will deploy one hundred and four Titans in this campaign."
.....
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