Throne of Shadow's Sovereignity, Primarch's Palace.
After hearing the request from the emissary of Forge World, Lucius, Nareth spoke:
"I can allow Lucius to join the research into war-moons. However, I also have my own conditions."
"I'm very interested in Lucius's Hollow Forge. In return, I want to send a technical team to study it."
Nareth knew that at the heart of Lucius lay an artificial sun that powered the countless foundries sprawling across its surface, an endless source of energy that kept the factories running ceaselessly until the opening of the Great Rift.
Naturally, he was deeply intrigued, and now that the opportunity presented itself, he made his request.
"Lord Nareth," the emissary's helm flickered briefly before it replied, "the Hollow Forge is part of a great experiment. It cannot be replicated."
"The Magi have studied it extensively and drawn that conclusion. I can share their report with you as proof."
"No need," Nareth interrupted calmly. "I believe that persistence yields progress. Continued study will bring results, even if unexpected."
Even if the tech-priests learned little, Nareth believed that the beyonders of the Paragon Pathway would still gain insights through their research; their capabilities grew with every sequence they ascended.
"All I require is research access. Lucius need not be held accountable for the outcome."
"Lord," the emissary hesitated. "Could you alter your terms?"
"No," Nareth said flatly.
"I lack the necessary authority. I will relay your demand to the Fabricator-General."
After the envoy departed, Nareth traveled to the Kingdom of Disorder and ordered the Jokaero to brew the Savant potion.
Then, he sent a summons to Lian Ramilies.
Moments later, the Magos arrived as commanded, bowing deeply.
"My Lord."
Nareth looked down at him. Lian's attitude was now one of pure subservience, a stark contrast to the months prior.
"Drink it."
Without hesitation, Lian obeyed. His logic engine raised no alarms. He stepped forward, took the golden potion, and drank.
Moments later, Nareth instructed him telepathically to stabilize his power.
"My gratitude for your blessing."
Nareth gave a small nod. He hadn't revealed any Standard Template Constructs to Lian to make him see him as a divine incarnation of the Omnissiah; this faith was simply a result of Corrosion, a signature ability of the Baron.
Lian's mind had been subtly warped, binding his loyalty without his awareness.
"Lian, you have led the construction for the Ramilies. The war-moon resembles them in design. I'm assigning you to head their research."
"By your will," the Magos bowed.
"The Advex–Mors system has rich mineral and metal reserves. You'll also oversee the establishment of mining bases there."
The Rangdan had enslaved millions to build their war-moons, and such vast resources would again be needed.
After Lian departed, Arsena stepped forward to report.
"My Lord, I have compiled the casualty reports from all branches of the Expeditionary Force."
"The Legion has lost 5,410 warriors, slightly higher than the Incaladion Rebellion, but lower than the Wheel of Fire campaign."
"The fleet lost 138 ships in total, including 24 capital vessels."
Nareth's gaze darkened as an image of Saisek being devoured by the Cerabvores Warlord flashed through his mind.
'The Wheel of Fire campaign lasted nearly three years, costing over seven thousand lives. The Incaladion suppression took two years. The First Rangdan War lasted less than one year and already cost 5,410 casualties. And Advex–Mors was only a secondary Rangdan outpost.'
'The Rangdan possess technology rivaling the Imperium's, combined with immense psychic power; they are a major threat.'
He recalled that the First Legion had lost ten thousand men and fifty capital ships, including a Gloriana-class battleship. Compared to that, his losses were tolerable.
'Without the Ramilies, facing Rangdan war-moon and swarms of drones would have cost us far more, even with superior ship numbers.'
'Before the Second Rangdan War breaks out in 962, I must secure strategic weapons like the Voidclaw.'
As Nareth pondered, Arsena continued:
"The Third Chapter suffered the highest casualties, 2,740 Shadows of Order warriors fell during the assaults on Advex–Mors IV and the final battle on the main world."
"The Modian Iron Guard also paid dearly, 9,270 dead."
"Fortunately, a new recruitment batch for the Third Chapter will arrive in two years, numbering approximately 1,630."
Nareth nodded. Having a suitable recruitment world ensured rapid replenishment.
'However, I've now ascended to a mid-tier sequence. Extracting my genetic material again will diminish its beyonder potency.'
'The loss is minor in the short term, but repeated extractions would accumulate significant degradation.'
'It's time for the Legion to sustain itself. After all, children must one day grow independent. Other Legions also stopped relying on their Primarchs' gene-stock once their numbers surged after reuniting with them.'
He remembered how Apothecaries no longer needed to extract from him often; the existing gene-seed stockpile now sufficed for new Astartes.
'Frequent extractions were only necessary back when vast numbers of my Vostroyan followers were undergoing transformation. That period has passed.'
As he reflected, Arsena reported the losses of each Chapter and continued:
"My Lord, the investiture ceremony is prepared. By your decree, it will be held tomorrow aboard the Ramilies."
....
The Next Day, Central Hall of the Ramilies
Nareth approached Pierre Wright of Kasai. First, he placed upon him the First Rangdan War campaign medal.
The black medal bore seven circles, six large and one small, symbolizing Advex–Mors's six planets and its war-moon.
Every soldier and auxiliary who fought in the campaign would receive one.
Those whom the Primarch could not personally honor would be decorated by their commanding officers.
Then, from a tray, Nareth lifted another insignia, the emblem of the Broken Claw Order.
"Pierre, your swordsmanship was magnificent. You slew four Rangdan overlords, truly worthy of praise."
"Father, I will continue to serve and slay the xenos in your name."
Nareth fastened the emblem to his armor, a ring pierced by three jagged claws.
He had directly adopted both the name Broken Claw Order and its heraldry from his memories of the Dark Angels, once formed to fight the Rangdan.
'Yes… and the Dark Angels are no longer the primary force against the Rangdan either.'
Next, he approached Santiago Borgkamp.
"Santiago, you skillfully wielded the power I granted you and achieved victory amid the glaciers of Planet VI."
"Father, I will remember your teachings and win even greater triumphs with your blessing."
Nareth placed an Iron Halo upon the back of his helmet. Later, the Legion's techmarines would paint it in red upon his armor.
The Iron Halo was awarded to outstanding battlefield leaders and tacticians, those who demonstrated extraordinary initiative.
As Nareth continued to honor each warrior, his mind calculated.
'The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Chapters, the eight that specialize in distinct beyonder paths, now have a combined total of 10,700 court members.'
After reviewing data slates listing every fallen warrior, Nareth finalized his next step.
'Each sergeant must become a beyonder, ensuring that every Chapter's defining traits permeate down to the squad level.'
'Next, I'll elevate them to Sequence 8, and assign two Sequence 9 beyonders per squad to strengthen those traits.'
'In the final phase, I'll train a few members of neighboring pathways in each squad to create complementary abilities.'
As he thought through this three-stage development plan, the investiture ceremony drew to a close.
"The Fourth Chapter will remain in the Advex–Mors system to recover the dead," Nareth ordered. "All other Chapters are to return and rest."
"The Ramilies will serve as our research center and training base."
"Each Chapter will select new recruits and rotate through the Ramilies for training, to prepare for long-term threats ahead."
Five days later, the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignity and the Eleventh Chapter fleet departed, bound for Vostroya.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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