While the 2nd Chapter attacked the Hold, Nareth and Malevolus took a Stormbird to the Tech-Priest's ship, the Forgehammer. As they disembarked, twelve servo-skulls in the air chanting hymns of welcome.
"Welcome Gene-Primarch Nareth to the Forgehammer. May the Omnissiah bless you."
"..."
Malevolus led the way, the servo-skulls' chanting accompanying them as they proceeded inside.
Unlike the Magos Lian Ramilies, Malevolus did not own an Ark Mechanicum. But as the most exceptional master armorer, having forged armor for several Primarchs, he possessed a cruiser-class warship of his own.
The moment the Primarch boarded the vessel, he sensed it immediately, the entire ship felt like a burning forge.
He could hear the roar of machines, feel the heat waves of the smelting furnaces…
Malevolus led the way. Nareth proceeded forward, arriving at the Tech-Priest's private laboratory.
Inside, he saw an enormous blazing forge occupying nearly one-tenth of the entire chamber.
Serpentine cables bound the steel devices together, and the central cluster of worktables was piled high with various precision instruments…
Malevolus walked to the center of the experiment area. "Lord Nareth, let us begin."
"Good." Nareth walked to the table, looking at the Bastium Alloy armor brought from the Long-Beard Class Mega Cruiser.
Malevolus connected his mechanicadendrites to the coupling devices on the table. Robotic arms suspended above descended. Mechanical fingers opened, the mechanical probes at their tips rapidly sliding over the armor.
Nareth's eyes flashed. Light and shadow flickered in his gaze. He placed his hand on the armor, telekinetic force injected into it like threads.
The telekinetic force penetrated the armor's interior, analyzing and deconstructing the Bastium alloy.
"Density moderate, high ductility, high toughness... this part is iron."
"High electrical and thermal conductivity... silver."
"..."
"Extremely high density, extreme toughness... unknown metal."
Three standard ship hours later, Nareth raised his hand. The mechandendrites also stopped.
He said to the Tech-Priest:
"Five hundred and fourteen metals, two hundred and thirty-eight of which are unknown, likely mineral deposits unique to the galactic core."
A flicker of astonishment passed through Malevolus's eyes. He thought of the Primarch's miraculous abilities, then calmed.
"The alloy's omposition ratio is even more peculiar."
While fierce fighting continued in the Rosario underground city, Nareth and Malevolus began their research.
Three weeks after securing the Long-Beard Class Mega Cruiser, Techmarines and the Honour Guard had opened every compartment but found no Fane on the ship.
Nareth was slightly disappointed but not anxious. Acquiring a Votann might be difficult, but each Kindred had at least one Fane.
The Emperor and the Terran Council had issued orders to conquer thirty-five star systems.
They could acquire at least one Ancestral Fane.
Nareth and Malevolus achieved significan gains in their research on the Bastium alloy.
Not just in understanding the Squat alloy, but also with Malevolus himself.
"My Lord, our research has achieved preliminary results. Fabricating this alloy could enhance armor's protective capabilities."
"The only deficiency is the materials for the alloy. Some unknown metals can be substituted, but one hundred and fifty-nine have no ideal substitutes."
Nareth saw Malevolus looking at him respectfully. The Tech-Priest had been "corroded."
'Magos Lian Ramirez and Tech-Priest Malevolus are both loyal to me now. Among the Mechanicum's three great talents, only Arkhan Land remains.'
"The Shadows of Order have captured twenty-seven warships in void combat, including another Long-Beard Class Mega Cruiser. Various quantities of ores were found on them."
Besides large quantities of ore, he had other gains.
During his research, Nareth examined other items. He discovered a data storage medium used by the Squats, the Data-Warden Slate, was the main ingredient for the potion of Sequence 7 "Detective" of the White Tower pathway.
Returning to the Shadow's Sovereignty, he went to the Kingdom of Disorder and had the Jokaeros prepare the "Detective" potion.
Back in the real space, Nareth summoned Arsena and handed him a blue-white potion.
After drinking the "Detective" potion, Arsena meditated, reining in the scattered power.
"Thank you for your gift, My Lord."
After piously thanking the Black Emperor, Arsena reported.
"My Lord, the Astropath informs me Magnus is expected to arrive in two standard ship days, and Perturabo in five days."
"Understood." Nareth nodded.
Five days later, Magnus and Perturabo, each accompanied by their Legion's high-ranking commanders, landed in the Shadow's Sovereignty's docking zone.
Arsena representing Nareth, waited in the docking zone. Remembering the Black Emperor's instructions, he addressed Perturabo first.
"Lord Perturabo, Lord Magnus, welcome."
Perturabo merely gave a slight nod, his expression expressionless.
Magnus approached Arsena with a smile.
"Arsena Dunn, my sons have heard you are an excellent scholar with a vast collection of books. They are very interested."
"My Lord, the Thousand Sons are welcome to visit my personal library."
"Let's go," Perturabo spoke up. "Our Father and the War Council have placed command with Nareth. He must already have a plan."
Magnus detected a hint of dissatisfaction and a trace of reluctance in Perturabo's calm tone.
'Perturabo wanted to command this campaign?''
'But 11th Legion's forces alone outnumber the combined Astartes of my mine and his.'
'Nareth has also achieved victories in numerous campaigns like the Wheel of Fire, Advex-Mors and against the Mitu xenos, reclaiming Incaladion, so many victories. Of course father would inevitably assign the command to Nareth.''
Among the Thousand Sons contingent, Hathor Maat followed his Gene-Father, heading into the Shadow's Sovereignty. He thought excitedly, 'Finally, I will see My Lord.'
Entering Nareth's palace, Perturabo immediately frowned. The palace's architectural style caused him some discomfort.
Great slabs of obsidian, tilted at mechanically impossible angles, held up the dome like the remnants of a ruined structure.
Twelve metal rods descended from the dome's interior, each bearing a Chapter's banner. They were arranged three left, four right, five center, deliberately asymmetrical.
'Why not four each on left, center, and right?'
Perturabo's right hand clenched. For a moment, he wanted to stride over, tear down the central banners, and hang them on the left.
He forced himself to look away, directing his gaze to the floor, his frown deepening.
The onyx tiles radiated outward following a Fibonacci spacing pattern… but asymmetrically.
Perturabo could no longer control himself. He strode up to Nareth.
"Nareth, if your sons lack the ability to construct a palace worthy of you, my Iron Warriors can assist."
"I can design a plan for you. Let's dismantle it and rebuild."
.....
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