Through "Concept Swap," interacting with the Fane, the "Baron of Corruption's" understanding of the Squat League rapidly increased.
With a primarch's superhuman mind, he absorbed the images and quickly grasped the Squat written language, gaining deeper insight into the League each day.
As a young League, the Squat League lacked the accumulated strength that the older leagues enjoyed.
Powerful weapons such as concussion arms were extremely rare, reserved only for elite clan units, never mass-issued.
Most Heartkyn were equipped with boltguns and Voidsuit armor. Compared to Imperium weapons, their greatest advantages were stability and reliability, and the ability to function even in extreme environments like those near the galactic core with high radiation.
In important parameters like firepower and protection, they held no advantage over Imperial boltguns and armor.
Their equipment's advantages would only manifest when competing for mineral resources at the galactic center, especially in dead zones.
Besides the Squat League's origins, the "Baron of Corruption" first acquired Cloneskeins technology from the interaction.
Cloneskeins technology was the method by which the Votann used stored gene-templates to create Brokhyr, Heartkyn, Grimnyr, and other types of Squats.
The primarch imprinted the relevant knowledge into his flawless memory.
Yet despite memorizing it, Nareth didn't fully comprehend the gene-craft itself.
He decided to entrust this to a professional: Malena.
After checking items collected by the Honour Guard and finding no potion ingredients, Nareth left the Dionysian Spear on the deck and proceeded to the Kingdom of Disorder.
His spirituality extended, touching the green orb.
The "Baron of Corruption" saw Malena alone in the fields, inspecting plants. Confirming no one was around, he focused his will and pulled her into the Kingdom of Disorder.
Wrapped in black mist, Malena regained her senses within the mysterious space.
After glancing around, she bowed respectfully to the Black Emperor.
"My Lord."
"Have you gained anything from the Saim-Hann craftworld fragment?" Nareth asked.
Marlena answered eyes, gleaming. "Using the ability you bestowed, I deconstructed the Aeldari craftworld fragment, gaining some understanding of how they create ecosystems in the void."
"I deconstructed the fragment, reconstructed the lower decks, and transformed it into an ecological garden."
"Because the craftworld fabrication method is only known to Bonesingers, no further gains are possible until acquiring their mysteries."
Nareth nodded slightly. "Suspend research for now. War with the Aeldari will continue. In the future, you will obtain an intact Aeldari craftworld."
"How is the Catachan farmland construction progressing? Can it be maintained in your absence?"
"My Lord, I used Aeldari modification techniques to transform twenty-three square kilometers of Catachan terrain into farmland."
"That is also the limit a single 'Planter' can sustain."
"Set course immediately for the galactic core. Take over research on Squat genetics." Nareth instructed. Besides the Squats, Gardinaal also had unique biological genetic technology.
Returning to the real world, Nareth received Thomas, who had just returned from the Attila System.
"My Lord, after your departure, we researched the memory crystals in the stone chamber, gaining a foundational grasp of Necron glyphs."
"After halting the maintenance factory's operation and without Tomb Sentinel constructs, we continued exploring the Ymga Monolith, researching the second stone chamber."
"Upon entering the chamber, I felt my connection to the Warp severed."
Recalling the sensation, Thomas felt both physical and mental discomfort.
Though as a Beyonder, he still possessed great power, the feeling of losing psychic abilities and the soul losing its anchor was extremely discomforting.
"The Marshall of Ordnance and Miguel Cuesta, after researching the memory crystals and Blackstone structures, believe that the chamber controls the generation and maintenance of the anti-psyker field."
"The array is currently dormant. Once activated, the anti-psyker field would extend from the chamber across the entire Monolith, even the entire star system."
"I left an 'Archelogist' and several 'Savants' to assist their work on researching the anti-psyker field."
Nareth pushed a data crystal towards the Chief Librarian.
"The Squat Grimnyr possesses some special runes. Research them."
"They also possess Warp circuits that enhance psychic power and methods sever psychic flow."
"But this technology only has noticeable effects on ordinary psykers. Effects on Shadows of Order are minimal. Further research is needed before Librarians can use it."
"As you command, My Lord," Thomas replied.
Five days later, Thomas boarded a 3rd Chapter warship, accompanying the fleet to System D-1510.
As Nareth's plan proceeded, facing the threat to the Votann, Kindreds from other systems continuously dispatched fleets to support the Squat System.
Once Shadows of Order scout fleets confirmed other systems were weakened, fleets would be dispatched to launch surprise attacks on the underground cities while they were weakened.
Confirming System D-1510 was empty, the 3rd Chapter fleet was ordered to proceed.
The D-1510 system's fleet was routed by the 3rd Chapter within twelve solar days. Thomas led a team to breach the Hold.
Upon breaching underground, Thomas extended his consciousness. He found that the entire underground passageway network was a complex tunnel system.
Squats could emerge from all sides, attacking from every direction.
His consciousness swept over the Squats, feeling like hitting stones.
"Prepare for combat!"
Thomas realized the nearest Squats were less than a kilometer away.
'It's the shield technology mentioned in the materials from Our Lord.'
"The enemy uses web-shield technology, creating energy cloaks to stealthily approach us."
"This technology weaves energy used by both refractors and conversion fields, interweaving special energies like magnetic pulses, producing multi-band shields that can be gathered into personal protective energy cloaks."
"Capable of covering entire squads, large vehicles, even entire domes."
As Thomas spoke, he rapidly marked the detected Squats on the squad channel via his auspex.
Simultaneously, he ascended to the third layer of the Thelema mindstate, mobilizing the power of the Psybrid Control Staff. His consciousness seeped into the minds of two Squats.
Thomas's consciousness felt like colliding with rigid stone gates. The recoil sent ripples through his psyche.
Shaking off the discomfort, he thought:
'As Our Lord said, the Squats' will is iron-solid. Psychic assaults struggle to affect them.'
'These are elite but not top-tier warriors, and even then, breaking their defenses isnt easy.'
Thomas touched the pouches and bottles attached to his power armor. Although his proficient mental discipline and psychic powers were ineffective, he was still a "Warlock."