Throughout the year 855.M30, the Vostroya star system made final preparations to receive the star.
Preparations had begun the moment the Primarch selected Vostroya as the delivery site.
This was far more complex than simply inserting a star into the system. The new star's arrival would trigger gravitational waves, disrupt stable planetary orbits, and potentially cause celestial collisions.
Furthermore, Vostroya, as an early hub for the teleportarium, required additional considerations.
Fortunately, the Squats had experience in this area and provided ample data for reference.
Techmarines used the Simulus Chambers to perform countless calculations, adjusting the fortress-class void shields deployed around Vostroya, its moons, the Symphony of the Sea, and the portal accordingly.
After the Ramilies-class star-fort in the galactic core region transmitted the final stellar parameters of the captured star, adjustments to the fortress-class void shield power settings were completed.
In the third stellar month of 856.M30, the star, having journeyed a great distance, arrived at Vostroya.
The people of Vostroya were granted a collective holiday, outside of any festival cycle.
Machinery in all factories temporarily ceased operation. Only the planet's thirty-three Punisher-class reactors operated at full capacity.
The shining light of the fortress-class void shields resembled miniature suns, illuminating Vostroya's sky and the entire star system.
Within the Legion Fortress of the Shadows of Order, the Shadowhold, Martin of the Second Chapter walked along a passage shrouded in black mist between the main and auxiliary towers.
At a junction where paths led down-left and up-right, he took the descending-left route for five steps, then at a three-way fork, chose the ascending-right staircase.
This winding, serpentine passage, modified by the Techmarines and enhanced with psychic arrays by the Librarius, was like an endless maze.
Martin still remembered getting lost on these arbitrarily ascending and descending, irregularly placed stairs when he first reported for duty in the Honour Guard.
Later, he learned the Techmarines used a modular design; the stair arrangements were reconfigured daily, with the routes sent to the data slates of relevant personnel.
The black mist was a psychic array deployed by the Librarius to obscure vision and disrupt perception.
Martin proceeded, traversing over a thousand steps before reaching a platform.
This was the best stargazing spot within his patrol area.
He adjusted the bronze telescope to maximum magnification and looked towards the sky.
Martin found the newcomer.
It was a star emitting an iron-gray radiance.
Martin stared for a long time. Even as the star, under the tow of the Squat Fortress Ship, reached its designated position, he felt not the slightest tremor within the Shadowhold.
Releasing the telescope, he looked up at the brilliantly shining fortress-class void shields, thoughtful.
'Without them, the reception process might not have been so smooth.'
At the same moment, Rosickiy entered the Primarch's palace.
"My Lord, the star has been towed to its designated position. No disruptive effects have occurred."
Nareth nodded with a smile, then turned to Arsena.
"Well done. Immediately conduct a full-spectrum scan of the star and formulate an exploitation plan."
"As you command, my Lord." Arsena accepted the order, then spoke again.
"I have received a request. The Mechanicum Magos, Arkhan Land, accompanied the Squat convoy. He requests permission to visit Vostroya."
Hearing this, Nareth's black eyes gleamed.
'Arkhan Land is one of the most outstanding technical minds of this era, having unearthed numerous STCs.'
'If I can "corrode" him, that's another exceptional technical talent gained.'
'Though I already have the Magos Lian Ramilies and the Tech-Priest Malevolus, I won't complain about having more.'
Thinking this, he readily agreed. "Grant his request."
"Bring him to see me after his tour concludes."
"As you command, my Lord." Arsena acknowledged.
Fifteen work cycles later, after compiling reports from his aides, Arsena immediately went to the Primarch's office to report.
"My Lord, calculations indicate the star has a radius of 752,000 kilometers, slightly larger than the star of the Sol system, placing it in the medium range."
"Stellar density in the galactic core region is generally higher than in other sectors. Its mass is approximately 2.83 times that of Sol."
"It contains one hundred and ninety-two common metals such as gold, silver, and iron, and one hundred and five rare mineral deposits including tungsten, molybdenum, and rare earth elements."
The Primarch's attendant paused briefly before continuing.
"The star's subsurface also contains naturally occurring adamantium."
Hearing this, Nareth's eyes brightened. As Vostroya's shipyards developed, the adamantium demands were becoming insufficient to meet growing needs.
New adamantium deposits would inject fresh momentum into the shipyards' development.
Naturally occurring adamantium was exceptionally rare. He only knew of Nostramo, homeworld of the Night Lords, having vast subsurface deposits of natural adamantium.
The mineral trade had brought immense wealth to Nostramo, but it was also the root cause of rampant murder, extortion, and other vile crimes.
Nostramo ranked quite high on Nareth's list of targets for plunder after the Triumph.
"I am pleased with the Squats' gift."
"Deploy void particle excavators immediately to mine the stellar deposits."
"Understood," Arsena acknowledged, then continued. "Magos Arkhan Land has concluded his tour and has arrived at the Shadowhold."
"Bring him to me."
Shortly after, Arkhan entered the Primarch's office.
Nareth leaned back on his throne, his eyes fixed intently on Arkhan.
Unlike most members of the Mechanicum who pursued the sanctification of the flesh through machinery, Arkhan possessed remarkably few mechanical augmentations, fewer than many acolytes.
His eyes were bright, his white beard hanging before his chest.
Nareth knew part of Arkhan's reluctance for mechanical augmentation stemmed from his reverence for the Emperor as the Omnissiah.
The Emperor displayed no mechanical augmentation; thus, Arkhan did not obsess over it.
'Arkhan Land, let us see which is stronger: your faith, or my "corrosion".
As Nareth pondered, Arkhan stood before him.
When he made the request, he only wished to visit the famed Vostroya. He hadn't expected the Primarch to grant him an audience.
"Lord Nareth."
"Arkhan, what are your impressions of Vostroya?" Nareth asked, his gaze fixed on Arkhan.
"Vostroya is not inferior to most Forge Worlds, though it falls short of sacred Mars."
"However, I believe Vostroya still has considerable room for improvement. Efficiency could be further enhanced."
Nareth knew Arkhan was inherently proud and blunt, and did not take offense.
"Ferrus Manus once said the same."
"Since there is room for improvement, you shall stay on Vostroya. You will provide me with daily suggestions for improvement."
Arkhan was taken aback. He was about to refuse when he heard the Primarch speak again.
"Before long, I will recover a formidable weapon created during the Dark Age of Technology. I believe you would be interested."
Hearing this, Arkhan's eyes shone. He recalled Lord Nareth had previously recovered several holy Templates. He immediately agreed.
"As you wish."
.....
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