The world designated by the Imperium as 33-305, internally numbered 11-12-21 by the Shadows of Order, was the twenty-first world conquered by the Twelfth Chapter.
The Twelfth Chapter named this world Barnett. After receiving it, the Second Chapter conducted a full scan and assessment.
Barnett was similar in size to the standard set by the Administratum for Agri-worlds, located in a comparable stellar orbit and bathed in a specific stellar radiation spectrum.
Its soil contained strictly regulated components and was close to major supply worlds, thus unsurprisingly classified as an Agri-world.
However, unlike other Agri-worlds designed and planned according to templates, Barnett's transformation was not led by the Mechanicum but by the "Harvest Priestess."
Kerri reviewed the conventional proposal submitted by Mars:
[The first fifty years follow standard land modification protocols. All pre-existing life is eradicated via controlled phage-viruses or incendiary bombing.]
[First, deploy macro-processors. Subsequently, operate through command node installations. Precipitation is controlled and scheduled via low-orbit satellites and fleet vessels.]
Kerri frowned. She knew Barnett's natural climate would vanish as a result.
She opened the holographic display, examining results from past Mechanicum world transformations.
On a vast plain, high-yield crops undulated in the wind.
Kerri noted the plain lacked any distinctive features.
As an experienced "Planter," she knew the first planting season would completely deplete the soil's nutrients, necessitating a constant influx of nitrates and phosphates, shipped in from other worlds via supply vessels.
Pollution from fertilizer factories would turn the air orange; unfiltered air would be unbreathable.
The entire world would be crisscrossed by drainage pipes scorched by chemical residue, with topsoil continually degrading into ever-thinner dust.
Experience as a "Planter" allowed her to foresee crop quality steadily declining, though quantity could be maintained almost indefinitely.
Of course, this assumed that supply lines were maintained, and imports remained stable.
A planet, if not struck by a cataclysm destroying the entire world, would, after such usage, eventually collapse into a dead world after millennia.
Since leaving the Symphony of the Sea, joining the Imperium with her Lady Marlena, she knew the Imperium was no gentle steward. The Mechanicum considered only efficiency and output. She continued reviewing the Magos's proposal.
[Land will be divided into vast production zones, laid with rail tracks, patrolled by pest exterminators.]
[Four million, one hundred eighty thousand servitors will serve as labor, possessing minimal cognitive function, their work capacity bio-engineered for enhancement.]
[Two hundred fifty thousand personnel...]
From this report, Kerri found the first highlight: maintaining this Agri-world required a population smaller than a single dome in a medium-sized hive city.
[...will control inventories of semi-autonomous vehicles and monitor the grid of weather control nodes.]
[Three garrison points are required, stationing four hundred ten standard troops, constructing one Astropathic tower, a basic orbital defense grid, a naval station, and offices subordinate to the Administratum.]
After browsing the Mechanicum's submitted Standard Template materials, Kerri put down the data-slate and addressed the five "Planters" beside her.
"Lord Nareth and Lady Marlena desire a world different from this. We need to design a sustainable, stable plan based on Barnett's conditions."
When Lord Nareth granted her new power, he hoped she would explore standards for Agri-worlds in the Eastern Galaxy.
To establish a comprehensive, referential standard for worlds generally suitable but requiring some modification.
Kerri's ideal world was Tanith: rich in agricultural output, abundant in mineral resources, and beautiful.
But she knew that was the result of Aeldar technology combined with psychic power; the Legion had acquired some of that technology.
Fortunately, she didn't need to recreate Tanith and didn't have to consider mineral aspects.
She possessed both the beyonder abilities of a "Harvest Priestess" and the experimental results from Catachan recorded in the data-crystal given to her by Lady Marlena.
From her study, she knew it required not just parahuman power but also psychic abilities. She said to the "Planters" beside her.
"Send a message to Lord Wilshire. Request that His Lordship dispatch Librarians to assist."
One Terran month later, the Relic-class Battleship Glory of Light arrived at Barnett.
After Wilshire's Aquila Lander landed on the surface, he immediately entered the command node established at the equator.
After taking over the sub-sector centered on Gardinaal, his greatest challenge was food.
The universally improved food standards allowed the Shadows of Order to swiftly win hearts on Gardinaal, but even a slight increase for nearly ninety billion people posed a severe test for food supply.
Supplies from Tanith, the Symphony of the Sea, and Talassar could meet demand.
But the Light Lord preferred not to rely indefinitely on supplies from other territories, which also presented a potential strategic security risk.
Amid the hiss of hydraulics, the door slowly opened. Wilshire entered the office, nodding slightly to those present before asking.
"Kerri, outline your plan."
"Lord," Kerri began, "I will lead my followers to guide farmers in cultivation. Compared to the Mechanicum plan, I require more population, approximately five hundred twenty thousand."
"Though the required population is double, future Barnett's food quality will not decline, aligning with Lord Nareth's concept of sustainable development."
"Of course, this requires assistance from the Librarius team."
Wilshire looked at the Librarian present. The Librarian replied.
"Lord, the psychic arrays deployed by the Thousand Sons on Tizca are superior to Mechanicum methods for weather control."
"The Chief Librarian brought back some data from Tizca. Hathor Maat helped us complete the missing information during his secondment to the Legion."
"He also provided methods for constructing psychic hydroponic arrays in confined spaces like cities and mountains."
Wilshire nodded slightly. Compared to the Librarian, he knew more.
From the permissions the Black Emperor granted Hathor and the attitude of the Thousand Sons Chief Librarian, he knew this son of Magnus had a relationship with the Legion deeper than mere closeness from secondment.
As Wilshire pondered, the "Harvest Priestess" spoke confidently.
"Combining Lady Marlena's insights into Aeldar Maiden World creation secrets and with Librarian assistance, I am capable of creating a world rich in produce and sustainable."
"How long? Estimated yield?" Wilshire asked his most pressing questions.
"Phase one transformation can be completed in three years, producing enough to feed thirteen million people." Kerri's words made Wilshire's eyes light up.
The entire sub-sector, excluding Gardinaal, had a projected maximum population of around ten million across all other worlds.
"To meet the food needs of a hundred billion people requires five more phases of development, taking approximately twenty-three years."
Wilshire nodded. He was satisfied with this timeline, three years less than half the time the Mechanicum required.
"My plan does not adopt the Mechanicum methods for land and weather transformation." Kerri explained in detail.
"My plan is based on modifying Barnett's existing soil conditions, hence the shorter duration. Progress depends on the capabilities of the Librarians and my team."
"Barnett's northern hemisphere is a single vast plain. The soil is suitable for producing fifteen types of nutrient-rich crops."
As Kerri spoke, her fingers flew across the screen, highlighting the entire area.
Wilshire saw the entire region marked with fifteen colors for crops. The two largest were yellow for maize and light yellow for wheat.
Each crop wasn't confined to one area; maize cultivation alone had fifty-eight zones. Clearly, Kerri had identified the most suitable land for each crop.
The colorful cultivation zones resembled a mirror reflecting a kaleidoscope.
After presenting all southern hemisphere regions under control, Kerri continued.
"The southern continent's area is only a quarter of the northern continent's. Surrounding seas are suitable for fisheries. The mainland terrain is primarily grassland; I recommend animal husbandry."
"I suggest introducing the Attilan Ovigor. The husbandry worlds in the Coronid New Zone have achieved good results."
After listening to plans for northern hemisphere seas and grasslands, Wilshire nodded with satisfaction.
"I am satisfied with your plan. Proceed accordingly."
"I will communicate with Sanchez to arrange the introduction of the Ovigor."
"My Lord, I will not fail your expectations." The "Harvest Priestess" said excitedly.
Previously, she oversaw Tanith, where Lady Marlena had already laid the foundation. This was her first time leading the construction of an Agri-world and fulfilling Lord Nareth's task of establishing Agri-world standards.
Returning to the Glory of Light, Wilshire ordered the Chapter's Librarians to fully cooperate with Kerri.
As the Relic-class battleship set sail to return to Gardinaal, black mist engulfed Wilshire.
When he regained his senses, he found himself in the mysterious realm.
.....
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