The eleventh Terran month of 861.M30, Vostroya, Primarch's office, Shadowhold.
Nareth convened a meeting to understand the Legion's current status.
Chief Apothecary Mikael spoke first.
"My Lord, I examined the five hundred gene-seed samples you previously provided. No abnormalities were detected."
"I utilised them to perform augmentation procedures on neophytes from five Chapters. The swiftest among them have already undergone three augmentation stages, with both physical responses and success rates falling within normal parameters."
"Lady Marlena and her "Doctors" also participated in this process, and no irregularities were observed."
Noticing the Black Emperor's gaze upon her, Marlena also spoke.
"My Lord, I tracked one hundred neophytes. Eighty-nine passed implantation; six rejected the second heart; five failed to complete the second and third implant procedures."
"The entire modification process proceeded without incident. Neophytes who failed the modifications survived and are being trained as Auxilia."
Benefiting from potions developed by Mikael and taught to "Apothecary," care rejection rates were extremely low. Implantation success rates even surpassed Legions like the Ultramarines.
Those failing during surgery, aided by "Doctors," survived to join the Auxilia.
Having undergone varying degrees of implantation, they were generally stronger than other Auxilia soldiers.
Compared to other legions where most failures perish immediately, survivors are typically converted into mechanical servants at worst or reduced to mere retainers. These soldiers were considerably more fortunate.
Nareth nodded slightly. This allowed experimentation with the gene-seed corrosion plan.
The impending Second Rangdan Xenocide was an opportunity. He recalled that besides the Dark Angels, Space Wolves, and an unknown legion serving as the main forces, nine other legions had dispatched contingent forces to participate.
The decisive battle at Taxal saw as many as three hundred thousand Astartes engage.
Opportunities for "Corrosion" certainly existed.
"Progress on Cloneskeins Technology exploration?"
Mikael spoke, his face tinged with shame.
"My Lord, progress is slow."
"The Emperor's technology differs completely from Squat methods. Many aspects remain incomprehensible."
"The sole advancement is increased resilience for neophytes, improving their adaptability to extreme environments."
After a moment's thought, Nareth said.
"This isn't your fault. The Emperor's Astartes creation technology uses Warp-related techniques."
"Squat cloneskeins technology consciously avoids Warp dangers, except for Grimnyr, designed as a psyker."
"Continue exploration. I will take action to uncover Astartes creation secrets."
Nareth's plan proceeded on two fronts: people and objects. The person was Belisarius Cawl, inheriting the personality, skills, and memories of Ezekiel Sedayne, head of the Imperial Biotechnical Division, who held the Emperor's Astartes creation secrets.
The object was the Sangprimus Portum, containing all Legion genetic secrets.
Nareth looked to his Forge Lord. "Application of Arkhan Land's discoveries?"
Arkhan, now an "Archaeologist," completed his expedition into the Librarius Omnis on Mars in just over two years.
As in Nareth's memory, he found blueprints for the Land Raider battle tank, Land Crawler multi-purpose heavy engineering vehicle, Mars Universal Land Engine, and rare anti-grav plate technical data for the Land Speeder, plus one ruin.
"The Land Raider battle tank production line is established on Firestorm, and mass production begun."
"The Land Crawler and Mars Universal Land Engine have entered production on the newly developed Cyclothrathe."
"Ganfall, with Mechanicum assistance, completed construction and manufacturing of Land Speeders."
After brief thought, Nareth decided to allow Arkhan to publicly disclose the four discoveries bearing his name. Once these widely applicable equipments appeared on battlefields, secrecy would be difficult.
Other Astartes Legions, even the Custodes, would demand them. Monopoly would invite significant pressure.
Simultaneously, Arkhan's status within the Mechanicum should rise. Nareth believed this would yield greater benefits.
"Arsena, Arkhan isn't skilled at negotiation. Assemble a team of Court members comprising of "Lawyers", "Student of Ratiocination", to support him."
Originally viewing the Emperor as the Omnissiah, Arkhan would have unconditionally offered his discoveries to the Imperium.
Now "corroded," he naturally followed Nareth's will.
Nareth wouldn't give them to the Mechanicum for free; sufficient resources must be exchanged.
Considering the coming war, he asked the Forge Lord.
"What new developments exist regarding other weaponry and equipment?"
"The Dominum Armor, after Gardinaal experiments, has advanced. Malevolus and I designed targeted versions for Viscounts and Barons."
The Forge Lord felt overwhelmed by concurrent projects. After Malevolus became an "Artisan," he surpassed him in armor crafting.
He said, "Malevolus now leads this work."
"He crafted armour for Lord Horus Lupercal, assisted Lord Ferrus Manus, and was a primary developer of the Cataphractii Dreadnought Armor. I believe he should lead production."
"Very well." Nareth granted the request, thinking:
'Time for a more specialized division.'
After a moment's thought, he said.
"Gabriel as Marshall of Ordnance, shall oversee armoured vehicles and related equipment. Wojciech Blyek is appointed as Chief Logistician, assisting Arsena in coordinating production across the domains to meet the Legion's requirements.'
"Lian Ramilies shall serve as Void Master, responsible for artificial war-moon development, starfort improvements, and voidcraftconstruction. Malevolus as Armour Master. while Arkhan shall temporarily step back from administrative duties to focus on exploration and excavation on Mars
"You shall oversee all affairs, primarily responsible for classified project development."
After the Forge Lord recorded the Black Emperor's division of responsibilities, he continued reporting:
"Weaponry-wise, the greatest advancement is mastering the Imperium's lost shockwave technology, based on your materials."
"Regarding the Voidclaw, combining structural diagrams and Arkhan's data, I developed experimental devices, but the effective range is only twenty-five kilometers."
"Excellent. The Void Claw causes galactic-scale cataclysms, unsuitable as a conventional weapon."
The Voidclaw was merely a last-resort option against threats like the Rangdan. He didn't want his territories reduced to ruins.
"Manufacture five experimental devices. Deploy and record data."
Nareth decided to deploy them in the upcoming battles.
"Your will be done."
After Rosicky finished, Nareth looked at Arsene. He immediately spoke.
"As commanded, fifteen Ramilies-class star-forts are assembled. Five at the Kalium Gate, five each in the Cypera Mundi and Vostroya systems."
Considering the Second Rangdan Xenocide would involve over twelve Rangdan artificial war-moons, he had many strategic points to cover. But he wouldn't face the Rangdan alone, so he prepared fifteen Ramilies-class star-forts preemptively.
"As of October summaries, the Legion totals two hundred eighty-five thousand, one hundred Astartes."
"Among them, the largest is the Eleventh Chapter: thirty-three thousand."
"..."
"The smallest is the Twelfth Chapter: seventeen thousand, two hundred."
Hearing this, Nareth thought:
'Hmm, my Shadows of Order is the largest Legion.'
'The latest explicit figure I know is 899.M30: the Ultramarines numbered 166,000, then the largest Legion.'
'The Dark Angels then were likely over 100,000. Currently, without experiencing three Rangdan Xenocides, minus growth over the next thirty-seven years, net change puts them between 200,000 to 250,000 now.'
After the meeting concluded and the four departed, Nareth leaned back on his throne, considering which world to divine using the Dice of Prophecy.
.....
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