Luka and Rachel descended to the planet's surface via the starport's orbital elevator.
As a recently developed world, Rostov II lacked towering hive cities, resembling instead a conventional urban sprawl with high-rise buildings. Its inhabitants enjoyed sunlight, unlike the perpetual gloom endured by hive underdwellers across generations.
While many assumed all Imperial worlds were hive-dominated—thanks to popular depictions—in reality, hives were rare. Constructing one demanded centuries or millennia, plus astronomical resources. Planets spent hundreds of years preparing applications alone. Each hive was meticulously planned: not just vertical megacities housing billions, but also factories, fortresses, and power hubs fueling planetary shields and void defenses.
Sustaining a hive world required the output of an entire sector or sub-sector; otherwise, collapse was inevitable.
"What a beautiful planet! It's rare to see greenery on an Imperial world," Luka remarked sincerely, gazing at the view.
Amid the urban structures, verdant patches dotted the landscape, and a massive canal bisected the city—a marvel in the interstellar age.
"Whose brilliant idea was the canal?" he wondered aloud.
"These features stem from Sage Olivia's directives," Rachel explained, pride evident in her voice. "The sage has a fondness for plants. She personally oversaw much of the greenery's planting and provided maintenance tech and facilities."
Luka's unease grew. A Mechanicus adept fond of flora? It sounded ominous. Weren't tech-priests supposed to replace flesh with machinery, not nurture gardens?
"This sage is quite unusual," Luka mused. "First I've heard of a tech-priest with a green thumb."
Under Rachel's guidance, they boarded a transport to the Governor's Palace.
Though called a "mansion," the sprawling Gothic edifice—spanning over ten football fields and soaring a hundred meters—defied the term. It served as both residence and administrative hub, yet its scale felt extravagant.
"Rostov II's development is recent, so the Governor's Mansion is modest," Rachel said, a hint of apology in her tone. "I hope it doesn't displease you."
Luka drew a deep breath. "It's adequate. As the Emperor's servants, we must shun luxury."
Accompanied by Rachel, he ascended marble steps etched with intricate patterns and Imperial litanies, entering the palace.
Inside, a tech-priest in red robes awaited, but she deviated from the norm. Beyond a bionic eye, elixir canister, and mechanical tentacles—standard augmentations—her modifications were minimal. Her face was strikingly beautiful, her figure curvaceous beneath the robes, more feminine than Rachel's.
This is a tech-priest? Did I mod the universe for aesthetics? Luka thought, bemused.
He approached politely, saluting. "You must be Sage Olivia. Rachel spoke of you—it's an honor."
"An inquisitor as planetary governor? Intriguing," Olivia replied, eyeing his Inquisition rosette with curiosity.
"We are but coins in the Emperor's purse, spent where needed," Luka parried smoothly. "What draws a Mechanicus sage to this backwater? Ancient relics, perhaps?"
"Perceptive, as expected of an inquisitor," Olivia admitted. "Blackstone deposits here caught the forge world's interest. During extraction, I uncovered xenos ruins. I'm conducting initial excavations.
"Manpower from you would accelerate progress—I'd compensate fairly. The prior governor agreed, but the site demands more hands than anticipated."
Luka's skin crawled. He suspected the ruins' true nature.
"Sage Olivia, are you familiar with the Necrons?" he probed.
"An alien species? My databases hold no records—I've not studied them," she confessed.
Luka resisted facepalming, cursing the Emperor's "novice" mission.
What the fuck is a surprise! The surprise is a Necron dynasty slumbering beneath your feet.
Regret etched his face. "I'm afraid I must decline, Sage."
Brandishing his rosette, he intoned gravely, "In the name of the Ordo Xenos, I order a halt to the excavations to prevent catastrophe."