Chapter 124: A Magos's Obligations
Having completed his preliminary equipment upgrades and macro-planning for the Forge Ship, Joric did not rush to depart Forge World Nexum.
The title of Magos brought not only authority and resources, but also a series of unavoidable responsibilities and social obligations.
Within the rigidly stratified, complex network of Mechanicus society and the sub-sector it influenced, the emergence of a new Magos was like dropping a sizable stone into a relatively calm lake of power, sending ripples far and wide.
As a newly ascended Magos Explorator, Joric first needed to dedicate significant time to familiarizing himself with and consolidating his newly acquired clearances.
This was not a simple update of database access keys, but a deeper integration into the system.
He needed to understand the specific operational workflows of the Forge World's various departments, the unspoken rules of resource allocation, and the delicate balance between different research factions.
Ignis, as his loyal second-in-command, handled the bulk of routine administration and initial contact, but there were occasions that required the personal presence of the Magos himself.
On the other hand, as Fabricator-Magos Vhorx had emphasized, Forge World Nexum and the surrounding sub-sector it served were feeling the acute structural pain of the "Second Founding" policy.
This frontier sector, pioneered by the VII Legion "Imperial Fists" during the Great Crusade, was already at the periphery of Imperial expansion, with a relatively weak developmental foundation.
As the massive, stable orders from the Legion level withered, the insufficient internal market demand and external competitive pressure from older, established Forge Worlds became glaringly apparent.
The infrastructure development of numerous surrounding Imperial worlds, the daily supply of industrial consumables, the equipment updates for various Planetary Governors' household guards, and even the weapon supplies for Imperial Guard garrison units—most supply chains ultimately pointed back to Nexum's forges and assembly lines.
Joric's ascension, and his agreement with Archmagos Vhorx regarding the application and profit-sharing of the "Ancient Logic-Core" technology, was like a boulder thrown into relatively still water.
It clearly signaled a new flow in internal resource allocation within the Forge World, and also heralded the potential diffusion of technological dividends into related fields.
For a time, visit requests and communication petitions flooded Joric's newly established office and research zone.
For the vast majority of envoys from low-level administrative officials, merchant guilds, or minor noble houses of surrounding Imperial worlds, Joric offered no response.
In his view, such trivial social intercourse would only pointlessly consume his precious research time, its output efficiency intolerably low.
Typically, these visitors could only be received by low-level Tech-Adepts or ordinary Priests of the Forge World.
If a visitor possessed a certain special status, or if the "sincerity" they presented was sufficient to pique interest, perhaps Ignis might meet them.
In the strict hierarchy and value system of the Mechanicus, a Magos's time was a highly optimized strategic resource, far beyond the easy purchase of ordinary figures from the external world.
However, there were two categories of visitors whose identities and the powers they represented were closely linked to the core military composition of the Forge World and Joric's future long-term plans, compelling him to extract time from his busy schedule of research and planning for a personal audience.
They represented the two extremes of the Forge World's military spectrum: one, the Titan Legions, symbols of absolute power like moving fortresses; the other, the Knight Houses, possessing the flexibility and assault capability of precision daggers.
The first to arrive was a representative of the "Legio Steel Hound," the Titan Legion stationed on Nexum.
Titan Legions hold a unique status within the Mechanicus. Their pilot families—the God-Engine Houses—pass down the skill and honor of piloting these sacred war machines through generations.
They are the most powerful symbol of secular force under the Omnissiah's faith. Every qualified Princeps undergoes strict genetic screening and neural augmentation to ensure perfect synchronization with their Titan.
The meeting was arranged in a standard-spec reception room within Joric's side-sanctum.
The interior followed common Mechanicus architectural proportions, with orderly load-bearing structures and data-conduits visible beneath a high ceiling.
The walls were composed of standard alloy plating, etched with fine binary prayers.
Embedded data-slates displayed constantly refreshing technical parameters and energy-flow readings.
In the center of the room sat a sturdy alloy table, its surface polished, bearing the standard Mechanicus Cog-sigil at its edge.
Several chairs of the same material surrounded the table, their height and angles precisely calculated to accommodate users with varying degrees of mechanical augmentation.
The entire room lacked any superfluous decoration. Every element strictly adhered to the unity of form and function, displaying the unique aesthetic philosophy of the Mechanicus that blended practicality with ritual.
The representative of Legio Steel Hound was Princeps Wharton Miller, an experienced Titan pilot.
Unlike Joric's research-focused augmentation path, Miller's bodily modifications served the needs of piloting a Titan entirely.
Additional support structures were visible around his shoulders and spine, and neural interface sockets were faintly visible at the back of his neck.
Although dressed in formal Legion uniform, the reinforced muscle tissue and mechanical joints beneath the fabric still outlined a distinct silhouette.
His gaze was steady, a unique temperament cultivated from overlooking the battlefield from a Titan's cockpit.
"Magos Joric." Miller's voice carried the appropriate level of respect, maintaining dignity without losing necessary etiquette. "On behalf of the Steel Hound Legion Commander, Grand Master Gorgon Miller, I congratulate you on achieving the honor of Magos Explorator."
Joric's synthesized voice responded steadily. "My thanks for the Grand Master's congratulations. The prestige of the Steel Hound Legion in the frontier sectors is something I have heard of during my previous travels."
He made a concise gesture, and a servo-skull glided silently to the table, serving two beverages.
"You are too modest." Miller accepted the drink, his gaze lingering for a moment on Joric's new power armor. "The duties of a Magos Explorator are heavy—facing the unknown, reclaiming lost technological heritage for the Machine God.
"In comparison, our Legion has long garrisoned this sector. While we are always ready to respond to threats, opportunities for actual combat are indeed limited."
His tone was steady, but a keen listener could detect the implied expectation within.
Joric's logic-core rapidly parsed the deeper meaning of this statement.
As a strategic-level force, the deployment of a Titan Legion required a threat of corresponding magnitude.
In this relatively stable sector, they lacked suitable enemies and opportunities to replenish new Titan chassis.
Aside from waiting for the slow production schedules of the Forge World, Explorators like Joric, who frequently ventured into dangerous ruins, were a vital channel for them to acquire new machines and combat opportunities.
(End of Chapter)