Chapter 125: House Nearl
"The path of exploration is indeed fraught with variables," Joric's synthesized voice continued the discussion, stating an objective fact. "On forgotten battlefields, one can occasionally discover... relics of considerable scale.
"Not all war machines in history returned intact to their bastions. Their remains sometimes lie silent for centuries, awaiting rediscovery."
Miller's augmetic eye adjusted its focal length, a gleam of interest flickering within.
"Precisely. According to Legion archives, several God-Engines were lost in this sector during the late stages of the Great Crusade and the subsequent turmoil. These include multiple Warhound-class Titans and their elite variant, the 'Dire Wolf' pattern." His voice dropped slightly, carrying a solemnity mixed with regret and desire. "These machines are precious assets of the Legion, gifts from the Omnissiah. Their loss is a blow to the Legion and the entire Cult Mechanicus.
"If your future explorations yield any relevant leads—whether data-fragments pointing to wreckage coordinates or reliable reports on their last operational zones—Legio Steel Hound will consider it a priority-one collaborative matter.
"We are prepared to provide full assistance, including armed escort and technical support, to ensure the God-Engines are successfully recovered."
Joric's metallic fingers traced the shaft of his Omni-Scepter, as if calculating a balance.
"I will pay particular attention to keywords and anomalous energy signatures related to Titan units in my subsequent data-mining and field surveys. However, exploration is filled with uncertainty. The stellar sea is vast, and ruins are often mirages. I can make no guarantees."
He paused, his optical lenses casting a steady light on Miller. "But should a discovery be made, cooperation with a military force possessing the specialized recovery capabilities and deep resources of Legio Steel Hound is indeed the optimal solution to ensure the safe return and proper consecration of the God-Engines. Efficiency and professionalism are the keys to resolving such matters."
This cautious, open-ended dialogue laid a pragmatic foundation for future collaboration.
For Joric, it was an opportunity to establish a potential link with the strongest local Titan Legion and secure their support. For Legio Steel Hound, it planted a seed of hope in a newly ascended Magos who had the authority to explore dangerous frontier sectors and seemingly possessed good fortune.
The conversation naturally shifted to more specialized technical levels.
Miller used detailed data and case studies to explain the operational adaptability of Warhound Titans in various extreme environments, typical loadouts, and maintenance cycles, and shared the Legion's latest threat assessment reports on several known danger zones in nearby sectors.
Joric, from his perspective as an Explorator, inquired about the stability of large-scale Titan energy cores during long-term stasis and specialized maintenance protocols for ancient patterns.
The entire dialogue maintained the objective, pragmatic, and data-driven atmosphere characteristic of technical experts.
"May the Omnissiah's wisdom guide your exploration and illuminate the darkness ahead," Miller concluded with a standard Mechanicus benediction.
"May the forge fires burn eternal, tempering a more glorious tomorrow," Joric responded with an equally traditional blessing, his tone steady.
After seeing off the representative of Legio Steel Hound, Joric stood alone in the reception room. His logic-core whirred silently, logging the key points of the meeting and archiving them in a specific "Potential Strategic Cooperation Nodes" database.
This exchange successfully established a possibility for strategic cooperation based on mutual need and careful assessment, maintaining appropriate distance and independence while leaving ample room for future collaboration involving the recovery of high-value technological artifacts.
Shortly after the meeting with the Steel Hound representative concluded, Joric welcomed his second important visitor of the day—a representative from a Knight House sworn to the Forge World: Margaret Nearl, scion of House Nearl from the Kazimierz sector.
House Nearl had a long and storied history. For centuries, they had ruled the Feudal World of Kazimierz, bound to the Forge World by oaths of loyalty.
Unlike the Titan Legions, which were fully integrated into the Mechanicus hierarchy, Knight Houses retained unique feudal traditions. Their status was more akin to vassals enjoying a high degree of autonomy.
They swore fealty to the Mechanicus, providing elite Knight combat units as military support and tithing their planet's specialty agricultural products.
In return, the Forge World provided them with the latest Knight chassis, comprehensive technical maintenance, solid political protection, and broad trade rights.
This ancient and stable covenant formed the foundation of centuries of cooperation.
House Nearl enjoyed a prestigious reputation in the sector, built on three pillars: the unparalleled martial prowess of its Knights, their generational adherence to a code of honor, and their consistently top-tier combat capabilities.
Margaret Nearl herself was the perfect embodiment of these traits.
Her posture was straight as a pine. Even without her iconic pilot-armor, one could feel the steady demeanor forged by years of rigorous training and countless battles.
Her brilliant golden hair was meticulously combed into a sharp bun, revealing a chiseled face; her azure eyes were clear and firm, like a cloudless sky, revealing an unshakeable will.
Her tailored family dress uniform perfectly accentuated her form. On her shoulder and chest, the sigil of Kazimierz was exquisitely embroidered in gold thread—three lances pointing skyward alongside a rearing horse head.
This ancient totem symbolized not only House Nearl's lineage but also the purity and indomitable spirit that Knightly honor prided itself on.
Unlike the extensive bodily modification common among Tech-Priests, the visible signs of augmentation on her were extremely limited, restricted to necessary neural-interface jacks for her Knight and a few basic performance-enhancing implants, preserving the vast majority of her original human form.
"Honor to you, Magos Joric," Margaret's voice was clear and steady. Her bow was elegant and full of power, a standard Knightly salute that expressed due respect without losing the pride of her family heritage. "On behalf of House Nearl, I congratulate you on your ascension to Magos Explorator. May your journey be like a meteor at dawn, illuminating new paths for the Imperium."
"Welcome, Lady Margaret Nearl," Joric greeted her with cordiality. "The archives of the Forge World frequently cite the loyalty and battle-records of House Nearl. Even I have often heard of them. Please, sit."
A menial servitor glided forward silently, serving her a beverage.
It was not the high-energy nutrient paste or synthetic fluids common to the Mechanicus, but tea—a specialty product from the Feudal World her family ruled.
Such natural agricultural products were one of the typical tithes from Knight Worlds.
She accepted it calmly, took a sip, her demeanor displaying perfect composure and breeding.
(End of Chapter)