Alexei and Kaidel arrived inside a sprawling complex. The interior decorations and fittings were clearly Terran structures manifested by Alexei.
"Back here again..." Alexei mused silently as he looked at the workshops, which were even larger than the Heavy Factories.
This was the Starport he had constructed after the war. Unlike the Heavy Factories and Barracks, the interior of the Starport featured massive platforms for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), as well as training simulators that provided realistic flight environments for the pilots.
Alexei's visit today was to unlock two new Terran aerial strike units: the Banshee and the Wraith. These would provide essential air-to-ground support for the fleet's orbital drop forces.
As Alexei completed the interface commands, the sealed workshops before him began their automated operations.
"Must be nice. I'd love to fly one of those. Every time I see those Vikings soaring through the sky, I'm green with envy," Kaidel remarked as he watched the silent, efficient machinery.
"If you knew how to fly, I'd definitely let you. Unfortunately, out of your ten simulated flight sessions, you crashed shortly after takeoff every single time," Alexei remarked coldly.
Kaidel scratched his head awkwardly with his prosthetic hand. "Who would've thought these things were so hard to fly? They actually have two different modes!"
Alexei didn't reply this time, because Kaidel was absolutely right. The biggest problem he currently faced was that while he could produce a dozen fighters a day, the number of qualified pilots couldn't keep up with production.
The Viking was an extremely complex vehicle to operate. Simply getting it off the ground was an achievement; mastering it would require at least three years of rigorous training.
Thus, Alexei had produced the Vikings early to allow for advance training and simulations, which barely gave him enough personnel for a single squadron.
Now, he needed aircraft that were easier to operate and possessed strong air-to-ground capabilities. After all, a Viking on the ground was less effective than...
Consequently, the Banshee and the Wraith became his best options. Although they were less technologically advanced than the Viking, their operational difficulty was not nearly as absurd.
The remaining time before his expedition was enough for recruits to get the hang of things in the simulators and then transition to real-world combat after a brief period of practical flight training.
Moreover, the Banshee's Backlash Rockets and the Wraith's 25mm Pulse Lasers and Gemini Air-to-Air Missiles could provide comprehensive strikes against both aerial and ground targets.
Most importantly, their built-in Cloaking Fields allowed for surprise aerial strikes that could catch the enemy off guard.
Only by producing these and loading them onto his Battlecruisers—alongside Medivacs and Vikings—would he truly possess a complete ground support force. Only then could he sustain the Scythes of the Emperor chapter on Sotha for a prolonged period.
As he and Kaidel waited for the aircraft construction to complete, Alexei's expression suddenly turned grim. He had received a message through the Zerg psionic network from an Astropath.
A fleet was requesting permission to dock and resupply. They identified themselves as the Rogue Trader Dynasty of Armand Capet.
The moment Alexei received the news, his brow furrowed. What's going on? How did a Rogue Trader fleet end up in a backwater, godforsaken place like this that isn't even on a major trade route?
The current state of Aiel was highly likely to attract their attention. If they discovered his secrets, there might be "accidents." He considered refusing... but then he paused.
Alexei narrowed his eyes. He could potentially purchase exactly what he wanted from a Rogue Trader: an Imperial warship equipped with Void Shields.
Consequently, he approved the docking and resupply request. As for whether they would discover his secrets—what they would see from orbit was merely the tip of the iceberg. Alexei's plan was to strictly limit their range of movement on the surface.
Furthermore, he had the Ghosts—an organization specifically designed for surveillance and infiltration.
If they dared to attack him... the corners of Alexei's mouth lifted. He had built some "goodies" on the planetary plains earlier. Combined with his four Battlecruisers, he might just be able to hold his own against a small Rogue Trader fleet.
"Lord Armand, the local authorities have granted our request to dock and resupply."
"Have you gathered information on this Hive World?" A middle-aged man of medium build, dressed in an exquisitely tailored and luxurious robe, sat in a plush chair. He turned toward a bowing man beside him.
"My Lord, according to the intel I've gathered, this was originally a completely ordinary Hive World. However, two and a half years ago, the Planetary Governor betrayed the Imperium and sided with the Chaos Gods. The rebellion was suppressed by a leader from an Underhive gang..."
"Wait. You're telling me a gang leader from the Underhive suppressed a Warp-spawned demonic invasion?" Armand Capet asked his Master of Intelligence with a hint of disbelief.
"Yes, My Lord. And not only that, the world subsequently successfully repelled a small Tyranid splinter fleet under the leadership of this new Governor," the Intelligence Master, Nasus, replied respectfully. "While I understand this news is hard to believe, cross-verification through multiple channels has confirmed its authenticity."
"Interesting..." Armand gazed ahead. In the eyes of a Lord with years of experience in the Rogue Trader business, this world had instantly piqued his interest. "Can we confirm their loyalty?"
"A prestigious Inquisitor is currently vouching for them," Nasus replied. "Furthermore, I've heard through certain clandestine channels that there are rumors this Hive World might possess a complete STC template from the Dark Age of Technology."
"Oh?" Armand's eyes instantly lit up. A complete STC template was a treasure beyond measure. Most known STC templates were fragmentary and held firmly in the oil-stained hands of the Adeptus Mechanicus. To encounter an unknown, complete template here... it seemed his choice to detour was the right one.
"How much longer until we arrive at Aiel?" he asked slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"Very soon, My Lord."
Armand nodded in satisfaction, a slight smirk playing on his lips. A Hive World with a damaged administration, no Adeptus Arbites or Inquisition presence, and a high probability of possessing an STC—in his eyes, this voyage was destined to be a bountiful one. It would more than compensate for the losses they suffered from xenos pirate attacks during their exploration on the galactic fringe.
Armand believed that as a Lord of a Rogue Trader Dynasty, his status was paramount.
Meanwhile, below them, the fleet's Tech-Priest, who had been silently listening to the conversation, had a glint in his eyes that was quite different from usual.